Recommendation for less selective school with same urban proximity as Northwestern?

[Anonymous]

Self-selection is not a new trend. All things being equal, NW is harder to get in to than either Wash U or Tufts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Self-selection is not a new trend. All things being equal, NW is harder to get in to than either Wash U or Tufts.

The trend I'm pointing to is not just self-selection; it's greater precision in self-selection and schools having wider and tighter bands of SAT scores and GPA and how that's impacting acceptance rates in some non-linear ways. But this is becoming off-topic. There is little meaningful differences between them so OP should look elsewhere for a 'less selective' school.

[Anonymous]

Case Western

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Pitt is urban.

But not in the way that a school right in the heart of downtown is. I think Pitt is a reasonably close example of what is being asked for. Perhaps not quite as suburban as Evanston.

[Anonymous]

Drexel

[Anonymous]

If one's looking for access to the vibrancy of a city like Chicago, I'm not sure Case Western would be a compelling alternative...

[Anonymous]

Pitt doesn't feel suburban at all.

[Anonymous]

Other factors may make Northwestern a more difficult admit for any individual student relative to the other two schools mentioned here, but the middle 50% range of ACT for admitted students for Northwestern Wash U and Tufts are all 33 to 35. To answer the OP's question, maybe Tulane. Unfortunately eliminating the Catholic schools takes a lot of possible contenders off the list.

[Anonymous]

Emory, Vanderbilt

[Anonymous]

Rice?
Northeastern?
Pomona?
Fordham or Manhattan but they are Catholic
Elmhurst outside Chicago?
Marquette (also Catholic)?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:thanks for replies. Wants a campus feel but also proximity to a city. Won't consider any school in the District, though that is likely the type of campus/urban "feel" DC is looking for. Also wants mid-size undergrad population. Need less selective than Tufts or Brandeis. Does not want to go to a Catholic university, or any school with a particular religious bent.

I know JUST what you’re looking for, OP. And it’s hard to find! St Joseph in Phila, Loyola Chicago are two that we looked at. Good luck

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If one's looking for access to the vibrancy of a city like Chicago, I'm not sure Case Western would be a compelling alternative...

What are you on about? Cleveland is actually a really great town. Go see it if your kid is STEM-y, OP

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Rice?
Northeastern?
Pomona?
Fordham or Manhattan but they are Catholic
Elmhurst outside Chicago?
Marquette (also Catholic)?

Bolded are not really easier to get into. Not single digit acceptance of course, but not "easy" either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:thanks for replies. Wants a campus feel but also proximity to a city. Won't consider any school in the District, though that is likely the type of campus/urban "feel" DC is looking for. Also wants mid-size undergrad population. Need less selective than Tufts or Brandeis. Does not want to go to a Catholic university, or any school with a particular religious bent.

I know JUST what you’re looking for, OP. And it’s hard to find! St Joseph in Phila, Loyola Chicago are two that we looked at. Good luck

Both are Catholic schools, which is something OP’s kid doesn’t want.

[Anonymous]

Emerson in Boston is in a great location, right on Boston Common, as is Suffolk University, but neither has a "campus feel". Simmons is also in Boston but is an all-woman school and I'm not sure if you are looking for a DD or DS. What about Duquesne?