Looking for colleges like Tufts, Macalester and Occidental?

College Search & Lists
1

Hey all. Thanks for reading this :). I was wondering if there are any similar colleges like these three, especially Tufts?

I chose these three because I intend to do an IR (or PolSci, depending on the school) major and an (East) Asian Studies (or Anthropology, depending on the school). Aside from academics, I really like a sort of intimate, intellectually diverse and passionate vibe in the student body, I also like the fact that these schools don’t have a strong Greek scene, as far as I know, like kind of a small, close groups (could be cliquey, I’m not too bothered by that).

I suppose if the locations are close to a big city, that’s a big plus, but I don’t mind if the college doesn’t have that. The good academics that really fit my interests is a must for me. Currently have a very specific interest in the dynamics between cultures, the individual, and the politics of East Asia (I’m from Vietnam). An individualized major is interesting but I have yet to find an individualized major that could come close academically to a specialized major. I just need to look further, I suppose.

And of course financial aid too lol. But honestly I would not want to study in a place just because I can, not because I like its academics. But it’s (obviously) a great plus if it has good aid, since my family can’t afford much for colleges (like sub-$15k)

If you have any suggestion, thank you! :D.

2

Wesleyan - Decent sized Asian/Asian American population (20%), given its location; half-way between Hartford and New Haven; close to a commercial district; excellent financial aid. Here’s a link to its East Asian Studies Dept:

http://www.wesleyan.edu/ceas/

3

In second Wesleyan. I would also suggest William & Mary, Bates and University of Rochester. I’ve been looking for colleges with the vibe you describe and these seem to have it. Possibly also Brandeis.

4

OP,
Best to start with the list of schools that are need blind and provide 100% of demonstrated need, and then the list that while not need blind also provide 100% of demonstrated need.

U.S. institutions that are need-blind for U.S. applicants and meet full demonstrated need Edit
A number of U.S. institutions of higher learning offer both need-blind admissions and meet full demonstrated need for students. However, these institutions are need-aware when it comes to international student admissions. The following schools fall under this category:
Barnard College (need-aware for transfer students)[6]
Boston College
Bowdoin College (need-aware for transfer students)[7]
Brown University (need-aware for transfer students)
California Institute of Technology
Claremont McKenna College
College of the Holy Cross
Columbia College, Columbia University [8]
Cornell University[9]
Dartmouth College
Davidson College
Duke University[10]
Georgetown University [11]
Grinnell College
Hamilton College[12]
Haverford College
Harvey Mudd College[13]
Johns Hopkins University[14]
Middlebury College
Northwestern University
Olin College[15]
Pomona College
Rice University[16]
Soka University of America[17]
Stanford University
Swarthmore College
University of Chicago
University of Michigan (in-state students only)
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill[18]
University of Notre Dame
University of Pennsylvania
University of Richmond (need-aware for students on the wait list)
University of Rochester

U.S. institutions that are not need-blind for U.S. applicants and meet full demonstrated need
Many reputable US institutions that once championed “need-blind” policies in the past have modified their policies due to rising tuition and financial aid costs, as well as less-than-ideal returns on endowments. This largely affects prestigious institutions with vulnerable resources that do not offer merit-based aid but base their financial aid entirely on need and promise to deliver 100% of financial need (composed mostly of grants). These stated institutions refer to themselves as “need-aware” or “need-sensitive,” policies that somewhat contradict their call to admit and provide education for all qualified candidates regardless of economic status but allow them to fully fund the needs of all accepted students.[23]

For instance, at Macalester College, Mount Holyoke College and Smith College, at least 95% of students are admitted without their financial aid need being a factor (i.e., “need-blind”), but a slim percentage (1%–5%), generally students wait-listed or with borderline qualifications, are reviewed in modest consideration of the college’s projected financial resources. All of these aforementioned colleges grant all admitted students full financial aid packages meeting 100% need.[24] At Wesleyan University, attempted shifts to a “need-aware” admission policy have resulted in protests by the school’s student body.[25]

Bates College
Bryn Mawr College
Carleton College
Colby College
Colgate University
Colorado College
Connecticut College[26]
Franklin and Marshall College
Lafayette College[27]
Macalester College
Mount Holyoke College
Oberlin College
Occidental College
Reed College
Scripps College
Skidmore College[28]
Smith College
Thomas Aquinas College
Trinity College
Tufts University [29]
Union College (Schenectady, New York)
Washington University in St. Louis
Wesleyan University

5

Be sure to check out U Puget Sound in Tacoma, and Lewis & Clark in Portland.
Willamette, directly next to the Oregon capital building, might also be one to check out.
All have good IR programs and offer merit aid.

6

Are you a citizen or green card holder or will you be an international student? This is crucial information.

7

Oberlin has a distinguished East Asian Studies program. It is similar in student vibe to Macalester. No Greek life. It is in a small town about 30 minutes from the Cleveland Airport and 45 minutes from the city of Cleveland. It also has a top music conservatory, if that is of interest.

Students who are attracted to Mac also tend to be drawn to Oberlin. Oberlin is not need blind with respect to admissions but it does promise to meet 100% of demonstrated financial need - about 75% in grants and the balance in loans.

Regarding ease of access, there may be direct flights from Vietnam to Minneapolis/St Paul but not to Cleveland.

When we toured Mac, one of the students on the student panel was from Vietnam and he gave the impression that his financial aid package had been generous.

8

OP should be aware that very few American colleges and universities are need-blind for internationals, among them are:

Amherst
Cornell
Geogetown
Harvard
MIT
Princeton
Tulane
URichmond
USC
Yale

9

I am an international student, yes.

10

Would you be willing to give us your standardized test scores and a general idea of what activities you have been involved in?

We need to start thinking of places where you will be a big asset to the college and therefore they would be willing to offer you the financial aid you need.

Think of your application as a marketing campaign that convinces a college they need you.

11

Yea, alright, I might as well.

Currently my SAT is 1400 with 680 in Reading and 720 in Math. I am however taking another test in December, and I aim to be 1500+. I am also doing an ACT test that same month (I cannot find subject tests seating in my country, unfortunately), and I aim to get at least 34. My revisions show a good progression, recent SAT practices got me at 1500, sadly ACT is not as good - but I aim to study more intensively. I’m certain my December SAT will be above 1500.

My activities are numerous, centering community-based programs and MUNs. I’ve got accolades many times as a delegate, chaired at 3 different MUNs, and was the chief editor of content (the guides) at my school’s first MUN. I have attended about 10 MUNs, as chair and delegate. I am also in the largest public student organization for MUN in Vietnam.

Outside MUN, I’m the Vice Head of Researching and Planning Department in an organization that aims to create public information-sharing programs and provides platform for intellectual dialogue. I suppose the most concrete example of our work is hosting local TEDx events. My work centers around designing event plans, researching content and interacting with speakers for those events. So far, I’ve been a part of the organizing team of two TEDx events.

I’m currently in a project to construct a social event in my hometown. The aim is to facilitate societal empathy through displaying “exhibits” that are records, mementos/keepsakes from neglected minority of Vietnam. We interview these people and get their consent for displaying their experience. I’m part of a small team, working with several academics on the issue. Since the event is going to be free for public, I and the team will organize several crowdfunding events to fund the main event.

Back in summer, I’ve had paid work in a language center for their intensive 1 week English summer camp for children age from 7 to 12. For the entire week, I had to be at the camp at 7:00 AM and stay until 6:30 PM or later. I was the teacher assistant, responsible for communicating with the teacher and coming up with teaching lessons and plans. Outside that, I distributed meals for these children during their lunches.

I suppose some more minor stuff is winning 2nd place in my school’s eloquence contest (a bit like debate, but more emphasis on giving eloquence speeches). I was the candidate for the school’s national English team but did not make it into the team, coincidentally because they had limited spots - I still received a certificate for that, though.

My GPA is, sadly, not that high at 8.7/10, mostly because my school has an extra rigorous curriculum as a nationally recognized high school. I’m put at a disadvantage compared to other students at different school with more relaxed academics who aim to study abroad. I’m not sure how my GPA will translate to the 4 point scale. I don’t know if there’s a way to reflect my school’s academic rigor in my application either.

While we’re on this, my PS is highly stylized. I can’t really determine how strong it is, but it certainly has a non-traditional narrative. It could be strong or weak, depending on the school I suppose.

My background is quite unique I believe, as a LGBT Vietnamese in a large family with a member on medication due to their mental problem.

I think that’s pretty much it.

EDIT: I forgot to mention I’m doing a gap year right now. I’ve already graduated this year.

12

I don’t have specific advice for you - just glad you found this site and have a month to develop a strategy for application.

Go through the website for Colleges That Change Lives and check each college’s financial aid policy and scholarships for international students.

https://ctcl.org

13

Asian studies programs tend to be interdisciplinary by design, so locating colleges with this aspect should not present a particular obstacle for you. That noted, the major tracks within AS programs typically most closely pertain to China, Japan and India, which may or may not be sufficiently diverse (and therefore potentially specialized) with respect to your interests.

14

My D is at Willamette University. The American campus of the Tokyo International University is headquartered there and one of their dorms, Kaneko, serves pan-Asian food, sushi, etc. Also, one of the Catholic churches in Salem has mass in Vietnamese every weekend, so I assume, though I haven’t verified this, that there is a significant Vietnamese population in Salem. As another poster mentioned, the Oregon State Capitol is right across the street from Willamette so there are good political science internship opportunities.

1 Like
15

Net cost is likely to be a key attribute here. You need a cost-management strategy. One important decision is whether to target selective, private, “full need” schools, or less selective colleges that grant large merit scholarships automatically for qualifying stats. These comprise two very different sets of schools.
https://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/paying-for-college/articles/2017-09-21/colleges-that-claim-to-meet-full-financial-need
http://automaticfulltuition.yolasite.com/

New College of Florida is a small public LAC that may have the kind of atmosphere you want.
They grant merit scholarships to OOS students. I don’t know if these awards are also open to international applicants, and if so, whether enough other aid is likely to drive the net cost down to ~$15K. If not, you might face a gap of ~$10K/year or so. The best way to avoid a gap that big might be to focus on a combination of schools with automatic full tuition scholarships (which may not have the ideal characteristics) and schools that claim to cover 100% of demonstrated need (which tend to be very selective).

16

How big a deal is the Greek thing? Richmond and Wake Forest are great schools with that intimate feel but do have a vibrant Greek community. Don’t confuse active Greek life with exclusive or socially limiting. My S is a freshmen at Wake. Had no interest in Greek life going in but is likely joining next semester. Their greek scene is very active but they have no residential houses (same as RIchmond) so everyone still lives together on campus. Mandatory 3 yrs on campus. Big difference vs. living in a frat house and only socializing with your brothers. Yes the greeks throw a lot of the parties but most are open to everyone in lounges on campus or at locations off campus. Almost seems like they’re more social clubs than anything.

If less Greek is really important, WIlliam & Mary is a great fit. Very low profile on campus but available if you want it.

17

@rickle1 I do understand that Greek life could be a good opportunity to socialize, but given my LGBT status, it might make things slightly complicated. Don’t get me wrong, I have no problems with guys or male friends lol, but it might irk others or make things awkward if I were to stay in an all-male house. If there’s a Greek place that’s genuinely open about these things, I have no problem. Besides (from what I’ve known) , Greek life seems to open many venues for drinking - I’m not a fan of alcohol, so I’d avoid that if possible.

No Greek is still preferable for me. It’s not that big a deal, but if it’s strongly emphasized or dominant, then it is a quite an issue.

William & Mary doesn’t have lots of aid, merit or need-based, for international students. They said that on their website, I recall.

Thanks for the suggestion still!

18

Completely understand your views and that makes sense. Many (in fact most) US campuses have made major strides in diversity including a vibrant voice for the LGBT community. Clubs exist and the general tone is very accepting. You’ll do great wherever you end up. Best of luck!

19

@monsthion The Vietnamese student we met at Mac also was LGBT. He also spoke about having to fill out all of the forms, including financial, himself because his parents were of very modest origins and did not speak English. He found the admissions staff very helpful.

You might reach out to admissions to see if you could make contact with this student. He was working for admissions as a member of a student panel for prospective students in the summer of 2016.