It may be harder than ever to get into the Ivy League, but fortunately it's easier than ever to find outstanding alternatives. Counselors say if you look hard enough, you're bound to find a school that you love--and, more important, that loves you back. Here are eight strategies kids (and parents) are using to find happiness beyond the ranks of the traditional élite schools.
•Take the Honors Route Big state schools trying to attract top students are increasingly establishing honors colleges. These schools within schools often feel like cloistered liberal-arts colleges but still have access to the superior resources of a...