One daughter got her bachelor’s degree at UVM. We also looked at UNH but did not apply. Either would most likely be a safety given your daughter’s stats. At least for us the NPC for UVM did predict merit aid, and was spot on. I think that merit aid is quite likely for your daughter also. My daughter liked UVM and did well there. She was pre-vet, and the pre-vet classes are the same as the premed classes, which can be academically challenging (but apparently appropriately so, since she got into good DVM programs, did well, and got her DVM a couple of months ago). Burlington is a nice small city. UVM is a bit larger than most of the other schools that your daughter is considering. This has the plus that there is a wider range of potential majors, and my daughter did change her major I think twice (and ended up with what she wanted).
One wild idea that matches your “small school, northeast, intellectual, quirky, collaborative, LGB friendly” request would be one of the small “primarily undergraduate” universities in eastern Canada. Mount Allison University (New Brunswick) and Acadia University (Nova Scotia) come to mind. They are however quite a distance for you, as would be UVM and UNH. They would probably fit your budget without any financial aid (note the exchange rate). Modest merit aid is however possible.
I also suspect that there might be a SUNY that fits the bill, although I would have no idea which one.
I do think that your daughter will find a very large number of colleges and universities that are appropriate, and finding the best fit might be a challenge.
OP - just another thought - less school wise (although it fits at only some) - perhaps the student can look into a PPE degree given the interests.
Some schools - Denison could hit but it’s in Ohio but that doesn’t mean the school is anti-LGBTQ, Juniata would definitely hit (but 1300 students), Rhodes is a well known name in Memphis (blue) and would easily hit with merit - yes, TN isn’t blue. SUNY Geneseo as i mentioned b4 - would crush the budget - but SUNYs are not geographically diverse if that’s an issue. Rochester I mentioned before. Western Washington - not huge - has it and is WUE. Binghamton - mentioned earlier - a bit larger but again has Honors - has a PPL program (Law).
In poli sci in general, at any school, look at sub areas. For example, at my daughter’s (I use the example as I know the school), Poli Sci has tracks and perhaps she’ll find some tracks of interest -
I know W&M (mentioned by a few but unlikely to hit) has Sociology with tracks. You think sociology isn’t her thing but then the tracks are fascinating:
Globalization
Health, Medicine, and Well-Being
Crime, Law, and Power
Social Justice and Policy
The point being - if she has any particular, more defined interests than Poli Sci or History - like a passion area - she might find it in someone’s curriculum.
So after she starts picking schools, she might dig deeper into curriculums - or find an interdisciplinary major like PPE that’s more to her liking.
I first thought Lafayette would fit but not hit the price.
Yet it is possible.
So look at that. Like Union or Brandeis mentioned earlier, a fantastic school. And if no one mentioned it, perhaps Connecticut College. They have merit.
Conn College came up in another thread. Sounds a lot like what you’ve described. Like Vassar, a former Women’s College who’s students fit the description. Pretty campus with amazing water views. Not “sporty” but not “anti-sports.” No football and no frats, so none of that energy, and LGBTQ-friendly.
Scripps and Occidental could be great fits based on your description.
Scripps might be harder to come by merit aid but it is IMO one of the best campuses I have ever visited (and I even got to live there one summer for a research program many years ago). Beautiful mix of nature + architecture and, while smaller than 1500 students, being surrounded by the other Claremont Colleges makes it feel even more active. The students I have met from there over the years are diverse and eclectic but always interesting and have great curiosity about the world.
Occidental manages to curate a similar sense of oasis despite being closer to LA proper. I know fewer people there but the introverted writer and the extroverted lab science genius are both thriving and great people in and out of the classroom.
I also think both are tremendous launching pads for someone interested in law school and, depending on D27 interests, take a look at the great international affairs department at Oxy which has some unique opportunities for students
Both are LGBTQ friendly and proud of their diversity overall.
We looked at schools in this category. We know of kids who were very happy at Clark and they are similar to how you describe your kid.
I would suggest looking at Wheaton College in Norton, Ma. It is kind of suburban but accessible to Boston and Providence for flights and other things. I would describe the student body is friendly and quirky–in all the best ways. Very LGBQT+ friendly. There are a ton of clubs, including an active birding club and a D&D/roleplaying club! They offer generous merit. They have an Honors program. Feel free to PM if you have more questions.
Close friend’s daughter went to St. Olaf and LOVED it! She received a lot of merit $ and definitely found it quirky and intellectual. The religiousness was minimal. Found the community very very open and supportive.
Our Mac friends said it was a bit more sporty there.
The state of Ohio does not allow colleges to be as trans-friendly as some of the colleges would like (e.g. bathroom bill that applies to private college dorms).
I have nothing to materially contribute about any of these schools, but I wanted to say that I love the way you and your daughter are approaching a college search. The “colorful intel” lens is a great way to go about this, and she’s obviously though a lot about what she wants and doesn’t want in a school. I wish more kids/families thought about college this way instead of just the school name and rank.
I have no doubt your daughter will find many schools that will fit her! The hard part may be just choosing THE one. Good luck!
I can endorse Willamette, Whitman, St. Olaf and Macalester.
Willamette: I know a very quirky, smart, non-sporty, LGBT kid from our Midwest state who attends and loves it. I like Salem as a city. Lots of opportunities for poly sci internships. Far enough away, and yet close enough that you don’t have to get on a plane for holidays (makes holidays essentially 1 day longer on each end!)
Whitman: I know 2 young people from our state who attended and loved it. I’m a grad of Carleton, and see Whitman as very similar to Carleton, with only its “can’t get there from here” location keeping it from having more of a nationwide draw.
Macalester: I know this one well. Cute residential neighborhood in St. Paul. Conveniently located just minutes from MSP airport (direct flights to PDX.) You can walk down to the river bluffs in minutes and commune with nature! Close to the state Capitol for internships. Quirky, intellectual, supportive, LGBTQ+. Highly recommended.
St Olaf: Another that I know well. Gorgeous campus in cute Northfield ~45 min from the Twin Cities. Can cross register with Carleton. Warm, supportive, kind, great teachers. 2 tippy-top stats students I know turned down their T20 dream schools to attend St. Olaf on big merit, and are now thriving as grads (one in her dream job, the other with her pick of Ivy grad school admissions.) Plentiful shuttles from MSP airport. Highly recommended.
I think you bring up a good point about Niche reviews. They aren’t perfect but they give a flavor. For example, references to “work hard play hard” usually means a sort of party-heavy, often fratty vibe. Personally, it’s what I avoid (but I know others love it.)
I don’t think you need to reconsider. There are plenty of great LACs.
My own quirky, intellectual, non-religious, LGBT student attends Fordham (Lincoln Center campus) and is having a very good experience, but he specifically wanted to be in the middle of a “world city” such as NYC. It’s right for him (and the price was right for us because of a specific scholarship), but it’s a “fit school.” Also the transportation is doable for us from the Midwest, but it would be a real haul from PDX.
NH Mom here with a quirky kid, similar interests. UNH is our in-state about 15 minutes away. You can find your people anywhere, but I would visit/follow Instagram. I think it has a sporty vibe and a lot of kids participate in Greek life. That said, it was a strong second place for my S25
I would also visit Vermont. In the dead of winter to be sure your kid can manage that. UVM was the second choice of my S23.
Sounds like you’ve been checking out the Colleges that Change Lives. That is a great idea, but keep an eye as many of these schools are small.
I agree with the ideas in your initial list and those in the replies.
For any Clark parents or those in the know, anytime I read about significant cuts - I posted above - is there a concern for majors like this students ? They are planning to cut 30% of faculty over the next few years. Their plan says -
Refocusing curriculum and academic departments around three key areas of strength that are most relevant to meeting the needs of a changing world — Climate, Environment, and Society; Media Arts, Computing, and Design; and Health and Human Behavior — while also sustaining the University’s liberal arts foundation to further drive outcomes and better meet student needs/preferences.
Not trying to sway OP but that’s something they should be aware of because do me it doesn’t seem to hit their interests. Any thoughts ?
Brandeis, too, is cutting to tackle a financial shortfall so look into it but it doesn’t seem as impacting.
Finally, another budget friendly option - Oglethorpe in very blue Atlanta (no, Ga overall isn’t). They’ll match U O tuition via the flagship program - and they are in a consortium with Emory, Georgia Tech and more so you can take classes. Agnes Scott is also in the ARCHE consortium and might be perfect - a women’s school with a TON of diversity but just 1100 kids.
Curious to get takes on Clark given this student’s interests. As a parent, their issues raise eyebrows to me given the student’s interests.
This thread has already been enormously helpful to D. She has received solid information from at least one poster for each of the schools she is curious about, plus recommendations of other potential colleges to consider.
Big picture, what I gather from your replies is that we are on the right track with her current schools of interest, we haven’t overlooked any colleges that are a total no-brainer for her, and maybe we should switch to the deep dive research and winnowing-of-the-list phase.
I have been lurking consistently on CC for the past couple of years and have taken note of potential colleges mentioned in past threads. This info has strongly influenced her current list of schools. I have to tell you though, she has been delighted reading your replies today and has truly been reenergized with this new information. She is following your links, feeling enthusiastic about new schools, and checking regularly for new replies. There is something meaningful about a group of informed and helpful strangers giving feedback that is tailored just for her. So much better than getting recommendations from Mom!
So thank you all again. We still welcome additional anecdotes and thoughts about schools of interest from those in the know.
