son is getting "express" applications...

Northstarmom
Mon, 18 Sep 2006 12:10:45 +0000

I know that Amherst doesn’t give merit aid. It is also a very far reach for him as it’s one of the very top LACs in the country.

If he wants small and rural or at least small town, he also should look at Grinnell, Kenyon, Earlham, Beloit, all of which, I believe, give merit aid.

St. Olaf’s gives a small amount of merit aid ($1,500, I think) to NM Commended students.
Also check out Loren Pope’s “Colleges that Change Lives” site and books, which describe some very nice LACs, most of which are in small areas and are known for excellence in teaching.

He also might want to look at Florida’s New College. It’s a small – about 700 students-- public university for honors students. It can be a wonderful place for well organized, responsible students who love intellectual stimulation. I know a couple of NM scholars who went there as their first choice. One is now working on a doctorate at Johns Hopkins.

Your Smay qualify for a merit scholarship. It’s in Sarasota, which isn’t rural, but isn’t huge either. The cost is reasonable even for out of staters.