<p>Do you want to participate in marching band in college? Are you eligible for financial need-based aid or will you need merit for a private LAC? If you were admitted to Tufts how would you pay (you say you could just swing W&M - Tufts is even pricier)? Best suggestions will depend on what you can afford and what KIND of assistance you need. </p>
<p>FWIW and price aside, my son (whose first choice is W&M) has also looked at and liked Franklin & Marshall and Lafayette (would you be willing to share what negatives you’ve heard?). He also liked American (not IN the middle of city like GW - campus feel yet close access to DC - maybe more like Tufts setting) and Richmond. Did not personally love his visit to Muhlenberg, but it might be worth a look. As a likely school at a better price, he liked U of Mary Washington. Also thought Skidmore sounded like a good fit, but we haven’t made it up for a visit. Dickinson? St. Mary’s in Maryland (Maryland’s public honors school)? Elon? None of these are just like W&M or Tufts, but trying to think of more “mid-range to likely” suggestions with some of the attributes you described. It is hard to find a school like feels like W&M since it is a public with a private feel. My niece, who is a freshman at Tufts, had American as her favorite target/likely choice. </p>
<p>Goucher, Syracuse, Ithaca, Colby and Bates seem like good suggestions. Don’t really know much about the all-women choices (I have 2 sons). </p>
<p>Good luck!!</p>