Urban LACs with a couple of caveat

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DD wants to attend an urban LAC that has a good STEM program, is not really lopsided gender wise, and students actually spend time in the city. For instance, we’ve heard while Rhodes is in a large city, everyone stays on campus all the time. Macalester seems like standout, though the gender ratio is less than ideal.

Oxymoron. LACs generally in non urban settings. Tufts might work, although technically not a LAC.

[Anonymous]

I would add University of San Diego for a kid who is social, not “out there”, doesn’t want Columbia grind science competition (but does expect great teaching). It is Jesuit (asks the existential questions but doesn’t preach the “one true” answer. More philosophical.) Weather is divine. They love East Coast kids, so you will get a bump. More competitive entry for Californians.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think you’re in search of a unicorn with that criteria list!

Technically not a SLAC but what about University of Rochester?

If you look at Rochester, also consider case western, Carnegie Mellon and John’s Hopkins

Those are larger than what she’s looking for - mostly looking for under 5,000 total students, maybe up to 10,000 as an exception.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DD wants to attend an urban LAC that has a good STEM program, is not really lopsided gender wise, and students actually spend time in the city. For instance, we’ve heard while Rhodes is in a large city, everyone stays on campus all the time. Macalester seems like standout, though the gender ratio is less than ideal.

STEM is kind of board. Student leaning towards a specific major?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DD wants to attend an urban LAC that has a good STEM program, is not really lopsided gender wise, and students actually spend time in the city. For instance, we’ve heard while Rhodes is in a large city, everyone stays on campus all the time. Macalester seems like standout, though the gender ratio is less than ideal.

STEM is kind of board. Student leaning towards a specific major?

*broad

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We looked for something similar. Here are some options people told us to consider. Keep in mind that different people have different ideas of what "urban" means.
Reed (awesome academics and located in Portland, Oregon)
Lewis & Clark (located in a quiet part of Portland)
Macalester (Twin Cities are great so this may be the best option for some people)
Occidental (it's urban in the LA style so you still need a car to enjoy many urban amenities)
Claremont Colleges (Claremont is a big, somewhat walkable suburb and there's a train to LA)
U Puget Sound (Tacoma is a nice small city and Seattle is less than an hour away)
Lawrence U (We were surprised by this one but Appleton has a lot going on)
Beloit (the city of Beloit is less interesting than Appleton but it's not rural and only an hour from Madison)
Wesleyan (it feels a little bit urban and you can walk to every kind of restaurant, but you have to drive 30-45 minutes to get to music venues, professional theater, etc.)
Bates (Lewiston is urban in some way ways but not that much fun)
Bowdoin (not too far from Portland, Maine)
Maybe Haverford or Swarthmore?

We didn't look in the South so we never saw Rhodes, Milsaps, Oxford/Emory, and so on.)

If you're willing to go to a Catholic college, you can find many more options.

Occidental is a great suggestion. It’s in a cool neighborhood, and LA overall is great.

My kid is at Wesleyan, and while it doesn’t feel remote or rural like a lot of LACs, it’s definitely got town vibes, not city. Yes, it’s a good-sized town, and, yes, there are lots of restaurants, but if OP’s daughter liked the feel of Barnard, I don’t see Wes fitting the bill, as wonderful as it is—and it is wonderful!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Trinity in Hartford close to 50-50

Located in hellish ghetto, avoid.

[Anonymous]

Richmond or Dickinson?

[Anonymous]

Maybe consider Lehigh? Probably a little different than what you had in mind but I find that can be the case with students there who end up thriving.

[Anonymous]

No one has mentioned Loyola Marymount University in L.A.! Beautiful campus and close to lots of restaurants like Inn-N-Out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How about U of Richmond? technically not be a LAC but it kind of seems like one and it’s very close to Richmond.

Not urban

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DD wants to attend an urban LAC that has a good STEM program, is not really lopsided gender wise, and students actually spend time in the city. For instance, we’ve heard while Rhodes is in a large city, everyone stays on campus all the time. Macalester seems like standout, though the gender ratio is less than ideal.

Wonder why the nice kids at Rhodes don't venture out into Memphis more often....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No one has mentioned Loyola Marymount University in L.A.! Beautiful campus and close to lots of restaurants like Inn-N-Out.

Perhaps because LMU is a university…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No one has mentioned Loyola Marymount University in L.A.! Beautiful campus and close to lots of restaurants like Inn-N-Out.

Perhaps because LMU is a university…

Yeah, not a liberal arts college and I’m not certain of the strength of their STEM programs.

[Anonymous]

What about Oberlin? It checks some but not all of the criteria. Not in a city, but a town that’s 45 minutes from Cleveland. This is tough because most liberal arts colleges are not in city settings.