melmariet

I have been struggling to find an affordable LAC- I have Kansas residency/optional Arizona residency, and there is absolutely nothing to choose from in-state. I wasnt exactly a slacker in HS (editor of magazine, national recognition for art/photography accomplishment, 24 ACT but my GPA is like a 2.8)... but I am finally ready to take education seriously, (I have grow up a bit from traveling on a gap year, and I'm more ready to settle down) so I am looking for a small school that will help me stay focused, and be open enough to allow me to create a sort of "media studies" BA (sociology and music).

I'd like to either close to home (as in part of the continent) or Pacific NW, but i am trying to be open-minded.

colleges with strong departments in sociology, ethnomusicology, art, philosophy, and the general humanities.

schools i have found similar: Evergreen State, prescott in AZ, Reed (too hard to get into), New College, Colorado College (too expensive?), Antioch (but it shut down sadly).

Does anything come in mind to anyone? I am desperate for advice, i am strapped financially (parents cant really help me out much because of bad housing economy in our country, but we aren't broken enough for me to get much FASFA help). I'm determined to find what is right for me - opposed to going to some over priced state school that only sort of offers what I am looking for- I don't want to another # in massive seminars, where undergrads are treated like sheep and blablabla? Challenging academic environment? my friends think i just want a hippie school?
HEllllpppppp!!!

happymomof1

Are you a boy or a girl?

If you are a girl, try Cottey College (Cottey College) in Nevada, MO. This is a small liberal arts college that offers only the first two years. All of the students transfer elsewhere to finish. The college is very heavily supported by alumnae and the PEO sisterhood so that the price is significantly less expensive than most other LACs.

melmariet

Thanks for the suggestion. I am a girl, i will check it out...

arduouspallor

University of Puget Sound. On college board it says they only meet 86%, but my friend got a really good financial aid packet from them. I think she'll graduate with only around $5,000 in debt, which, while it may sound a lot, is definitely manageable compared to other schools.

EDIT: I forgot to add that she got a lot of outside-scholarships too, but the school gave her the most.

Lewis & Clark College, too.

ferryboat10

There are public LACs, which are affordable in-state and cheaper than most LACs even for out of state.
Being as Kansas resident allows you to attend two such public LACs, Minnesota-Morris and Wisconsin-Superior, at a substantial discount through the Midwest Student Exchange program.

bclintonk

^ Actually, the University of Minnesota recently changed its tuition structure, cutting out-of-state tuition to $4,000/year above the in-state rate at the flagship Twin Cities campus; this is now the same for Midwest Student Exchange students as for all out-of-state students. It's a real bargain for out-of-state applicants.

But Minnesota-Morris is an even bigger bargain: they charge all out-of-state students the same tuition as in-state students, $8,254/year. With other mandatory fees, the total for tuition and fees comes to $10,006. That's a fabulous bargain for a high-quality public LAC which US News ranks fourth among all public LACs in the country.

Masquemom

I'd also recommend Beloit, one of the CTCL schools, as a great one for developing the potential of late-bloomers.

radannie

Warren Wilson
Hampshire College

melmariet

Wow, thanks you guys. I though I was at the end of my researching and hope, but i've uncovered a lot just from this one thread. wooho

MidwestMom2Kids_

I think Beloit and University of Minnesota - Morris are both great suggestions, and, as noted UM-M is an affordable LAC.