Member Institutions lists some southeastern public liberal arts colleges.
Ooh, forgot about Mary Washington. Has a business school that also grants MBAs, again close to DC.
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S23 went from graduating with 10 kids in middle school to 70 in high school with his biggest class being 10 kids, to Colorado State with over 30,000 students and is doing great. He was so done with the small school thing. I really had a hard time picturing him at a university that large until we visited Iowa, UMN and CSU. He was ready. And as he says āYou can make a big university seem small, but canāt make a small university seem bigā. He is insanely happy. I thought heād be an oddity coming from such a small school, but one of his suitemates graduated with 15.
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Thank you! Yes, that is my worry and, yes, that sounds like my sonās attitude. He says he is tired of a tiny school, and your sonās experience is heartening. Iām glad he is thriving!
TCU or Miami Ohio? Did he apply to Miami Florida?
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Speaking of Virginia publics, Christopher Newport seems like a good possibility. There are about 4400 undergrads, and its location in Newport/Virginia Beach area means that there are the amenities of a city but lots of sporty/outdoor activities, too. According to Niche, 81% of students chose ābalancedā to describe the political beliefs of the campus as a whole.
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Trinity (Texas) - I think they are Common App essay only - no supplements. Usually give decent merit, large for a LAC, has some type of engineering.
Rhodes (Memphis)
Rollins (outside of Orlando)
U Miami (?)
Loyola Maryland (Baltimore) ?
TCU (which he has applied to already) isnāt huge and seems to offer a lot of support to its students. We visited (not a fit for my kids for various reasons) and I really liked it. It seemed to be a great not-too-big not-too-small size, a lot of school spirit, big sports, but still a friendly supportive atmosphere. Beautiful defined campus in Ft Worth.
And my kids just got accepted into Denver today! Not sure they will attend, but we all really liked the campus. It is close to downtown but in a residential area (light rail station on the edge of campus). It is also a nice size with a lot of interesting programs. I think itās worth an application!
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Thank you so much and congratulations to your kids!
I appreciate your insight on TCU and Denver. While S24 would rather be closer to home, I really think both could be nice fits for him
But is your son having a last minute panic?
In our house, we had one parent pick for each kid. We had to all agree it would work if needed. Perhaps this is the way you should address this, since it sounds like it is your concern and not his. Find one school with pretty much a guarantee of acceptance that is affordableā¦and do that.
I live in a state filled with small towns and therefore small high school classes. Many many many kids go to much larger universities and do just fine.
One way to make a large school feel smaller is through honors colleges. Has your son applied to any where he has already been accepted?
Did your son receive merit scholarship awards to Ole Miss ?
U Georgia & U Florida are tough due to state funded scholarship programs for state residents, but a 4.0 UW GPA is outstanding as is student council president.
American University has a nice, fairly safe location in DC, but it is a liberal school.
TCU & SMU might be of interest. SMU is a larger version of Washington & Lee in my opinion.; also shares similarities with WFU.
Yes, he does have good merit for Ole Miss, and he really likes the idea of Ole Miss. he has applied to honors colleges at most schools, too, so he is trying to make big schools feel smaller.
We are FL residents and he does qualify for our in state full tuition scholarship. I know UGA OOS will be a tough admit, but it is my favorite of this big schools he applied to.
He did apply to TCU EA and will hear Thursday. Initially he was going to apply to SMU but he didnāt make the EA deadline/scholarship deadline.
Thanks for the perspective on all of these schools!
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Yes, you are right. Itās me worrying about big schools, not him. And logically I know he probably will be perfectly fine. Mostly I am concerned that he has not toured a single one of these schools. Your idea about me picking one is very good and reasonable. Currently leaning Denver
And yes, he has applied to several honors colleges, which I think would be good fits.
Thank you for your perspective!
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My two cents is a little concern about the lack of visiting big schools is warranted. It could all be fine, probably will be fine, but what if it is not?
But I also agree as little as one good likely choice, just in case, is enough to address that.
As someone with sons who attend/attended both schools, I completely disagree with this.
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Do you have any big universities near you? Even if it isnāt a school he is interested in, it could give him a sense of a big school campus.
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He has been on the campuses of FSU and UF but just visiting friends. We will absolutely tour all of his top choices. Fall sports made it impossible to tour this fall
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Rhodes, Trinity TX and Denison have many things in common with Furman. See also Colorado College if not too small.
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If he likes Wake and Richmond, my son got similar vibes to those schools at Bucknell (although not southeastā¦). And they have a strong business program.
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Franklin & Marshall and Gettysburg in PA are LACs with the preppier vibe, both seem like matches for him.
Davidson also might be a reach option but it is in the south and has the preppy small LAC vibe with very strong academics. It has D1 athletics that bring in fun school spirit.