<p>Take look at Grinnell, Macalester and Oberlin - not west coast, but a similar enough vibe that there are a fair number of cross-applicants between these schools and CC. </p>
<p>Grinnell offers merit aid and has outstanding sciences. (S was a biochem major - now in medical school. GF was a psych major, now in a PdD program.) S especially loved the walk-on sports teams and played inter-mural soccer. The athletics facilities are palatial. <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/grinnell-college/438138-why-grinnell.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/grinnell-college/438138-why-grinnell.html</a> </p>
<p>Grinnell, Macalester and Oberlin, like CC, share the understated, low key, non-preppy vibe common to the midwestern LACs, so if one is a ‘fit’ then the others are probably close enough.</p>