<p>We'll be visiting Oberlin later this month, and on paper it's my daughter's first choice. She wants to prepare for a science PhD at a small school where nerdy, unconventional kids can be comfortable. (We'll see Beloit and Earlham while we're in the "neighborhood".) For those who looked at these types of schools, any similar institutions in warmer climates? She may be able to adapt, but at this point wears a coat indoors in her Texas school when the heat isn't on full blast.</p>
<p>How about New College of Florida or one of the Clairemont Schools? I would think Reed would be warmer too. Davidson, although a little more conservative, is a great school too and NC is warmer than OH.</p>
<p>I read the OP’s question without seeing LucieTheLakie’s response and she ticked off the same schools I was going to write down except I had mentally ruled out Davidson because of the climate – the temperature one, not the political one – on account of western NC not being as toasty as OP’s daughter would want. It gets quite chilly in that area from fall to spring.</p>
<p>LucieTheLakie is correct though. Definitely check it out and then decide for yourselves. And in that same area as Davidson, maybe Wake Forest and Furman, too, which have similar meteorological and political climates to Davidson.</p>
<p>As for the others: those would be the first ones to zero in on.</p>
<p>And, finally, as for the weather, consider that there’s a point where the weather outside gets so cold in the more northerly reaches that you’ll find that you’re indoors quite a bit – in spaces that are well-designed to guard against cold, which may not be true for schools in Texas. You’d bundle up moving from building to building, sure, but time spent in classes and eating meals and studying and sleeping may actually be warmer and cozier in Oberlin, OH – or Poughkeepsie, NY or Williamstown, MA or Middletown, CT or Grinnell, IA or Northfield, MN, etc. – than they are in winter conditions in Texas. If the perfect school is in a colder climate, is a coat and scarf really going to stand in the way of things?</p>
<p>How about Warren Wilson. It’s very much about learning and labor.</p>
<p>I agree with D’yer. It’s much warmer inside the Oberlin buildings than it is inside my California house. You buy a coat. You buy some boots. You make sure you go somewhere warm for January term. It’s not a problem.</p>
<p>I don’t think of Davidson and Oberlin as being related (see post #43 in this CC thread re: the Entitlement Index)</p>
<p>Saw an interactive chart recently on the topic of “whihc colleges think they are peers with which others” . . . will post it when I find it </p>
<p>Second that Claremont schools . . . although in terms of weather cold< earthquakes</p>
<p>I totally agree with you, Kei-o-lei, but as you look for comparables in warmer climes, you have to get sloppier with the comparisons the further south you go unless you’re okay with applying to 2 or 3 schools.</p>
<p>I second the people suggesting nc! We have great weather! If money isn’t a problem, duke sent me an email a few weeks ago saying they have one of the most “nerd friendly” campuses. Wake forest seems good too but I’ve heard that their student body is cliquey and into images. UNC has a lot of motivated and driven students and the campus is BEAUTIFUL. how about Elon in Greensboro? It seems like a bit of a match.</p>
<p>Tarheel97: it’s hard for me to see that Duke, Wake Forest, UNC, or Elon have much at all in common with Oberlin.</p>
<p>Here are my personal thoughts on Oberlin and Wake Forest: I applied to both schools, for different reasons. </p>
<p>I was immediately drawn to the type of student body that Oberlin attracts, the conservatory (for enjoyment/recreation, I am not that sort of musician), and the nerdy “granola” feel of the school. </p>
<p>I applied to Wake because of its academic reputation, its position as both a liberal arts school and a research university (a HUGE plus; I’m also looking to obtain a phD in a science field… see below), the climate/appalachian mountains, and the student body, though for a different reason. Coming from the liberal bubble of the northwest (where I do fit in very well), the idea of an environment where I am faced with lots of contradictory opinions and new ideas is attractive to me. It would certainly be challenging at times, but, even if you are a student who may fit the oberlin stereotype more, I have met and spent time with MANY people at wake who are on the left side of the political/social spectrum and are very accepting. </p>
<p>Both schools have small class sizes, undergraduate focus, and incredible teachers, and they also both have excellent scholarship opportunities (I was just awarded a full-ride to Wake, and while I doubt Oberlin will be as lucrative, I have heard they have significant merit/need awards). </p>
<p>I haven’t visited Oberlin (though I have talked with many students there), but I was given an extensive tour of the computer science department at wake and met all of its faculty; everyone was so engaging and excited that I was a prospective student, and each of the professors told me about projects they’re working on, many with freshman undergraduates helping research! </p>
<p>Sorry if this a bit detail-specific, hopefully it helps!</p>
<p>Some other schools that are a bit warmer but have a similar oberlin “vibe” are:</p>
<p>University of PUget Sound
Lewis and Clark, Reed (portland isn’t too cold!)
Claremont schools (especially pitzer, or mudd if you’re very science-focused)
New College of Florida (LOTS of scholarships, impressive stats on fullbright/rhodes winners. Don’t quote me on this but I recall reading they are within the top 5 feeder schools for elite phd/med/law programs)
Washington University (tougher entrance but an incredible school)</p>
<p>Guilford college is supposed to be one of the most liberal schools in the south. Usually the most prestigious and rigorous schools in the south are conservative, not liberal. I don’t consider Davidson or Wake Forest to be liberal, yet they are excellent schools.</p>
<p>I don’t think you’d find the same campus atmosphere in the south. Oberlin is unique with it’s top notch academics, music conservatory, and it’s liberal (maybe quirky) and engaged students. I guess there are different kinds of warmth. If your daughter feels comfortable with the environment at Oberlin, maybe she’ll be willing to get used to chilly weather.</p>
<p>My D loved Oberlin but also wasn’t thrilled with the weather. I think if is a super unique place. That said, she applied to the following places wit similar vibes: Pitzer, Lewis and Clark, Wesleyan U. In the end she applied, she decided on a slightly bigger school, applied ED, and was accepted. (Wash U St. Louis). But she was going to apply ED22 to oberlin if she didn’t get in. She felt the closest vibe to Oberlin was Wesleyan U brw… Not warmer lol!</p>
<p>** ED2 not ED22</p>
<p>Whaat? You don’t like snow on march 21?</p>
<p>The weather in Oberlin this winter has been much better than anywhere in the Northeast (even NYC has had a lot more snow) or upper Midwest (e.g., Chicago, Minnesota, Wisconsin). I realize that doesn’t respond to the OP’s question–but a little perspective seems useful.</p>
<p>If you want quirky, liberal students and an academically challenging environment, look into Occidental College. It’s much more urban than Oberlin, but has a well defined campus and good sciences.</p>
<p>I suggest Bryn Mawr and Barnard (warmer than the women’s colleges in MA). You can’t really get cold at Barnard anyway since it’s only 4 acres. Women’s colleges are very successful at turning out female scientists, and for wider vistas and guys, both are affiliated with other institutions. NYC retains heat because of all the buildings, but when we visited Bryn Mawr had an earlier Spring.</p>
<p>Barnard is a bad idea. Sciences are largely just for pre-meds. Bryn Mawr is a good idea as far as women’s college’s go. Also, nearby Haverford should be included. Why not buy lots of fleece and down vests and nordic ski hats and deal with the weather at Oberlin? Here’s a list of colleges with high female Ph.D. productivity by area:</p>
<p>[url=<a href=“http://www.reed.edu/ir/phdfemale.html]phdfemale[/url”>Reed College | Institutional Research | REED COLLEGE FEMALE PHD PRODUCTIVITY]phdfemale[/url</a>]</p>
<p>Last post patently untrue. Several of my D’s Barnard friends are currently pursuing PhD’s in sciences and research opportunities and facilities are shared with Columbia. Check out chrchmusicmom’s posts on Barnard threads. He D is in a competitive neuroscience PhD program and preferred Barnard’s classes to Columbia’s.
There are many others like this. Historically Barnard has trained more female chemist than any other institution of higher learning.</p>
<p>Dickinson and Gettysburg might be choices. I know one Gettysburg grad currently on a science Fulbright in Norway who is currently deciding between PhD acceptances.</p>
<p>Bryn Mawr is an excellent choice.</p>
<p>No question, New College of Florida.</p>