Hidden Gems

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At the risk of raising the hater... we looked at a LOT of LACs for DD who was set on environmental science. She liked Juniata best. It's really a gem for environmental science.

Agree. Hidden gem for sure. I’ve heard the same about Dickinson, though I think it may be a harder admit (not sure?)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Gonzaga for engineering. Small class sizes, caring profs, ABET accredited. Small city. Pretty state. School spirit (D1 basketball). Merit $ is typical.

I'd say most Jesuit colleges are hidden gems and I'm surprised they aren't more popular (outside of the couple super popular ones). Hits the sweet spot for a lot of kids with mid-size + city locations. My friend's DD is very happy at University of Scranton.

+1. The lower-ranked Jesuit schools typically offer merit and are often not heavy lifts for admission.

Gonzaga gets a fair number of students from CA. Maybe not so many from the northeast.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Trinity University. Super well resourced school with merit to give. For kids who are open to going South, tempted by Alabama money, but want a SLAC .. here's your school. Intellectually rigorous, no athletic scholarships at all. Great new buildings, fantastic dorms. Engineering, accounting, Chinese (one of the best in the country) .. they deliver the goods. And San Antonio is a gem.

Couldn't talk my dd into looking and I don't blame here, but it's a great option

Trinity is a great answer!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We were looking at LACs. Loved Whitman, and was really happily surprised with Puget Sound.

My friend who is a doctor in the Bay Area (Stanford/Chicago) with doctor husband (Berkeley/Chicago) sent her oldest to Whitman. To me that's a solid endorsement. Since I learned about it, I've heard only good things.

[Anonymous]

Seconding the Jesuit schools (I’m not catholic or even religious).

Would put St. Olaf in the same category — great school, fantastic education, positive, hard-working kids. And such a beautiful campus.

[Anonymous]

Drew, in NJ, just outside NYC. Gorgeous campus, great location and on the upswing from rough Covid years. They tap into New York for amazing speakers and professors.

[Anonymous]

Furman

[Anonymous]

Serious musician who is maybe a little nerdy?

Lawrence University.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Furman

Agree but I think it’s a particular culture that’s not for everyone. If it’s a good fit for your kid, then yes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We were looking at LACs. Loved Whitman, and was really happily surprised with Puget Sound.

So glad you mentioned Puget Sound!

I live in the PNW and had never heard of UPS before I lived here. The people I know here who went to Puget Sound are super smart, successful, down to earth, polished and have strong ties to their alma mater. I was just in a meeting with a grad yesterday.

I’m always surprised when I find out that someone I work with went there and I shouldn’t be.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Furman

Agree but I think it’s a particular culture that’s not for everyone. If it’s a good fit for your kid, then yes.

Can you elaborate?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Furman

Agree but I think it’s a particular culture that’s not for everyone. If it’s a good fit for your kid, then yes.

Can you elaborate?

It attracts southern, conservative, private school kids. And I believe it’s a dry campus. They have a fantastic debate team and it’s a great school. I just know how hard it can be for a non southern rich kid to fit in at a school like that. Definitely visit.

[Anonymous]

Rutgers

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Gonzaga for engineering. Small class sizes, caring profs, ABET accredited. Small city. Pretty state. School spirit (D1 basketball). Merit $ is typical.

I'd say most Jesuit colleges are hidden gems and I'm surprised they aren't more popular (outside of the couple super popular ones). Hits the sweet spot for a lot of kids with mid-size + city locations. My friend's DD is very happy at University of Scranton.

They are poplar and well known if you are Catholic, but for sure a hidden gem to people who never thought about Catholic schools until college app time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At the risk of raising the hater... we looked at a LOT of LACs for DD who was set on environmental science. She liked Juniata best. It's really a gem for environmental science.

Agree. Hidden gem for sure. I’ve heard the same about Dickinson, though I think it may be a harder admit (not sure?)

Yes, she applied there too but they weren't as generous with merit (probably because they are test blind and her test scores were a lot stronger than GPA) but also didn't have the kind of off-campus ES immersion experience Juniata has. Closest competitor for her, and also a hidden gem, was Washington College in MD.