Please help me find something similar to W&M as backup?

[Anonymous]

Apply EA to Macalester.
It is a little easier to get into than W&M - even though the % accepted might say otherwise.

[Anonymous]

College of Wooster, Denison, Muhlenberg, Beloit, St Olaf, Juniata, Allegheny, SUNY Geneseo/Purchase
Also Pitt for rolling admissions

[Anonymous]

Conn College
UVM

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP Here. Just to clarify- not stating ALL kids at W&M are weird. Just stating HE is and wants a place he feels safe after he was bullied his whole life.

W&M offered that on his campus visit and that's a godsend to this worried parent. He does not lack ambition. His sister is at an Ivy. He doesn't like the hyper competitive environment.

We have a kid there. Not a D&D person at all but has found the kids are very welcoming and respectful. I think gender might help your son. I also think W&M puts a lot of weight on the essays so encourage him to put some thought into them.

Good luck to your son!

It sounds like you have gotten some good backups. I would put another vote in for Mary Washington. It is smaller but Fredericksburg has a great, vibrant downtown. And we know some recent grads who had terrific experiences there and great outcomes.

[Anonymous]

My DC actually likes Mary Wash better than W&M after visiting both.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid who didn't get into W&M had Pitt as her next best choice.

Pitt humanities majors are smallish cohorts. As an alum, I think this is worth a look.

https://pittnews.com/article/178329/blogs/level-up-why-all-your-dnd-friends-are-pissed-at-the-people-who-make-dnd/

https://www.reddit.com/r/Pitt/comments/1h3re10/dnd_groups_at_pitt/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hmm. Well, he should do very well, BUT ...

Dickinson
Franklin & Marshall (these are small, but I think he'd like the vibe)

University of Rochester

That size is so nice, and it's hard to find.

I like Dickinson and F and M, but both, and especially F and M, are fairly preprofessional and not at all quirky. Nice kids, but probably not what you're looking for.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:St Mary’s College of Maryland

+1. I came on here to make this suggestion. Only drawback is it's much smaller. But definitely has everything else you said your son likes. And it's absolutely beautiful.

You also might check out Oberlin. It's about a six hour drive, so a little further, but very smart, very kind kids. And if you get merit, might be competitive with William and Mary

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid who didn't get into W&M had Pitt as her next best choice.

There are a handful of less quirky kids at W&M that could hack it at Pitt. The D&D kids would do better at LAC’s.

What is a D&D kid

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My WM OOS son also applied to Wake and Elon. I do feel that your son will get in ED. Make sure he gets strong recs and shows interest.

My kid is at Wake and it would be a horrible choice for a quirky kid. Same goes for Elon.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid who didn't get into W&M had Pitt as her next best choice.

There are a handful of less quirky kids at W&M that could hack it at Pitt. The D&D kids would do better at LAC’s.

What is a D&D kid

Dungeons and Dragons

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid who didn't get into W&M had Pitt as her next best choice.

There are a handful of less quirky kids at W&M that could hack it at Pitt. The D&D kids would do better at LAC’s.

I can tell you right now most people at W&M have no interest in D&D

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My WM OOS son also applied to Wake and Elon. I do feel that your son will get in ED. Make sure he gets strong recs and shows interest.

My kid is at Wake and it would be a horrible choice for a quirky kid. Same goes for Elon.

Same with the bad advice to check out Denison, Franklin and Marshall, or Conn College. All umc suburban preppy.

[Anonymous]

Oberlin

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What about Towson State? Employment outcomes are phenomenal!

I don't doubt this is a good school for many kids and has good employment outcomes, but it does not have the vibe that OP's kid is looking for.