Western Schools for the 3.0-3.3 kid

<p>I know we have the "lesser known schools" and the "3.0 to 3.3" threads but I thought it would be beneficial to create regional threads as well that combined the two concepts. So I'm starting this one based on my region (From the Rocky Mountain States Southward and Westward) Please add as you wish. The only criteria is that a kid in that GPA range has a decent chance of acceptance and that you, as a wise poster think the school has merit. I know this isn't a complete listing so please add as you see fit!</p>

<p>Western Washington University</p>

<p>Linfield College- McMinnville OR
Oregon State
Southern Oregon University: Ashland</p>

<p>University of San Francisco
Saint Mary's College of CA: Moraga
California Lutheran University: Thousand Oaks
Humboldt State U
Sonoma State U
CSU Monterey Bay</p>

<p>University of Arizona</p>

<p>University of New Mexico: Abq</p>

<p>University of Montana: Boseman
Carroll College: Helena Montana</p>

<p>College of Idaho</p>

<p>Western State College of Colorado
Colorado State University</p>

<p>Here’s a few more in NorCal:</p>

<p>Notre Dame de Namur, Belmont</p>

<p>Menlo College, Atherton</p>

<p>Dominican University, San Rafael</p>

<p>I’d list more CSUs but they’re tougher to get into now.</p>

<p>

</p>

<p>This is actually Montana State University-Bozeman.</p>

<p>oops I meant U of M Missoula, got the city wrong. Hope all Montanans accept my humble apologies.</p>

<p>Speaking of Montana - any thoughts about this school? I’m considering it for my son, a current HS junior.</p>

<p>katliamom I haven’t been but they offer three of the four things my boy is interested in at this point. Boarding, as well as competitive Football and Basketball. It is a WUE school so that has the potential to make it exceedingly affordable, but even if my S doesn’t qualify for WUE $$ the price is roughly the same as an instate public education. With WUE it would, obviously, be significantly less.</p>

<p>Missoula was just named one of the top college towns for “authentic college vibe”

</p>

<p>Northern Arizona University (NAU) in Flagstaff, AZ has been popular with a lot of families of B, B-, and C+ students. They also participate in the WUE western states exchange. Great outdoor surroundings and a school that seems to do well will later-maturing boys. (For whatever reason, it is mostly boys that seem to go there from our area.)</p>

<p>University of Denver (D.U.) also seems to admit students from a reasonably wide range of gpas. Pricey, though. Nice campus, lots of out-of-state kids.</p>

<p>University of Wyoming. I think this is going to end up being a hidden gem going forward. Wyoming has poured a lot of money into the university at a time when almost every other state has cut back support for higher education. Strongly supported within the state, nice facilities getting nicer, small classes, and buying lots of top notch faculty. Many kids come from small Wyoming high schools where there weren’t necessarily many advanced course options or AP classes. Part of the WUE. Pretty brutal winters, but probably not any more so than Montana.</p>

<p>Lewis and Clark in Portland
Portland State
Willamette (might be a reach).</p>

<p>Have to second NAU. Great outdoor vibe, merit money for kids who wouldn’t get a penny at most of the schools that are commonly mentioned on CC Good size, beautiful setting.</p>

<p>Thank you campbellmom and arabrab!</p>

<p>Have made your additions</p>

<p>Western Washington University</p>

<p>Linfield College- McMinnville OR
Oregon State
Southern Oregon University: Ashland</p>

<p>Dominican University, San Rafael
University of San Francisco
Saint Mary’s College of CA: Moraga
Notre Dame de Namur, Belmont
Menlo College, Atherton
California Lutheran University: Thousand Oaks
Humboldt State U
Sonoma State U
CSU Monterey Bay</p>

<p>University of Arizona
Northern Arizona University: Flagstaff</p>

<p>University of New Mexico: Abq</p>

<p>University of Montana: Missoula
Carroll College: Helena Montana</p>

<p>College of Idaho</p>

<p>Western State College of Colorado
Colorado State University
University of Denver</p>

<p>University of Wyoming</p>

<p>Arizona State University
Cal State Channel Islands</p>

<p>University of Redlands
Chapman - bit of a reach - average GPA is 3.67</p>

<p>Arizona State University (ASU) is also possible. While they’re more commonly known for the honors college on CC, they have a huge campus in Tempe with lots of majors that welcomes B and C students. For the student who “got it together” somewhat late in high school, it provides great opportunity to move forward – and if the student does very well during the first year at ASU, he or she can apply to the honors college. Lots of D-1 athletics, a Greek scene (though it doesn’t predominate), groups for everything you could think of. Not a good campus for those who are likely to be distracted by parties. It is a full research university, so can offer majors in virtually anything a student might be interested in.</p>

<p>Montana State - Boze is ideal for the outdoor-oriented kid - skiing, fishing, hiking. Pretty decent sciences - they have a great record with Goldwater awards. Moderately generous with merit aid - based solely on test scores. Agree U Wyoming is incredible deal (practically pay you to attend), but Laramie is pretty remote and the wind is ceaseless.</p>

<p>The University of Utah has really strong programs in most research-heavy areas and actually is fairly well-known in the sciences. Utah State is less of a research powerhouse but has a strong alumni community and some impressive undergraduate accomplishments. Both of these schools offer more restrained social atmospheres than one might expect at a less-selective state institution thanks to the large LDS population in Utah.</p>

<p>I would also nominate Washington State U.</p>

<p>We just received a mailing form Northern Arizona Univ. They are offering to guarantee WUE tuition for all 4 yrs with no price increase. WUE tuition is currently around 10,000 which is quite a good price for OOS.
I would remove Lewis and Clark from the list.
Willamette is a shot if you are a male
Univ of the Pacific (maybe)</p>

<p>You guys are great thanks for the additions!</p>

<p>Western Washington University
Washington State</p>

<p>Portland State
Linfield College- McMinnville OR
Oregon State
Southern Oregon University: Ashland</p>

<p>Dominican University, San Rafael
University of San Francisco
Saint Mary’s College of CA: Moraga
Notre Dame de Namur, Belmont
Menlo College, Atherton
California Lutheran University: Thousand Oaks
Humboldt State U
Sonoma State U
CSU Monterey Bay
Cal State Channel Islands
University of Redlands
University of the Pacific</p>

<p>University of Arizona
Northern Arizona University: Flagstaff
Arizona State: Tempe</p>

<p>University of New Mexico: Abq</p>

<p>University of Montana: Missoula
Carroll College: Helena Montana
Montana State: Bozeman </p>

<p>College of Idaho</p>

<p>Western State College of Colorado
Colorado State University
University of Denver</p>

<p>University of Wyoming</p>

<p>University of Utah</p>

<p>Didn’t add Willamette, L and C or Chapman. The first two had about 73% of their accepted class at 3.5 or above and 82% of the frosh class at Chapman has a hs gpa above 3.5 So here is a shout out to those fine schools but we are trying to keep this list as safeties and matches for our 3.0 to 3.3 kids.</p>

<p>Pacific Lutheran
Agree with NAU – saw a couple posters with sub-3.0 kids get in, but everyone I’ve seen post about it loves it.
I have a cousin who went to WWU and works at Microsoft!</p>

<p>What about the University of Portland in Oregon? </p>

<p>In California, you could add:
University of San Diego
Whittier College</p>