<p>I really want a classical education (dead languages, primary texts, Euclidean geometry, etc.), which seems to be available mostly at conservative/Christian colleges. However, I don't want to attend a purely "great books" college like Thomas Aquinas College or St. John's. I have visited both these schools and, while I love the great books, I realized I prefer lectures to the relatively chaotic discussions I witnessed there. </p>
<p>Unfortunately, most schools that provide a classical liberal arts education in a traditional format (lectures, more organized discussions) don't seem to be strong academically. I have much higher SAT scores than the average student at hillsdale, university of dallas, etc. My scores are really more in the range for uchicago, which has an excellent classics/humanities curriculum, but I would rather attend a smaller (<3000 students) , more personal school with a less brutal workload. Of course it's possible that tests aren't a good measure of academic ability and I could find my intellectual peers at any school regardless of its average scores, but I'm still worried. I don't want to be one of the standout students in college without extreme effort. (I've found it to be a really awkward/stressful position.) </p>
<p>I need suggestions of schools where I can get a classical education in a conservative atmosphere and be ACADEMICALLY CHALLENGED. (I'm not Christian and won't sign a statement of faith, but I wouldn't mind attending a Christian school.) Thanks!</p>
<p>Check the Directed Studies program at Yale. Columbia has its vaunted LitHum core. Brandeis has a program called European Classical Studies. You already mentioned U of Chicago. All these schools have over 3,000 students though. Of the LACs, Reed might have what you're looking for.</p>
<p>jane, there are dozens of small liberal arts colleges that would offer the style of education that you are looking for. Each has its own personality and you'd have to do some research to find the ones that are most suitable for you.</p>
<p>You should start by defining what you mean by "conservative" as it can mean different things to different people. Most American colleges will have a core population of Christians, some of whom practice their religion, some who are more nominal, but you wouldn't have any problem in finding others who care about their faith at just about any college that I can think of.</p>
<p>As a starting place, I would take a look at Williams, Amherst, Haverford, Connecticut College, Kenyon, Hamilton. Plus Mt. Holyoke and Wellesley if you are female.</p>
<p>Most small to mid-sized colleges in the Southeast should fit the bill. Latin is fairly common, though Greek is less so. Withouth checking majors for these schools, I would look at:</p>
<p>Washington and Lee
Davidson
Elon
Furman
Wofford
Agnes Scott (if you're female)
Mary Washington University</p>
<p>You have really, really limited yourself by specifying size and teaching style. For instance, the University of Chicago is known for small class sizes, even though the undergrad population is 4,000+. But it is also known for making its students actually think instead of functioning as breathing recording devices. Small colleges are pretty well known for encouraging class discussion. If you want lecture classes, you should be looking at large universities where you can be just another student number on the grade report posted on the bulletin board.</p>
<p>Honestly, I don't know if what you want even exists.</p>
<p>Davidson college might be the best choice, but once again I'm not clear on your view on what conservative means. Conservative in the academic sense is not the same as politically conservative.</p>