<p>Hanna and Leshachikha,
I think the beauty and the uniqueness of the campus is what makes the Principia alumni go back so often for their reunions, and what makes them write those alumni checks every year. Funny, Leshachikha, you mentioned that you live in St. Louis and go to Elsah and Alton for beauty. My daughter and her friends tended to go to St. Louis every weekend for things to do!</p>
<p>Next time you go across the river try going the other way to Grafton and then Pere Marquette Park. We stayed at the lodge at Pere Marquette for our daughters graduation, it was like the lodges at the National Parks out west.</p>
<p>Good to see Simmons on this forum as it does not get much love on CC. Its a cross the street from me and Ssems like a great option: not crazy competitive admissions, womenās college but not socially isolated, livable part of Boston with easy access everywhere, in the heart of biotech/biomed Mecca so great research opportunities (I have had several students in my lab). Lots of building going on there so it must be doing something right.</p>
<p>Anyways, I want to give a shout out to Evergreen. I have a friend who goes there who loves it. Itās very non-traditional in terms of learning. Itās actually a state school but set up like a private LACā¦though a bit bigger (like 4k students)</p>
<p>I teach at Alverno College in Milwaukeeāa small liberal arts womenās college (1200 students) which is known for its innovative ability-based curriculum.
<a href=āhttp://www.alverno.edu/[/url]ā>http://www.alverno.edu/</a>
No grades, but you have to demonstrate competence in 8 different abilities:</p>
<h1>Communication</h1>
<h1>Analysis</h1>
<h1>Problem Solving</h1>
<h1>Valuing in Decision-Making</h1>
<h1>Social Interaction</h1>
<h1>Developing a Global Perspective</h1>
<h1>Effective Citizenship</h1>
<h1>Aesthetic Engagement</h1>
<p>Itās an extremely high-touch learning environment. Itās not unusual for me to get phone calls at home on Sunday nights. A very nurturing environment with a diverse student bodyāthe most diverse Iāve come across anywhere. Lots of nontraditional students. Strong majors include nursing, education, art/music therapy.</p>
<p>What a great thread! Itās good to see some of these schools get the recognition they deserve on this board. Iād like to second Whitworth: good school with good D3 athletics that is often overlooked. A friend has a son there who is getting close interaction with faculty, internships, plus playing baseball. IN the same town: Gonzaga deserves a hard look, esp for those who want a Catholic/service to mankind feel. Also on the West Coast: look at Linfield. Great merit aid, small town but close to Portland, highly ranked in its catagory. Great school spirit and athletics for a D3 school (football!) By far the friendliest campus my D visitedā¦ she could hardly break away to meet me for lunch because kids in the class she sat in on were walking with her and inviting her to come see their (brand new at the time and great) on-campus apartments.</p>
<p>Iām the original poster (you guys rock for making this such a fun thread!) and we too visited Saint Maryās next to ND. A beautiful campus and what seemed like a very nurturing environment. My D decided an all-girls school is not what she wanted (though I understand that some ND guys do take an occasional class at SM). The location was also good for us - about 2 hours away from home.</p>
<p>We also have the greatest hockey team in all the land (I dont want any counter responsesāsave it ;)). </p>
<p>Many people (Including some I know) picked BU over much more prestigious schools including Ivies and the like because they wanted an academically sound school with a less cutthroat atmosphere plus kickass hockey and an amazing location next to Fenway Park (Iām sure getting a ton of aid helped too).</p>
<p>Not to mention the 7th largest international population of all schools and one of the most diverse schools in the country. </p>
<p>It is ridiculously expensive, but they offer pretty good aid.</p>
<p>My parents donāt go here either, so iāll discuss my school instead, College of the Atlantic.</p>
<p>COA only has 280 students, and thatās for a reason. Every class has under 30 people, and the average is 12, all centered around a major called Human Ecology. Within that major you can study a wide variety of things(Iām going into Marine Sciences), but the difference is that human ecology focuses on bettering the world, and understanding the connections between things(the courses therefore emphasize interdisciplanary learning). </p>
<p>While most people who go to COA are the hippie/activist type, it is still very diverse. It has the second highest percentage of international students of any American college. This is due to the small size and connections with United World Colleges.</p>
<p>One of the best things about COA is the location. It is in Bar Harbor, Maine, a well-known resort town. On one side of the campus is the Atlantic Ocean, on the other, Acadia National Park. This is possibly one of the most scenic campuses anywhere. </p>
<p>The school is recognized for its great food(Vegan options at every meal), small, discussion-intense classes, beautiful campus, high international students and merit aid. Iāve recieved a generous financial aid package although the tuition is a bit expensive.</p>
<p>So yeah, <a href=āhttp://www.coa.edu%5B/url%5Dā>www.coa.edu</a> if anyone has enviornmentaly focused children. :)</p>
<p>Yeah I visited it in a horrible storm and I was still amazed! There was snowy mountains, adorable islands off shore(we got to walk to one that was accessible at low tide), and the town was so well-kept and homely. I canāt wait to actually move there in September!</p>
<p>My niece attended Truman State in northern Missouri. I was a little surprised, because her father had degrees from elite universities and made it possible for her to see a lot of the world. She was bright enough to have a lot of options. But he supported her choice without reservation, and she loved her experience there. I went to her graduation and met many of her friends and classmates and was impressed. Nice school.</p>
<p>My mother and both sisters attended Ursinus College in PA, which I think is listed in Popeās book also. It was too small for me, but my sisters did quite well and received a very good education in the sciences.</p>
<p>I have no knowledge whatsoever of this school, but a mom I know raves about Highpoint for her not-so-academic kids. Her elder son left high school with an abyssmal GPA, but is now headed to a decent grad school to study some branch of biological science. The small class size and personal attention made the difference for him.</p>
<p>Nice thread, i am giving a shout out for Pepperdine, which only shows up on CC lists for itās magnificent view. Very frustrating as it has so much more to offer.<br>
My D transferred to Pepperdine soph year and D has found an incredible LAC program. Small classes all taught by professors no TAās. The first day there she had a problem with her transcripts from her other school and the people at Pepperdine were all over it. Her dept. chair then heard about it and swept her into her office and re-did her class schedule then and there.</p>
<p>D is a good student, but has to work hard. She has been given so much support by professors when needed. Lots of study group support too.</p>
<p>They have a small but incredible Theatre and Music program, very tightly knit and connected to the LA industry.</p>
<p>They have a great business program well supported by businesses in the surrounding areas.</p>
<p>The icing on the cake was the international program she participated in this summer in Florence. The traveling professor was the university president. How many students get to spend 7 weeks with the President of the university? He is hosting a get together at his home the week school starts for these same students. (This is the second dinner in his home he has hosted for them!)</p>
<p>The faith aspect is not overwhelming (we are not Church of Christ). The philosophy to learn to then give back to the community is refreshing in a society that tend to be self-centered. Lots of opportunities to get involved in community service from Ventura County down through L.A.</p>
<p>After a really bad first year experience elsewhere, my D has had an exceptional experience at Pepperdine and canāt wait to return in August. Just recently she saidā¦I have met so many great people and it seems that everyone I meet is so friendly!</p>
<p>As parents, we have been well received and made to feel part of a community. The administration is exceptional, no glitches, easy answers, very well organized! (I attend a LAC graduate program that is often ranked higher than Pepperdine and have nothing but problems with adminstrative issues!)</p>
<p>The view of the Pacific Ocean from my Dās dorm is exceptional, but that is not what she talks about the most. Beyond the beauty is a wonderful LAC program. and a school with a heart.</p>
<p>I deleted several posts because they were not focused on the point of this thread ā posting about some particular lesser known schools.</p>
<p>If you wish to discuss the issue of ānameā versus ālesser knownā schools, it can be done on a separate thread. Letās keep this one focused on suggesting specific lesser known options.</p>
<p>I want to give credit to several small schools in Ohio. My son got full scholarships to Ohio Wesleyan and Kenyon. Three quarter to Wooster and half to Denison. All great choices and in the end all cheaper than the Ohio State Univ. Big is not always bettter or cheaper for good students</p>
<p>I second Milikin in Illinois, itās a great school for the arts.</p>
<p>Another lesser known school in IL is Illinois Wesleyan University. Theyāre a small liberal arts school with pretty good academics, but what sets them apart is their school of fine arts, which comprises the schools of art, theatre, and music. Iāve been to one of their plays, and it was outstanding. The opportunities for artistically inclined liberal arts majors (or vice versa) are amazing.</p>