<p>@Agent99…D is excited about Lewis and Clark, but being in CT we haven’t seen any Western schools yet. She likes schools with a hippie vibe and is intrigued by what she knows about the region (the outdoors, alternative music scene, Portland is general).</p>
<p>Arizona State . . . Go Devils!</p>
<p>I have been on the WUE site looking up schools by state, and never realized that you can search criteria by major. That was helpful, but since most schools do not offer pre-physical therapy as a major, since PT is a graduate program, it was a bit limited. That is why this communication is so helpful…so THANKS for all the imput.</p>
<p>A year and a half ago I received nice merit aid from Willamette, although I was a split applicant (3.05 UW, 30 ACT). It’s a very nice school about 40 minutes from Portland with a train stop right outside of campus which connects the two cities. Salem has a small but active music scene and the students at Willamette seemed incredibly laid back although very academic. </p>
<p>CSU East Bay, once known as Cal State Hayward seems to be one of the more ambitious schools in the CSU system. It’s recently built quite a few dorms as a way of increasing its residential population. Not located in the best part of the Bay Area but it’s certainly possible to take a day trip to some of the more exciting regions, especially since BART (one of the main public transit systems in the Bay Area) has a station near by. I wouldn’t say it’s worth the OOS tuition. </p>
<p>If anyone is looking into a cool urban school that gives lots of merit aid, check out University of San Francisco. It’s technically Jesuit although all faiths are welcome. I believe it gives lots of merit since it’s not extremely well regarded. </p>
<p>Another Bay Area school worth considering is St. Mary’s College of California. It’s an excellent choice for a B student desiring a smaller school and a couple of students (none of whom were Catholic) from my high school have gone there over the years. One of my friends from a political club transferred out of there after his freshman year to GWU but still loves the school and the supportive environment it provides. It also offers a Great Books option, interesting service opportunities, and surprisingly good school spirit for a school of its size.</p>
<p>My niece just finished her third year majoring in occupational therapy at Pacific. She had high stats and gets nice merit aid, but I do not know the details. She was initially concerned that it was too easy for her, but she settled in nicely, does feel challenged and loves the focus on the medical programs. It is in a very small non-urban area (Forest Grove) not too far from Portland. Pacific has a lower profile than Reed, Whitman, L&C, Willamette and UPS on this site. It has a lot of students who are serious about the helping professions, so not a traditional LAC despite its size. There is a program there where undergraduates are guaranteed interviews for the graduate programs. My niece thinks highly of that opportunity.</p>
<p>My daughter got good merit aid from Willamette a few years ago - $15K a year basically covers the difference between Willamette and in-state public. She had a 3.7ish GPA (from selective private school) and 2250 SAT.</p>
<p>I will soon know more about Seattle U as she is starting there in the fall. So far I have been very very impressed with the school: its fit for her, its campus feel, the welcoming attitude of everyone from the transfer admissions counselor through the physics department head, the Jesuit principles of education and social justice (we are not religious). I am not crazy about the location - on the edge of some not-wonderful neighborhoods - but it is a nicer campus than I expected, and it’s centrally located in a big city, so it’s near a lot of good things too: Pill Hill (great hospitals), Broadway (nightlife, piercing/tattoo crowd, LGBT community), convention center and downtown shopping. Seattle U is giving her $10-12K a year in merit aid transferring from CC based on her GPA 3.8-3.9.</p>
<p>Lisa, your D should love the hippie vibe at L&C. The school has a forest-y feel in a very suburban neighborhood; downtown Portland is a bus ride away. The students felt very… white kid with dreadlocks, if you know what I mean. If she pictures herself with those kids she’ll love it. If she pictures herself walking downtown Portland she may be surprised. (That is more Reed.)</p>
<p>The average kids at UPS and Willamette kids are more mainstream, but those kids love those schools and the more hippie-ish among them seem as accepted and happy as everyone else. Both schools are in city neighborhoods. Willamette is in downtown Salem, Oregon’s capital, though small. The state house is right across the street offering many opportunities. For example, my neighbor’s daughter did a senior project getting electric car charging stations through local government a few years ago. UPS is in Tacoma, a bigger city, but in a quieter neighborhood of mostly tiny older homes and rundown businesses that seems safe. It is about a mile from gorgeous waterfront. I know alumni ranging from 20s to 50s and they universally love UPS.</p>
<p>When’s your daughter’s visit?</p>
<p>Some private smaller schools and/or privates w merit sid
Baylor in TX
Chapman in So Cal
U of San Diego
U of San Francisco
Point Loma in CA
Whitworth in Spokane WA
Gonzaga in Spokane
U of the Pacific in Stockton CA
St Marys in CA
Pacific Lutheran</p>
<p>@seattle_mom, thanks for the helpful info! We don’t have a visit scheduled. We were hoping to come this summer and make it a family trip but the tickets from NYC were so expensive. D will probably have to apply and then see where she gets in before visiting.</p>
<p>I’m also concerned, based on what I’m reading in this thread, that her GPA of 3.1 is too low for L&C, UPS, and Willamette. I don’t know if it helps that she’s from out of the region. Perhaps Pacific is an option, though.</p>
<p>What are her scores? I wouldn’t cross UPS or Willamette off the list, unless her ACT/SAT scores place her outside of the middle 50%.</p>
<p>And I wouldn’t cross off Lewis & Clark quite yet, either. They were one of the schools still searching for students after May 1.</p>
<p>SATs are 660CR/560M/560W and ACT 27 including 33 on Reading and 30 on English.</p>
<p>And her GPA is 3.1? Is this a consistent pattern or was one year a wash due to teenager-itis, or medical issues?</p>
<p>This all matters.</p>
<p>She was on honors freshman year and did get thrown off by a medical issue fall of soph. year. It was really stressful (possible cancer, thankfully it wasn’t) and forced her to play catch up for months. She didn’t bounce back for junior year as well as I’d hoped. So the trend is a problem for her…</p>
<p>She should be sure to mention this as the cause for the drop in grades. Ask whomever writes her LOR to include this as well.</p>
<p>Whittier college-- My S applied and was accepted there with very good merit aid. He ended up deciding on a different school (U of Redlands). He loved the faculty and students he met at Whittier and admissions was very helpful and very well organized. His main reason for deciding on Redlands instead of Whittier is that Redlands is a little bigger and he felt they had a bigger/better Government/Political Science dept.</p>
<p>Lisa: Has she looked at Chapman?</p>
<p>Lisa, her scores are in the ballpark for those schools. She has a reasonable reason for GPA drop. 7th semester grades (this Fall), recommendations and essays will be important for her. I think she has a fair shot of acceptance; merit will be on a case-by-case basis.</p>
<p>Thanks so much all for the feedback. This is very helpful as we’re still getting to know these schools, which is hard being so far away and not knowing anyone who is familiar with them.</p>
<p>@Agentninetynine, I have only recently heard of Chapman. Can you tell me more?</p>
<p>Chapman is a small college (they call themselves a University now) in the Orange County city of Orange. It’s a beautiful campus with many amenities that are appealing such as great food, a pool for the dorms, complete with sand volleyball court and bbq area. There is also a beautiful olympic sized pool.</p>
<p>Chapman is strong in communications, music and theatre arts. Spygirl and I toured because they are trying to build their science department. It wasn’t a good fit for what she wants, but it’s a good school for the strong B student.</p>
<p>Percent of Freshman receiving institutional grants: 80 Avg amt: $20,482. Avg COA after gift aid: $30,337</p>
<p>A couple of nephews/nieces attended Chapman and were very happy there. Small & personal and well-respected locally.</p>