My kid just graduated from Middlebury last year, majoring in Neuroscience, and they have a decent psychology major as well. Middlebury also is very well regarded for creative writing.
However, it is definitely not urban.
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Nor mid size nor merit providing 
We really need OP to chime back in given much of their list doesnât have merit and they would prefer merit.
Consider Rhodes. Student will get merit.
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My son took a lot of neuroscience classes at Brown and he considered a neuro major although he ultimately chose a different major. I think Brown would meet most of her criteria, although it is of course a reach school for all. No Ivy offers merit aid, but they do give very generous need-based aid. (You can run the Net Price Calculator to see if need-based aid would bring it within reach).
Fee free to DM me if you have any specific questions re Brown or the neuro courses there .
I am going to throw Emory out there as an additional suggestion. It would be another reach school - but a bit less reachy than Brown or Cornell and they do have some merit scholarships available. Both the neuroscience and behavioral biology major (NBB) and psychology are areas of strength. Emory is also recognized for its creative writing program. The campus is very LGBTQ friendly and Atlanta is known as the gay capital of the South. There is Greek life, but it is relatively low key and does not dominate the social scene.
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Thanks for the feedback, we really appreciate it. This process of narrowing down seems a little like throwing darts at a board (for me). I just want to figure out a good fit (more than one actually) where my kid will get a good education, be welcomed on campus and surrounding areas. I know our list is a little all over, because thatâs how we are feeling. As far as âwork hard, play hardâ what I mean is that kids take their studies seriously but there is also a social life. I am aware that not all of the schools on the list offer merit. We are aware that this will likely be the first degree and she will continue her education so we are trying to figure out if âname recognitionâ is important at this stage of the game?
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Based on what you just wroteâŚI think that the University of Rochester is a good choice.
As far as whether name recognition mattersâŚyou are going to get a variety of opinions here. Grad school (if she goes) will depend on her accomplishments, and many work before going back.
She should pick an affordable school that makes her happy. It is also important for the school to have opportunities that are of interest to her: research, volunteer opportunities etc.
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I think the most common interpretation of âplay hardâ involves party culture, but given the other criteria (esp the aversion to Greek life), I suspected that the OP didnât mean it that way. Rochester students are certainly serious and hardworking about academics, and also dedicated to their extracurricular and social pursuits, but I agree that it isnât a party school in the traditional sense. I feel like thatâs consistent with the schools of interest that were listed in the original post.
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Agree and thatâs why I specifically asked for clarification.
For OP, I think all schools will have some type of social scene/social life. Whether or not itâs the social vibe a student wants is up to themâŚand why a visit can be so important. I am sure there are social young adults at Rochester as well as the other schools on the list, but I wouldnât call them âplay hardâ schools with the exception of Bowdoin and Santa Clara, which I mentioned above.
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For a student seeking an especially inclusive environment, this site may offer you further ideas:
@Dazzy - you brought up some good points:
- Iâm a believer in budget - even if you think where you go now will dictate where you can go later, you need to afford both - and without a huge hit to your lifestyle, future, etc. And I think the answer of where you should go for grad school - will give you varied opinions:
I think if she went for premed, the where matters less - the MCAT will matter. If business, youâll want to work for at least two years before you go back - and there where matters little. For law, Harvard publishes the stats - 147 schools represented in the first year class. Penn over 200 in their law class.
That leads me to believe the âwhereâ doesnât matter for grad school. The âwhat you doâ in school does matter - and perhaps if youâre going PhD the answer is different.
There is no question to at top schools youâll see more âhigher levelâ schools in grad school because - if youâre getting into a top school - you were likely a top student prior.
But then I gave the example of Vanderbilt Residents - I started looking at profiles as I was there - and you had a K State / U of Kansas student and others. A doctor I had in urology went to Bethel College.
So Iâd say - sure itâs great to go to a great name but you also have to be able to afford it - and there are top students coming from most big schools.
So thatâs at least a perspective on school choice (it may not matter) but even if it does, budget matters more.
- As for the where - Iâve argued that certain colleges can be LGBTQ friendly - but others have said - the state laws are more important. So someone mentioned Rice. Youâll read on this website that LGBTQ students have had great experiences. Or an Alabama or a Case Western, etc. But others will argue - they donât want their kids in a state where the government is enacting anti-LGBTQ laws.
So thatâs really a personal discussion/decision you and your student would need to have - to decide - are certain schools eliminated due to where they are - or youâre ok with the where if the school is supportive. I live in TN and the state is very non supportive and yet Vandy (a high reach) has a wonderful reputation in the LGBTQ community and the city of Nashville is extremely welcoming and supportive.
So only you and your student can decide whether to look at only the college - or both the college and state.
But please - take the budget issue seriously - and if you do believe grad school is in the offing - then great. If you can make full pay, then great. But if you canât, thereâs lots of money to be had out there at fantastic schools - and I promise you, those schools are sending kids to a variety of grad schools at all pedigree levels.
Best of luck.
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Right now there is a lot of new dorm construction and old dorm demolition happening or about to happen at William & Mary and upperclass dorm availability is NOT guaranteed. A lot of students (My D, included) stay in a large high-rise apartment complex bordering campus. My D has to walk or bike about a mile to most of her classes on the far end of campus but it is very doable and most tenants are students so thereâs not a big sense of separation from campus life if you can get into that housing or the very few other options nearby off-campus.
W&M is almost a perfect school for my D but itâs definitely small-town, with a large population of retirees in the area and things close down really early. My student, a rising senior, has no regrets about choosing the school and truly loves it but the limited town offerings are starting to grate. For that reason (even more than the Greek issue) not sure Iâd recommend it for this student.
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And the school may be great in many facets but is the OP OK with this Governor?
They need to decide that in all the states of schools they are looking at or were mentioned above - Ohio, Texas, Virginia, Georgia etc.
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That too. Iâm not a Virginia resident and I was unaware of this development 
.
The governor is very very very conservative but I do think the state legislature voted blunted him a little. They were talking about him as a presidential candidate but not sure his agenda is sticking.
Someone from Virginia could better answer.
LGBTQ-friendliness or lack thereof has multiple aspects. See đłď¸âđ Happy Pride 2024! đłď¸âđ POLL: What Are Some LGBTQ-Friendly Schools? - #9 by ucbalumnus for a description of the various aspects to consider. Which are more or less important to you is your decision, but you should be aware that controversies about whether a school is LGBTQ-friendly are often based on posters emphasizing different aspects.
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