@TheGreyKing -
Oh my gosh, I visited six of the schools on your list this year on the college search for my DS17, CoyoteSon. I pasted the link to my thread below - because I may have posted more detailed trip reports on at least some of the schools. My son is interested in both History and Computer Science, but “his people” are the more science/nerdy learning for learnings sake kids.
You should take our impressions with a grain of salt:
- Bard - visited when most students were away for spring break -the kids we did see were very artsy/alternative types - we did see some cigarette smokers on campus; it feels very isolated and rural. Not much beyond a gas station in walking distance, but beautiful campus with a view of the Hudson. Should be great for nearby hiking. I agree this is most different one, along with Sarah Lawrence (which we didn’t visit based on hearing about their British-style tutorials.
- Skidmore - Saratoga Springs is a great college town, and just down the main street from campus - very walkable - filled with restaurants and live music and cute shops. Modern buildings, not my favorite architecture, but we'll laid out campus with covered walkways between main academic buildings, very practical for reducing exposure to falling snow and rain. Best food of any campus (we toured 20!) - we ate a meal afterward, but the campus tour stops to let everyone get a cookie from the bakery in their dining hall. Liked it except for the triples which I gather are standard for freshmen. Very close - lots to like, but the first year dorms took it off the list (housing gers better each year, working up to seniors who get on-campus townhouses, apparently nicer than many apartments)
- Conn. College is the only one to which CoyoteSon applied - visited in summer -,loved the honor code, no frats, the lovely stone buildings set around the big grassy quad with a view toward the Bay/ocean. One main dining hall, but several smaller ones + coffee shops scattered around. Great newly renovated/new wing science building (robotics classroom was cool find in an LAC). For accepted students visit, CoyoteSon's report: students were not engaged in 3 regular classes he sat in on the day after accepted students..some side conversations and texting - he did not get an intellectual vibe - he found most kids,very style conscious and concerned about ECs, sports, visiting the beach, and less about classes. YMMV. I loved the staff/professors, the whole First year seminar/advisor system, the internship program, including grants for nonprofit work, the study abroad - everything except the students just weren't the right fit.
4., 5., 6. I visited when I had 2 days off but CoyoteSon was in school. No class visits.
Lafayette - loved that it had the E-school majors even though an LAC. Great campus layout - I liked that Easton is walkable, though dowe a,steep hill (Easton is less “cute” but at least there are restaurants and shops in walking distance. However, they are Division 1 sports and freshmen are not allowed to rush, so I think the tour guide said about 50% of eligible men are in the frats - way too frat/party focused for CoyoteSon. Also very stylish kids (CoyoteSon is looking for T-shirt/shorts/jeans as the predominant culture - had to go to Midwest to find it.
F&M was a very brief morning visit - kids seemed serious about classes, didn’t strike me as friendly-but I was there very early AM. Left by 9 or 9:30 am.
Dickinson was best possible of these 3: a mix of stylish kids and PHF/alt kids/sporty kids. Friendly vibe, good food at student center and a college run sandwich/deli in another building. Very cute and walkable downtown even closer, if not quite as extensive as Saratoga Springs. Per info session, very focused on languages and IR. Gorgeous new science center and new gym. Fit didn’t seem quite right, but close, and closer than ConnCollege turned out to be.
Just one family’s impressions, though. You may get more of a sense of CoyoteSon’s perspective from this thread I started last year: