Anonymous
Post 12/08/2025 20:10     Subject: Small universities or liberal arts colleges for a B-average student who wants STEM?

Anonymous wrote:I’m going to throw out a bit of a curve ball because you’ve gotten some great suggestions, but some of them are outside of the NE corridor and also not close to a major airport. (Juniata and Allegheny for instance.) Chatham University is a small school (formerly a women’s college, but now co-ed) in a residential part of Pittsburgh. It’s very close to both Pitt and CMU, however. Its most famous grad is Rachel Carson, and it still leans into that heritage; environmental science is among its strongest programs. Students at the main campus are primarily housed in converted mansions as the campus is smack in the middle of what used to be Millionaires’ Row in Pittsburgh. Might be worth a look.


Ssssshhhhh you let out the info. It hardly ever comes up on here.
Anonymous
Post 12/08/2025 20:07     Subject: Small universities or liberal arts colleges for a B-average student who wants STEM?

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Hobart & William Smith, St. Lawrence, Bard, Marist, Siena, Clark

If you're looking at SLU, look at Clarkson too. They're next door to each other, with Clarkson being engineering and STEM-focused instead of liberal arts. Both are small universities.


Both those are super up there in the state and COLD. Just giving another perspective. -DP
Anonymous
Post 12/08/2025 19:25     Subject: Small universities or liberal arts colleges for a B-average student who wants STEM?

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Hobart & William Smith, St. Lawrence, Bard, Marist, Siena, Clark

If you're looking at SLU, look at Clarkson too. They're next door to each other, with Clarkson being engineering and STEM-focused instead of liberal arts. Both are small universities.

However, biology and chemistry are liberal arts fields, and this student doesn't appear to desire engineering.


Clarkson has a very strong environmental science program, including a dedicated campus in the Adirondacks.
Anonymous
Post 12/08/2025 19:07     Subject: Small universities or liberal arts colleges for a B-average student who wants STEM?

I’m going to throw out a bit of a curve ball because you’ve gotten some great suggestions, but some of them are outside of the NE corridor and also not close to a major airport. (Juniata and Allegheny for instance.) Chatham University is a small school (formerly a women’s college, but now co-ed) in a residential part of Pittsburgh. It’s very close to both Pitt and CMU, however. Its most famous grad is Rachel Carson, and it still leans into that heritage; environmental science is among its strongest programs. Students at the main campus are primarily housed in converted mansions as the campus is smack in the middle of what used to be Millionaires’ Row in Pittsburgh. Might be worth a look.
Anonymous
Post 12/08/2025 18:52     Subject: Small universities or liberal arts colleges for a B-average student who wants STEM?

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Hobart & William Smith, St. Lawrence, Bard, Marist, Siena, Clark

If you're looking at SLU, look at Clarkson too. They're next door to each other, with Clarkson being engineering and STEM-focused instead of liberal arts. Both are small universities.

However, biology and chemistry are liberal arts fields, and this student doesn't appear to desire engineering.
Anonymous
Post 12/08/2025 17:10     Subject: Small universities or liberal arts colleges for a B-average student who wants STEM?

Holy Cross
Anonymous
Post 12/08/2025 16:27     Subject: Small universities or liberal arts colleges for a B-average student who wants STEM?

Anonymous wrote:Hobart & William Smith, St. Lawrence, Bard, Marist, Siena, Clark

If you're looking at SLU, look at Clarkson too. They're next door to each other, with Clarkson being engineering and STEM-focused instead of liberal arts. Both are small universities.
Anonymous
Post 12/08/2025 16:23     Subject: Small universities or liberal arts colleges for a B-average student who wants STEM?

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Are you in Maryland? St. Mary’s College of Maryland could be a fit. My kid (not STEM, though) is very happy.


OP: We're not in Maryland but this school has been recommended to us before and dc is interested. I would love to know more about your kid's experience. What do they like about the school? What's the social feeling? Decent academics?


He likes the people a lot - he has made friends and just feels really comfortable. The campus is beautiful and he likes the kayaking and random jumping in the water. When it snowed last week there were bonfires and s’mores. He likes the professors, and even the one he isn’t a fan of he’s found is helpful if he goes to talk with her. The social feeling is low key - he has made lots of friends, and feels comfortable. There are parties but they aren’t huge or too crazy. There is a lot of watching movies or football, going to Chipotle, and pick up sports/games. I imagine if he was arty rather than sporty there would be a different set of hang out activities. It is rural, so you have to be okay with that.

For sure decent academics. He was a little surprised to find that he is surrounded by people with much better GPAs than his in high school. Professors really seem to care.

Oh, and the food is good, always a plus!
Anonymous
Post 12/08/2025 16:21     Subject: Small universities or liberal arts colleges for a B-average student who wants STEM?

Anonymous wrote:U Colorado Boulder?

1. Not small
2. Not on east coast
3. 3.3 on the lower end for acceptance.
Anonymous
Post 12/08/2025 16:15     Subject: Small universities or liberal arts colleges for a B-average student who wants STEM?

Allegheny if interested in environmental.

Another vote for Wooster.
Anonymous
Post 12/08/2025 14:51     Subject: Small universities or liberal arts colleges for a B-average student who wants STEM?

Anonymous wrote:Kalamazoo College. Beloit. Rollins.


+1 All great suggestions
Anonymous
Post 12/08/2025 14:50     Subject: Small universities or liberal arts colleges for a B-average student who wants STEM?

University of Rhode Island (~15k students). good STEM program. check out their instagram page for their college of the environment and life sciences (URI_Cels).
Anonymous
Post 12/08/2025 14:45     Subject: Small universities or liberal arts colleges for a B-average student who wants STEM?

St. Lawrence, Wheaton (MA).
Anonymous
Post 12/08/2025 14:26     Subject: Small universities or liberal arts colleges for a B-average student who wants STEM?

Hobart & William Smith, St. Lawrence, Bard, Marist, Siena, Clark
Anonymous
Post 12/08/2025 14:24     Subject: Small universities or liberal arts colleges for a B-average student who wants STEM?

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Are you in Maryland? St. Mary’s College of Maryland could be a fit. My kid (not STEM, though) is very happy.


OP: We're not in Maryland but this school has been recommended to us before and dc is interested. I would love to know more about your kid's experience. What do they like about the school? What's the social feeling? Decent academics?


Different poster but have a family member who graduated from SMCM in the science/enviro field. Students are friendly and smart but not intense, professors are accessible, campus is small and rural but with a pretty waterfront location. I think it’s a hidden gem!