I wholeheartedly endorse St. Mary’s (SMCM) College of Maryland as a hidden gem. I am an alumna; my daughter currently attends and S18 was recently accepted. The quality of education at SMCM easily rivals that of the E-LACs and without all the stresses of such a higly competitive environment. In recent years, SMCM has added many programs, particularly those that focus on study abroad programs and internship opportunities. The school is very popular with students from the DC and Baltimore suburbs, but virtually unheard of outside the region. It’s a shame because even the OOS tuition is more affordable than many of the private LACs or universities.