<p>I'd like to start putting together a college tour for kid #2. Strong writer, loves music and theater performance. Very passionate and engaged student when it is a subject she cares about. Thrives on intimate class discussion, wants a place where the professors would know her name. Bard comes to mind. (As does Vassar but I believe that is a reach.) I'm wondering if anyone can recommend some LACs with a similar vibe. It would be even better if there were a couple options that were 1) in a less remote area than Bard (although I realize most LACs are pretty much in the middle of nowhere, she'd prefer a thriving downtown if possible) and 2) less selective - although I believe she is on target to be a good candidate for a school of Bard's calibur, I do want to focus a lot of our energy on safeties and find at least a couple that she can be very enthusiastic about. Thanks!</p>
<p>Hi - my older son was accepted at Bard with similar interests to your daughter. He really liked Bard a lot but was less excited about its location. He also applied and was accepted at Sarah Lawrence, Bennington and Hampshire and ended up at Hampshire in Amherst MA He’s finishing his third year at Hampshire and is majoring in theater and has really thrived there. He’s also taken advantage of courses at some of the consortium colleges (Amherst, Mt. Holyoke, Smith and UMass) which has really broadened his curriculum and contacts greatly. To him it’s been the best of both worlds - a small LAC but in a thriving community with many options for music, theater and socializing. Amherst is such a great college town too. It’s easy to get around to the other four colleges and even to NYC or Boston. </p>
<p>Thanks so much - will look into Hampshire! Thinking she would not be as happy with the disproportionate female to male ratio at Bennington and Sarah Lawrence. Thanks again</p>
<p>I was also going to recommend Hampshire. My D had similar criteria; she applied to Bard, Hampshire, Skidmore, Mount Holyoke, Smith, and Wellesley.</p>
<p>I will STRONGLY recommend that she consider doing Bard’s “Immediate Decision PLan” (IDP) if she decides to apply. The acceptance rate is MUCH higher than RD. Plus it is a fun experience and non-binding. (Though like your D, mine did not like the remoteness of Bard so much.)</p>
<p>Too bad she sounds against women’s colleges. They have all those qualities you listed. My D decided on Mount Holyoke. Maybe you could just swing through the campus when you’re visiting Hampshire College? It’s beautiful, and she might like the vibe. 5-college consortium provides boys!</p>
<p>haha - my son was <em>very</em> interested in SLC and Bennington for the opposite reason. He was thinking “70% women - I am so there!” His second choice actually ended up being Bennington but the 5 college consortium was just too attractive to pass up. He’s very, very happy at Hampshire. </p>
<p>Hey BTMell, what are these like for science, especially geology/earth sci? I have a kid who would probably fit in great socially, but is not so into English, theater, etc.</p>
<p>You might want to look at Lawrence U in Appleton Wisconsin. It has a music conservatory, strong music, I don’t know as much about it’s theater offerings. My D wanted a small LAC, didn’t want to be in a remote location. Appleton has a population of about 70,000+ with surrounding metro area of about 200,000. Fun downtown area right adjacent to campus with lots of restaurants and shops and a Performing Arts Center that has lots of offerings- touring musicals and such. Beautiful campus overlooking the Fox river.</p>
<p>New College of Florida is in a small-to-medium-sized city (Sarasota), and is much more affordable than some of the other options. Consult with the “Colleges That Change Lives” consortium for other opitons, also. If money isn’t an object, and she’d like an urban environment, look at Eugene Lang College at the New School, in NYC. Another, somewhat counterintuitive suggestion is Fordham-Lincoln Center, for an urban campus. Most people think of them as exclusively dedicated to performing arts, but they have a traditional liberal arts curriculum - with an obvious tilt toward creative endeavors. The only traditional major subject they do not offer is Chemistry, because Homeland Security regulations now prohibit laboratory work within their neighborhood.</p>
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