<p>Thanks guys for replying! I love the variety in schools, and finding out some of the more common favorites. </p>
<p>@ucbalumnus I applied to all those schools as an intended biology major. With the exception of Pomona, I had assumed that they were all at least decently strong for biology, am I incorrect?</p>
<p>You may find this string helpful.</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/1270318-lacs-most-science-majors.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/1270318-lacs-most-science-majors.html</a></p>
<p>Add Grinnell to your list - very strong in the sciences and the only top LAC that offers merit aid. <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/grinnell-college/438138-why-grinnell-5.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/grinnell-college/438138-why-grinnell-5.html</a></p>
<p>Pomona, Amherst, Bowdoin, Haverford</p>
<p>
People constantly spamming the same school like Par72 don’t bother me. It’s when they give out incorrect information that I get annoyed.</p>
<p>Bryn Mawr offers a scholarship that ranges from $8K to $20K. Requires loans.</p>
<p>Bucknell offers scholarships that range from negligible to $20K. Requires loans.</p>
<p>Claremont McKenna offers 20 $10K scholarships, 5 full tuition scholarships, and 10-13 full tuition scholarships for science majors. Loan-free for all students.</p>
<p>Colorado College offers merit scholarships that range from $7K to full tuition. Offers a full tuition biology scholarship. Requires loans.</p>
<p>Davidson offers merit scholarships that range from negligible to a full ride; 10% of students receive a merit scholarship. Loan-free for all students. </p>
<p>Harvey Mudd offers $10K, full tuition, and small NMF scholarships; 40% of students receive a merit scholarship. Requires loans. </p>
<p>Macalester offers merit scholarships to ~33% of its students, ranging from $2K to $20K per year. Requires loans.</p>
<p>Mount Holyoke offers 35 $25K scholarships that come with faculty-sponsored research opportunities. Requires loans. </p>
<p>Oberlin offers a scholarship that ranges from negligible to ~$25K. Requires loans except for Pell students.</p>
<p>Richmond offers scholarships that range from negligible to a full ride. Offers 8 full tuition and 4 full ride science scholarships. Requires loans.</p>
<p>Scripps offers $10K, $15K, $20K, full ride, and NMF scholarships. Requires loans.</p>
<p>Smith offers $15K and $20K scholarships. Requires loans.</p>
<p>Swarthmore offers a tiny number of specialized merit scholarships. Loan-free for all students.</p>
<p>Washington & Lee offers at least 40 full ride scholarships. Loan-free for all students.</p>
<p>Let me clarify, warbler -Grinnell is one of the only top LACs that gives merit aid and doesn’t require students to take loans. And yes, there appear to be a few others I didn’t know about although some of those don’t qualify in my mind as top LACs. Doesn’t change the point that Grinnell is one of the few.</p>
<p>There’s a big difference between “no merit aid” and “requires no loans”. Most LACs provide some aid based on merit, regardless of whether or not it’s a named scholarship.</p>
<p>There’s also a whole mess of LACs that do not guarantee no-loan packages, but will as a matter of practice award hundreds of awards that go beyond 100% of demonstrated need to some students while awarding less than 100% to others.</p>
<p>Favorite LACs: West Point, Annapolis, Air Force Academy. Most challenging curriculum, (nominally) free</p>
<p>I wonder about Davidson because it has a Division I basketball team and Greek system and it being in the South. Is it… what’s the word, divisive? (does my question even make sense?)</p>
<p>Favorite LAC?</p>
<p>Pomona College!</p>
<p>Grinell does give loans - they cap at 3k per year</p>
<p>Holy Cross and Davidson both produce fantastic alumni networks.</p>
<p>@hellodebo Do you mean that the things Davidson offers clash with the structure of a small liberal arts college? I have no experience with the school, but I would say no. A lot of small LAC’s have strong sports programs and greek life and are in the south.</p>
<p>Amherst, Grinnell, Williams, Macalester, Carleton, Occidental</p>
<p>I like Pomona.</p>
<p>Other favorites are Carleton, Occidental, and Reed.</p>
<p>Bowdoin,Bowdoin, Bowdoin. :)</p>
<p>Bowdoin is awesome, too bad I was waitlisted. And waitlisted at Reed, Pomona, and Amherst.</p>
<p>^^ Very best of luck on the waitlist. I have one son at Bowdoin, and one who was rejected last year which was hard on him. However, he is very happy with his college so things have a way of turning out for the best!</p>
<p>@4BoysMum Of course! Haha I’m not sure I’ll take the waitlist, still deciding. I am pleased with where I was accepted, and don’t want to take a spot with the possible chance of being accepted if it is not my top choice.</p>
<p>It depends on one’s major – small schools often have to pick and choose which subjects they will have good breadth and depth in.</p>