<p>As a parent, I have received permission to ask for college recommendations for my son. Currently he is a rising junior at a public school in northwest Indiana. He was previously raised in a great school district in CA, so he admits that he is skating through his current school, but wants to be more challenged in college. He has 4.0 UW (4.25W) GPA, but mediocre scores as a sophomore on SAT/ACT (1890/28). I have no doubt that his scores will improve with preparation, though he is better at math/logic than vocabulary/reading. He will take all of the 4 APs offered at high school, but doesn’t plan to take dual enrollment courses in high school. He also will have 400+ volunteer hours of community service and leadership positions in student government. He is a star actor in high school and community theater and runs track. He works a part-time job and leads an improv comedy troupe.
Wants academically: strong science programs in biology and chemistry, diverse opinions, small classes, good med school rates (optometry, dentistry, pharmacy) and opportunity to study abroad with need-based aid.
Wants socially: fraternity life (but not necessarily rich guys with popped collars), small campus, strong student involvement in school activities. Though he is a liberal, he wants a campus that is not hippy or too alternative. Although he is nor a party guy, he woudl prefer a scene that is more “beer than pot”. Wants a place that is not too religious, as he is an atheist.
Location: Midwest, Mid-South (Kentucky, Tennessee, Maryland, Virginia) or West Coast.
Financial Aid: Will have EFC under $10,000 and would prefer schools that give good merit aid.
The college that is currently his ideal is Wabash College. It is not too competitive to enter, but has 81% med school acceptance, large fraternity involvement, excellent financial aid and has strong and successful alumni. I just want to offer him some alternatives. I have thought of Lawrence, College of Wooster, Kenyon, and Lake Forest. Any other suggestions?</p>
<p>If he is willing to give up on the frats (which make more sense at big schools where you can otherwise feel a bit lost), then he should check out the Midwestern LACs. They meet his criteria and you’ve already listed a few. A few others: Grinnell (IA), Carleton (MN), Macalester (MN), Hendrix (AR), Rhodes (TN). (I’m eliminating Oberlin only because the culture may not work for him.) </p>
<p>Grinnell offers generous merit and financial aid-but his test scores would probably need to come up in order to qualify for the merit aid. Outstanding sciences, no distribution requirements, wonderful facilities and small classes. </p>
<p>Study abroad is something now routinely offered at all schools so it doesn’t tend to differentiate them any more. Most schools are affiliated with the same programs in every country-and it’s a huge industry internationally. Unless there is some specific program he is interested in, this probably won’t be much of a factor.</p>
<p>Carleton offers very little merit aid (~$2K for NMF) but good FA. It would be a reach.</p>
<p>Look at Denison and Kenyon.</p>
<p>You may also want to look at Beloit.</p>
<p>Claremont McKenna, Pomona Pitzer, LMU, USD, Santa Clara on the west coast.</p>
<p>Centre College (KY)
Dickinson, Gettysburg, Ursinus, Juniata ¶
St. Mary’s College of MD (a public honors college, not a Catholic school)
Colgate (reach), Hobart & Wm Smith, Union College, Ithaca College (NY)
Wm & Mary (reach), University of Richmond (VA)</p>
<p>Claremont Mckenna and Pomona are both schools that meet demonstrated need without loans, so if he got into either of those and they calc EFC as you did the FA will be in the form of WS and grants. It could be a very good deal even without merit money. Both schools are very competitive though.</p>
<p>I should however add that there are no frats on the claremont campus but some say CMC is like a frat. I don’t know about the others.</p>
<p>Grinnell is an awesome school and offers great financial aid packages. The nicest thing about Grinnell is that you are dealing with people in the FA Department who can make decisions and bend the rules a bit if they believe in the student.</p>
<p>If you can handle being in a rural environment and being 90 minutes away from a major airport, you can’t beat it for a challenging education.</p>
<p>FAFSA Parent - isolated is no problem, especially since he wants a school where kids are active and involeved, so isolation helps with that. </p>
<p>These look like great choices, especially if his ACT scores go up. Right now, the CA schools are probably a reach. </p>
<p>Are Beloit and Grinnell considered hippy, or just quirky? Quirky is fine, but I guess S is rebelling from his Berkeley childhood about the hippy thing.</p>
<p>Most of those midwestern schools mentioned do not have frats.</p>
<p>I did not get the sense from visiting Grinnell that it was a hippy school. What it does stress is inclusiveness, respect for differences and for everyone’s individuality and personal identity.</p>
<p>Grinnell is definitively ‘quirky’ rather than hippie. And it’s under an hour to the airport in Des Moines, about 1 1/4 hours to the airport in Cedar Rapids.</p>
<p>Thanks so much everyone. We are going to do the Ohio Summer tour as a result, and will look at a few more that were initially not on the list. Who knows, by Senior year he may off this greek thing. I live the CC community for all the knowledge and support.</p>