Safety that isn’t a party school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is OP. Thanks for the ideas. Her dream school is University of Chicago but we couldn’t afford that even if she got in. What keeps bothering us is the conflict between her really liking a SLAC but it not bring worth it to pay so much for a non-top tier school.

W&M, Oberlin, many women’s schools.

I’m going to second the women’s colleges. We looked at MOunt Holyoke and Smite and the stats were significantly lower than similarly ranked schools. And I think they all do merit except Wellsley.. I guess it makes sense if you cut your applicant pool in half.

[Anonymous]

If you’re looking for SLACs with merit for top 10% of admits, look at Davidson, Washington & Lee, and U of Richmond. If she’s qualified for Chicago, she could probably get the merit scholarships at these places.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is OP. Thanks for the ideas. Her dream school is University of Chicago but we couldn’t afford that even if she got in. What keeps bothering us is the conflict between her really liking a SLAC but it not bring worth it to pay so much for a non-top tier school.

But the non top SLACs give a lot of merit. What about College of Wooster or some place like that?

+1. My kid got $36,000 in academic merit and another $2000 (or $4000) for music at Wooster. It would have cost less than WM.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you’re looking for SLACs with merit for top 10% of admits, look at Davidson, Washington & Lee, and U of Richmond. If she’s qualified for Chicago, she could probably get the merit scholarships at these places.

Davidson’s a tough get for anyone. Let alone with merit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know I’m oversimplifying things and you can find dedicated students and partiers at ALL schools. She is nerdy and knows that at a huge state school there are focused, studious kids but thinks they’d be hard to find.

The honors program of these schools would be the place to look, especially if there are dedicated dorms that she could get into.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you’re looking for SLACs with merit for top 10% of admits, look at Davidson, Washington & Lee, and U of Richmond. If she’s qualified for Chicago, she could probably get the merit scholarships at these places.

I posted this. These all have Greek life, but some may be less “Greek” than at other schools. Davidson also has eating houses. William and Mary has significant Greek activity, but I think it’s pretty low key

[Anonymous]

+1 for CTCL

[Anonymous]

Women’s colleges. There are lots of options to fit different personalities. Also, honor colleges at bigger schools.

[Anonymous]

Georgia Tech, U Michigan, University of Wisconsin- Madison

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Georgia Tech, U Michigan, University of Wisconsin- Madison

Come on these are not safeties. Wisconsin in some cases but even that is a stretch.

[Anonymous]

If she likes the city environment of U Chicago look at Macalester College in St. Paul. Most of the other LACs mentioned are in rural areas.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Georgia Tech, U Michigan, University of Wisconsin- Madison

’

I don’t agree. Michigan and Wisconsin have a huge Greek life and party scene. Are their people who don’t participate in either? Yes, of course. But these are definitely party schools. Very good academics though.

[Anonymous]

BYU

[Anonymous]

This is a very random string of posts.

OP has told us that DD likes Chicago, dislikes fraternities, and doesn't want to pay full tuition for Chicago or elsewhere.

That's not much to go on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is OP. Thanks for the ideas. Her dream school is University of Chicago but we couldn’t afford that even if she got in. What keeps bothering us is the conflict between her really liking a SLAC but it not bring worth it to pay so much for a non-top tier school.

But the non top SLACs give a lot of merit. What about College of Wooster or some place like that?

+1. My kid got $36,000 in academic merit and another $2000 (or $4000) for music at Wooster. It would have cost less than WM.

+2 - so did my son...$36,000 per year plus some other financial aid which brought the cost down to $28K.