Anonymous wrote:I think Denison sounds like a great fit. The new Eisner Performing Arts Center is beautiful. My DD is an Environmental Studies major and is taking an art class this semester. She just started, but we have been really impressed so far. It's a beautiful campus (quite a few new buildings), and although the drive is about 6 hours from our home, it's a nice drive (scenic and mostly no traffic). The admittance rate this year is 22%, but I think many of the schools' admittance rates have become more selective since COVID. They also offer great merit. Other schools she considered: Lafayette, Bucknell, Elon, Rollins, Dickinson, W&M ...

https://denison.edu/campus/about/fast-facts

Odd that the fast facts page on the Denison University website never reveals the number of students enrolled at the school.

I think Denison sounds like a great fit. The new Eisner Performing Arts Center is beautiful. My DD is an Environmental Studies major and is taking an art class this semester. She just started, but we have been really impressed so far. It's a beautiful campus (quite a few new buildings), and although the drive is about 6 hours from our home, it's a nice drive (scenic and mostly no traffic). The admittance rate this year is 22%, but I think many of the schools' admittance rates have become more selective since COVID. They also offer great merit. Other schools she considered: Lafayette, Bucknell, Elon, Rollins, Dickinson, W&M ...

https://denison.edu/campus/about/fast-facts

Anonymous wrote:What about Colorado State? They have a School of Theater and Dance and a College of Natural Resources. Not a pressure cooker.

+1 second this recommendation. Fantastic school for Dance minor.

I'd second the suggestion of Smith, Holyoke, and add Bryn Mawr. Great schools if she's ok with women's college, and offer merit.

I saw a suggestion of Colgate. Great academics but very greek heavy. I would not send a woman there.

OP again- thank you for all of the great suggestions. IU is now on the list and I will research several of the others suggested as well.

My nephew is a sophomore in IU's Environmental Studies (not environmental science) program and loves it. It's part of IU's O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Policy, which I hadn't heard of previously but I now see is pretty highly ranked among public policy schools (for both grad and undergrad).

Before going he was a bit worried if IU's Greek life was going to be too dominant for him -- not his scene -- but he hasn't found that to be the case at all. 20-25% of the students belong, but that means 75-80% -- of a university of 35 thousand or so -- don't. The university has a really lively arts school and cultural schedule, and Bloomington (which everyone calls a "great college town" but is actually more of a small city of like 85 thousand people) has something like over 100 restaurants, plus clubs, etc. And there are "affinity houses" (like smaller dorms) for people who want to break down the feeling of a big university but not via a fraternity (he's in one for 'sustainability' which he's enjoyed). So it seems like Greek life is there at IU for those who want it, but it's not an indispensable part of every student's life or university life generally. I think Greek institutions play a more dominant social role at smaller colleges in a rural or small town setting (like where I went).

Hope you all like it. Good luck!

Great list. If you are looking for some merit, add Temple and Delaware.

Anonymous wrote:OP again- thank you for all of the great suggestions. IU is now on the list and I will research several of the others suggested as well.

Boston University might be of interest.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Conn College and Skidmore.

Skidmore doesn't offer merit (save for a few specialized scholarships) so wouldn't meet budget criteria--but it's got a great arts program.

Conn College would be frustrating for a serious student.

For dance or for academics? If latter, I’d be interested in how so before we go visit. Not OP here.

OP again- thank you for all of the great suggestions. IU is now on the list and I will research several of the others suggested as well.

Anonymous wrote:Indiana University. Great art program.

This is a really good suggestion.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Conn College and Skidmore.

Skidmore doesn't offer merit (save for a few specialized scholarships) so wouldn't meet budget criteria--but it's got a great arts program.

Conn College would be frustrating for a serious student.

VT has some new studio art facilities and my perception is they are struggling to get more students interested in their studio art program. I would definitely play up any interest in studio art in an application to VT - it might help with acceptance.

Muhlenberg. Great drama/arts program.

UMass and Mount Holyoke. Might get aid.
Smith more pressure.

Muhlenberg (sp?)
Lafayette does not seem artsy at all.
OBerlin does not have strong design/graphics. This surprised some art students from the DMV. Not sure about dance.
VT has more theater and dance than you’d think, but not a big variety of studio arts.
Be aware that environmental studies and environmental science have significantly different amounts of science in them.