Non-Competitive yet Intellectual College?

College Search & Lists
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<p>Hello, I’ve finally figured out what kind of college I want to go to, and I want to see if you know any colleges that fall into this category.</p>

<p>I’m looking for a good college that has an excellent quality of education without an air of prestigious kids where everyone is in constant competition. One with a community feel that cares more about skills than GPA and test scores. One that’s tuition is 40,000 and lower. </p>

<p>For reference, my </p>

<p>GPA: 3.8 - 4.0
ACT: 26
SAT: 1640
EC’s: Yearbook, Newspaper, Book Club</p>

<p>Thanks for the help!</p>

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<p>ok, what are 'prestigious kids", that concept is puzzling.</p>

<p>Probably there are too many to name. But I suppose people can pick out ones that have a exceptional reputation in cooperative culture, but many LAC will have this and a community feel. Can you think of other criteria?</p>

<p>So 40l tuition means COA of 60 perhaps, right? 60 is your budget or 40 altogheter?</p>

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<p>Try addressing the issues raised in the first post on this page:</p>

<p><a href=“Before you ask which colleges to apply to, please consider - College Search & Selection - College Confidential Forums”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/1621234-before-you-ask-which-colleges-to-apply-to-please-consider-p1.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Doing so will help us narrow the search field from the three thousand schools in the U.S. You might also take a look at schools that don’t require test scores: </p>

<p><a href=“ACT/SAT Optional List - Fairtest”>http://www.fairtest.org/university/optional&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>Maybe look into some of the [colleges</a> that change lives](<a href=“http://www.ctcl.org/colleges/list"]colleges”>http://www.ctcl.org/colleges/list). You’ll have to screen them for a tuition match on your own.</p>

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<p>How about Warren Wilson College? I assume you mean tuition/room & board around $40K, not just tuition, right? Warren Wilson is about $41K/year. At Warren Wilson all students must complete a “triad” of requirements: courses in the liberal arts and sciences, participation in a campus work program and community service</p>

<p>Or New College of Florida – they have done away with grades and GPA. Your test scores are a little low for New College of Florida, though, you should try to bring your SAT up by 2-3 points, right now you would be at the 25th percentile. Cost is about $43K for an OOS student (not from Florida).</p>

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<p>Rhodes College? I think that one may also be on the “colleges that change lives”. But your ACT may be a bit below the 25th percentile.</p>

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<p>College of Wooster?</p>

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<p>Hendrix, Lawrence, Earlham, Allegheny.
These schools have very per capita PhD production rates, especially relative to their average entering stats.
According to Kiplinger’s, Hendrix awards merit aid averaging over $20K per award to 95% of entering students, which would bring the COA to below $30K for the average recipient.</p>

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<p>I mean, you can be admitted to an honors college at a state school.</p>

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<p>Lots of the good lesser known LACs fit that and are getting hungry for students. Knox, Beloit, Randolph College, Wooster etc.</p>

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<p>St. John’s College takes the cake for intellectualism without competition. Read about it in Colleges that Change Lives. That being said, I’m a Wooster alum, (also featured in that book,) and I totally second that suggestion because of its rigorous academics and undergraduate research requirements. I had BRILLIANT peers, but we were a community learning together, not trying to beat each other. There’s too much fun in classrooms, and too heavy a sense of individualism at Wooster and St. John’s for that. Good luck!</p>

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<p>barrons - I don’t know what you mean by “getting hungry for students.” Knox had more applications than ever this year and are pleased but not “hungry.”</p>