Recommendations for a Midsized (6,000 - 8,000) School within Three Hours

[Anonymous]

My rising senior son is having the hardest time with his college search. He's a great kid with high stats and has anxiety, so he is looking for a solid, down-to-earth education in a low stress environment. He doesn't care about rank or name, but we are really having a hard time finding many options.

FCPS
3.8 UW, 4.4 W
Test Optional
Great E/Cs and Honors
Journalism/Coms Major

We have visited:
Delaware, WestChester and Towson (all way too big)
Muhlenberg, Gettysburg, Dickinson (was not feeling the Liberal Arts vibe)
Millersville (LOVED but in the middle of nowhere and unsure if suitcase school.)

On his list to consider:
Christopher Newport
Salisbury
St. Joe's


Any recommendations?? Thanks!

[Anonymous]

There aren’t a lot of schools in that size range, and then when you add the 3 hour limit, it knocks out everything I would recommend

[Anonymous]

You should visit Salisbury. They have really improved the campus over the years and it doesn't have a liberal arts vibe.

I'll also put the plug in for St. Joe's as an I'm alum.

[Anonymous]

William & Mary fits the size and as a boy should be a good chance there. Does he think it would not fit the "low-stress" requirement?

[Anonymous]

This size school was the sweet spot for my DC as well. We couldn’t find anything that size near here, so ended up at Tulane. Absolutely loves it.

[Anonymous]

Maybe UMBC? It's a bit larger, 11K undergrads

[Anonymous]

Loyola University of Maryland

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This size school was the sweet spot for my DC as well. We couldn’t find anything that size near here, so ended up at Tulane. Absolutely loves it.

Tulane might be laid back academically, but you have to be outgoing and borderline aggressive to survive socially

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:William & Mary fits the size and as a boy should be a good chance there. Does he think it would not fit the "low-stress" requirement?

W&M is widely known as one of the most high stress and no fun universities in the nation

[Anonymous]

The College of New Jersey - exactly three hours from DC. Has a journalism program.

[Anonymous]

Why the 3 hour limit?
The Midwest is the best place for laid back education.

[Anonymous]

I was going to suggest Salisbury, but what about St John’s?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why the 3 hour limit?
The Midwest is the best place for laid back education.

He has anxiety and doesn't want to be more than a three hour drive from home.

[Anonymous]

Longwood

[Anonymous]

Mary Washington, I know kids with anxiety that have done well there