<p>Ok, I am looking for a small progressive, co-ed school with a ruralesque campus, good polisci and environmental science/biology, and a fair amount of cultural diversity. I would like top-notch "learning how-to learn/do research" academics in a collaborative rather than competitive environment. I am interested in colleges that a very good student can reasonably expect to get into, as well as super-competitive LACs. I am interested in colleges with good grad placement for polisci and biology, as well as anthro. Also I would like some brilliant profs, b/c I have heard of LACs where the faculty quality is not great. What can you give me?</p>
<p>well talk about knowing what you want... :)</p>
<p>Nina, there are so many that fit your description! Here are a dozen:
Grinnell, Carleton, Kenyon, Bowdoin, Bates, Colby, Williams, Middlebury, Hamilton, Skidmore, Vassar, Bard</p>
<p>I would add Reed (especially for the brilliant profs) and Colorado College (I admit that I am enamored with their block plan).</p>
<p>Earlham, Oberlin, Wesleyan</p>
<p>Might want to go to the best known LAC's-as that helps in grad/job placement. Amherst.Williams, and Swarthmore are tops. In middle range, might look at Colgate, Holy Cross, Bowdoin, all very good schools where alumni giving is around 50%.</p>
<p>You're describing Oberlin to a T.</p>
<p>Davidson! It's biology/env. science program is awesome, with tons of opportunities for research (and research grants). I'm not sure about pol. sci, but its anthropology program is also very good. The student body is fairly laidback and not too competitive. </p>
<p>Graduates of the biology department have a 90% admit rate to the grad school of their choice-often including Havard, Stanford, Michigan, Chicago, Duke, UCSD, Penn State, and a few others. :)</p>
<p>Davidson fits wel except for one category (that I can think of): cultural diversity. Davidson is one of the most undiverse schools out there.</p>
<p>Knox and Beloit for the "reasonably expect to get into"</p>
<p>bumpedy-bump</p>