<p>Isn’t CTCL really about using a certain criteria for evaluating schools rather than endorsing a specific group of schools? There lot’s of schools that fit the CTCL profile, the book intriduces only a few of those schools. And other than being smaill and admitting student w/ modest academic profiles (thought that’s changing) the schools don’t have very much in common - - how else do you get Wheaton (IL), Earlham, Hampshire and Reed in the same grouping?</p>
<p>I’m going to Salisbury University in Maryland, and I’m surprised by number of people thinking it’s private or community college.</p>
<p>I attend the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology which is primarily a STEM college, so great if you are looking at becoming a scientist of engineer. We also have programs though for pre-med, dental, pharmacy, optomoetry, law etc. I am a chemistry/pre-med major because I want to be a pharmacist and with a chemistry program that is certified by the American Chemical Society 
I know I’ll be the competition to beat for pharmacy school. We have a LOT of school spirit (GO HARDROCKERS!!!) but hardly any girls, it’s an 8-2 ratio for females so we have two sororities, and five frats. ALL the girls know each other and we often make jokes about the lack of girls here at Tech and we have a rival with Black Hills State University which is a 7-3 female male ratio. BH is only sixty miles from our school and we have a friendly rivalry. The BH-Tech games ARE INTENSE!!! Schools pretty cheap too, average $14,000 a year and we have a 99% job placement after graduation with the 1% attending grad school. In one year of work you will have all student loans paid off.</p>
<p>Everyone knows everyone but it’s not like hs cause you can still meet new people. We have a lot of “nerds” here, and it’s a tough school. There are hardly any Native Americans but still diversity. Great education with a great cost and benefit in the end. Lots of clubs, everyone is very involved. School is an amazing place to go!!!</p>
<p>I love it here!!! Check it out!</p>
<p>[South</a> Dakota School of Mines & Technology](<a href=“http://www.sdsmt.edu%5DSouth”>http://www.sdsmt.edu)</p>
<p>Great thread. Bumping it back up :)</p>
<p>S glad to see this topic revisited. I want to add an endoersement of Wabash College. My S doesn’t go there (yet-fingers crossed). We are family friends of two amazing men who attend. I also used to visit in the dark ages fo teh 80s. The professors are able to take these boys and turn them into men. The students work hard and have a real sense of tradition. Although they had a well publicized death in 08 at a fraternity, my friends have benefited greatly from their fraternity experiences. the alumni are amazing and the campus is beautiful.</p>
<p>I will offer a repeat shout-out for three schools I know in some detail.</p>
<p>First, Whitman (my Alma Mater) does not really belong on this list. It has graduated from being a regionally-known school to a national one. Were it in the NE, it would be giving schools like Williams a run for their money. It is less well known than it ought to be, but no longer lesser known.</p>
<p>Second, Earlham. We chose this school for a niece (actually, we worked to put it on her short list, and then PRAYED she would choose it.) A fine school, and I do not think there is a better developmental choice–a safe learning environment for someone who has some blossoming/shell-breaking to do.</p>
<p>Third, Kalamazoo. My S1 chose it despite having been admitted at Grinnell and Whitman, both higher USNWR ranked schools. It uses the K-Plan (undergraduate seminar (100% participate), internships (70% IIRC), study abroad (80%), and senior thesis/project (100%)) in a more intentional design than any other program I know. Its tuition is less than top tier LACs, and it offers merit and need-based aid. I believe that K is just one large gift away from being on the same level as Kenyon, Grinnell, Macalester, Carleton, and Oberlin as first level LACs. If you go to K, seriously consider the LandSea program, a 2 week Outward Bound-style wilderness trip involving about 25% of the freshman class. It creates deep and lasting friendships. </p>
<p>May this thread have a long life, as it offers a critical counterpoint to PSYCHD obsession that many CCers (myself included) become caught up in.</p>
<p>agree with the comment about Whitman. It really has created a reputation for itself far beyond the PNW.</p>
<p>Would like to add about St. Mary’s College of CA that it is underrated living, as it does, in the shadow of Cal and Stanford. Love the 4-1-4 plan, and the two year seminar requirement which is an intense great booksesque program intended to give all grads a common liberal arts background. Sciences there are tough. They have an 80% med school acceptance rate and male and female cadavers. (ick but you science parents know that schools like to tout their cadaver labs)</p>
<p>Their business school connects students with companies throughout the bay, including the Silicon Valley. </p>
<p>They prepare teachers and nurses and their athletes, while respected and, especially this basketball season, somewhat revered sit in the same classes, eat in the same dining hall and live in the same housing as the rest of the kids. </p>
<p>It is safe, beautiful and a fabulous place for young men and women to continue growing up!</p>
<p>I didnt think RPI would qual for this thread, but someone mentioned it so here goes.</p>
<p>DD got into the 5 year arch program, and also got about 100 in grants. We are very proud of her, and she is looking forward to it.</p>
<p>This post is sooo helpful, thanks everyone!</p>
<p>Hope College, Holland MI - (CTCL)</p>
<p>Holland was rated the #2 area in the country in the USA Today - Gallup Well Being Index: [Western</a> cities fare best in well-being index - USATODAY.com](<a href=“http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2010-02-15-cities_N.htm]Western”>http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2010-02-15-cities_N.htm)</p>
<p>Great thread, and I’m bumping it with this post.
I’m a rising senior, but I wanted to talk about the school my older sister chose.</p>
<p>Canisius College is one of the 28 Jesuit schools throughout the country, but isn’t that well-known outside of Western New York. It is pretty small with 4000 students, but the campus is gorgeous and extremely well-maintained (they’ve spent over 110 million dollars on it in the last decade). The faculty is approachable and helpful, always willing to help you succeed.</p>
<p>My sister is in the honors program, which means that she has a challenging courseload and gets to lives on the honors floor in Dugan. If you want nice dorms, look no further. They’re like palaces compared to other freshmen dorms.</p>
<p>Canisius is a great school for most majors, but their School of Education really shines. The teachers in that department are top-notch, and Canisius teachers are well-respected.</p>
<p>Their pre-law and pre-med programs are outstanding- acceptance into law and med schools are well above the average.</p>
<p>Buffalo gets knocked a lot, but if you’re looking for a historical city with great festivals and awesome nightlife, look no further. Everyone in that city is very friendly, and being the second biggest school in NY means there’s always lots of stuff to do.</p>
<p>So, check it out! Maybe it will end up being the school of your dreams.</p>
<p>canisius.edu</p>
<p>SUNY Geneseo one of the best public liberal arts colleges out there. </p>
<p>Recent Rankings:
[Geneseo</a> Cited in Latest College Rankings | SUNY Geneseo](<a href=“http://www.geneseo.edu/news_events/latest-rankings]Geneseo”>http://www.geneseo.edu/news_events/latest-rankings)</p>
<p>D’s state UG has been ranked #2 natilanally for undergraduate teaching by USNWR. We did not check any ranking when she applied, it is just a nice bonus.</p>
<p>While my son had to turn down the admissions offer to WPI because he was accepted ED to UPenn, WPI is an amazing school. They are ranked in the top 10 salaries for graduates and they have really strong programs is many math, science, and engineering fields. They offered my son quite a bit of merit aid upon offering admission…$25,500 a year (total cost of attending is about $40ish). Since he had to withdraw his app we never found out how much need-based aid he would have qualified for, but the merit aid was a nice start. About a week after he received his acceptance they sent him another letter offering him more $ to pursue research in the summer. </p>
<p>btw…my son is a hard working kid from a small, rural, public school. I’m a single parent and a teacher. WPI was one of my son’s top 4…he applied ED to UPenn and EA to Notre Dame, WPI, and Fordham. He got in to all 4 but UPenn was his #1 and ED so we are all going to learn a lot about Philly in the next few years.</p>
<p>Stephens College, Columbia MO! Small, Liberal Arts women’s college. I went there and loved it! If you have a daughter who is artsy, its worth a look. I think they’re pretty generous with their aid too!</p>
<p>Oglethorpe U in Atlanta, GA. Lovely campus in a nice area of the city and the school is very intentional about city connections, especially internships. Small classes, emphasis on writing, “real” honors program, great theatre, close relationships among students and staff – nurse even makes “house calls” if student is too sick to get to her office! Excellent study abroad opportunities (including partnerships across the world --even with Oxford) and single bedroom suites beginning sophomore year. Kids looking at small LACs should absolutely take a look.</p>
<p>DS has been accepted at UNC Chapel Hill and U of Alabama (the latter with full-ride NMF scholarship) but is very seriously considering Western Carolina, UNC Asheville, and Appalachian State. Especially WCU – he has an honors scholarship there.</p>
<p>I am so grateful for this thread. I was beginning to feel like a weirdo just because we were even considering turning down the almighty Chapel Hill for Western Carolina, LOL!! But IMHO fit is SOOOOO important.</p>
<p>We’ll be visiting Western Carolina, UNC Asheville, and AppState sometime in the spring. Also Bama.</p>
<p>Oh–DS was also accepted at Ave Maria in FL and would really love to go there. It’s pricier than our other options, but they did give him a $14K scholarship (about half of COA). If I work another few years instead of retiring this year (and I am VERY willing to do that), we can make up the difference for Ave Maria.</p>
<p>Decisions, decisions…</p>
<p>Wow, Canisius sounds fantastic – nobody teaches like them-there Jesuits! Too bad we didn’t know about it before…but we’re maxxed out on apps right now. No more, please, LOL!!</p>
<p>brewerfan – Several of my in-law-type relatives went to Bellarmine. Several went to U of Louisville, too. Both offer excellent educations, from what I understand.</p>
<p>I think Keillexandra (sp?) is doing us a tremendous service, and I for one am not complaining. Too much of CC is focused on name-brand schools. Here’s to the rest of reality! :-)</p>