up and coming schools

[Anonymous]

Lehigh, due to the WSJ ranking it #14 -- MUCH higher than other surveys.

I don't agree that it's a T15 school, but I think that high ranking will put it on the radar of more families.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Itty bitty classical colleges, mainly Christian, are doing very well. It's one of the few market segments where the number of colleges is growing. Helps that the primary source of students -- homeschooled & classical schooled high school students -- is experiencing double digit growth.

GMU's going to continue to rise. Not just because their administration has been showing itself both competent and interested in rising, but because the Washington DC area itself has grown so much in population, wealth, and status.

I've been hearing good things about CNU and Longwood but that doesn't go have been reflected in FTE, so who knows.

UMD looks very good.

Combo of test optional and the decline of the state's educational system is going to be badly damaging the reputation of California's public colleges, and that the state itself is in serious trouble is going to make matters worse.

I’m no fan of the UCs or Cal States, but you’re delusional. Their collective application numbers are through the roof — demand is higher than ever and will continue to climb. Your personal biases do not in any way reflect the college application choices kids are making.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In Virginia, many students are looking seriously at other state schools besides UVA, VT, and W&M since those 3 are so competitive and admissions are unpredictable - even for top students.

JMU, UMW, VCU, CNU, etc. are all getting more attention and they are all good schools. Some offer good merit aid, too. There are no bad options for VA public colleges and universities.

+100
Virginia is full of great public universities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Lehigh, due to the WSJ ranking it #14 -- MUCH higher than other surveys.

I don't agree that it's a T15 school, but I think that high ranking will put it on the radar of more families.

My DC chose Lehigh over Georgetown last year after being accepted at both - hubby and I tried to sway in other direction, but DC was resolute after visiting both, talking to students, attending several classes, etc. For what it’s worth, they are a business major - and absolutely loving lehigh so far..

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lehigh, due to the WSJ ranking it #14 -- MUCH higher than other surveys.

I don't agree that it's a T15 school, but I think that high ranking will put it on the radar of more families.

My DC chose Lehigh over Georgetown last year after being accepted at both - hubby and I tried to sway in other direction, but DC was resolute after visiting both, talking to students, attending several classes, etc. For what it’s worth, they are a business major - and absolutely loving lehigh so far..

Good choice. DC attends Georgetown and loves it but there are serious drawbacks: getting into clubs is basically like rushing a fraternity/sorority, food stinks, lackluster TAs, insane competition for internships, limited space so getting a spot in the library requires getting up at 5 am, etc. Communication from the school is limited and there is no one, outside of the bill collectors, to answer questions. My other kid goes to a top SLAC and it is so much easier on almost every front. Rant over.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lehigh, due to the WSJ ranking it #14 -- MUCH higher than other surveys.

I don't agree that it's a T15 school, but I think that high ranking will put it on the radar of more families.

My DC chose Lehigh over Georgetown last year after being accepted at both - hubby and I tried to sway in other direction, but DC was resolute after visiting both, talking to students, attending several classes, etc. For what it’s worth, they are a business major - and absolutely loving lehigh so far..

This is a bold move especially Georgetown business school is top notch. I am glad your DC loves Lehigh.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lehigh, due to the WSJ ranking it #14 -- MUCH higher than other surveys.

I don't agree that it's a T15 school, but I think that high ranking will put it on the radar of more families.

My DC chose Lehigh over Georgetown last year after being accepted at both - hubby and I tried to sway in other direction, but DC was resolute after visiting both, talking to students, attending several classes, etc. For what it’s worth, they are a business major - and absolutely loving lehigh so far..

Good choice. DC attends Georgetown and loves it but there are serious drawbacks: getting into clubs is basically like rushing a fraternity/sorority, food stinks, lackluster TAs, insane competition for internships, limited space so getting a spot in the library requires getting up at 5 am, etc. Communication from the school is limited and there is no one, outside of the bill collectors, to answer questions. My other kid goes to a top SLAC and it is so much easier on almost every front. Rant over.

Which one?

[Anonymous]

Holy Cross seems to be on the rise, thanks to its new President. It has always been a very solid, but very niche, liberal arts school with a pretty campus, great school spirit, and impressive student outcomes. But it is getting more applications lately, to the point where the acceptance rate dropped from the mid-thirties to 21% last year. And I heard this year it is in the teens.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Np
Aren’t there a number of schools between top 15 and Wooster or Lawrence? No experience with them at all just curious.

Okay, looking at LACs currently in the US News range of say 20-50, here are some that seem to be quietly rising even though they're still under the radar for some folks.

Macalester – Its focus on international studies and practical internships mixed with traditional liberal arts is becoming an appealing mix for more students, as well as its location in an actual city. (Occidental is a runner-up with similar qualities.)

Berea – Known for the radical idea of having all students participate in work-study and graduate without debt, its general repuation is steadily rising too, especially in sciences and literature. (Though the Kentucky locale won't appeal to all.)

Skidmore – Historically its strengths have been social sciences, humanities & arts, but in the past 20-ish years it's beefed up its STEM offerings, and has a large new state-of-the-art science building and even more faculty.

Whitman – A Pacific Northwest LAC that'd likely be more highly rated if it were in Connecticut or something, but it's increasingly catching the eyes of kids from the East Coast. (Even if Walla Walla is a journey to get to from other timezones.) Its off-campus "Semester in the West" program is pretty unique and multidisciplinary.

The issue with some in the 20-50 class is that they don't offer merit aid to students who don't have that stats that could get them into the T20 and doesn't have as much reputational difference with the tier below it. So anyone who doesn't want to pay full freight (or take on significant loans if they are determined to have financial need) goes down a tier. Since there's not a huge difference in real world reputation and not likely much difference in quality -- Wooster with a total cost of attendance of 35k/yr with merit aid beats Skidmore at 80k (rough numbers here, but that's the metric that strong MC/UMC kids interested in LACs but who can't easily afford them but don't qualify for much aid make). Berea doesn't really fall into that class--it has long served a very different population.

There is a lot of truth to this. My DC applied to one top 20 and the rest were 50-70. DC got into every single 50-70 with substantial (@50%) merit aid. There's no way we would have done full pay for a 20-50 school. DC was not even sure the one top 20 they applied to was worth full pay and was relieved when they didn't get in. At that point, they had the merit aid acceptances in hand.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Np
Aren’t there a number of schools between top 15 and Wooster or Lawrence? No experience with them at all just curious.

Okay, looking at LACs currently in the US News range of say 20-50, here are some that seem to be quietly rising even though they're still under the radar for some folks.

Macalester – Its focus on international studies and practical internships mixed with traditional liberal arts is becoming an appealing mix for more students, as well as its location in an actual city. (Occidental is a runner-up with similar qualities.)

Berea – Known for the radical idea of having all students participate in work-study and graduate without debt, its general repuation is steadily rising too, especially in sciences and literature. (Though the Kentucky locale won't appeal to all.)

Skidmore – Historically its strengths have been social sciences, humanities & arts, but in the past 20-ish years it's beefed up its STEM offerings, and has a large new state-of-the-art science building and even more faculty.

Whitman – A Pacific Northwest LAC that'd likely be more highly rated if it were in Connecticut or something, but it's increasingly catching the eyes of kids from the East Coast. (Even if Walla Walla is a journey to get to from other timezones.) Its off-campus "Semester in the West" program is pretty unique and multidisciplinary.

The issue with some in the 20-50 class is that they don't offer merit aid to students who don't have that stats that could get them into the T20 and doesn't have as much reputational difference with the tier below it. So anyone who doesn't want to pay full freight (or take on significant loans if they are determined to have financial need) goes down a tier. Since there's not a huge difference in real world reputation and not likely much difference in quality -- Wooster with a total cost of attendance of 35k/yr with merit aid beats Skidmore at 80k (rough numbers here, but that's the metric that strong MC/UMC kids interested in LACs but who can't easily afford them but don't qualify for much aid make). Berea doesn't really fall into that class--it has long served a very different population.

There is a lot of truth to this. My DC applied to one top 20 and the rest were 50-70. DC got into every single 50-70 with substantial (@50%) merit aid. There's no way we would have done full pay for a 20-50 school. DC was not even sure the one top 20 they applied to was worth full pay and was relieved when they didn't get in. At that point, they had the merit aid acceptances in hand.

For what it's worth, Skidmore does have some merit scholarships, though they're specifically for science/math students (the Porter/Wachenheim Scholarships) and music students.

[Anonymous]

I'm anecdotally seeing lots of interest in the SEC schools (warm weather + rah-rah culture) and the Jesuit schools -- the latter I think because they have a reputation of providing solid educations AND generous merit aid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Holy Cross seems to be on the rise, thanks to its new President. It has always been a very solid, but very niche, liberal arts school with a pretty campus, great school spirit, and impressive student outcomes. But it is getting more applications lately, to the point where the acceptance rate dropped from the mid-thirties to 21% last year. And I heard this year it is in the teens.

It has excellent, richly supported interns.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Holy Cross seems to be on the rise, thanks to its new President. It has always been a very solid, but very niche, liberal arts school with a pretty campus, great school spirit, and impressive student outcomes. But it is getting more applications lately, to the point where the acceptance rate dropped from the mid-thirties to 21% last year. And I heard this year it is in the teens.

It has excellent, richly supported interns.

BC and Georgetown provide virtually no merit aid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm anecdotally seeing lots of interest in the SEC schools (warm weather + rah-rah culture) and the Jesuit schools -- the latter I think because they have a reputation of providing solid educations AND generous merit aid.

BC and Georgetown provide virtually no merit aid.

[Anonymous]

I feel like this is kind of like gaming the market. If the name is out there, it’s already past its prime (save the T30 of course).