Colleges for a Gay Nerd

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Hi, please help me find colleges that fit my <em>current</em> criteria. I want to emphasize that these criteria are subject to change. </p>

<p>-Students are creative, free-thinking, unpretentious, cultured, scholarly
-a good mix of liberals and conservatives (and anything else) with the scale tipped towards liberals
-racially, culturally, ethnically diverse
-relatively high percentage of international students
-a good mix of preppy nerds (sweaters and black-rim glasses!) and hippies (I think it's possible for them to co-exist...)
-nonreligious for the most part but can have some religious presence on campus
-gay-friendly
-visible LGBT population (who are not attention whores and not obsessed with their sexual orientation)
-not a large Greek presence
-most students abstain from drugs, alcohol
-~2,000 to ~7,000 undergraduates
-activism abounds
-students with no pre-professional mindset</p>

<p>-Grand, historic library
-Either urban (NYC-urban) or rural (New England town feel, preferably near forests and hills).
-If urban, must have good public transportation system. If rural, must have downtown area in walking distance of campus
-Well-manicured campus
-Well-maintained and modern athletic facilities (though sports should not be the center of attention)
-LGBT resource center
-<em>Not limited to the US suggestions</em> I'm open to the idea of going somewhere I never imagined I would be (as long as it offers financial aid to US citizens)</p>

<p>-Strong anthropology, sociology departments at the undergraduate level
-Variety of courses in sociology/anthropology/biology of sex and gender
-Gender studies (not just "Women's studies") offered as a major OR LGBT studies offered as a sub-concentration (like at Cornell) or a minor at the very least
-Film studies or its equivalent offered as a major
-Professors actively engaged in scholarly work on LGBT issues
-Classes mostly seminars, roundtable discussions
-<em>Intensive writing across all disciplines</em>
-Undergraduate research (with possibility of co-authoring with professor) is the norm
-Internships are the norm
-Excellent track record for law/grad school placement (even though students have a non pre-professional mindset)
-High percentage of students studying abroad for at least a semester
-Preferably no core requirements, but exceptions can be made
-Prelaw advising provided in career resource center (pretty much a given anywhere, right?)
-Capstone/thesis required in senior year
-Preferably professors with open consultation hours</p>

<p>-generous financial aid (low rate of student indebtedness)
-transfer-friendly</p>

<p>Btw, I'm not limiting myself based on the academic profile of admitted students. I'm open to college suggestions that range from moderately competitive to most competitive.</p>

<p>Thanks.</p>

2

<p>Tufts University outside of boston</p>

<p>they really emphasize cultural diversity, the student body itself is a mix of all people, politically, culturally, mindsets etc.</p>

<p>~4000 undergrads</p>

<p>access to the city via excellent subway system</p>

<p>named "hottest school for studying abroading" by newsweek (whether you love the magazine or not, the point is clear, many go to another country</p>

<p>It's a top university, so many of its programs are strong</p>

<p>The library is nice, not exactly "grand." There is however, an excellent view from the city from the roof.</p>

<p>The only major thing against what you are looking for is the core requirement. Tufts has an extensive foreign language/culture studies requirement, something like 6 semesters (correct me if I'm wrong)</p>

3

<p>I'm looking into it, thanks.</p>

<p>If I do apply to Tufts, the dean of admissions will come across my name for the second time in his life. He was the same dean who offered me admission to a Massachusetts boarding school, where he served as director of admission when I applied. </p>

<p>Tufts' transfer acceptance rate is around 10%...sigh.</p>

4

<p>Its ok, 10% is always better than 0% There is always a chance you could be accepted
Good Luck!:)</p>

5

<p>i think the first step in your search would be to look up thru collegeboard or a similar search all schools that offer gender studies. it's likely those schools would have the other lgbt resources you're looking for.
keep in mind also the region of the country.
i would say your search would be more or less centered on the west coast and northeastern part of us. i wouldn't go looking in the bible belt.
that said, there is a great resource for you in the Advocate's Guide to Colleges, or some name close to that. I saw it on my recent trip to Barnes and Noble or Borders.
Although I am heterosexual, most of the colleges I am looking at are very gay-friendly. I think LACs in general are that way. Btw, I would strongly advise against a Christian/Catholic school.
Vassar
Haverford
Smith
WEllesley
Maybe Wesleyan too.
good luck
Bryn Mawr</p>

6

<p>I'm a gay nerd too. I have MANY of the same requirements as you do. My list includes:</p>

<ul>
<li>University of Michigan (may be a little large for you, but trust me - it's perfect for a 'gay nerd')</li>
<li>Michigan State University (I like it, but some don't. May not be what you want)</li>
<li>Brown (great match, just so hard to get into...)</li>
<li>Cornell (perhaps a little too large, but also perfect)</li>
<li>Stanford (very low-key gay community)</li>
<li>UVA (don't fool with this, I'm doing it because of weird residency issues)</li>
<li>W&M (may be a great match. Not overwhelmingly liberal, but open minded at least)</li>
<li>Vassar (overwhelmingly liberal, but some of the gay guys are as queer as they come)</li>
<li>WUSTL (this may be perfect)</li>
</ul>

7

<p>-most students abstain from drugs, alcohol</p>

<p>That is the problem, the only school I know like this is Haverford.</p>

<p>Leaving this out, Wesleyan, Vassar, and Brown sound perfect.</p>

8

<p>You didn't post what price range you're looking in. Are you eligible for financial aid? If so, are you willing to take out loans? If not, do you need merit money? Or can you pay full amount anyplace?</p>

<p>It really isn't possible for people to make useful sugestions without an idea of money...</p>

9

<p>And, what are your stats? No reason to learn about colleges that would sui you if you have no hope of acceptance.</p>

10

<p>That's an awfully long list of requirements. Sounds like you'd need a McGill/Concordia/Bishop's hybrid...</p>

11

<p>"That's an awfully long list of requirements."</p>

<p>-Understatement... :rolleyes:</p>

12

<p>Wow, at least you're not being picky!</p>

13

<p>Oberlin? Doesn't meet the "most students abstain..." description (though I doubt any major LAC or university does). And I'm not sure what you mean by "grand, historic" library (Oberlin's collection is one of the best LAC libraries in the country, and in fact has most universities beat hands-down--but the building itself was built in the '70s). But it fits most of the rest of your list to a T. It's the only LAC listed in the top 20 in the Advocate LGBT College Guide.</p>

14

<p>-Excellent track record for law/grad school placement (even though students have a non pre-professional mindset)</p>

<p>Wait what? They have to get into law school, but not try...hmmm.</p>

<p>I'd say Brown, or a top LAC, seems a good fit. Non-pre-professional and non-drinking eliminates Dartmouth, Duke, Stanford, and many other schools I thought fit most of your big requirements (large study abroad program, strong LBGT community, large link between sociology departments and LGBT community (Duke's Gender Studies program was recently accused of being un-American and Marxist by conservative writers), great overall placement).</p>

15

<p>maybe BYU (Brigham Young University) in Utah?</p>

16

<p>look into Kalamazoo College, it's nicknamed 'gay k' for a reason.</p>

17

<p>College of interior design.</p>

18

<p>Brigham Young? That's a fine suggestion... if you want to get me CRUCIFIED! (heh, I know you're joking!)</p>

<p>What I meant by "Excellent track record for law/grad school placement (even though students have a non pre-professional mindset)" is that law school should not be the foremost thing in people's minds all 4 years, even though the liberal arts education prepares them well for it. </p>

<p>Ok, I'll scratch the "most students abstain" criterion because it's unrealistic (I just realized that). How about 1/4 of students abstain? or if the students do drink, they don't have the intention of getting drunk?</p>

<p>Renin, it's good to hear from someone else on the same boat.</p>

<p>Btw folks, I can make exceptions for many things on the list, but if there is one college that has everything, I certainly want to know about it. Apparently, there is none?</p>

<p>"You didn't post what price range you're looking in. Are you eligible for financial aid? If so, are you willing to take out loans? If not, do you need merit money? Or can you pay full amount anyplace?" </p>

<p>As long as the school is generous with financial aid, the price range doesn't mater. Yes, I will need a lot of aid :). I'm willing to take out loans up to $10,000 for the entire 4 years.</p>

<p>"And, what are your stats? No reason to learn about colleges that would sui you if you have no hope of acceptance." </p>

<p>I would have to create a new screen name without my first name in it and post my stats discreetly ;). I think one of the admissions officers I talked to was too familiar with my posts. I think I already posted somewhere the school I will be applying from, so that information combined with my first name could make me easily identifiable in the application pool. For now, I'll say that I'm willing to apply to schools that range from moderately competitive to most competitive.</p>

19

<p>Puppetzz, I'd punch you right now, but I can't punch. JK, I certainly can, but be thankful that I handle things the civilized way.</p>

20

<p>Well, if you take out drinking/boozing, I'd say Brown, Williams, Amherst, Duke, Stanford, and Yale are all definetely places to look. Here is why. They each are elite schools with excellent grad and law school placement. They each have prominent LGBT communities (not sure about William and Amherst actually, might want to check on their forums). They all have extensive study abroad programs. Excellent sociology programs and gender studies programs. Go to the school sites for more info.</p>

<p>Now I can't help you with less selective schools unfortunately, and the above are all in the "most competetive" side of the spectrum.</p>

<p>Brigham Young is probably a place you should avoid.</p>