Recommendations for schools within 3 hours of NoVa for my (below?) average kid?

[Anonymous]

DD is a junior in Northern Va with average grades (3.3 GPA) and some AP classes. Will test in the 1000-1100 range on SATs. We are looking for a school within driving distance of home, so ideally within 3 hours. Not expecting any financial aid, and not really worried about cost (though I prefer to spend under $50K year). No intended major or even a great sense of what to do, although it will be humanities/liberal arts and not science or math. Not a lot of "impressive" stuff on the resume -- some sports, some clubs, not a standout in anything. DD is an OK but not great writer, etc. Even typing this, probably not even average for this area, but would be average in most of the country.

Definitely a late bloomer. I'm not worried about her long-term. She's a grounded person who has good social skills, and high emotional IQ, but is not a great student. She's organized and conscientious, but does have some anxiety, which is why I think she will be happier not too far from home.

I'm looking for recs for places to apply. We are open on size of school, though there need to be enough majors in the humanities/liberal arts that she can find her thing. Maybe also graphic design, as she has a good eye, but never really pursued it. A lot of the colleges I've seen are 65% female or higher, and I prefer something with better gender balance. Also looking for a school where a good percentage of kids actually finish, and where kids coming out of the school go on to jobs/grad school. I also prefer a school where kids largely live on campus, and the school is good at helping freshman get integrated and find success. I prefer her not get lost, and go to a school that will really help her thrive.

All of this makes me think she may do better in the right smaller school. She's interested in a bigger school like JMU, though from what I've read here, I don't think she would get in. She would enjoy getting to cheer on sports teams, etc. I don't think Greek system would be a good fit, so ideally a school where you don't have to do that to make friends.

Also on the wish list is a place where she could have a single room as a freshman, but still live in a more communal space to make friends. Part of her management of the anxiety is control over her living environment, so not having to deal with a messy roommate would be good, but she also needs to be with the people, if that makes sense.

Thanks for any ideas!

[Anonymous]

WVU

[Anonymous]

GMU VCU TOWSON SMCM ST. JOE'S IN PHILLY

[Anonymous]

I'm thinking she should get into JMU? American perhaps?

[Anonymous]

Sounds like my kid. If below average May I suggest staying in state. My below avg kid we kept in state (Towson) as we just didn’t see cost/benefit to OOS. Just keeping it real and BTW son doing great at Towson.

[Anonymous]

Longwood
Radford
ODU
Possibly CMU

Lots of great in state options for a child like you describe.

[Anonymous]

It’s not big but take a look at Roanoke. It meets a lot of your other wishlist items and it’s a pretty holistic admissions process.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are open on size of school, though there need to be enough majors in the humanities/liberal arts that she can find her thing. Maybe also graphic design, as she has a good eye, but never really pursued it. A lot of the colleges I've seen are 65% female or higher, and I prefer something with better gender balance.

If you want enough of liberal arts emphasis, it's going to always be 60%+ females. Actually, I can't think of any comprehensive university under 60% female except specialty schools like military academies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:WVU

Agree. Your daughter will actually probably qualify for merit scholarhips at WVU (I did an estimate on their website, and with a 3.4 GPA, 1100 SAT she would qualify for $9,000/year in scholarships)
https://admissions.wvu.edu/cost-and-aid/scholarship-estimate

WVU is only about a 3-4 hour drive from NoVA (depending on exactly where you are) and there are daily flights from IAD to Morgantown.

[Anonymous]

Please look at UMW. There are lots of kids who are a little quirky or anxious, and you really should not rule out a shared first year dorm room.

She actually would get some merit aid there. I know you are concerned about the gender balance -- but it is what it is in higher ed these days.

There is a huge difference b/t a large state U like WVU and a small state school like a UMW. A tour at each would probably make it VERY clear which way your DD wants to go. Big state U's like WVU and GMU and VCU are great for the hubbub of activity -- which can also be somewhat of a distraction, and it can be easy to get lost in the crowd. I went to three large state-U's ... so you really to have your own motivation or no one will notice that you are on the sidelines.

In a smaller school, like UMW or others, the set up is much more supportive, and personal. People will know you, and the policies of the school are set up (like small first year seminars) to help students transition and find a social community.

Tour a couple of the smalls and a couple of the bigs. Your DD will know which one feels right. Then you can focus on similar schools in the 3 hr range.

[Anonymous]

Lots of great option, especially if your kid will look at very drivable but further than 3 hours.

CNU and Mary Washington. for small and residential
VCU for graphic design
Bridgewater. It has a “13th grade” reputation, but our neighbor went and loved it.
Maybe GMU, especially if for humanities and not CS.


SMCM

UNC-Greensboro, UNC-Asheville and Appalachian State are all artsy. I’m from NC and know peers who went and their peers who are attending. Great schools.
Guilford is liberal and artsy
Elon is getting a lot of buzz

Wooster is great for community and recruiting heavily in the DMV. They usually offer lots of merit.
Xavier and St. Joes are popular among Catholic school kids.

[Anonymous]

Thanks all. We probably won't get to tour anywhere until this summer, which I know is not ideal because it's better when there are kids on campus. Please do keep the suggestions coming. I want to make a list of places for us to start visiting.

Interesting point on the gender balance being bad. I went to a 50.50 school back in the day, but from what I am seeing, that's pretty rare now except at the very select schools.

[Anonymous]

(And I wish I felt comfortable sending her further away. Don't want to get into too much of the backstory, but the anxiety is tied to some childhood medical stuff, and she's just never been far from home. It might be fine, and she does need to "leave the nest", but I think there will be a sense of security knowing that she can come home easily. It just feels like the right call for her, and she agrees.)

[Anonymous]

if she's interested in JMU, maybe West Chester U or Millersville U in PA.

Goucher College in Baltimore

Marymount U in Arlington if she wants to be super close to home and doesn't want to do GMU

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:(And I wish I felt comfortable sending her further away. Don't want to get into too much of the backstory, but the anxiety is tied to some childhood medical stuff, and she's just never been far from home. It might be fine, and she does need to "leave the nest", but I think there will be a sense of security knowing that she can come home easily. It just feels like the right call for her, and she agrees.)

I have a kid who was this way. He and I flew to his college 6 hours away to visit. Very manageable smaller airport. The college is nearby and has shuttle option. Two direct flights to Dulles a day. Once he had actually flown to the college, driven to the school, then done the reverse to get home, he was fine with it. I wouldn’t discount an option like Guilford, which is about six hours away and has a nearby small airport with hour long direct flights to the DMV. In many ways, that’s an easier option to get home for a weekend, medical appt., etc than driving or. Being picked up.