Oberlin! I wanted to go to Oberlin sooo badly before I seriously looked at my undergrad.

Swarthmore is definitely an option for him. Maybe even one of the smaller state schools like William and Mary, which have an emphasis on undergraduate education and are smaller.

Here's munchkin's post-nap SLAC list:

Swarthmore
Haverford
Oberlin
Amherst
Middlebury
Williams
Wesleyan (CT)
Davidson
Carleton
Macalester
Colorado College
The Claremont Colleges

Again, the smaller state schools like W&M and New College of USF would also prepare him for a good PhD program. From what I'm learning from friends who are in competitive PhD programs, you HAVE to go to a good college (I'm talking top SLAC/state flagships/Ivy) to even be considered for the top PhD programs and be in line to get the top post-docs and fellowships. He'll want to go a school that is part of the Fulbright program as well, to line himself up for good research opportunities as an undergrad. And this is for the sciences--where the funding is plentiful! It's so much harder for the social sciences or the humanities. My friends in those programs have to scramble to make a living.

I'm sure someone will chime in here saying that it doesn't matter where you went to school so long as you're happy--but with the sciences it can be really tough if you didn't have access to certain things.

If you get to Oberlin, I will meet you-- about 20 miles away. Oberlin is a college like no other. Great school and the most amazing donuts in this oddly random convenience store on the square.

Westerville (Otterbein) is a great college town, too.

He is thinking he'd probably want to go to U of M for grad school, which would be an excellent choice with lots of post docs and fellowships available. He definitely wants to do research. He wants to look at Wash U also and I think we'll head to St. Louis this summer for a visit. It might be bigger than he's liking, but it may be ok.

There are lots of reach schools he would like. I would like some solid safeties. I don't think Hypo had enough safeties. I also think he would manage a bigger school better than he thinks he would... he doesn't like change but always manages fine when forced to deal with it.

I meant to comment on this ealier, but I have heard a lot of good things about Wartburg College in Waverly Iowa. As the name suggest it is a Lutheran run university, but while there is a required religion/philosophy requirement it is minor and IIRC does not even require Christian classes. Somebody I know who went to Wartburg something like 20 years ago was actually involved in research as a psych major. I can't imagine that aspect has changed.

If he's serious about research, look for schools where he will actually be able to get his hands dirty and do some kind of thesis or head a study. Many schools will talk about "research experience" opportunities that really just end up being professor's research assistant positions that involve nothing more that entering numbers into the computer. While this kind of experience can also be valuable, nothing prepares you better for graduate studies like actually doing a year-long, self-directed study and presenting it at a conference and/or getting it published. At Pepperdine, the psychology program has a competitive undergraduate research program that has students conceive, design, and execute a study that must be defended in front of the faculty and presented at a national conference such as APA. It's a great way to ensure you really love research before heading off to a 6-year program.

Not enuff energy (stupid bronchitis ) but I am sure there is a Georgia college or two that would fit.

Maybe Emory in Atl (CDC just down the road) .or maybe Mercer in Macon.

Washington University seems smaller than it is. Most students live on the South 40 or in apartments close to campus, so community is pretty compact and tightly knit.

Seconded! Message me if you have any specific questions, I have loved my four semesters here!

Davidson -- great academics, pretty selective, active student body, and Charlotte's right there for flights home.

Wash U is just such a lottery for admissions that I don't want him to love it too much early on!

Hypo just tweeted to Halostar that he should look at Oberlin...lol.

Did anyone mention Williams College yet?

Yes, it was on my list. My friends who are Williams alumni LOVE IT.

Halostar is having a very good year! He was going to run for Student Council Exec Board Vice President but ended up running for President and won! He also went to Social Studies Olympiad on Saturday and his Quiz Bowl team there took second place. He's got 114% in AP Bio right now because all the tests have an extra credit question and he's been getting all the extra credit plus 100% on everything he's done in there.

Wow, he's blowing me away. Five years ago, he was so unmotivated to do anything.

Now if he'd just get going on that Eagle project... *mutter*

Where is Williams?

Williamstown, MA. Kind of your typical exquisite New England LAC. About 550 in the freshman class.

Williamstown, MA. Kind of your typical exquisite New England LAC. About 550 in the freshman class.