What are your favorite CTCLs (and similar) and why?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My 2 kids received merit aid offers from several CTCL schools. One kid had a 4.0 wGPA, 31 ACT and excellent ECs and awards. The other had a 4.2 wGPA, a 1450 SAT, and ok ECs. They got merit awards ranging from $20k to $36k at Clark, Denison, Earlham, Eckerd, Kalamazoo, Lawrence, and Wooster.

This is so helpful, thank you! Was this for this year? And are the merit award amounts for each year?

[Anonymous]

We really liked Clark University. DC was offered $27k/year merit but ended up going to a NESCAC. Yes, Clark was a safety for DC but DC would have been happy to attend there. Welcoming administration, very friendly students, potential for 5th year free were just a few things that stuck out. Sure, Worchester isn't the prettiest place but lots of college students around and close to Boston. I hope my younger DC will consider it - would be a good fit.

[Anonymous]

3 years ago, my kid got between 20 and 26K offers from several CTCL’s (each year). She had a 3.7 UW (4.1 or 4.3 weighted) GPA, with low test scores. Nothing too amazing from the EC perspective.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 2 kids received merit aid offers from several CTCL schools. One kid had a 4.0 wGPA, 31 ACT and excellent ECs and awards. The other had a 4.2 wGPA, a 1450 SAT, and ok ECs. They got merit awards ranging from $20k to $36k at Clark, Denison, Earlham, Eckerd, Kalamazoo, Lawrence, and Wooster.

This is so helpful, thank you! Was this for this year? And are the merit award amounts for each year?

One kid was this year (current senior in high school). The other was 4 years ago. Their awards from the two schools they both applied to were the same ($20k from Clark, $36k from Wooster).

Yes, the merit awards are an annual amount for up to 4 years.

[Anonymous]

I'll put in a plug for Earlham, pretty campus and they have a nice Japanese studies program and equestrian facilities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We really liked Clark University. DC was offered $27k/year merit but ended up going to a NESCAC. Yes, Clark was a safety for DC but DC would have been happy to attend there. Welcoming administration, very friendly students, potential for 5th year free were just a few things that stuck out. Sure, Worchester isn't the prettiest place but lots of college students around and close to Boston. I hope my younger DC will consider it - would be a good fit.

My DC is at Clark on a merit award. It's been a great experience. DC actually likes Worcester quite a bit, but it is gritty for sure.

We visited Wooster a few years back and really liked it, in fact it was my favorite of the schools we visited with DC. (DC wanted a more urban environment.) I always recommend it to people--it just seemed like a warm, friendly place and I love their senior experience project (I forget what they call it).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here are two of mine.

Lawrence: amazing arts and music, interesting town (small city), fairly rigorous, nice students, nice campus

Beloit: super nice students and faculty, one of the prettiest campuses, very intellectual, amazing dorms, not too far from Madison, Milwaukee and Chicago.

Reasonably qualified applicants from the Coasts usually get in to these.

How are these two schools for conservative students?

Not in the CTCL consortium but similar: Trinity University in San Antonio. I think the student body skews somewhat more conservative. They also give good merit aid.

[Anonymous]

Lawrence and Wooster both seem great. Also interested in Rhodes.

I've wondered if Muhlenberg is similar to the CTCL schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We really liked Clark University. DC was offered $27k/year merit but ended up going to a NESCAC. Yes, Clark was a safety for DC but DC would have been happy to attend there. Welcoming administration, very friendly students, potential for 5th year free were just a few things that stuck out. Sure, Worchester isn't the prettiest place but lots of college students around and close to Boston. I hope my younger DC will consider it - would be a good fit.

My DC is at Clark on a merit award. It's been a great experience. DC actually likes Worcester quite a bit, but it is gritty for sure.

We visited Wooster a few years back and really liked it, in fact it was my favorite of the schools we visited with DC. (DC wanted a more urban environment.) I always recommend it to people--it just seemed like a warm, friendly place and I love their senior experience project (I forget what they call it).

The grittiness didn't bother us at all. In fact, it appealed to my DC. My DC has volunteered with homeless families and was interested in volunteering with the immigrant community and Worchester is a great place to do that. Glad to hear that your DC is having a great experience at Clark. It is still stands out as one of our favorite college visits - despite the fact that it was a rainy, miserable day. If you can come away with a positive experience after a day like that, I think it says something about the school.

[Anonymous]

*Worcester not Worchester (second time I made the mistake)

[Anonymous]

We also liked Wooster.

[Anonymous]

Drew in NJ.

[Anonymous]

CTCL schools aren't worth anything close to sticker price. But if you're good enough to get a lot of merit aid from them, you can get into a much better college that actually has a name. Therein lies the rub.

[Anonymous]

My child did get into those schools, but preferred her CTCL.

She must know something you do not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My child did get into those schools, but preferred her CTCL.

She must know something you do not.

Sure she did.