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We've visited Brandeis, Williams, Harvard, Dartmouth, and Tufts. I really like Harvard, Dartmouth and Tufts, but wasn't crazy about Williams (too small), and Brandeis (too ugly). Obviously, I've found plenty of reach schools, but now I need some matches and safeties that are somewhat similar to Harvard, Dartmouth, and Tufts, only less selective. For reference, I have a 3.6 UW (23/276), 1450 (700m/750v), 3 700+ SAT IIs. Any suggestions on schools that are similar to those mentioned, have decent law school placement, and are slightly easier to get into?

By Interesteddad (Interesteddad) on Saturday, August 14, 2004 - 10:24 pm: Edit

You don't give us quite enough to go on (type of high school where you are in the top 10%, race/ethnicity, etc.) But, based on what you have given us, some other mid-sized private universities to consider might be Emory, Vanderbilt, and Brown.

Unless your high school is super competitive or you are an underrepresented minority or you have an outstanding special interest, top 10% and 1450 is probably not going to be really promising at Harvard. I would view Brown and Dartmouth as pretty big reaches as well.

By Reidmc (Reidmc) on Sunday, August 15, 2004 - 12:47 am: Edit

I agree with interesteddad re: Harvard and Dartmouth.

Colgate is smaller than the three schools you like, but big for an LAC and an appropriate match. Dickinson is also larger than most LACs and would be a very good safety. Franklin & Marshall (another LAC)would be another safety candidate. They have quite a few resources for students interested in legal careers, including a pre-law advisor. They also give significant merit aid, if that is of interest.

By Dadofsam (Dadofsam) on Monday, August 16, 2004 - 04:47 pm: Edit

Elizabeth: Consider closing your eyes and applying to Brandeis anyway. Yes, its campus is not pretty, especially compared to Ivy and other architectural gems, but it's a fine school and otherwise seems to meet your criteria.

Our S didn't care for the aesthetics either, but he got to like the school more and more after talking with present and past students, and will be heading there in less than 2 weeks.

With those stats you may qualify for a merit scholarship at Brandeis but not at the others.

By Rhonda63 (Rhonda63) on Wednesday, August 18, 2004 - 04:07 pm: Edit

Brown and Dartmouth are not helpful suggestions for someone seeking matches/safeties.

What about Northwestern? or Chicago?

Aren't you looking for Classics programs, too? Having just said Brown is not a helpful suggestion, it has one of the best Classics programs in the country.

I've mentioned this before, but there are very few schools in the 5-7K size range, and the majority of them are NOT safeties for anyone. Here's what I would suggest -- search on Princeton Review or somewhere for all schools in the size range of H and Tufts (about 5-7K undergrad). Take a look at those and you may find some that are easier to get into (I don't know much about Tufts, but I would think it's significantly less of a long shot than Harvard).

Another thing my D did in looking for matches was to take a look at the Classics depts at her schools of interest. Some have very paltry offerings, esp for someone with significant Latin background (I recall Stanford was not impressive). That can help weed out schools. I know she had some of the larger LACs on her list (Wesleyan, Vassar -- visited Wes, which you might find ugly, but not Vassar, which is probably not ugly) and also Macalester (not that big, but at least it's in a city -- didn't visit, however).

BTW, Bryn Mawr doesn't fit your criteria (too small, probably) but it's gorgeous and also has an excellent Classics dept.

By Massdad (Massdad) on Wednesday, August 18, 2004 - 04:17 pm: Edit

U. Rochester? NYU? Georgetown? BC? Hopkins? Case Western?

Outside New England, there a lot of choices. If you limit yourself to New England, you make the job a lot harder. Then, you're looking at BU, State Us or smaller places like Colby.

Yea, there are not a lot of places like "Harvard, Dartmouth, and Tufts" but less selective. These places are what they are because they ARE selective.

And Brown is no match for anyone either. I know of kids accepted at HYP rejected by Brown.

By Rhonda63 (Rhonda63) on Wednesday, August 18, 2004 - 04:19 pm: Edit

Hopkins is a very good suggestion.

By Mini (Mini) on Wednesday, August 18, 2004 - 04:23 pm: Edit

Does it have to be in the northeast? There are schools like the University of Denver, which would be a clear safety. Or, with its own law school, there is Quinnipiac in Connecticut, a clear safety, with a growing following. You'd get huge merit money at either. There's Univ. of Miami (Ohio) and Ohio University (NOT Ohio State). St. Olaf's is almost of the size you are looking for. Or University of Portland, in a great city. Like a great books program, with heavy emphasis on classics? what about St. John's? And, if you look south, there are places like Furman and Tulane.

Depends on what you want to study, obviously. But these would all be safeties for you (if you don't like your local state university), and of the size you are looking for.

By Soozievt (Soozievt) on Wednesday, August 18, 2004 - 06:48 pm: Edit

Elizabeth, I don't have the time to research their classics offerings but given what you like and the location/size in a college, and needing matches/safeties....how about Colgate, Vassar, Hamilton, Skidmore, Colby, Connecticut College, Bates, Trinity, Smith or if you are willing to go Middle Atlantic...how about Dickinson or Bucknell? Some of those were matches, some were safeties by the way. Middlebury would be a borderline reach/match and so that is a possiblity given that you liked Dartmouth. A safety for you would be University of Vermont.

Susan

By Rhonda63 (Rhonda63) on Thursday, August 19, 2004 - 12:52 pm: Edit

Elizabeth -- I'm pasting an e-mail that I received from someone during my D's college search (so it's two years old). May be useful for you -- it focuses on Latin and English depts, since those were my D's areas of interest. You'll see that Rochester and CMU have no Latin.

Remember the info re acceptance rate is a little dated. (And please no one be offended by the reference to "the Catholic thing" regarding Notre Dame -- it's not meant to be a criticism, just something to be aware of!).

"Case Western, 3434 ugstudents, 71% acceptance, good Latin offerings (but
unranked), ranked 90 in Engl.

Rochester, 4480 ugs, 53% acceptance, no latin, ranked 46 in Engl.

Brandeis, 3169 ugs, 61% acceptance, limited latin offerings, ranked 44 in
Engl.

William & Mary, 5585 ugs, 41% acceptance, 7 or 8 classics faculty, several
with Latin interests, but couldn't pull up course listings.

Carnegie-Mellon, 5106 ugs, 36% acceptance, no latin, ranked 51 in Engl.

Vanderbilt, 5935 ugs, 71% acceptance, pretty good latin offerings, ranked
30 in Engl.

Chicago, 4008 ugs, 44% acceptance, ranked 7 in Classics, 10 in Engl.

Washington (StL), Hopkins, and NW all have acceptance rates in the 30-33
range (about the same as Cornell) so they may not be good safeties. Of
those, Hopkins is clearly the best in Latin and Engl. Same for Notre Dame
(i.e., too hard to get into to be a safety), which also has the Catholic
thing, although that would probably mean good Latin offerings."