Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just been through this with DS: Vanderbilt and Emory are top tier in terms of admissions requirements (and Tulane is not far behind). I don't think there's anything smallish about Auburn or Temple (both 20,000+ undergrads). Even Clemson has 12,000 undergrads. So that leaves Bucknell.

Bucknell is very competitive. Not for the B to B+ student. Probably more for the B+ to A- students with a 2100 SAT.

The middle 50% of admitted students at Bucknell score between 1850-2090 on the SAT. An applicant with a 2100 is going to be in the top 25% of admitted students; even with a B/B+ transcript, he/she would be in pretty good shape.

I don't think so - I know a number of kids who did not get in to Bucknell this year who had A-/B+ grades and good (although not quite 2100) scores, along with all the requisite extracurrics/passions. One had even applied ED and didn't get in (but got in to some other good schools).

Vanderbilt is super competitive. Emory too. Tulane is much easier - seems like lots of kids from the DC area get in there.

Southwestern University - small liberal arts school, but very good athletics program (for that size), extremely strong academics, and 30 minutes outside Austin, TX. Can do sororities or not - as you wish, and there is no stigma either way. Great scholarships, and not as competitive to get in - especially if you're from the NE.

Clemson.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just been through this with DS: Vanderbilt and Emory are top tier in terms of admissions requirements (and Tulane is not far behind). I don't think there's anything smallish about Auburn or Temple (both 20,000+ undergrads). Even Clemson has 12,000 undergrads. So that leaves Bucknell.

Bucknell is very competitive. Not for the B to B+ student. Probably more for the B+ to A- students with a 2100 SAT.

The middle 50% of admitted students at Bucknell score between 1850-2090 on the SAT. An applicant with a 2100 is going to be in the top 25% of admitted students; even with a B/B+ transcript, he/she would be in pretty good shape.

Anonymous wrote:Just been through this with DS: Vanderbilt and Emory are top tier in terms of admissions requirements (and Tulane is not far behind). I don't think there's anything smallish about Auburn or Temple (both 20,000+ undergrads). Even Clemson has 12,000 undergrads. So that leaves Bucknell.

Bucknell is very competitive. Not for the B to B+ student. Probably more for the B+ to A- students with a 2100 SAT.

IMO, this whole discussion accurately reflects the dilemna. Small schools don't market themselves as being like "big schools." In fact, most of them try to avoid it. One positive aspect that they can trumpet is that they offer a smaller setting where the kids are not just numbers. So I think that we are all having so much trouble is because (1) there is not consensus about what a big school feel is and (2) there are not a whole lot of small schools who give off a big school feel. There are a number of medium-smaller schools that are the focus of their small towns/cities so maybe that is the way to go. I would suggest that you look at Campbell, Elon and High Point.

Anonymous wrote:Just been through this with DS: Vanderbilt and Emory are top tier in terms of admissions requirements (and Tulane is not far behind). I don't think there's anything smallish about Auburn or Temple (both 20,000+ undergrads). Even Clemson has 12,000 undergrads. So that leaves Bucknell.

I mentioned Auburn because of the overall southern, friendly "feel" of the school and the fact that the town isn't that big. It's very different from a large university like the U. of Florida.

Anonymous wrote:Yeah, but neither Davidson, Meredith, nor Fairfield has a "big school" feel.

Also, Davidson is really quite competitive--not an easier school.

Anonymous wrote:But I thought the OP was looking for a smaller school that had an atmosphere akin to a big Div 1 school. Just because a college is in a big town with another college or two doesn't mean that the campus is a lively, "big school" type campus. For instance, look at UMass. It's a big, Div 1 school. It has a vibrancy that you don't see at Amherst College. Amherst College is in the same (college) town but it's a totally different school. Plus, a big urban town may not be close-knit enough to support a small school's "big school" type spirit. There are just too many citizens that are uninterested in the college to participate in those activities. Just my .02

Ummm....yea....I was just trying to be helpful. I have a DD at Meredith who had a similar bigger is better thought at first. Now that she is there, she loves the fact that Meredith is small and intimate but that she can take advantage of NC State being right up the road. But thanks for pointing out the shortcomings in my suggestions.

OP - Good luck and I hope you and your DC find what you both are looking for. What about Wake Forest? That would be perfect although it is pretty competitive.

Not exactly "small," but what about Miami of Ohio, which I think has about 15,000 students and very strong athletics. Also, as a PP mentioned, University of Delaware, which is relatively small compared to other state universities. Also University of New Hampshire or Vermont (although not meeting the warmer climate criterion).

But I thought the OP was looking for a smaller school that had an atmosphere akin to a big Div 1 school. Just because a college is in a big town with another college or two doesn't mean that the campus is a lively, "big school" type campus. For instance, look at UMass. It's a big, Div 1 school. It has a vibrancy that you don't see at Amherst College. Amherst College is in the same (college) town but it's a totally different school. Plus, a big urban town may not be close-knit enough to support a small school's "big school" type spirit. There are just too many citizens that are uninterested in the college to participate in those activities. Just my .02

Anonymous wrote:Yeah, but neither Davidson, Meredith, nor Fairfield has a "big school" feel.

I was the PP who mentioned Davidson and Meredith. I do realize that the schools themselves are small. But I mentioned them because they both have the intimate environment that the OP believes is the best fit ...but....they are in big cities with a strong college population(expecially Raleigh-Durham, which have colleges everywhere.)

Other than that, a smaller program or "college" within a larger university is the way to go for the OP.

Yeah, but neither Davidson, Meredith, nor Fairfield has a "big school" feel.

There's apparently a US News ranking of "A+ colleges for B students." That might help. Our B student is at Fairfield and really enjoying it and doing well.

What about Davidson? Too competitive? It is a small school in a big city. Shoot, even Meredith College might work. Just across the road from NC State - but it is small and all girls.