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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][/quote]
Np
Aren’t there a number of schools between top 15 and Wooster or Lawrence? No experience with them at all just curious.[/quote]

Okay, looking at LACs currently in the US News range of say 20-50, here are some that seem to be quietly rising even though they're still under the radar for some folks.

Macalester – Its focus on international studies and practical internships mixed with traditional liberal arts is becoming an appealing mix for more students, as well as its location in an actual city. (Occidental is a runner-up with similar qualities.)

Berea – Known for the radical idea of having all students participate in work-study and graduate without debt, its general repuation is steadily rising too, especially in sciences and literature. (Though the Kentucky locale won't appeal to all.)

Skidmore – Historically its strengths have been social sciences, humanities & arts, but in the past 20-ish years it's beefed up its STEM offerings, and has a large new state-of-the-art science building and even more faculty.

Whitman – A Pacific Northwest LAC that'd likely be more highly rated if it were in Connecticut or something, but it's increasingly catching the eyes of kids from the East Coast. (Even if Walla Walla is a journey to get to from other timezones.) Its off-campus "Semester in the West" program is pretty unique and multidisciplinary.[/quote]

[b]The issue with some in the 20-50 class is that they don't offer merit aid to students who don't have that stats that could get them into the T20 and doesn't have as much reputational difference with the tier below it.  So anyone who doesn't want to pay full freight (or take on significant loans if they are determined to have financial need) goes down a tier. [/b] Since there's not a huge difference in real world reputation and not likely much difference in quality -- Wooster with a total cost of attendance of 35k/yr with merit aid beats Skidmore at 80k (rough numbers here, but that's the metric that strong MC/UMC kids interested in LACs but who can't easily afford them but don't qualify for much aid make).  Berea doesn't really fall into that class--it has long served a very different population. [/quote]

There is a lot of truth to this.  My DC applied to one top 20 and the rest were 50-70.  DC got into every single 50-70 with substantial (@50%) merit aid.  There's no way we would have done full pay for a 20-50 school. DC was not even sure the one top 20 they applied to was worth full pay and was relieved when they didn't get in. At that point, they had the merit aid acceptances in hand.  [/quote]

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