<p>I'm going to start applying for college in a year or so, and I'm really interested in going to a liberal arts college with good philosophy and economics programs. I purely just want to know what the best LAC's are specifically for these majors. I'm currently looking into Colgate, Colorado College, Macalester, and Bard.</p>
<p>[Claremont</a> McKenna College](<a href=“http://www.claremontmckenna.edu/ppe/]Claremont”>http://www.claremontmckenna.edu/ppe/)</p>
<p>It is difficult to recommend the best LACs for a philosophy/econ double major, because there is a dearth of standards and data for evaluating individual department quality at LACs. Here’s about the best you can do, I think:
- narrow down to reach/match/safety schools appropriate for your GPA, rank and scores, then …
- browse their online course catalogs to see if the offerings are numerous and interesting
- research post-graduate outcomes such as PhD production per capita (which I haven’t found for Philosophy*)
- look up the faculty biographies (look for PhDs from major research universities, publications and awards, or interests that align with your own. )</p>
<p>Other than that, how do you identify who has the best teachers? You could look for a certain pensive, far-away, deep-thinker look in the philosophers …
(like this: [Rick</a> Anthony Furtak - Philosophy - Colorado College](<a href=“http://www.coloradocollege.edu/academics/dept/philosophy/people/profile.dot?person=furtak_rick_anthony]Rick”>http://www.coloradocollege.edu/academics/dept/philosophy/people/profile.dot?person=furtak_rick_anthony))
… or a commanding, power-tie look in the economists …
(like this: [Scholars</a> | Levy Economics Institute of Bard College](<a href=“http://www.levyinstitute.org/scholars/?auth=212]Scholars”>http://www.levyinstitute.org/scholars/?auth=212))
… but alas, that’s not exactly a sure-fire way to find the best faculty among several similar schools. Publication records and awards don’t necessarily tell you who are the best teachers.</p>
<p>In my opinion, your best course is to try to choose the right college, instead of trying to chase down the best Philosophy or Econ department. Look for schools with the size, setting, and atmosphere you want, where your stats give you a realistic shot at admission. Unless your family has very high income or has squirreled away $250K for college, pay attention to cost factors (total cost of attendance, your Expected Family Contribution, and available need-based or merit aid).</p>
<p>Schools more or less similar to your 4 that I suggest you also check out:
Reed, Grinnell, Oberlin, Carleton. My youngest is a philosophy major at Colorado College and loves it (but other than that, without knowing your needs & wants better, I don’t have a principled basis for recommending it - or not recommending it - over the others).</p>
<p>*Resources
[url=<a href=“http://gregmankiw.blogspot.com/2009/04/where-do-econ-phds-begin.html]Greg”>Greg Mankiw's Blog: Where do economists come from?]Greg</a> Mankiw’s Blog: Where do economists come from?<a href=“see%20link%20to%20THE%20UNDERGRADUATE%20ORIGINS%20OF%20PH.D.%20ECONOMISTS%20by%20Siegfried%20&%20Stock;%20%20I%20would%20not%20rely%20on%20PhD%20productivity%20rankings%20very%20much%20but%20they%20might%20help%20distinguish%20strong%20programs%20among%20schools%20that%20otherwise%20suit%20you.”>/url</a>
[url=<a href=“http://www.philosophicalgourmet.com/undergrad.asp]The”>http://www.philosophicalgourmet.com/undergrad.asp]The</a> Philosophical Gourmet Report 2011 :: Undergraduate Study<a href=“I%20don’t%20find%20this%20especially%20helpful,%20but%20it%20does%20get%20cited%20fairly%20often%20in%20discussions%20like%20this”>/url</a></p>
<p>Great post by TK21769. I would just add that the place to begin any college search is with a frank discussion with your parents about what they can afford and any other criteria they may have in mind as you look at schools. You can save yourself a lot of time and energy if you know up front what the constraints are.</p>
<p>Thanks a ton! Very helpful posts!</p>