<p>As somebody who has spent thier entire life in the eastern side of the midwest, I have decided to get a new experience by going to college in New England (which I have always wanted to do). I would like to know what colleges are the best for all-around experience. I will be majoring in International Affiars/Relations/Studies, but will also be relying heavily on financial aid to finance by education. I have a 3.6 G.P.A. (unweighted) and an 1800 on my SAT. What colleges would be best for me that offer generous financial aid as well as a great experience?</p>
<p>What are you interested in for atmosphere, like rural, urban or suburban type environment? What about size of the school? How many students? </p>
<p>Do you think you would enjoy going to Division I football games and basketball games? </p>
<p>If the Greek Life should domininate the social life, is that a definite no-no to you? </p>
<p>If you are female would you like a women’s school?</p>
<p>Par72 will post Holy Cross in 5…4…3…2…</p>
<p>At Holy Cross, International Studies is a student designed major, the OP might not be interested in that type of program.</p>
<p>Here are a few with your area of interest, others will no doubt add more: </p>
<p>Mt. Holyoke (MA) if female, good financial aid
Hampshire (MA)
Connecticut College (CT)
Wheaton College (MA)</p>
<p>I would like to be near (within 30-60 minutes) or in a major city (or larger / medium sized city) like Boston. Atheltics isn’t a big thing on my list so I really don’t care what division the school is in. I also don’t want a rowdy “party school” we have enough of them here that I could get in-state tuition for if that was my thing. I also am not too keen on going to a women’s only college either.</p>
<p>Anymore advice?</p>
<p>Harvard, Yale, Northeastern U., Boston College, Boston University, Endicott, Providence College, Salve Regina, etc. Tons of great schools in New England. Bowdoin, Bates, Colby. Just do a search on New England Colleges and Universities. You could plan a week of college visits and not be able to squeeze in all the great schools!</p>
<p>Except my G.P.A. is only a 3.6 and my SAT was 1800. I would never consider myself good enough to apply to Harvard, Yale, or Northwestern (or any of those other colleges for that matter). I am probably looking for a smaller, private school with a good financial aid package.</p>
<p>I always loved the college board college search tool as a starting point and will recomend it to you. Look for schools that meet more than 90% of need on average that have a low indebtedness at graduation. [College</a> Search - Find colleges and universities by major, location, type, more.](<a href=“College Search - BigFuture | College Board”>College Search - BigFuture | College Board)</p>
<p>Skidmore looks like it would fit your stats like a glove. Perhaps Colgate could be a reach?</p>
<p>U. of Vermont?</p>
<p>Yes, ignore suggestions like Harvard, Vassar and even Boston College. They’re just too competitive. Based on your stats and stated interests, I would strongly recommend Clark. It fits your wish list to a T. Other possibilities are Drew, Connecticut (a reach but worth a try), Bard, Hampshire (if you can handle a hippie vibe), Trinity (if you can handle a preppy vibe), American University, Goucher and Fordham. A bit farther from big-city life, but still in train/bus distance and worth considering, are Muhlenberg, Dickinson and Skidmore.</p>
<p>I’m assuming you’re a junior… if you can work on getting the SATs up (try the Xiggi method found on CC-- it works!) and/or try the ACT and get that higher, you’ll make it easier. It’s a drag that test scores count, but they do.</p>
<p>Northeastern is different from Northwestern - not as difficult to get into, located in central Boston. Similarly, I might recommend you look at Brandeis University or Providence University (both in cities). There are many, many other schools that you could probably look at - Fairfield University, Connecticut College, Trinity College, maybe Colby as a reach. There’s Endicott and Wheaton (also in Mass), and UVM or UNH.</p>
<p>Syracuse might work if New York counts. It’s larger than some of the other suggestions but has an excellent IR program and a good social scene.</p>
<p>Your stats would make it a match.</p>
<p>Last time I looked Colgate, Skidmore, Drew, Bard, American, Goucher, Fordham, Muhlenberg & Dickinson were not in New England. </p>
<p>People on the Clark University forum are talking about assaults vs. students.
Best thing about Worcester, MA is seeing it in your rear view mirror! </p>
<p>Trinity College (CT) not a great neighborhood!</p>
<p>Bennington College? Only 15 miles from MA and Williams College. Safe, beautiful, and a very different environment than you are used to.</p>
<p>PROFILE OF 2009-10 FINANCIAL AID Freshmen: Bennington College </p>
<p>Financial Aid Applicants 154 (78.2%) of freshmen
Found to Have Financial Need 142 (92.2%) of applicants
Received Financial Aid 139 (97.9%) of applicants with financial need
Need Fully Met 24 (17.3%) of aid recipients
Average Percent of Need Met 81%
Average Award $32,427
Need-Based Gift Received by 136 (97.8%) of aid recipients, average amount $29,549
Need-Based Self-Help Received by 117 (84.2%) of aid recipients, average amount $4,177
Merit-Based Gift Received by 20 (14.4%) of aid recipients
Merit-Based Gift Received by 21 (10.7%) of freshmen without need, average amount $10,166 </p>
<p>There is not much aid here, we know this from personal experience, well over 50K. </p>
<p>Terribly expensive & the students are not there in January, due to Field Work Term.
A friend of one of my children says cell phone service is very sketchy, so no talking on your cell phone while lounging in your dorm room, that doesn’t happen!</p>
<p>Even though New York is not considered New England, I have not ruled out looking there. I have ruled out Bennington already as many have said that it has a big “hippie” vibe, which I do not want. </p>
<p>Any more suggestions?</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>True, but Bard and Skidmore are just a few miles from New England (Connecticut and Vermont, respectively), and the climate, vegetation, and campus atmosphere at those schools is probably not much different from similar schools a few miles away in New England. Not sure the OP wants to be that rigid in his/her geographic preference.</p>
<p>I thought Wheaton College in Norton, MA was a good suggestion. Pretty good school (#59 LAC in US News) located about 35 miles from Boston and 20 miles from Providence, only moderately selective with a 59% admit rate, entering freshman average GPA 3.5, and middle 50% SAT scores (1130-1350 CR+M) that would put the OP somewhere around the middle of their entering class, and they offer an interdisciplinary IR major. They don’t meet 100% of financial need, but the FA stats suggest they try to make it work for as many as they can, averaging 97% of need met. At least worth a shot to see what kind of FA package they offer if accepted.</p>