Western Schools for the 3.0-3.3 kid

[momofthreeboys]

^^Yes, I liked NAU on paper so I planned a mother and son trip to go see the Grand Canyon and when there, son took a tour, went to an info session etc. It's nice to not have the college slogs be the entire focus of that time together either as a family or as a parent/soon to be college kid. We also had a opt-out clause that literally would turn into a drive-bye tour. Only happened with each son at a couple places, but there were some visceral reactions that just happened and we went along. There are so many potential colleges no need to get my hair in a knot over a negative reaction.

[historymom]

momofthree I have a feeling we may take the same trip so I may at some point ask for particulars. I am thinking we fly to Tucson, drive up to Tempe then Flagstaff, See the GC and then cap it off with a fun filled time in Las Vegas. I think there may be some colleges along that route worth a look

[historymom]

Here is the list again: If you want the ones with links to the schools web sites please see page 6.

Western Washington University Western Washington University
Washington State University Washington State University - Pullman, Washington
Pacific Lutheran University: Tacoma PLU - Pacific Lutheran University, academically rigorous liberal arts combined with professional programs, located in Tacoma, Washington, USA.
The Evergreen State College The Evergreen State College - a public, liberal arts & sciences college in the Pacific Northwest
Central Washington University Central Washington University
St. Martins: Lacey, WA Saint Martin's University
Seattle Pacific University Seattle Pacific University

Portland State Portland State University | Home
Linfield College- McMinnville OR Linfield Home | Linfield College
Oregon State Home page for Oregon State University
Southern Oregon University: Ashland SOU : Southern Oregon University
Pacific University: Forest Grove Pacific University - Forest Grove, Oregon
George Fox Uniersity Newberg Oregon's Christian University, Christian College | George Fox University

Chapman University Chapman University - Site Home
Dominican University, San Rafael Dominican University of California
University of San Francisco University of San Francisco (USF)
Saint Mary's College of CA: Moraga Welcome to Saint Mary's College of California
Notre Dame de Namur, Belmont Notre Dame de Namur University - NDNU
Menlo College, Atherton Menlo College - Silicon Valley's Business School
California Lutheran University: Thousand Oaks California Lutheran University - Welcome
Humboldt State U Humboldt State University
Sonoma State U Sonoma State University
CSU Monterey Bay CSUMB ~ Homepage
Cal State Channel Islands California State University Channel Islands (CSUCI) - Camarillo, CA, USA
University of Redlands University of Redlands
University of the Pacific University of the Pacific - Stockton, San Francisco, Sacramento
Whittier College Whittier College
University of California Merced UC Merced

University of Nevada: Reno University of Nevada, Reno
University of Nevada: Las Vegas University of Nevada, Las Vegas

University of Arizona
Northern Arizona University: Flagstaff
Arizona State: Tempe

University of New Mexico: Abq
New Mexico State: Las Cruces

University of Montana: Missoula
Carroll College: Helena Montana
Montana State: Bozeman

College of Idaho
University of Idaho

Western State College of Colorado
Colorado State University
University of Denver
Mesa State University: Grand Junction

University of Wyoming

Univerity of Hawaii, Manoa

University of Utah
Westminster College: Salt Lake City
Southern Utah University

University of Victoria: British Colombia

[historymom]

We are closing in on 3000 views which tells me that this thread is valuable to a certain segment of the CC population In an effort to keep it visible I would like folks who know these schools to please add why you think they are great...Like Cal Alum did several pages back with Notre Dame de Namur and Saint Mary's.

I would like to start the ball rolling by talking about Linfield. It has a forum here on CC but this is what I know about it and why I think it is a fabulous little school.

Linfield was my DD's #2 choice school. She wanted small, she wanted friendly and she wanted the chance to study both Biology and Creative Writing. Creative writing majors are hard to come by in LACs and Linfield has one. They also offer hands on sciences and own land where kids go out and do field work off campus. I was dazzled by the number of free and nearly free activities I saw advertised in the student center and the fact that they pay round trip airfare for their kids on study abroad programs. Only an hour from Portland and set in a really cute little town in Oregon wine country, Linfield was exceedingly friendly. EVERYONE seemed genuinely pleasant. While D was attending a class I sat in the student center and observed people. It was just a nice, happy place. D had fabulous hosts on her overnight and received a really great merit package. In the end she chose a school closer to home but she didn't really make her decision until exactly this time last year, about a week before May 1.

I will encourage my S to look at it for a whole different set of reasons. #1 it is sporty football and basketball (D3) are well supported by students and alumni. Football is particularly strong there. In addition they have an outdoor club which takes frequent trips (at low/no cost) #2 it experiential curriculum is a focus and my kid learns by doing. #3 He is likely to be accepted and by looking at this list you can see that so many of the schools on it are large publics. I want him to have LAC option(s) when the time comes.

Oh and the campus is lovely, the library is cool and they offer housing on campus all four years.

College Navigator says:

80% retention rate
73% grad rate
82% admit rate
mid 50% ACT 21-27
mid 50% SAT MATH 490-600
mid 50% SAT CR 480-600

Basically I think every kid in this range who thinks they might want a small LAC experience should give it a look, and after this post I think they should put me on payroll in admissions

[momofthreeboys]

I liked Northern Arizona (NAU) because it's a great size campus - not too small, not too big. Flagstaff is a 4-season town with snow and winter and skiing very close. The campus is compact enough that students can walk from one end to the other. The town is compact enough that there are bikes everywhere. The pedestrian paths through the college are divided so the kids can longboard. The academic facilities are new or undergoing refurbishment. The facilities and classrooms seemed extensive for a school this size.

The university and students are very concerned about the environment. Diverse student body, both ethnically and age-wise. There are frats and sororities, but not individual houses. The frats and sorrorities are housed in one dorm with the best views on campus. There is a old-town area at one end of campus with all the shops, restaurants, etc. needed. The town also has a area and the other end of town with all the usual big box stores. NAU has guaranteed tuition for all four years and they are very personal in their correspondence with the students. The town and the university are symbiotic.

Drawbacks are the freshman dorms. They are new but small (very small, some of the smallest we saw with 2 kids) and all freshman dorms are doubles with baths down the hall, no suite style for freshman. Cost os reasonable. For parents and students the Grand Canyon is less than hour away as is Sonoma. A living/learning environment.

[mom60]

HistoryMom- Thank you for starting this thread. I think it is going to become more valuable as more Ca residents are shut out of the Ca state universities.
I spoke with a woman today whose D is a CC transfer student with a 4.0. She applied to Cal Poly SLO, San Francisco State, Northridge, Sonoma, San Diego State, Arizona State, U of Arizona, USC. She was denied at Sonoma- her major was impacted and they only took transfers from their service area, same at San Diego State. Cal Poly she was missing a course for her major. She got into both Arizona schools, Northridge and San Francisco and is still waiting on USC. It is sad that a 4.0 CC transfer student can not have a space at a school such as Sonoma.
I know when my D is ready to look I will look seriously at this list.

[historymom]

mom60 you are welcome! I love CC and all that it has to offer. Even the diehards have to admit though that it is somewhat east coast and 3.6+ centric.

I figured there was a need after my daughter's (09/13) experience. She wasn't shut out of CA publics but ended up at a private where the COA is in the same ballpark as her UC acceptance. In addition she had to submit an SIR and her deposit before the UC would disclose FA. Her CSU admit was more transparent and just came out and said they would only offer her loans in spite of the fact that she was in the top 25% of the admitted class. I shouldn't have been surprised but I was.

Anyway when I started poking around at OOS publics and the WUE website I noticed immediately that OOS could be about the same or even significantly less than in-state CA and here we are. I am sorry for the girl whose mother you spoke to, I vote for University of Arizona. Tucson is a cool town, the school has fabulous programs and it really has more of a college atmosphere than SF State (which I attended for a year and found to be wonderful from and educational standpoint but commuterey and not cohesive)

momof3boys that is exactly what we need. My S's best friend is interested in NAU. It is good to hear positive things about it!

[RowNathan]

Hey, quick question for you guys. I'm a senior who is seriously considering attending two of these schools (UVIC and WWU) as well as one other. But as a student who is well above the 3.0-3.3 range I'm a little worried about the academic rigor I would find there. I would probably be able to graduate in 3yrs and these schools thanks to IB. But would I be able to find sufficient challenge and intellectualism at these schools? Thanks for the help.

[Shrinkrap]

"But would I be able to find sufficient challenge and intellectualism at these schools?"

Yes!...jk....not sure how to answer that, buy I think MY kid is sufficiently challenging!

[psych_]

If anyone has any questions about U Montana-Missoula, feel more than free to PM me!

[historymom]

Row Nathan: I wouldn't worry about it if I were you. 24% of the freshman class @ WWU had a gpa of 3.75+ and SAT Math and CR Scores of 620 and 630 respectively. You will be among others who can clearly be described as "Smarty Pants"

[RowNathan]

Shrinkrap: LOL

Historymom: Ha Ha! Thanks. Thats kind of what i figured, but i thought I'd ask anyway.

[Tulare]

I can't help but make one more pitch to add University of Oregon to the list for the reasons stated in my earlier post.

[1098zyx]

For faith based: Corban University in Salem OR
Acceptance to Corban requires a minimum SAT score of 900 or ACT score of 19, and high school GPA of 2.7. Students must also agree with the Statement of Faith and demonstrate a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. All applicants must submit a personal and pastoral reference form.

[historymom]

so 1098 is this solely a Protestant Christian school or are Catholics welcome as well?