Schools that are one step below Villanova?

[Anonymous]

Any suggestions for a school similar to Villanova, but not quite as hard to get in? Like if Villanova was a “reach”-what would be a “target?” Because I think that (the “target”) would be my kid’s reach.

-no further south than VA, no further west than Colorado

Will probably study some type of science, but not engineering.

Catholic a plus, but doesn’t have to be

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Not sure about the programs, but I know a lot of people at my Catholic HS south of Philly applied to both Villanova and St Joe’s

[Anonymous]

Lehigh? Bucknell? UMass?

[Anonymous]

A lot of kids who don’t get into Villanova in my area go to Catholic, providence, university of Scranton, Loyola Maryland, Fordham

[Anonymous]

Providence

Fairfield

Loyola MD

Loyola Chicago

[Anonymous]

St Joes and Fairfield.

George Mason/CNU/MaryWashington if in VA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Lehigh? Bucknell? UMass?

No
No
IDK

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:St Joes and Fairfield.

George Mason/CNU/MaryWashington if in VA.

I think that Fairfield is a step above at Joe’s. It’s pretty similar to Villanova, but not as big and colder. Bonus that juniors and seniors live on the beach. They have a pretty strong bio program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:St Joes and Fairfield.

George Mason/CNU/MaryWashington if in VA.

I think that Fairfield is a step above at Joe’s. It’s pretty similar to Villanova, but not as big and colder. Bonus that juniors and seniors live on the beach. They have a pretty strong bio program.

Look at these Jesuit colleges: St Joes, Fairfield, Loyola MD, Xavier (Cincinnati) and Scranton. These are as close as you're gonna get to a "step below" Villanova. They are all reasonable admits and have strong regional repuations. Except for Scranton, they all have Division I basketball -- Xavier being the strongest program among them, although not on Villanova's level but few basketball programs are.

Other posters are recommending non-Catholic schools, and that's just silly. None of the non-Catholic schools that are being recommended are either as similar to Villanova as these schools or "a step below" when it comes to admissions.

[Anonymous]

SMCM

[Anonymous]

Providence

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Providence

Fairfield

Loyola MD

Loyola Chicago

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:SMCM

How is SMCM similar AT ALL with Villanova???

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Providence

Fairfield

Loyola MD

Loyola Chicago

+1

Great list. If you'd go farther west, I'd add Santa Clara.

[Anonymous]

College of Holy Cross although I don't consider it a step below. Beautiful campus.