Note the OP said this in the third paragraph so as we all make suggestions, we should ensure there is a significant merit opportunity. Some of these above do and some don’t. What the target price is I don’t know.
The other thing is demonstrated interest as OP won’t have any - so who considers vs labeling it important perhaps may be better.
“We are likely full pay but she is very sensitive to the cost so getting merit could be a deciding factor.”
K and Rhodes can get under $40k I’m guessing. Others as well but not all listed.
Yep I noticed initially that the applied to list didn’t match the statement which led me to believe that Loyola or U Az may be in the lead but they are seeking smaller / cheaper so they can accomplish all goals.
Smith College’s deadline is 1/15—perhaps not a target but OP’s kid has the right stats. Under 2 hours to Boston, charming Northampton location, maybe a little high on the quirk scale, but plenty of women are there for the terrific single sex education. They give merit but not much.
I second Kenyon, though it’s definitely rural. My D preferred it over Macalester—which overwhelmed her with quirk when she spent the day there.
First I want to thank all of the contributors with their personal and helpful suggestions, insights, and experiences. We’ve made a new tab (#12) on the google sheet just for all the input and to compare schools. She is still finishing up a few other essays for schools already on the list so with only a few days left she is going to prioritize schools that don’t require a supplemental and then those with a supplemental prompt that where she can refine an existing one. I’ll write back later this evening or tomorrow with the outcome.
This is a good quick look source for this, pulled from CDS data:
You have to then go to the website of any college of interest and see what they actually say about merit. But if on that chart there is a decent percentage of undergrads without need receiving merit, and a decent average merit award, that is what I would provisionally call a robust merit program.
Shoot - was going to suggest Occidental, but just realized they had a RD deadline of Jan 10. Merit would have been likely and they have good science programs along with opportunity to take classes at Caltech (although they might have been a little more left leaning than she’s looking for).
I am going to throw in one more liberal arts college that doesn’t require a supplemental essay and is quite generous with merit - Furman University in Greenville SC. The application deadline is January 15. Added bonus: there is no application fee. It’s a larger LAC at just under 3000 students They are known for having strong programs in the sciences and would probably fall somewhere between safety and target for your student. It’s also an incredibly beautiful campus.
I know I might get pushback from certain posters on these boards who don’t have any recent experience with the school and will tell you it is conservative and religious. It’s not. They broke away from the Baptist church in 1992. I am attaching a recent article about politics on campus. 47 percent identified as Democrat vs 28 percent Republican.
FWIW, my S22 was looking for a smaller more academically focused college without an intense Greek scene. (About 30 percent of Furman students participate in Greek life. There are no fraternity or sorority houses and freshman rush is in the Spring to allow students to settle in to college.)
My son really liked Davidson,Furman and Rhodes. The latter two are easier admits with higher likelihood of merit scholarships. He ended up at one of the mid size colleges already on your list because it gave him the best of both worlds - the small classes, relationship with professors and sense of community of an LAC combined with robust opportunities for research and a wider variety of course offerings of larger research universities.
Has Franklin & Marshall been mentioned yet? Not too Greek, certainly left leaning. In a very nice, walkable small city, and about 1.5 hours from Philly.
Many good suggestions already. A few others would be SUNY Geneseo since you looked a Rochester. Same region, it is the SUNY LAC with smart kids in a slightly larger format. Cost could be attractive as well and with. March 1 deadline you can take your time.
Skidmore is a great school in a great location but good merit is hard to come by.
Trinity college is in Hartford. A solid NESCAC school and they have a Feb. 1 deadline so a bit more time to get things done
Will try to answer some of the recent questions /comments.
Why U of Az and Loyola Chicago? - These are two of her safeties that had Dec 1 deadlines and CogSci. Already accepted and with strong merit.
Likely will apply to Trinity with the Feb 1 deadline.
Merit targeted yes/no? - I’d characterize that it could tip the decision between target schools if she didn’t get into any reach schools but we’d try very hard to find a way to pay for it if she was accepted to one of her top reach schools that offered no to little merit.
Daughter will consider a school with student population >2k but is very squeamish when <2k like Kenyon or St Lawrence. We’ve given up trying to rationalize this with her.
As of tonight, she is planning to add: Holy Cross (3k students and close to Boston), Dickinson, and and Dennison. The later 2 are closer to 2 but based upon postings, less quirky then Oberlin, St Olaf, or McCalister. Each of these also doesn’t require a supplemental.
If we’d planned better, she would have apply to Carleton and Davidson but they each require two unique supplemental that don’t translate well into any of her existing ones for reuse and she already is going to have a crazy 72 hours. If she gets ahead and finds some time, she might do one of these.
Given the major and potential outcomes, what would you gain by going to a reach vs target?
I’m not sure your desired outcome but it’s potentially grad school. That you have to stretch hard to pay for something tells me you likely can’t afford it.
A reach is simply more selective. It really doesn’t mean much else.
So I’m hopeful you find a school with merit based on what you wrote.
