32 ACT with 35’s in English/Reading/ 3.25 GPA unweighted (with rising trend to straight A’s),
full-pay family, major not yet determined, but very active and successful in theatre, music, fine arts, and wants to study abroad. Not interested in STEM field, not yet sure of career path.
Has taken toughest humanities oriented college prep curriculum available at private high school.
Want to stay in Northeast/Mid-atlantic regions, not New York City (too big).
Have a couple of safeties figured out that are big public flagships, but looking for a liberal arts safety option - not too small (meaning less than 2000 students on campus). Wants the full residential campus experience, doesn’t want the campus scene ruled by Greeks. Worried about the dating scene in schools that mostly female. Would like to avoid schools that are falling apart financially and cutting majors, hiring only adjuncts, and basically shrinking…
What about Drew University? Here is a link that might be useful: https://www.thoughtco.com/drew-university-gpa-sat-act-data-786455
Susquehanna University: https://www.thoughtco.com/susquehanna-university-admissions-788027
Washington College: https://www.thoughtco.com/washington-college-admissions-788209
Ursinus College: https://www.thoughtco.com/ursinus-college-admissions-788178
Have heard good things about Susquehanna!
Have heard good things about Susquehanna!
St. Lawrence & Dickinson - might be more matches than safety with good ACT/lower GPA
St. Anselm
Clark
OP, please disregard my previous comment at Post #1; I realized after I hit “Post Comment” that several of the schools did not meet your size preferences. My revised comment is here:
Susquehanna University: https://www.thoughtco.com/susquehanna-university-admissions-788027. It has around 2200 students, with about 1 in 5 in a social fraternity/sorority.
Regarding “schools that are mostly female,” our high school guidance counselors tell us that nationwide, the average undergraduate population is 57% female – although for engineering/STEM-heavy schools that percentage is often reversed.
Muhlenberg, just under 2400, 60/40 woman/men, strong drama program.
Muhlenberg
Wheaton (in Massachusetts)
Clark
St. Lawrence
Hobart and William Smith
Gettysburg
Safer:
Ursinus
Allegheny
Marist.
Dickinson (apply EA, not restricted) leapt to mind although at the edge of your size restriction. Likely merit aid.
Bard is not everyone’s cup of tea (or kombucha!) but is a fascinating place that hits many of the right notes for your D.
Maybe Emerson if a city is more appealing?
Just spend some time on the Dickinson website - looks very appealing, but not sure to consider it a safety…
I would check out Clark. That was my daughter’s North East liberal arts “safety”. They have non-binding early action. If I recall, their EA acceptance rate was pretty high so her strategy was to apply there EA and if she didn’t get in she had time to come up with some other options before RD deadline. They also appear to be generous with merit aid - she was awarded $80K over 4 years which I think is their highest standard award without having to do anything extra. She did visit and interviewed with a local admissions officer to show interest and hopefully up her odds. The only downside I could see is the neighborhood immediately bordering the school. Worcester gets a bad rap but the downtown area is turning around. There are some mixed opinions about the area of Worcester Clark is in, both positive and negative. It just wasn’t right for my daughter.
I don’t know that any LAC is a safety in the sense of absolutely sure thing. It will be important to write essays that show that she’s giving it real consideration and not treating it as a total fallback. If Dickinson is of interest and you are willing to go as far west as Denison, that one might be good as well.
From your description and stats, though, I would at the very least consider it a low match.
It’s hard to find an LAC that isn’t female heavy. There are only a handful with 50-50 or 60-40 male to female. They are-
- Swarthmore – not a safety
- Haverford – not a safety
- Union in NY – heavy Greek life
and maybe Hampden Sydney which is all male.
There may be one or two more.
That means you will need to look at 60-40 women to men ratio schools.
Many have been listed, above.
St. Mary’s of MD – public LAC
As for theater and the arts, maybe look at–
Ithaca
Drew (mentioned already)
Muhlenberg (mentioned already)
While not an LAC it’s almost large LAC size – U of Maine at Orono – and it has in-state matching tuition so cheap
Bard (arty --and mentioned already)
Wells College
Wooster
Wagner – on Staten Island – technically in NYC but not really in terms of feel – has theater
SUNY Purchase – 3000 students – known for its theater program --OOS sticker price is $36K approx
SUNY NY New Paltz – ~6,000 students – arty town and nice school – $33K approx for OOS
Remember with LAC’s to check how they consider “demonstrated interest.” It would be in the common data set for each school. If they consider it to be important, then it is important to show interest in some way. Both my kids attend LAC’s (not on east coast) and we definitely spent time demonstrating interest as part of the process. Either by visiting or setting up a phone interview with the AO.
Did I miss your home state? Ramapo is a public in NJ, but really a heavy LAC feel. About 5000 students I think. I’ve never heard a bad thing about it!
Franklin and Marshall should have been mentioned before now… though I might consider it a match more than a safety. Still, I’d bet on acceptance. I’d just have more options - just in case.
If you like Dickinson (very worthy) definitely take a look at F&M.
TCNJ, beautiful campus with very strong academics
With a 3.2 gpa, Dickinson, F&M and Denison would not be considered safeties. Denison acceptance rate for current first year students was 34%. Dickinson hovers in the low 40% range, I believe. The 32 will absolutely help, and in the private school context, the 3.2 may not be an issue, but that would generally be a low gpa for those 3 schools.
A little south of your target region but take a look at UNC-Asheville, a public liberal arts college.