<p>wow, I feel I am making a bit of progress again today by journaling my thoughts here. I see some fear and hesitation in both my daughter and myself as we inch our way towards her autonomy. There is no perfect environment where she can safely be planted; we just need to find a set of good enough schools where she can learn and grow and test out life. </p>
<p>We’ll check out Wesleyan if we get to it, and if we don’t, that’s okay too.</p>
<p>psychmom: There are mainstream kids at both Vassar and Wesleyan. I think Wesleyan is a bit more “in your face” than Vassar (Wes kids, I mean this in the nicest possible way. No problem for me. I’m a political creature.)</p>
<p>It’s really about what your D likes, and she may get more comfortable with things.</p>
<p>My S went from Vassar to Williams as choice #1. Was intimidated by Williams and not Vassar, and then he wasn’t.</p>
<p>Look at Wheaton for Asian studies. I’m not sure if it has or not. But it has the social environment you’re looking for. Trinity and Connecticut College are both more mainstream, as you know.</p>
<p>Mythmom, I am so glad you are keeping an eye on this thread as I make my way to the Promised College. At this particular moment in time, Vassar and Conn seem to be the top choices. I think Conn, overall, is the best fit, but my daughter is telling me, “no one’s heard of it.” She is not yet comfortable…with any of the schools, for one reason or another.</p>
<p>psychmom: Vassar has gotten VERY competitive for LI girls, so best not to set her sights on it, although definitely apply. You never know what they’re looking for.</p>
<p>S’s girlfriend was accepted to Williams, Swarthmore and Haverford and wait listed at Vassar, rejected at Amherst. </p>
<p>Conn College is lovely and I like New London and love LI Sound. (Hey, if you squint, you can see it from my window.) It’s really lovely to drive out to Orient and then hop the ferry.</p>
<p>Did I mention (I think I may have) that my friends son is very happily studying Japanese at Colby. He chose it over Conn College and is doing amazingly well there. Ooops, but it’s far.</p>
<p>I am going to check out Asian Studies departments.</p>
<p>Actually, I taught in the Asian Studies Department at Stony Brook as an adjunct in addition to my full time job at Nassau and part-time job at Suffolk. Forgot all about that.</p>
<p>Wesleyan’s Asian Studies program is excellent and long-standing. (It even has a Japanese tea house and garden, where for years they’ve held ceremonies for local schoolchildren.) Worth a look if your daughter hasn’t seen the house.</p>
<p>Vassar, Conn College are terrific schools too. Regarding the Wes scene, the nerdy types I know who attend (including my son, a non-drinker along with his friends) are extremely, almost deliriously, happy with both social and academic life. The campus is culturally hip – that’s a good thing, a huge part of their education, and no one gets bored. With luck, Wesleyan will always enroll kids who test the edges. If you can’t express yourself when you’re 19, then when?</p>
<p>I do love the passionate energy of these kids…I am ready to sign up!</p>
<p>There is a creative, off the beaten path, side to my daughter under the reserved, cautious exterior. I know the world will open up to her wherever she goes. </p>
<p>The comments here have been so great…I feel my world is opening up to the range of possibilities out there.</p>