<p>Lately, WSU has been known for their Cinderella basketball team :)</p>
<p>I have not visited Grinnell but I do know about it…even here in the south. Also, Bucknell in Pa is an excellent school…very much like Grinnell I hear.</p>
<p>And dont forget about Teddy Roosevelt’s favorite; Sewannee. The University of the South in Sewannee Tennessee. A gorgeous and HUGE campus (mostly hills and woods) but a very small student body.</p>
<p>Bucknell is very well regarded here, but we dont send anyone there lol</p>
<p>Sewanee has only one “n”. n Not to be confused with the Suwannee River.</p>
<p>Sewanee is a particular favority of mine, but is really isolated. Neither of my kids were interested. Many (most?) kids still dress up somewhat for class and many professors wear gowns. There is a HUGE drinking and frat culture, but frat parties are open to everyone. It’s a great place for a retreat of hike. We’ve been up there for their well-known Christmas Lessons and Carols service and also to look around at the Seminary with D. In my other life I did some running up there.</p>
<p>I’ll add my two cents for my S2’s small Christopher Newport University in Newport News, VA. In the recent past, they had 30% graduation rate and were near the bottom of the heap in Virginia. There’s been a 200-point jump in average SAT scores, they’ve hired a large number of new faculty, developed a lovely small campus, and attracted the attention of a much more competitive class of student. My S2, who was a middling student in HS has blossomed into a real scholar. His advisor chose him because of his enthusiasm and interest. His brother went to UVa, and they both marvel at the greater attention provided to individual students at the “no name” CNU over the “big name” UVa. </p>
<p>I think there 's a larger trend here. Students who attend these unfamous schools adopt a different mindset. They come to think, “if it is to be, it’s up to me.” They don’t go through school with a sense that they have already proven themselves. Such students just have to try harder. And, that goes for the faculty at these schools as well. It creates a very healthy academic environment in my opinion–especially for undergraduates.</p>
<p>I’d like to put my 2-cents into this wonderful thread!!! Two similar schools which often compete for top-notch students:</p>
<p>1) Hillsdale College in southern Michigan, just over the Ohio line, about 80 miles from Detroit. Absolutely charming school with just over 1250 students. Excellent academics, magnificent facilities, and their speakers program can’t be beat: Margaret Thatcher, Victor Davis Hansen, even Ronald Reagan several years ago. There’s a catch here though: no federal moneys allowed AT ALL. They have their own excellent financing and school policy is that no one graduates owing more than the equivalent of one year’s tuition. Total costs including R&B, books, fees, etc. about $28K If you go to the 'Dale, you love it forever! Classic small midwestern town, but easy access to bigger cities. Hillsdale College will define your life.</p>
<p>2) Grove City College, Grove City, PA. Presbyterian-founded but fully 40% of students are Roman Catholics. Total fees… less than $12K (yep, that’s tuition, R&B, everything.). Take mostly top tier students, rigorous academics, rural atmosphere about an hour north of Pittsburgh. Another one of those schools that stay with you forever. About 2200 students</p>
<p>I have a friend whose son graduated from Drew and he’s doing very well in graduate school. </p>
<p>Franciscan University of Steubenville which is a small conservative Catholic college in Ohio is really an “up and comer.” They have just gone Div 3 for their athletic program and have lots of brand new buildings going up. They have, like Christopher Newport, increased SATs and other scores and their top students are now “top students.” Great food in the cafeterias.</p>
<p>Im currently an senior undergrad student at SAU! (Sau is a community of learner distinguished by our life long envolovement in the study and application the liberal arts, total committment to christ as a perspective for learning, and critical participation in the contempary world.) This is what you call the spring arbor university concept we live beath eat and sleep the concept! While we joke about it and make fun its really an awesome thing and it has made my college years there some of the best years of my life! </p>
<p>Im currently studying youth ministry and psychology at spring arbor both amazing programs. One thing I love about spring arbor is the personal relationships we have with staff on campus they are egar and waiting to be active and help us in our lives as much as they can. The friendships made at spring arbor are bonds that will last a life time and the memories as well. We might be a christian college but let me tell you we know how to have fun and make the best of our time.</p>
<p>Parents if you have any questions feel free to ask me or consult our website <a href=“http://www.arbor.edu%5B/url%5D”>www.arbor.edu</a>!!!</p>
<p>I have a friend who’s going to attend Spring Arbor in the fall. I’m sure she’s gonna love it!</p>
<p>I made a list from your entries (as best I could). Any college placement counselor should have some knowledge of ALL of these schools which apparently opened their doors more often, and delivered magical experiences to those who have either been in your family or friends of your family.</p>
<p>This is a great thread.</p>
<p>Albertson College (Caldwell, ID)
Albion College (MI)
Albright College ¶
Alma College (MI)
Alverno College (Milwaukee, WI)
Augustana College (IL)
Austin College (TX)
Belmont College
Beloit (WI)
Bentley College (Waltham, MA)
Berea
Bradley University (IL)
Brandeis (MA)
BU (Boston, MA)
Butler University (IN)
Cal State Monterey Bay (Monterey, CA)
Centre College (Danville, KY)
Chapman University
Christopher Newport University (Newport News, VA)
Clark (Worcester, MA)
Coe College (IA)
College of the Atlantic
Colorado College
Connecticut College (New London, CT)
Cornell College (IA)
Denison (OH0
Drew Univ.
Eckerd College (St. Pete, FL)
Elon Univ (NC)
Embry Riddle (Daytona Beach, FL)
Fairleigh Dickinson University (Madison, NJ)
FAU (Boca Raton, FL)
Fontbonne College (MO)
Furman Univ. (SC)
Georgetown College (KY)
Georgia State University
Gonzaga (WA)
Goshen College (IN)
Grinnell College (Grinnell, IA)
Grove City College (Grove City, PA)
Guilford College (NC)
Gustavus Adolphus College (MN)
Hampden Sydney College (VA)
Hanover College (IN)
Heidelberg College (OH)
Hendrix College (Conway, Ark)
Hillsdale College (MI)
Hiram College (OH)
Hobart & William Smith College (NY)
Illinois College (IL)
James Madison University (VA)
Kallamazoo College (Kallamazoo, MI)
Kansas State University
Keene State College
Kenyon College (OH)
Lake Forest (Lake Forest, IL)
Lawrence U(WI)
Linfield College (OR)
Louisian Tech University (Ruston, LA)
Manhattanville College (NY)
Marlboro College (VT)
Mercer College (Macon, GA.)
Miami U (OH)
Millikin University (Decatur, IL)
Millsaps College (MS)
Muhlenberg College ¶
NC State University
Nebraska Wesleyan University (NE)
New England College (Henniker, New Hampshire,)
New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology
Northland College (Ashland, WI.)
Oberlin (OH)
Ohio Northern University (Ada, OH)
Otterbein College (Westerville, OH)
Pepperdine (Malibu, CA)
Prescott College (Prescott, AZ)
Principia College (Elsah, IL)
Randolph College
Rensselear Polytechnical Instit. (Troy, NY)
Rhodes Colege (TN)
Ripon College (WI)
Roanoke College (Roanoke, VA)
Santa Clara University (CA)
Sewanee/The University of the South (TN)
Simmons College (Boston, MA)
SMU (Dallas, TX)
Southwestern U (TX)
Spring Arbor University
St. Lawrence University (NY)
St. Mary’s (MD)
St. Mary’s College (South Bend, IN)
St. Michael’s College (VT)
Stonehill College (Easton MA)
SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry
TCU (Texas Christian U)
The Evergreen State College (WA)
Trinity U (TX)
Truman State (MO)
U Cincinnati (OH)
Univ of Denver (CO)
Univ of North Dakota
University of Delaware
University of Mary Washington (VA)
University of Maryland
University of St. Thomas (St. Paul, MN.)
University of Tulsa (OK)
University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee
Ursinus College ¶
Warren Wilson College (NC)
Washington & Jefferson College ¶
Wayne State
Wells College (NY)
Western Washington Univ
Westminster College ¶
Whitworth (Spokane, WA)
Wichita State (OK)
Wittenberg University (OH)
Wooster (OH)
Xavier College (OH)
Yeshiva U (NY NY)
York College of Pennsylvania.</p>
<p>Nice job Father! It’s great that you also put the state they are located in - if people are looking for their state or neighboring states they will have that info right there…</p>
<p>I love checking this thread every day and seeing the excitement and new entries!</p>
<p>This thread has lots of great information!!</p>
<p>I’ll second that Grove City seems like a wonderful, private school (friend’s daughter is going there). Very conservative and w/a strong religious foundation (if that is what you are looking for).</p>
<p>It would be great if this thread could be permanent. I know I’ll be looking through this info as my son progresses through the admission process in the next few years.</p>
<p>Thanks!!</p>
<p>We visited yesterday and this is what we found</p>
<p>The young campus is in the process of a native plant restoration project. It is true that there is lots and lots of sand however, where they have begun there restoration/beautification the landscaping is quite lovely…salvia, lupin, CA popppies. I was invisioning iceplant but it is so much nicer. If you like the wind swept duney, Cypress studded look…it’s actually quite nice. Not lovely, but not hideous</p>
<p>In addition, the abandoned Fort Ord buildings (real eye sores) are being torn down but it’s a process b/c asbestos based materials were used in the original construction.</p>
<p>Other things we found out</p>
<p>*Great for the kinestheic learner as the majority of the courses are hands-on project based, not traditional, lecture based.
*Curriculum is so integrated that one course can satisfy more than one requirement which is good because CSUMB requires more of its grads than any othe school we’ve looked at.
*They have a service requirement for graduation
*Capstones include a community service componant
*They have a 2/1 student to bathroom ratio throughout the residence halls)
*The main dining hall is transfat free w/ organic choices
*New library to open in 08 with bay views from the upper floors</p>
<p>It was totally unfair that we visited the day after visiting Santa Clara which is breathtakingly lovely and has about 300 sunny days a year (CSUMB has about 200 days of fog a year) However, science-wise it remains a fantastic choice for those looking for LAC type services and programs for a State University price. If you look beyond the aesthitic limitations and at the heart of the school it truely is a gem.</p>
<p>Thanks for that historymom. I’m embarrassed to say that even living in So Cal, we know next to nothing about what’s available in No Cal, except for the big kahunas Stanford and Berkeley. The expertise of our h.s. counseling office seems to go as far north San Luis Obispo and that’s it.</p>
<p>Earlham College (IN) should definitely be on the list. It was one of Loren Pope’s “colleges that change lives”. A total hidden gem that has probably one of the best Japanese studies departments in the country.</p>
<p>And I would just like to second the plug for Lawrence University (WI). My brother teaches there. He says he has had the distinct pleasure, over and over again, of being able to watch students blossom from inexperienced freshman who struggle with a heavy writing load into impressively well-spoken, thoughtful and well-educated seniors whom he considers it a true priviledge to teach and work with. Plus it is one of just a small number of colleges in the U.S. that actually has a music conservatory as a part of the school (Oberlin and Bard being the others that spring to mind).</p>
<p>Actually, that brings to mind an additional school that should be on the list: Bard College (NY). Small, somewhat quirky, not too far from NYC, terrific arts and music programs.</p>
<p>My kids have a friend who fences for Lawrence U and that fencer LOVES Lawrence. Another classic LAC - great local rep, with up&coming Div 3 sports. Also, last time I looked, it’s price tag wasn’t a bank breaker.</p>
<p>Since none of the schools I mentioned were on the list, I took the liberty of including them.
Albertson College (Caldwell, ID)
Albion College (MI)
Albright College ¶
Alma College (MI)
Alverno College (Milwaukee, WI)
Augustana College (IL)
Austin College (TX)
Belmont College
Beloit (WI)
Bentley College (Waltham, MA)
Berea
Bradley University (IL)
Brandeis (MA)
BU (Boston, MA)
Butler University (IN)
Cal State Monterey Bay (Monterey, CA)
Centre College (Danville, KY)
Chapman University
Christopher Newport University (Newport News, VA)
Clark (Worcester, MA)
Coe College (IA)
College of the Atlantic
Colorado College
Connecticut College (New London, CT)
Cornell College (IA)
Denison (OH0
Drew Univ.
Eckerd College (St. Pete, FL)
Elon Univ (NC)
Embry Riddle (Daytona Beach, FL)
Fairleigh Dickinson University (Madison, NJ)
FAU (Boca Raton, FL)
Fontbonne College (MO)
Furman Univ. (SC)
Georgetown College (KY)
Georgia State University
Gonzaga (WA)
Goshen College (IN)
Grinnell College (Grinnell, IA)
Grove City College (Grove City, PA)
Guilford College (NC)
Gustavus Adolphus College (MN)
Hampden Sydney College (VA)
Hanover College (IN)
Heidelberg College (OH)
Hendrix College (Conway, Ark)
Hillsdale College (MI)
Hiram College (OH)
Hobart & William Smith College (NY)
Humboldt State (CA)
Illinois College (IL)
James Madison University (VA)
Kallamazoo College (Kallamazoo, MI)
Kansas State University
Keene State College
Kenyon College (OH)
Lake Forest (Lake Forest, IL)
Lawrence U(WI)
Linfield College (OR)
Louisian Tech University (Ruston, LA)
Manhattanville College (NY)
Marlboro College (VT)
Mercer College (Macon, GA.)
Miami U (OH)
Millikin University (Decatur, IL)
Millsaps College (MS)
Muhlenberg College ¶
NC State University
Nebraska Wesleyan University (NE)
New England College (Henniker, New Hampshire,)
New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology
Northland College (Ashland, WI.)
Oberlin (OH)
Occidental (CA)
Ohio Northern University (Ada, OH)
Otterbein College (Westerville, OH)
Pepperdine (Malibu, CA)
Prescott College (Prescott, AZ)
Principia College (Elsah, IL)
Randolph College
Rensselear Polytechnical Instit. (Troy, NY)
Rhodes Colege (TN)
Ripon College (WI)
Roanoke College (Roanoke, VA)
Santa Clara University (CA)
Sewanee/The University of the South (TN)
Simmons College (Boston, MA)
SMU (Dallas, TX)
Southwestern U (TX)
Spring Arbor University
St. Lawrence University (NY)
St. Marys (MD)
St. Marys College (South Bend, IN)
St. Michael’s College (VT)
Stonehill College (Easton MA)
SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry
TCU (Texas Christian U)
The Evergreen State College (WA)
Trinity U (TX)
Truman State (MO)
U Cincinnati (OH)
Univ of Denver (CO)
Univ of North Dakota
University of Delaware
University of Mary Washington (VA)
University of Maryland
University of Oregon Clark Honors College (OR)
University of Redlands (CA)
University of St. Thomas (St. Paul, MN.)
University of Tulsa (OK)
University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee
Ursinus College ¶
Warren Wilson College (NC)
Washington & Jefferson College ¶
Wayne State
Wells College (NY)
Western Washington Univ
Westminster College ¶
Whitworth (Spokane, WA)
Wichita State (OK)
Willamette (OR)
Wittenberg University (OH)
Wooster (OH)
Xavier College (OH)
Yeshiva U (NY NY)
York College of Pennsylvania.</p>
<p>My S graduated from the University of Cincinnati College of Engineering. It has an awesome co-op program. Co-ops are nationwide and also a few international. You can graduate with about 18 months of solid work experience. It also has an excellent support system for minority & international students, Emerging Ethnic Engineeris (E 3 Program). Top ranked nationally for the number of African American students graduated annually from Engineering College.<br>
Joint degree program with medical school. Campus newly renovated, nice shopping and eating nearby. Off campus housing, shabby chic in walking distance from Campus.</p>
<p>Readers should be aware that some of these gems although not that well known are still quite selective. Oberlin, Kenyon and Connecticut College have pretty low acceptance rates, and getting lower.</p>
<p>Occidental near LA -Beautiful campus. I’m considered a conservative & I find Occidental is old fashioned enough for me (the Republican Club is the largest club on campus) but liberal enough for my daughter. Good mix. Daughter appreciates the easy access to her professors-classes are amazing with lots of emphases on critical writing and discussion, field work in LA , and tie ins to local culture and art galleries Unique perspective on urban culture. Daughter loves her social life and her friends are bright, engaged and zany. DD just finished her freshman year is already interned at a law firm this summer. My only complaint is I haven’t been able to persuade her to cross register at Cal Tech in Physics!</p>