arty schools that are also intellectually challenging

<p>If you could get in any college including HYPS stat-wise, where would you go? I am looking for a college with stimulating peers. Not sure what to major, creative writing or any branch of humanities with minor in music</p>

<p>Brown, Yale, Wesleyan, Oberlin come immediately to mind</p>

<p>I had a good impression of Kenyon, seems the kind of air I’d like to breathe in. Brown and Yale didn’t feel geeky(?) enough. How do Wesleyan and Oberlin compare to Kenyon? Thank you.</p>

<p>When I visited Kenyon, I felt that it was way LESS geeky/artsy seeming overall than Wes or Oberlin. Not that it wasn’t artsy, but that if that’s what you want, Wes and Oberlin will almost certainly fill the bill. Wes and Oberlin would probably be a bit more politically active/notably lefty (though there are plenty of libertarians too, at Wes). Don’t know if you think that’s good or bad. </p>

<p>Wes (where I go) doesn’t allow minors, but has a great music program. Also, doesn’t have a separate major in creative writing, but has a creative writing track in the English department, and a newly constructed writing center and writing certificate (the closest thing we do have to minors). </p>

<p>Vassar is very much in the same vein as Wes and Oberlin.</p>

<p>I don’t mind signing petitions but not into student council or constantly saving the world. Would that be too apolitical for Wes or Oberlin?</p>

<p>Brown and Yale didn’t feel geeky? I don’t understand that. Some of the smartest kids in the country go there.</p>

<p>Check out Bard. Very intellectually challenging. No minors, but opportunities to take some great courses in music. Wonderful professors. Fascinating English and creative writing classes. A self-selecting group of students, but many of them would have been competitive for the Ivies if that was their desire.</p>

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<p>As long as you don’t mind being at a school where there are a sginfigant number of who students are really “save the world” all the time, you’ll be fine. There are plenty of Wes students who aren’t into that/don’t do it all the time (including myself – I sometimes take part in activist type activities, but I mainly do other things, including art things).</p>

<p>probs swarthmore & i second bard.</p>

<p>“Brown and Yale didn’t feel geeky? I don’t understand that. Some of the smartest kids in the country go there.”</p>

<p>I am looking for a different type of smart. Something more stimulating than success. Eccletic crowd if you prefer. My list so far, Kenyon, Oberlin, Wesleyan, Vassar, Bard, MaCalester, Carleton. How do they compare?</p>

<p>Oh I see what you mean. Yale is not ‘eclectic’, but I think Brown is. Brown is probably similar to Vassar/Wesleyan with the type of students they have.</p>

<p>OK, add Brown and Chicago but not Swarthmore trying to avoid mid-Atlantic. My new list</p>

<p>Brown, Chicago, Vassar, Wesleyan, Oberlin, Kenyon, Carleton, Bard, MaCalester</p>

<p>Add?</p>

<p>Oberlin has a Creative Writing department, completely separate from the English department. It’s very, very good - though selective, as you must apply to the small, upper-level classes.</p>

<p>In terms of the student population, Oberlin is very artsy and intellectual. We have a fair number of students who are quite politically active, but they are by no means the majority, and you will definitely not feel out of place if you don’t participate. I’m not really a politically active person myself, and I have found many other things to do with my time.</p>

<p>Carnegie Mellon University.</p>

<p>Add Reed? They have a creative writing major. They don’t have a music minor, but students are encouraged to take classes outside of their major. Idk how arty it is, but 5% of students major in art, music, or drama, which seems like a significant presence. But it sure as hell is an intellectually challenging school. :)</p>

<p>Also, if I can’t stand that extent of political activism, should I be crossing Wes off my list right now? Lol…</p>

<p>-------edited. delete this post moderator.</p>

<p>Reed sounds interesting. I’ll add that in my list and keep CMU in the back burner as well as MaCalester, their global community building slogan is turning me off.</p>

<p>Dottified, about Oberlin’s writing program, I assume it’s something one applies after the general admission to college. Do freshmen compete againt upper classman?</p>

<p>Add Tufts. Their Youtube supplement videos this year are so cool .
[A</a> fresh pitch on ‘U’ tube - The Boston Globe](<a href=“http://www.boston.com/news/education/higher/articles/2010/02/21/a_fresh_pitch_on_u_tube/]A”>http://www.boston.com/news/education/higher/articles/2010/02/21/a_fresh_pitch_on_u_tube/)</p>

<p>Iglooo, Don’t overlook Williams – excellent humanities – English, art, art history, music. They don’t have a creative writing major per se but have several excellent writers/poets on faculty. The Berkshires are a very sophisticated art focused environment.</p>

<p>My son, who majored in studio art and art history at Williams, was also interested in Kenyon, Wesleyan, Skidmore and Hamilton. Among the ivy league Yale and Brown. If you are female, add Smith.</p>

<p>GRINNELL! 10char</p>