<p>Hi, so I've been looking at colleges to apply to, but have found it hard to find ones that match most of what I want. Here is a basic overview of my college criteria, though they aren't necessarily set in stone (except for first one lol):</p>
<ul>
<li>MUST be able to double major</li>
<li>Would like a great creative writing program (as stand alone major or English with concentration, either are fine)</li>
<li>Would like an equally strong science program (leaning toward Neuroscience)</li>
<li>I want to live in a city (small or large, preferably artsy) or, at the very least, in a suburb near a big city</li>
<li>Want a strong student community, with friendly diverse people!</li>
</ul>
<p>I've been looking at NYU, JHU, UPenn and Yale but all of them seem to lack in one way or another. For example, I've heard NYU's nonexistent campus cripples the community vibe and that a lot of students are stuck-up, pretentious, unfriendly, etcetera (I know they can't all be like that, but it worries me that there are enough to warrant a negative stereotype). JHU seems great but I've heard the students are very pre-med dominated or anti-social. I loved Penn initially, but I'm worried that the creative writing program isn't strong enough (besides the Kelly Writer's House, is it really that great?) And as far as Yale goes, it's about the same. They seem to have a great English department, but they aren't as focused on creative writing which bothers me. And New Haven seems a bit iffy idk.</p>
<p>I would really appreciate it if anyone could give me some insight into these colleges with regards to my criteria! Which one do you think would best suit me? Or, are there any other colleges that you'd recommend? Thank you so much for helping me out!!! :)</p>
<p>I would recommend Pomona College (applied ED and was rejected, so I know it pretty well)</p>
<p>-i felt that the students were EXTREMELY friendly and laid-back, while being super-driven and intelligent
-also you have the social benefits of a mid-sized university with the 5-college consortium
-doesn’t have rigid core curriculum, possible to double major
-creative writing concentration within english department at pomona, scripps has a number of professors that focus on creative writing in their classes, pitzer has a separate creative writing program as well
-very popular neuroscience department, sciences strong overall (especially with harvey mudd right there as well)
-1 hour from LA, train station right by campus</p>
<p>I think the consortium will really be great for your diverse interests! </p>
<p>@hello657898 @kaarboer Thanks so much, you guys! I looked at Pomona and I’ll definitely be adding it to my list, it seems great! It’s very far from where I live (NJ) but maybe I need a change of pace haha. As for your other suggestions, kaarboer, I like WUSTL but I’ve heard as far as school spirit goes UChicago and Columbia are really lacking. Thoughts? And I’ll definitely check out Emory. Thanks again!</p>
<p>Columbia is, IMO, really lacking in school spirit. Chicago… its a different brand than what you might see at a D1 school, but the spirit is there. If you want people who are particularly interested in school spirit, well, there’s your house, your scav team… just don’t expect the spirit to be sports-oriented.</p>
<p>Kenyon has a great writing program. Not urban at all, though. Lewis and Clark and Reed in Portland OR have good programs. Make sure you look at the Net Price Calculators on the school’s web sites to see if your family can afford a school.</p>
<p>WUSTL and Northwestern ate on the quarter system, which makes it easier to double major. They fill your criteria pretty well. Also, look at Rice.</p>
<p>I think JHU is a pretty good fit for what you describe.<br>
The premed stereotype is over-sold. If you aren’t on that hamster wheel, it won’t be that relevant (unless I misunderstood and you want to be pre-med yourself, in which case, yes, it is a tough environment for premeds). The students are serious and a little nerdy, similar to what you would find at most “top 20” schools. </p>
<p>JHU has a long tradition in literary arts, and while it has been overshadowed by the success of the medical campus, they are still thriving and have amazing professors and programs. </p>
<p>Baltimore is a super artsy, diverse city. The area around JHU is particularly so. </p>
<p>It is very easy to double (or triple) major. They allow you to count each course as many times as applicable toward your distribution requirements, major, double major, minors etc.</p>
<p>It is very easy to get involved in scientific research. The enormity of the medical research complex and sheer number of open positions (way more than there are undergrads to fill them) means that you don’t have to “compete” too much to find a research position that excites you. </p>
<p>Very diverse student body, good school spirit and camaraderie, albeit with serious students. </p>
<p>I would encourage you to look closely at JHU, it seems to fit many of your items, so don’t let the pre-meds scare you off!</p>
<p>If you’re an aspiring writer and scientist you may enjoy The Marriage Plot by Jeffrey Eugendies - a Brown Undergrad - though his concentration at Brown - I think - was Semiotics - and - I think- he now teaches creative writing at Princeton.</p>
<p>I would like to second JHU, UPenn and Emory. Emory’s creative writing program is one of the best in the nation. JHU also has a good program and although the premed dominated aspect may be slightly true, it isn’t overbearing. Most schools have a major that is extremely popular and kind of overshadows other programs. And as for UPenn, the creative writing department is excellent and not just limited to the Kelly Writers House. </p>
<p>Personally I think your standards are way too high, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but if you’re saying you don’t think the writing program at 2 of the most liberal arts orientated ivies are strong enough for you, then maybe you aren’t quite sure how strong these programs are.</p>
<p>^ I strongly agree with sumobats about Penn and creative writing. Penn’s English Department is generally ranked among the top 5 or so in the nation, and the Kelly Writers House is quite a unique and extraordinary resource for students interested in writing:</p>
<p>And you can’t beat Penn for neuroscience. It’s Biological Basis of Behavior Program is one of the oldest and most comprehensive interdisciplinary undergraduate neuroscience programs in the country, and includes not only faculty and resources of Penn’s highly ranked Psychology Department, but also faculty and resources of some of Penn’s other top-ranked programs, including its Medical and Veterinary Schools:</p>
<p>I’d look at Wesleyan plus Smith if you are female. If you could swap your “near a big city” for an insular, close knit community both Kenyon, and Williams have strong sciences and strong English with writing concentrations. Oddly enough two accomplished fiction writers on Williams’ faculty – Jim Shepard and Andrea Barrett – both often use scientific oriented topics in their work.</p>
<p>I love NYU’s writing program, but for the sciences, meh. I agree with much of the support for JHU, Penn, Yale, Brown, Princeton, Chicago, Pomona, Kenyon, Williams, Smith, Wesleyan, WUSTL, etc. They all have great English departments and the first two have two of the best creative writing programs anywhere. Reed is no place to double major because of its traditional core curriculum, </p>
<p>and somehow I cannot bring myself to think of Northwestern as having a lot of school spirit. Let me add to your list a couple of less prestigious schools that are in or near cities: UPitt and Brandeis. Both are strong in English, creative writing, science, and spirit.</p>
<p>MIT might be a good option- it’s writing program surprisingly is on a lot of top-ten lists (google it) and I’m assuming has a strong neuroscience department. It is urban-ish and from what I’ve heard there is a lot of school spirit, just more on the lines of pranks than athletics.</p>