<p>Mercer University in Macon, GA. It’s a Baptist university with about 2500 students on a beautiful campus. There are graduate programs in medicine, law, nursing, theology, education, and probably a few more. The campus is dry, which was a plus for me.</p>
<p>My older sister attends Albertson College of Idaho in Caldwell, ID–about 20 minutes outside of Boise. There are about 850 students, so it’s super small but she absolutely loves it. It used to be called the College of Idaho, but after Joe and Katherine Albertson (yes…the same ones who own the supermarket chain) went there they donated lots and lots of money to the school and they changed their name to Albertson College of Idaho.</p>
<p>My sister was a really good student in High School, with a final GPA of over 4.0, and could have gone to UCSD or other excellent schools, but she chose ACI because when she visited she fell in love with the atmosphere and people on campus. Many of the faculty are alumnae of the college who have gotten PhD’s from ivies and other top schools but have come back to teach at Albertson because they love it so much. </p>
<p>My sister gets lots of jokes like, “Are they teaching you how to bag groceries?” and “What’s your major? Cashier-operation?” but she definitely wouldn’t go back and change her decision to go to ACI.</p>
<p>This forum is awesome! I love reading about these schools.</p>
<p>I will second Mercer University. They have a very generous scholarship program. They also have a pharmacy school, so they have a large pre-pharm population as well as a large engineering group. One of my D’s high school teachers had a child go through Mercer and was a great champion. There are always a few kids from my D’s school attending every year.</p>
<p>Bookwormgirl, I live in the metro Detroit area, and my community is very socioeconomically diverse. Wayne State is very popular for our top students. They give great aid, and the area is terrific for college kids. You will be pleasantly surprised in your classes, because although people in your community may not consider Wayne a great choice … it is definitely a great choice for many top students. I hope you will be living on campus! The kids I know who do live on campus like it so much they rarely bother to go home. Enjoy!</p>
<p>Just a quick list of colleges, compiled from where peers, friends and relatives have visited and researched:</p>
<p>Hiram College (OH)
Heidelberg College (OH)
Hanover College (IN)
Goshen College (IN)
Illinois College (IL)
Washington & Jefferson College ¶
Albright College ¶
The Evergreen State College (WA)
Linfield College (OR)
Austin College (TX)
St. Lawrence University (NY)
Wells College (NY)
Hobart & William Smith College (NY)
Gustavus Adolphus College (MN)
Wittenberg University (OH)
Manhattanville College (NY)
Guilford College (NC)
Millsaps College (MS)
Fontbonne College (MO)
Muhlenberg College ¶
Augustana College (IL)
Bradley University (IL)
Butler University (IN)
Georgetown College (KY)
Eckerd College (FL)
Alma College (MI)
Albion College (MI)
Xavier College (OH)
Hampden Sydney College (VA)
University of Mary Washington (VA)
James Madison University (VA)
Marlboro College (VT)
St. Michael’s College (VT)
Nebraska Wesleyan University (NE)
Coe College (IA)</p>
<p>There are an amazing number of great schools out there. Just don’t be too quick to cut schools if they are not high in the published rankings. I was surprised and amazed by some of the choices my friends, family, and peers made.</p>
<p>Nikrud- I was surprised to hear that Connecticut College is unknown. It is a huge draw locally. My D is at Northwestern (no, not NorthEASTERN in Boston) and it is basically unheard of around here (Upstate NY). People are also confused by the fact that NU isn’t in the Pacific NW. I always have to explain the when NU was founded that WAS the NW US.</p>
<p>kelsmom, thanks for that input! I am going to be staying on campus; I’m so excited! And they do give great aid–with all the scholarships and grants I received, I have a full-ride! So thankfully, no loans for me. Also one of teachers from high school attends the law school at Wayne State and she loves it. So, I’m very, very happy with my decision.</p>
<p>One that even I keep forgetting is Prescott College in Prescott, AZ. Historically has gone through some difficult times, but now well back on track from what I hear. Has a firm commitment to outdoor and experiential education. Years ago I lived in that town, knew of the college and their amazing commitment to wilderness education and the environment. My memory was refreshed when talking with a friend whose son is now there, quite happy. </p>
<p>Another of that ilk, with some recent recognition in reviews, is Northland College in Ashland, WI.</p>
<p>OK, I’m a student, not a parent, but I have to put my two cents in.</p>
<p>This fall, I am going to the University of Oklahoma, which gets absolutely NO respect on CC except for National Merit. It’s really sad, because OU is truly a great school. They have a lot of journalism majors, and their meteorology program, which I’m joining, is awesome (how’s #1 sound?) Plus, they actually care about their incoming freshman. I just got back from Camp Crimson, which is their radical (as in “totally radical, dude”) orientation camp, and I had the best time of my life. Not one person was unfriendly to me the entire time, and they definitely have some Sooner spirit. Not to mention a great football team. :)</p>
<p>Thanks for reading, and BOOMER SOONER, OKU!!!</p>
<p>trvsdrlng~</p>
<p>Being in KS, we hear LOTS of great stuff about University of Oklahoma! Our stores here are full of shirts and hats and stuff. Of course, given that I’m a Texas alum, I must not speak TOO highly of the football team… <em>rofl</em> ;)</p>
<p>~berurah</p>
<p>OU is quickly becoming the college of choice for smart kids here in Texas who can’t get into UT Austin because of the top 10% thing. (or who hate the 'horns lol) Great business honors program. Great honors program in general. My neighbor’s kid just graduated from there pre-med and got into the exact same med schools as another friend’s kid who went to Duke.</p>
<p>One of my good friends is going to OU for law school… she’s so excited to attend a “real football game” again.</p>
<p>New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology</p>
<p>very small class,low cost and some awesome programs</p>
<p>Bentley College (soon to be University) in Waltham, MA.</p>
<p>If you’re sure you want a business degree (especially Accounting, Finance, or Marketing), this is a phenomenal school. While it’s well recognized in the northeast, there isn’t much geographic diversity here, which is a shame. We have an extremely high job placement rate and very hands on business curriculum. I personally have worked with three real businesses on consulting projects and now hold a very good internship. We have great working relationships with many prestigious Boston firms and companies - I have yet to see another business school incorporate this so well.</p>
<p>It can be hard to teach business, but Bentley does an outstanding job and offers a program that allows undergrads to get their MBA in an extra year if they’d like. We also hold the distinction of being among the first campuses in the US to go totally wireless - #3 on Princeton Review’s Most Connected Campuses list the year I applied (and continue to be on the bleeding edge of business technology.)</p>
<p>The campus is beautiful in the traditional New England way and has practical proximity to the city without the scariness of walking alone in the city at night or having to deal with the housing crunch issues that arise in many downtown colleges. I’ve never had a class bigger than 30 students, have had a close working relationship with a few professors, and I’ve never had a TA. Financial aid has been generous with me and even gave me a good amount of money to go abroad in Europe for a semester (we have a study abroad program that is great for business with a side of international studies.)</p>
<p>Ironically, this school was not my first choice, but now that I’m here I could speak for days about how good they’ve been for me and how happy I am. I just wish more southerners (like me!) knew to come up here. To use a business term - this school is a great ROI ;)</p>
<p>Sasquatcher, I am glad that you are happy, and that the school was generous with your aid. That was not the case for my son. He did receive a merit award, but nothing more in grants. This made the school financially out of reach for our family.</p>
<p>Though Grinnell College appears on lots of lists of high quality schools, it’s not that well known on the east coast. My son and I went on a midwestern tour of several small colleges and spent two full days at Grinnell. </p>
<p>While my son was off meeting students, taking tours, talking to a coach, etc., I spent a LOT of time speaking to faculty members and administrators. I also met a few students. </p>
<p>In a nutshell, Grinnell knocked my socks off. </p>
<p>All aspects of the school are impressive, particularly the academics. If you are looking for a truly first-rate educational experience, Grinnell should be on your list. Don’t be put off by its location. Unlike several other ‘prestigious’ liberal arts colleges we have visited (and a few more we know from first-hand experience), Grinnell is really a community for scholars. The students seemed to be genuinely interested in learning for the sake of learning. The faculty love the place. I spoke to two who attended my own alma mater (a certain rather liberal LAC near Cleveland), and they expressed relief that Grinnell generally doesn’t have an overlay of anxiety about competing with the Ivies. </p>
<p>My son ultimately chose to go to another school which he felt was the best fit for him. But if I could get in the time machine and go back to 1977, my own choice would probably be Grinnell. Then again, my SAT scores would need to improve – a lot.</p>
<p>2cakes - isn’t it funny how depending on geograqphic location some top notch schools are completely unknown. They have a big problem here getting kids to apply and attend OOS (privates in particular) outside of HYPSM etc. I have lots of family in NJ where I grew up, and Conn is very well known there. My parents live in the midwest and know a few women who attended Conn back when it was an all women’s school. Now Northwestern is very well known here, 2 kids from d’s class attending next year. I love Northwestern!</p>
<p>Grinnell sent me mail, but spelled my name wrong. Yeah…</p>
<p>That’s really too bad NEMom, I have a scholarship and grants, but I have heard it goes from one extreme to the other. I have friends here that would definitely agree with you, but my own personal experience has been good. I am not really sure about their methods to handing out that grant money, to be honest. Other schools also gave me nothing so it seems almost random.</p>
<p>berurah…go shockers ! lots to like about wsu and wichita. cooperative education and internships are a plus. don’t forget about their nationally known baseball program. new restaurant/shopping venues on the west and east sides of wichita are a hit with visitors to the area. </p>
<p>banjodad…grinnell…have to agree w/you. very impressive college and community. i definitely think students considering colleges in the midwest should visit grinnell. the somewhat quirky feel is very endearing. one of those places that warms your heart :)</p>