Help me find LAC matches/safties?

College Search & Lists
1

Hi, everyone. I’m a rising senior at a public high school in MD. I’m compiling my college list, but I’m having trouble finding matches and safties. Can anyone recommend me schools similar to the ones already on my list that would be matches or safties for me? (I don’t have a particular major chosen yet but it will likely be writing/humanities based.) Thanks! :slight_smile:

List so far:
-Wesleyan
-Vassar
-Haverford
-Bard
-UMD College Park

My info:
-GPA: 3.74 UW (4.42 W)

-SAT: 2180 (750 CR, 680 M, 750 W)

-SAT Subject Tests: 710 (US History), will be taking two more, likely Math II and Lit, in the fall

-Class Rank: N/A

-AP/IB: APUSH (4) and AP Gov (5); APES, AP Calc AB, IB Math SL, and IB Environmental Systems and Societies (scores coming in July).

-Senior Year Classes: AP Calc BC, IB HOTA 2, IB English 2, IB French 6, IB TOK, IB Bio (double period)

-Most rigorous course load (IB Diploma Candidate)

-ECs:
–Treasurer of National Honor Society chapter (jr and sr year) [[regular member soph]]
–VP of Environmental Club (sr year)
–STAGE crew (soph, jr and sr year) [[possibly construction manager sr year]]
–Softball (fresh and soph year)
–Active in church youth group

-Other:
–Over 330 volunteer hours fresh-jr year
–Won county creative writing contest

2

Oberlin: Has a similiar feel to your listed choices and an excellent writing program.

Hamilton: Has an exceptional writing program, but a different balance of students than the others on your list. Has an open curriculum.

Connecticut College: You will find a strong English department here. Has a gender imbalance you should be aware of. A somewhat easier admit.

3

Cost constraints?

Lower cost public LACs:

St Mary’s College of Maryland (in-state for you)
Truman State
University of Minnesota - Morris
New College of Florida

More:

http://www.coplac.org/members/

4

Oberlin, Macalaster, Bryn Mawr (if female), Kenyon, Lawrence University, Bates, Dickinson

5

For writing in particular (available online):

“The 10 Best American Colleges for Writers” / USA Today

“The 10 Best Colleges for Creative Writers” / The Freelancer

“The 25 Most Literary Colleges in America” / Flavowire

6

St Mary’s college of Maryland is the obvious safety for you. Two other low match or safety schools are Hendrix, New College of Florida.

7

True safeties have to be affordable- what are your cost parameters? Do you qualify for need based? Are you looking for merit aid?

8

Thanks everyone!

@lr4550 My mom (single parent) is willing to pay ~19k, I think, but could go upward if needed. We did a financial aid calculator the other day (can’t recall which school it was for) and it looked like we should receive 20k-26k from that. Merit aid isn’t a must, but would obviously be nice to have.

Does anyone have any other recommendations for the mid-atlantic/northeast area?

9

Should be academic safe +/- merit: Washington College, George Washington University, American University, Wheaton (MA), Skidmore, St Lawrence

10

Susquehanna University.