<p>S2 is a junior and it’s time to start getting serious about making the college list. Here’s his profile – what schools would you recommend:</p>
<p>GPA: 3.9
ACT: Should be around 27 (retaking)
Major interests: Business, computer science, writing/english
ECs: Group speech/improv, soccer, cross country, chorus, works part-time, some volunteer work
Personality: Cross between quirky academic and jock growing out of shyness. Not intellectual; doesn’t read for pleasure.
Desired Location: Midwest but willing to consider Colorado and West Coast
School size desired: 2000 - 6000
Financial aid/merit aid: Extremely important</p>
<p>Schools that he currently has in mind are St. Olaf and Gustavus but we want to make sure we’re not overlooking anything. Plus, not sure he will get into St. Olaf.</p>
<p>Instate options are: Univ of Iowa, Iowa State, University of Northern Iowa. He says he’s not interested in any of those. I think he thinks they are too big. But as a financial safety he will probably have to apply U of Iowa.</p>
<p>I think he has a good shot at St Olaf and definitely Gustavus There are a lot of smaller schools that would seem to be great–Dickinson comes to mind. On the west coast, University of Puget Sound has a business program, unusual for liberal arts. Have you looked at Colorado College? Interesting academics–you either love or hate. So many choices–Have you looked at the Colleges that Change Lives list? Might be perfect for your son.</p>
<p>I’d echo looking at the CTCL schools. Closer to your neck of the woods–Earlham (IN), Wabash (IN), Lawrence (WI), Beloit (WI), Hope (MI), Denison (OH), OWU (OH), and Wooster (OH). My first two applied to and visited several of these and one is currently attending Denison (the other decided he’d prefer a larger school).</p>
<p>As a native of Cedar Falls, I don’t think UNI seems big when you’re actually there. I also don’t think it’s as good an instate option as Univ of Iowa. What about Luther? Drake? Wartburg (too small?)? I have a friend whose daughter is in her first year at St. Olaf and loves it. And the chorus/choir there----- the best! If he’s still interested in that…</p>
<p>Browse each school’s course catalog in the subjects he is interested in to see if it has enough in each subject. Small schools often have uneven depth and breadth across various subjects (compared to big universities like UI or ISU). Computer science is a subject that seems particularly hard to find a good course selection at small schools.</p>
<p>Some possible small midwestern schools with computer science (from ABET accreditation lists*):</p>
<p>Calvin College
Cedarville University
Case Western Reserve Univesity
Illinois Institute of Technology
Kettering University
Rose Hulman Institute of Technology
University of Evansville</p>
<ul>
<li>ABET accreditation is not strictly necessary in computer science, but it can provide validation of meeting a minimum quality standard for smaller or lesser known degree programs.</li>
</ul>
<p>If he is not intellectual, does not like to read for pleasure, etc…I’m not sure that Mac, Colorado College, or Beloit would fit the bill.</p>
<p>If he is pretty sure of a business major then I would look at Drake and St Thomas (MN). Lake Forest College (suburban Chicago) is also worth a look.</p>
<p>As you already know, Truman State is an option and may end up being your cheapest option…about $16,000 per year. Your S is right in Truman’s wheelhouse…his ACT score matches Truman’s mean ACT score. He is a little bit pre-professional (business) and a little bit liberal artsy (writing/english). Truman is a little bit pre-profession (business majors) and a little bit liberal artsy (their largest major is English).</p>
<p>As for out of state schools (CO and west coast); I know that you are on a budget; you need to consider the travel costs which can be quite large when you have to fly from CR, Waterloo, or Dubuque. We have a set budget also and are giving western schools a second thought. When looking at airfares and associated travel costs, I am estimating that travel expenses will probably be an extra $2,000 - $3,000 per year for the west coast schools. That is a lot of extra money that has to come from somewhere.</p>
<p>DePaul is a good business school. Drake or Colorado College might be good choices as well. Not sure if Butler offers business but it is a nice campus.</p>
<p>Grinnell may be worth a check, especially if he raises his ACT score. It’s a little smaller, but the athletic facilities and general laid-back campus attitude impressed my son, who has a similar personality profile to yours. The school also has a large endowment and FA is supposed to be very good.</p>
<p>Macalester is actually my son’s top choice, which surprised me considering the school’s reputation for being having an activist, uber-intellectual campus. My son is apolitical (so far) and also rarely reads for pleasure, although he takes his academic work seriously. He’s mildly annoyed by two types of students: the GPA-obsessed in his AP and honors courses, and the slackers in his regular classes. He wants a college campus culture where the focus is on learning without too much competitive grade-mongering. He got the feeling while visiting Macalester that it was exactly the balance he wants.</p>
<p>Another option, if your son isn’t intimidated by bitter cold and heavy snow, would be Michigan Tech.</p>
<p>St. Thomas is close to Macalester, in the same very pleasant neighborhood. The location of both schools is ideal for students who want an urban vibe but a campus that feels like a campus. The U of Minnesota is also nearby.</p>
<p>One school that I intended for us to visit, but couldn’t get S interested, is Rhodes College in Memphis. That’s not quite Midwest, but close.</p>
<p>What about University of MN-Morris? Minnesota’s public LAC, but very small campus (around 1800 undergrads) and tuition is the same for instate and OOS.</p>
<p>Would he enjoy the urban atmosphere of DePaul? He could probably get about half tuition in merit aide there - don’t know how they are on need based.</p>
<p>Valparaiso University in Indiana. It has a business major. </p>
<p>It is by far my favorite of the ‘small’ midwest private universities that I have visited…Bradley, Creighton, Drake, St Thomas. Not sure how it compares to Butler and Evansville.</p>
<p>The Nebraska state college system has some great deals for residents of neighboring states. With his ACT, he’d qualify for out of state scholar at Wayne State College and then pay in-state tuition. WAY cheaper than any of the Iowa U’s, BUT, it’s in Wayne, Nebraska, so not just rural, but “farmy”. On paper, you might pooh-pooh it’s stats, but there’s a grad school there and plenty of challenges if you want to find them. D2 athletics. Now, I’m just suggesting this as a financial safety. </p>
<p>If he wants smaller still, how about Augustana College in Sioux Falls, SD?</p>
<p>University of Dayton is slightly bigger - enrollment around 7700. Great school that gives lots of merit aid for someone with your son’s stats. They have kids from all backgrounds and interests.</p>