Anyone fall in love with a campus at first sight?

College Search & Selection
81

<p>Tulane's campus is awesome! I loved it but it's not your typical "drop dead gorgeous" college campus mostly because the archetecture is so inconsistent. It's still very, very pretty. My favorite part of campus is the academic quad closest to St. Charles Ave where you've three similarly designed buildings that look like they could have been constructed in the late 19th century. The residential side of campus mostly consists of newer, more souless buildings but I think that's probably true at a lot of places.</p>

<p>I visited Rhodes and had a miserable experience. I kept trying to love it, though, because of the campus' seductive beauty :-)</p>

82

<p><a href="http://img341.imageshack.us/my.php?image=epgy048sv5.jpg%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://img341.imageshack.us/my.php?image=epgy048sv5.jpg&lt;/a>
^actually that's the stanford shopping center...lol</p>

83

<p>And, if you include location as part of the beauty, take a look at UCSB. How many campuses have two miles of oceanfrontage? <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?client=firefox-a&hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=34.410079,-119.845219&spn=0.012799,0.019205&t=h&z=16&om=0%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://maps.google.com/maps?client=firefox-a&hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=34.410079,-119.845219&spn=0.012799,0.019205&t=h&z=16&om=0&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

84

<p>I agree on the Rhodes notion. It's a different type of place, but beautiful, well manicured campus.</p>

<p>Doesn't anyone have any further perspective on Furman? Not so enamoured with the school, but the campus ... WOW!</p>

85

<p><a href="http://www.kumah.org/uploaded_images/Chicago-U-764626.jpg%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.kumah.org/uploaded_images/Chicago-U-764626.jpg&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>cant compare</p>

86

<p>umassdad, great website. </p>

<p>ALL- I'm so impressed with the architecture, both the built and the landscape, of American colleges. They are cathedrals of learning. Check out Flagler in Fl - that is one beautiful assembly of buildings and space.
<a href="http://puka.cs.waikato.ac.nz/cgi-bin/cic/library?a=d&d=p618.4%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://puka.cs.waikato.ac.nz/cgi-bin/cic/library?a=d&d=p618.4&lt;/a>
also look at an interior space at LU
<a href="http://puka.cs.waikato.ac.nz/cgi-bin/cic/library?a=d&d=p979.1%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://puka.cs.waikato.ac.nz/cgi-bin/cic/library?a=d&d=p979.1&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>campus is from the latin (I believe, latin), meaning 'field', which means a unity of the built and of the landscape.</p>

<p>Somewhere on CC, I believe I saw a reference to a book called 'the most beautiful colleges', or some such title.</p>

<p>I recall IU - bloomington in it.
<a href="http://travel.webshots.com/photo/1110696268011732687vTquoj%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://travel.webshots.com/photo/1110696268011732687vTquoj&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>For the longest time for this college search, I was putting the aesthetics of place paramount in the factors of choosing a school, since such aesthetics are always with the student, everywhere the student looks, perceives, breathes, walks, <em>IS</em>; and such beauty I took to be redemptive, rehabilitative, and good for all around studying, meditating, socializing, and working during these special four years.</p>

<p>But, as I alluded to in my previous post, I am now thinking that in the 'life of the mind', ideas and their conversation can transcend the temporal. Therefore, place can take a second place in the factors assessing a college.</p>

87

<p>I forgot to include Cornell College in Iowa, whose WHOLE campus is listed on the National Register of Historic Places (one of two such campuses in usa).
<a href="http://puka.cs.waikato.ac.nz/cgi-bin/cic/library?a=d&d=p476%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://puka.cs.waikato.ac.nz/cgi-bin/cic/library?a=d&d=p476&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>It is also well intergrated into the town. Ripon in Wi is also this way.</p>

88

<p>I fall in love with almost every campus I visit. Instead of basing my decision on the campus alone, I decide if a)do i really see myself here? b) are the academics what I am looking for? c) Is it the type of place I fit in? are there people here that i can identify with and d) is this reasonable(meaning can i actually get in and afford it)
Answering those questions really helps. Almost every college has an amazing campus but that doesn't necessarily mean it is the right place for you.</p>

89

<p>I was with a group of 4 kids visiting St. Olaf... 4th college of a 4 college trip, none of the others caused that spark. They loved it as we drove up the hill. 3/4 of them ended up there, all happy. One of our neighbors calls it "Hogwarts"....the gorgeous old buildings, I think.</p>

90

<p>Every time I drive over Hiway 17 to Santa Cruz, I remember the first time I visited UC Santa Cruz in 1971. When I first see the trees at the start of the pass, my heart makes a small jump just as it did that day in 1971.</p>

<p>I would say I fell in love with the school (not just the campus). At the time, it was a small university in the middle of the redwoods, with smart and interesting students, and a progressive education approach.</p>

<p>Unlike today, there was no googling the internet for data or formal school tour. We walked around the campus, bought a catalog, and visited with my brother's friend who was attending. That was Lawrence Weschler, who would impress anyone with his intelligence and enthusiasm. </p>

<p>After the visit, UCSC was my first choice (in those days the UC application had you list your top 3 choices, and you just hoped for the best). I spent 5 years at UCSC and it was a great experience. Was it what I expected? Yes and No. There certainly were things I hadn't anticipated, but I definitely immediately knew this was the university for me.</p>

91

<p>Finding THAT college is like finding THAT house - you just know it is home :)</p>

92

<p>i fell in love with the UCB campus. i went to visit stanford the next day and it didn't even compare. but i'm just into openness and foothills and lots of green grass.</p>

93

<p>WashU for S1. </p>

<p><a href="http://flickr.com/photos/keepmusicevil/97283831/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://flickr.com/photos/keepmusicevil/97283831/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p><a href="http://flickr.com/photos/vesuviano/403868752/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://flickr.com/photos/vesuviano/403868752/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p><a href="http://flickr.com/photos/minbaili/223975739/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://flickr.com/photos/minbaili/223975739/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

94

<p>I fell in love with WashU almost 7 years ago, when I moved to St. Louis, and I've wanted to go there ever since. Come August, that's exactly where I'll be :D</p>

95

<p>Wake Forest University...just gorgeous.</p>

96

<p>In his 1991 book, "The Campus as a Work of Art",
Thomas Gaines ranks the top 13 campuses (all of whom received 19 points) as follows:
(Note points given are for the follow categories:)
Urban - - - - - -Space Archit. - - - - - Quality Landscape - - - - Overall Appeal- - - - Total
1. Stanford 5 5 4 5 19
2. Princeton 5 5 4 5 19
3. Wellesley 5 5 4 5 19
4. Colorado 5 4 5 5 19
5. Indiana at Bloomington 5 4 5 5 19
6. Evergreen 5 5 4 5 19
7. Columbia 5 4 5 5 19
8. Mount Holyoke 5 5 4 5 19
9. RIT 5 5 4 5 19
10. SUNY Albany 5 5 4 5 19
11. LSU 5 4 5 5 19
12. Kansas. Lawrence 5 5 4 5 19
13. Wisconsin-Madison 5 4 5 5 19 </p>

<p>Next with 18 points were the following campuses:
Air Force Academy 5 4 5 4 18
U. Cal. Porter Col. 5 5 4 4 18 (one of the schools at UC Santa Cruz)
U. Cal. San Diego 5 4 5 4 18
Chapel Hill 5 4 4 5 18
University of Chicago 4 5 5 4 18
Duke University 5 5 4 4 18
Univ. of Illinois. Chicago 5 5 4 4 18
Univ. of Illinois. Urbana 5 5 4 4 18
Iowa State. Ames 5 5 4 4 18
Johns Hopkins 5 4 4 5 18
Michigan State 5 3 5 5 18
Univ. of Pennsylvania 5 4 5 4 18
Smith 4 4 5 5 18 </p>

<p>To explain his choice of why places like Chicago, Virginia, and Harvard were not among the top 13, Gaines wrote:</p>

<p>"because of their lack of sustained visual achievement.....we
do not see some colleges with well composed centers included among the best 13 campuses. Not included at the top are classical Virginia, Gothic Chicago, delicate South Carolina, harmonious Emory, botanical Michigan State,
monastic Harvard, exquisite Chapel Hill, and historic Brown."</p>

<p>Also, since he could have listed the first 13 schools in any order, he implied that he put them in the order as given since that was his rating (for the top 13) --but not so for the ones with 18 points, which were put in alphabetical order.</p>

<p>Thus, he agrees with the individual who ranked Stanford #1. (Although my personal favorites are Pepperdine, Colgate, Virginia, Stanford, Elon, Indiana, Princeton, Dartmouth, Wash Univ in St. Louis and Bentley;--in that order). For beauty only, of course.</p>

97

<p>Here's why I ranked Pepperdine #1:</p>

<p><a href="http://bschool.pepperdine.edu/images/newsevents/presskit/Pepperdine_University.jpg%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://bschool.pepperdine.edu/images/newsevents/presskit/Pepperdine_University.jpg&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p><a href="http://law.pepperdine.edu/images/library/solbuilding.jpg%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://law.pepperdine.edu/images/library/solbuilding.jpg&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p><a href="http://gsep.pepperdine.edu/images/alumni/colleaguemagazine/spring2004/drescher/5.jpg%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://gsep.pepperdine.edu/images/alumni/colleaguemagazine/spring2004/drescher/5.jpg&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p><a href="http://static.flickr.com/64/165401312_de02ff3081.jpg%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://static.flickr.com/64/165401312_de02ff3081.jpg&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p><a href="http://bumataystudio.com/images/jin2.jpg%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://bumataystudio.com/images/jin2.jpg&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>(this last one is the chapel at Pepperdine)</p>

<p>Oh, and I forgot to mention;--
Princeton Review also ranked Pepperdine as the "Most Beautiful Campus" in both 2006 and 2007.</p>

98

<p>I fell for Berkeley's natural beauty and vibe when I did a summer program.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.kimsteinbacher.com/gallery/photo.php?photo=422&exhibition=36&ee_lang=eng&u=28081,0%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.kimsteinbacher.com/gallery/photo.php?photo=422&exhibition=36&ee_lang=eng&u=28081,0&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p><a href="http://www.kimsteinbacher.com/gallery/photo.php?photo=426&exhibition=36&ee_lang=eng&u=28081,16%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.kimsteinbacher.com/gallery/photo.php?photo=426&exhibition=36&ee_lang=eng&u=28081,16&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p><a href="http://www.pbase.com/pack_78/image/1296887%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.pbase.com/pack_78/image/1296887&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p><a href="http://www.pbase.com/pack_78/image/1296879%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.pbase.com/pack_78/image/1296879&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>This last photo is one of my favorite parts of the campus...going down Campenile Way from Class in Evans you can easily see the golden gate bridge across the bay....although you cant quite see it in this picture (:</p>

<p><a href="http://homepage.mac.com/me_94501/ggbridge.jpg%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://homepage.mac.com/me_94501/ggbridge.jpg&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

99

<p>Pepperdine is downright fantastic...and I haven't even been there!</p>

100

<p>Well, sofla951's pictures remind me of why I live in the greater SF Bay Area--and I've never been to Madison or I'm sure that Wisconsin would be on my top 10 list after seeing barron's slide show also.</p>

<p>Still, all these comments demonstrate that there really are some beautiful campuses here in the states--and, of course, Cambridge and Oxford are beautiful in the UK--and I'm sure there are great other ones overseas.</p>

<p>I wonder if any internationals have pictures of campuses in their countries they'd wish to share?</p>