Since you’re into music, look at St Olaf. You can have an exceptional music experience as a double major music BA or just as part of a student ensemble (1/3 students are high-caliber musicians). It seems to have the vibe you want - as does Bates, though I’m not sure it offers as much music-wise (but more prestigious, if that matters). Denison is another good idea. Also seconding a suggestion in this thread: Rice. All of these meet need and offer generous financial aid. St Olaf would require you to reach out to the music faculty - you can see what they ask freshmen for their auditions, see if it’s what you’re doing.
Wondering if Amherst would work - you’d have the 5-college system including UMass, you still keep topnotch FA and reputation, and the vibe wouldn’t be as “artsy” as Wes. Of course major downside is how unlikely it is for anyone to be able to transfer there.
In any case, you can apply to transfer and then change your mind. Colleges that admitted you know there’s a chance you’ll decide to stay at your original college. It’s a no-risk situation: if you realize you want to stay you’re under no obligation to go, if you realize you don’t want to stay you have a plan and a destination, and if you don’t get into any college then you can reassess, see if you want to try again as a sophomore.
What Amherst lacks in artsy-ness it more than makes up for in terms of “privileged private-school/full pay students.” Even accounting for Amherst’s need-blind FA policy, Wesleyan has nearly as many students receiving institutional FA (roughly 1400 students) as the entire Amherst campus.
Hot off the presses: PBS commentator, Jonathan Capehart, an alum and trustee of nearby Carleton, has just reported that he left a Northfield that was totally mobilized by the events in Minneapolis. You’re not going to find a lot of give and take around the issue of immigration enforcement right now. Where is that going to leave the OP who seems to be disappointed when people don’t see the reasonableness of her way of seeing things?
Agree that this is one of those situations that are more than the sum of its parts - of which there are many. I’m merely teasing out one strand - and, you’re right. It doesn’t do it justice.
@fdoodle has not said s/he wants no or fewer privileged private-school/full pay students - they presumably know there are a lot of them at all top colleges. Anyway, my point about Amherst is that it’s part of the 5-college system, including Massachusetts’ 40,000 student public flagship. So, small prestigious college to get a degree from+small classes+ alumni network (indispensible for a FGLI student) but also more economically diverse university with lots of upper level course choices and whose students are all around. The big limit here is how few students are able to transfer.
Right now, outside of MAGA-identifying and a smaller-than-usual majority of registered Republicans, there’s not much “give and take" in opinions about ICE, which is also not doing immigration enforcement in MN. I doubt OP would be at Wesleyan if they were looking for a TPUSA-hospitable campus. I also doubt that’s the kind of issue that would prevent a student from applying to StOlaf or Carleton. St Olaf is a terrific school for musicians, who can double major in music+something else, or simply participate in exceptional ensembles. It’s got a Midwestern lack of pretentiousness that may be refreshing - OP may not be able to visit but can reach out to Admissions about being put in touch with students to see if the vibe would work. While it doesn’t have the cachet of Wesleyan, it meets need and has a solid regional and national reputation.
Your points are all well-taken. Using Amherst as a backdoor to UMass is an interesting role reversal between the two schools. However, I find it impossible to get past this particular part of her last post:
The numbers don’t lie: Amherst’s last entering class size was 485.
St. Olaf’s is a crowd favorite here on CC. I’ve never been there, but I have visions of it being somewhere between the Von Trapp family singers and “Little House on the Prairie”. My only point is that Minnesotans - by all reports - are riled up and are being hailed by many of the same “pretentious”, liberal quarters that admire and are admired by Wesleyans (Atlantic Magazine, David Brooks among others) as the vanguard of a new political movement. Does the OP really want to roll the dice that she can safely parachute from Wesleyan where she plainly disdains protest movements, into Minnesota? Minnesota?
OP might benefit from a larger school like Case Western and I saw Jesuits noted too which are often mid size. The trick is finding one to support aid wise. CWRU meets need for transfer and has strong music programs.
I don’t see St Olaf a fit. Haven’t been but OP said they don’t enjoy Middletown. Would they Nortfield? I assume they’d want more. On the other hand, they want picturesque. Often that’s more isolated but is that the area one loves.
Plus St Olaf is 2/3 white and 3100 so similar in size to Wes. I do remember, if still out there, @AnonMomof2 (hope I got right) had a student successfully transfer from Hamilton to St Olaf and it worked but guessing different issues.
To @fdoodle cost is what matters here - not the prominent name. You have 3.5 + years so you can’t live miserably. Whether you are at Wyoming or Wesleyan, law school remains an equal opportunity.
I just worry your list may be too similar to what you have now.
I’ve just read this thread and two points seem to come across:
The OP wants a larger school that is less cliquey. My kid went to an LAC (loved it), and in general, they are cliquey. Don’t transfer to another LAC. I think that a small student body isn’t a great fit for you.
I do think you are experiencing a bit of “grass is greener” syndrome. Comparing yourself to everyone else, who all seem to be having a great time, is a waste of energy. Everyone posts their happiest photos of their new friends and all the fun they are having, but I guarantee that many people you know are in the same boat, feeing like they don’t fit in and still finding their place in this new life of college. People use social media to make others believe something that isn’t always true.
You also seem to still want a prestigious name. Consider Rice, Tufts, Northwestern, or U Rochester for a safer bet, all of which have good music programs and larger student bodies. Call these schools and ask about the financial aid offered to transfers. Good luck.
Although the potential social advantages of large schools have been discussed, it’s unclear to me whether or not the OP would be willing to compromise on the preference expressed here:
Class sizes also tend to get smaller in upper level courses.
The student’s major will also affect class sizes, since popular majors at the college often have larger class sizes (both lower and upper level). But also note that if the department is too small, it may not offer as many upper level classes.
I wouldn’t advise. Brown was top of mind of the middle sized universities I suggested the OP would want to avoid. If you don’t like Wes you’re not likely to like Brown. I’ve had a kid at each place.
Maybe UCLA or Columbia are the types of mature environments that might appeal to this student. I don’t think protesting or political expression is a very big deal at those places, and I’m sure the athletes hang out with the NARPs with great regularity.
She needs a place where she can be happy being a complete nobody. Not every kid has to be a future Mother Theresa or Nobel Prize winner. It doesn’t have to be Brown, but that’s the school that came to mind.
The only things about Brown that would be better is that it’s bigger and Providence offers a little more than Middletown, though as much as we love Providence it’s a little sleepy.
Boston University, Tufts, Rice, NYU, Georgetown … places with a lot of students right smack dab in a bustling urban metropolis is I think the secret sauce for this student, who appears to be gone.