Mid-Sized Public Universities

[Anonymous]

We considered UVM and URI as smaller state schools. Both give great merit to kids from this area and have lovely campuses.

[Anonymous]

OP here. DD wants a mid-sized school similar in academic quality, vibe, and cost to W&M.

It doesn't exist
You will have to adjust re: size, prestige or cost

[Anonymous]

College of Charleston

[Anonymous]

(Fiske poster again)

For some non-Fiske data, I find section C9 of the CDS to be really useful, and, especially when looking for a school for an academics-oriented student, the 75th percentile SAT number. (Standard caveat around how the data provided should be treated with some skepticism, so don’t treat this as gospel, etc. etc.)

W&M’s 75th percentile is 1530. Here are the 12 schools in that same mid-size range with a 75th percentile between between 1520 and 1540, alphabetically:
Barnard
Carleton
Case Western
Emory
Georgetown
Hamilton
Middlebury
Notre Dame
Tufts
Vassar
W&M
Wellesley

Happy to pull other data as useful, OP.

[Anonymous]

Out of the schools posted above, I believe Case is the only one that gives merit. My kid got $30k or so from Case and was also admitted to W&M. Chose W&M because it was in state and better fit for major. The other thing you might look at are high rated in state honors programs. South Carolina in particular. Big school but impressive honors program. My kid didn’t want New England, but you could also look at UVM. On my list for next kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, I’m sorry people can’t stay on task.

I posted about Fiske earlier; just wanted to follow up with a bit more data.

I don’t have great tools to sort based on cost; you’ll need to check NPCs for that. But here’s a more complete list of Fiske’s five-star (for academics) schools between 2,000 and 10,000 students (my personal definition of mid-size is 4,000-9,000), but I figure this gives you some more options):

Barnard College
Brown University
Carleton College
Columbia University
Dartmouth College
Duke University
Harvard University
Johns Hopkins University
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Northwestern University
Princeton University
Rice University
Stanford University
University of Chicago
University of Pennsylvania
Wellesley College
Wesleyan University
William & Mary
Williams College
Yale University

If you get a copy of Fiske you can also expand down to the 4.5 star tier (still extremely strong academically; there’s nothing infallible about Fiske’s cutoffs, either) and pick up about a dozen more midsize schools, including WashU and St. Andrews.

As you look at costs and admit rates, you’ll likely see that William & Mary is the most accessible school on that list. It’s a shame there aren’t more like it.

This is such helpful info, thank you! It confirms my belief that W&M is pretty unique and an excellent value. It’s her first choice. But the competition is stiff so it’s great to consider other options. I’ll also suggest she looks at Elon and UVM - great suggestions.

[Anonymous]

Is your question, which privates give merit to most/all applicants?

Or are you looking to apply a notch down to get some merit? With William and Mary stats, you can get aid at a lot of schools that are slightly less competitive.

How about Miami of Ohio and Villanova? Miami will give you a huge aid package.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, I’m sorry people can’t stay on task.

I posted about Fiske earlier; just wanted to follow up with a bit more data.

I don’t have great tools to sort based on cost; you’ll need to check NPCs for that. But here’s a more complete list of Fiske’s five-star (for academics) schools between 2,000 and 10,000 students (my personal definition of mid-size is 4,000-9,000), but I figure this gives you some more options):

Barnard College
Brown University
Carleton College
Columbia University
Dartmouth College
Duke University
Harvard University
Johns Hopkins University
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Northwestern University
Princeton University
Rice University
Stanford University
University of Chicago
University of Pennsylvania
Wellesley College
Wesleyan University
William & Mary
Williams College
Yale University

If you get a copy of Fiske you can also expand down to the 4.5 star tier (still extremely strong academically; there’s nothing infallible about Fiske’s cutoffs, either) and pick up about a dozen more midsize schools, including WashU and St. Andrews.

As you look at costs and admit rates, you’ll likely see that William & Mary is the most accessible school on that list. It’s a shame there aren’t more like it.

This is such helpful info, thank you! It confirms my belief that W&M is pretty unique and an excellent value. It’s her first choice. But the competition is stiff so it’s great to consider other options. I’ll also suggest she looks at Elon and UVM - great suggestions.

Agree. TY PP!

[Anonymous]

Not public but mid sized and may get merit - if you are lower income you may do better at these than state schools:
Elon, Richmond, Lehigh, Lafayette (maybe too small), Bucknell, Fairfield - look in the T25-T40 liberal arts school range.

The honors college at University of South Carolina makes it seem like a small liberal arts college - worth checking out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not public but mid sized and may get merit - if you are lower income you may do better at these than state schools:
Elon, Richmond, Lehigh, Lafayette (maybe too small), Bucknell, Fairfield - look in the T25-T40 liberal arts school range.

The honors college at University of South Carolina makes it seem like a small liberal arts college - worth checking out.

This is best way to keep the cost down. Apply to schools that aren't a reach and are a target or safety.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:High Point fits the bill

Oh Dear Lord, no! Anyone considering W&M should not be looking at HPU.

Why not? Since WM fell in USNWR it’s hard to assess new peers. Maybe Elon.

W&M is an established national university with a reputable academic record. HPU is a questionable regional university focused on “life skills,” and currently under an accreditation warning.

VT is ranked better now in case you weren’t aware. Maybe JMU is WM’s peer in-state.

I stand by by comment that a student considering W&M shouldn’t be looking at HPU.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:UC Merced

Which maybe just shows how different two public schools of similar size and ranking can be.

UC Merced is a great school but it's 99% in state. Not sure I'd recommend out of state tuition to attend there. What is OP's in state option?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, I’m sorry people can’t stay on task.

I posted about Fiske earlier; just wanted to follow up with a bit more data.

I don’t have great tools to sort based on cost; you’ll need to check NPCs for that. But here’s a more complete list of Fiske’s five-star (for academics) schools between 2,000 and 10,000 students (my personal definition of mid-size is 4,000-9,000), but I figure this gives you some more options):

Barnard College
Brown University
Carleton College
Columbia University
Dartmouth College
Duke University
Harvard University
Johns Hopkins University
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Northwestern University
Princeton University
Rice University
Stanford University
University of Chicago
University of Pennsylvania
Wellesley College
Wesleyan University
William & Mary
Williams College
Yale University

If you get a copy of Fiske you can also expand down to the 4.5 star tier (still extremely strong academically; there’s nothing infallible about Fiske’s cutoffs, either) and pick up about a dozen more midsize schools, including WashU and St. Andrews.

As you look at costs and admit rates, you’ll likely see that William & Mary is the most accessible school on that list. It’s a shame there aren’t more like it.

This is such helpful info, thank you! It confirms my belief that W&M is pretty unique and an excellent value. It’s her first choice. But the competition is stiff so it’s great to consider other options. I’ll also suggest she looks at Elon and UVM - great suggestions.

If she really wants W&M, consider ED. It absolutely gives a bump— especially if your kid visits, interviews, etc. they want kids who want them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:UC Merced

Which maybe just shows how different two public schools of similar size and ranking can be.

UC Merced is a great school but it's 99% in state. Not sure I'd recommend out of state tuition to attend there. What is OP's in state option?

Apparently W&M. (And other VA public’s).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:UC Merced

Which maybe just shows how different two public schools of similar size and ranking can be.

UC Merced is a great school but it's 99% in state. Not sure I'd recommend out of state tuition to attend there. What is OP's in state option?

Apparently W&M. (And other VA public’s).

Sorry. She’s OOS WM. Should have reread the OP.