Colleges for Environmental Studies

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Hi CC! </p>

<p>I recently figured out that Environmental Studies is my major of choice! I've done a lot of searching for prime ES colleges/universities, but I still haven't found THE ONE. </p>

<p>Here's the list so far:
-- College of the Atlantic: I've heard a lot of great things about CoA, but I'm not convinced...
-- Middlebury: Highly prestigious school, awesome study abroad programs, and a great ES program. However, with my stats, it's chancy at best.
-- University of Colorado, Boulder: I fell in love with the school when I saw its [url=<a href="http://www.colorado.edu/multimedia/slideshow/photos/scenic/0010.jpg%5Dpicture,%5B/url"&gt;http://www.colorado.edu/multimedia/slideshow/photos/scenic/0010.jpg]picture,[/url&lt;/a&gt;] but its reputation as a party school killed my appetite. Still, I can't help but think of how wonderful it would be to live right next to such glorious mountains.
-- Whitman: This school is in my state, and I've heard that it has a decent ES program. Unfortunately, Walla Walla fails to excite me. Maybe someone can convince me otherwise!
-- SUNY ESF: I'm not too thrilled about this one. The program is mainly research based.</p>

<p>Here's what I know:
-- Distance isn't a problem. I'm more than willing to try a life far from home.
-- Rankings matter, but the college's strength in ES is my primary concern.
-- Rock hard party schools are a definite no-no! ;)
-- I'd love a college surrounded by nature.
-- While I'm hoping for scholarships, my family's financial status is very stable right now.</p>

<p>My stats are as follows (I couldn't find my latest transcript, so my GPA and rank may have changed since then):
GPA: 3.96
Rank: 10 out of 509
SAT: Hoping for 2100-2200 range. I'm testing this October.
ACT: Will take it soon.
PSAT: I underestimated its importance and didn't do well.
Grades: Mostly A's, some A-'s
AP Classes: World History AP (5), English III (4), Calc AB (4), US History (4), Spanish V AP, Biology AP</p>

<p>Extra-curricular activities and accolades:
-- Four years of orchestra; all four years involved leadership roles. This year, I will be the principal cellist. :)
-- Multiple competitions: SYAMF for two years; PAFE; Korean Young Artists 3rd place; and WMEA State Large Group Ensemble 1st place, WMEA State Cello Soloist participant, WMEA Regional Cello Soloist 1st place.
-- Music festivals: Methow Valley Music Camp and WMEA All-State.
-- TRI-M Music Club's Vice-President for two years.</p>

<p>I have some volunteer hours under my belt, but I know I'm lacking here. I board interned for Quality Parks for a year and I'm heavily involved in music-based volunteering. I'm hoping to file away some more hours in the next few months!</p>

<p>Does anyone have any suggestions? I'm open to all recommendations and would greatly appreciate them. Also, if you have personal experience with any of the schools I listed above, please share!</p>

<p>Thank you so much!</p>

2

<p>If you like UC Boulder for its location, but would prefer a LAC, consider Colorado College. Its one-course-at-a-time Block Plan is good for majors like Environmental Science, because of the flexibility it provides for off-campus field work. It typically shares many cross-admits with Middlebury and Whitman. It’s less selective than Middlebury; it is less isolated than either one.</p>

3

<p>Thanksfor your suggestion. I’m taking a look at Colorado College right now,and Princeton lists it as #14 in “Reefer Madness.” I guess I can’t escape drug-use completely! </p>

<p>The only thing is, environmental science isn’t the same thing as environmental studies. Still, the field work does sound intriguing.</p>

4

<p>^ What Colorado College offers is an “Environmental Program” with the option of an “EV Policy” major or an “EV Science” major.</p>

<p>Many colleges (CC included, I think) offer substance-free dorms.</p>

5

<p>Environmental Studies is a secondary major at many schools, meaning you need to major in something else as a primary major. Env Sudies is quite often neither fish nor fowl, not enough science to be a science type major, nor enough depth in anything else. You take a few courses in Econ, poli sci, lit, etc and call it a major. </p>

<p>Be careful choosing an env studies major. I personally would recommend majoring in Econ with env studies as a 2nd major. Many environmental policies have economic/financial issues at their core.</p>

<p>One of the things yo will notice about Middlebury’s program is that many of the focus areas withing the ES major essentially requires you to double major in something else.</p>

6

<p>Take a look at Appalachian State University in NC. They have a BS in Environmental Studies as well as BS and BA degrees in Sustainable Development. Boone is a wonderful location for those who love the outdoors – lots of hiking, rock climbing, and skiing nearby. There are a lot of party people, but there are also a lot of very health conscious and/or religious non-party people. There is substance-free housing available for first year students.</p>

<p>DavidSSaab94 is an Appalachian student who posts on here often. He started this thread: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-life/1379647-americas-coolest-schools-sierra-magazine.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-life/1379647-americas-coolest-schools-sierra-magazine.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

7

<p>Haystack is right about Environmental Studies at Whitman, it doesn’t stand alone as a major but can be coupled with biology, chemistry, geology, physics, or politics. [Majors</a> and Minors at Whitman](<a href=“http://www.whitman.edu/content/academics/programs/majors]Majors”>http://www.whitman.edu/content/academics/programs/majors)</p>

<p>Whitman also offers one of the most innovative environmental programs in the country: Semester in the West. Students, professors and staff leave campus for an entire semester traveling from Canada to Mexico: [Semester</a> in the West](<a href=“http://semesterinthewest.org/index.html]Semester”>http://semesterinthewest.org/index.html). This is their description: </p>

<p>“Whitman College Semester in the West is an interdisciplinary field program in environmental studies, focusing on public lands conservation in the interior American West. Our objective is to come to know the West in its many dimensions, including its diverse ecosystems, its social and political communities, and the many ways these ecosystems and communities find their expression in regional environmental writing and public policy. Every other autumn since 2002, a select group of 21 Whitman College students ventures out into the interior West for field meetings with a wide variety of leading figures in conservation, ecology, environmental writing, and social justice. During the course of the semester, we have typically have the opportunity to visit with sixty or seventy such leaders.” </p>

<p>Unless you’ve visited, don’t sell Walla Walla short, it’s a really nice little town in the midst of plenty of nature. The outdoor program is one of the most active organizations on campus. My S went skiing most weekends last winter, he also goes backpacking, rock climbing and kayaking.</p>

<p>Since you’ve checked out Princeton Review you must have seen Whitman’s latest rankings:</p>

<h1>15 Everyone Plays Intramural Sports</h1>

<h1>12 LGBT-Friendly</h1>

<h1>18 Professors Get High Marks</h1>

<h1>20 Most Accessible Professors</h1>

<h1>17 Best-Run Colleges</h1>

<h1>11 Best Health Services</h1>

<h1>5 Best Classroom Experience</h1>

<h1>13 Best Quality of Life</h1>

<h1>12 Their Students Love These Colleges</h1>

<p>OK, I’ve done my best to convince you to take another look at Whitman. Honestly, I think people dismiss it because of it’s location, when it’s location makes it paradise for someone like you.</p>

8

<p>Agree with bopambo. We looked at Whitman but just could not swing it financially. It looks like my S is heading to either U Montana or Montana State for less than half the price.</p>

<p>U Montana has a program called Wilderness and Civilization that the OP might like.</p>

<p>[Wilderness</a> and Civilization Program](<a href=“Wilderness and Civilization”>Wilderness and Civilization)</p>

<p>OP would be in the running for a Presidential Leadershp Scholarship for $15,000 per year making U Montana very inexpensive.</p>

9

<p>I would look at Indiana University’s School of Public and Environmental Affairs: [School</a> of Public and Environmental Affairs | Indiana University Bloomington](<a href=“Indiana University Bloomington”>Indiana University Bloomington). </p>

<p>It is one of the top schools in the country for Environmental Science and Env. Policy (the PhD and MPA/MSES programs are ranked #1 and #2 in the country – undergrad programs don’t have a ranking system), but if you’re not as interested in research and the hard science (biology, chemistry, geology, required of the ES majors), the environmental management major combines science with real-world skills through classes in environmental policy, risk management, env. economics, etc. It’s a small, nuturing school, and it also offers a 3/2 program with a Masters in Public Administration if you do well while in school. Based on your scores, you would probably also qualify for Direct Admit status, and be eligible for scholarships (even as an out-of-state student) if you apply before Nov. 1. </p>

<p>IU does have the reputation as being a “party” school, but it really depends on the community you build while you’re at school, and the ES and Env. Mgmt. students don’t exactly fit that mold (ES is considered one of the more challenging majors on campus). Students go one to public, nonprofit and private sector jobs, at places like the EPA and the US Forestry Service, Booz Allen (consulting) and the World Wildlife Fund.</p>

10

<p>You may want to read the articles from the Sierra Club’s “Cool Schools” issue:
[Cool</a> Schools - September/October 2010 - Sierra Magazine - Sierra Club](<a href=“http://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/201009/coolschools/default.aspx]Cool”>http://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/201009/coolschools/default.aspx)</p>

<p>It rates 162 schools based on survey data provided by the schools on these areas: Energy Supply, Efficiency, Food, Academics, Purchasing, Transportation, Waste Management, Administration, Financial Investments, and Other Initiatives.</p>

<p>If you look at the complete rankings [Complete</a> Rankings - Cool Schools - September/October 2010 - Sierra Magazine - Sierra Club](<a href=“http://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/201009/coolschools/allrankings.aspx]Complete”>http://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/201009/coolschools/allrankings.aspx) you can focus on schools where “Academics” rate highly. 5 questions on the survey contribute to the score for Academics and these involve environmental or sustainability related majors, special academic centers or programs, etc.</p>

<p>Some of the schools getting a 9 or 10 for Academics: Green Mountain, U.Washington, Stanford, U. Cal (Irvine,Santa Cruz, San Diego, Davis), U.Colorado Boulder, Warren Wilson, U. Vermont, Georgia Tech, NYU, all Ivy League schools, Portland State, U.New Hampshire, Arizona State U., UNC, Colorado State U., SUNY…
Some of the ones mentioned in previous posts such as COA, Hampshire, Middlebury came in at 8, which is still really good.</p>

11

<p>hendrix college</p>

12

<p>[environmental</a> studies | St. Lawrence University Academics](<a href=“http://www.stlawu.edu/academics/programs/environmental-studies]environmental”>Environmental Studies | St. Lawrence University)</p>

<p>St. Lawrence University, Canton, NY, check it out…
One of my children is an alum. :)</p>

13

<p>St. Lawrence is very close to Clarkson University, yet another school to look into ;-)</p>

14

<p>Connecticut College would be similar to Middlebury with easier admissions and a well known environmental studies department. They also have a really neat interdisciplinary certificate program in ES.
[Connecticut</a> College: The Goodwin-Niering Center<br>for the Environment](<a href=“http://www.conncoll.edu/centers/goodwin-niering/]Connecticut”>http://www.conncoll.edu/centers/goodwin-niering/)</p>

15

<p>I’m so glad someone made this thread, cause I’m seriously interested in environmental science also, and I can get a little lost to be honest!</p>

<p>My thoughts from my research would be: COLBY, COLORADO COLLEGE, U VERMONT, U WASHINGTON, WHITMAN</p>

16

<p>I’m blown away by the super helpful responses! Thanks to all of you! It’s going to take me hours to go through all of your suggestions. </p>

<p>Haystack: To tell you the truth, I decided on Environmental Studies with a burst of green enthusiasm, but I don’t really know what jobs fuel into it. I’m not too interested in environmental policies, though.</p>

<p>I guess I just have to step out of my childish fantasies. Undoubtedly, if I do choose to take this path, I’m going to run into political ballyhoo at some point or another. </p>

<p>And yes, University of Montana! I have a close friend whose sister goes there. I totally forgot about this little gem-- apparently the sister has a blast at the school. She is also pursuing studies in the environmental field. The scholarship is tempting, too!</p>

<p>Marsian: Interesting, I’m taking a look at Appalachian. So far I’m just shocked by how much acreage it has! 1,300 acres is a lot of space, and the mountains are a huge plus too. I may contact DavidSSab94 sometime in the future for more information, but for now I’ll just put Appalachian SU on my list.</p>

<p>Bopambo: I’m apologize if I offended you with my off-hand dismissal of the school. You’re right, Whitman is a fantastic school. I love Washington, but I was hoping to try a new state. Honestly though, Eastern Washington has a totally different climate than the Seattle area. I’d probably come to appreciate the value of having family less than 300 miles away. It does seem like Whitman, like Middlebury, would be a definite reach for me. It’s also very expensive! I am willing to pursue a minor in music if it will earn me a scholarship, however.</p>

<p>I think that’s all I can handle right now. I’ll be back with an updated list!</p>

17

<p>lol! Swintergreen, I wasn’t offended. I guess I get overzealous in my defense of Whitman, the whole family loves Walla Walla. It is expensive, thank heavens they gave my S a nice chuck of merit aid. He went thinking he’d get involved in environmental studies, but fell in love with geology, I didn’t see that coming.</p>

<p>Whitman is a 14 hour drive from our house, my S will tell you there’s something great about getting that far from your parents. You have lots of wonderful suggestions and much to think about. Good luck.</p>

18

<p>Haha, I see. :slight_smile: You must be thrilled to have a son who has such passion for his studies!</p>

<p>I took a peek at the majors/minors link you put in your previous post, and I must say, that’s a cool collection. It looks like I’d be heading for biology-environmental studies. I’m just wondering what kinds of jobs those majors turn up… </p>

<p>I’ve heard that park naturalists love their jobs, so that’s also a viable career path. I know that whatever decisions I make now are likely to change as I continue to explore. </p>

<p>Also, Whitman has two very nice musical scholarships that don’t require a major in music! If I went to Whitman, I’d definitely audition for that.</p>

<p>I’m considering Zoology/Wildlife Biology instead of Environmental Studies now. ES seems to be primarily geared towards conservation. Huh.</p>

19

<p>It’s great that you have such a strong ability in music, that can help you in so many ways! I was just reading this thread in the Science Majors forum, very intertesting:<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/science-majors/1383799-zoology-marine-biology-majors.html?highlight=zoology#post14786378[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/science-majors/1383799-zoology-marine-biology-majors.html?highlight=zoology#post14786378&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

20

<p>Oberlin has good environmental studies.</p>

<p>[Overview</a> - Oberlin College](<a href=“http://new.oberlin.edu/arts-and-sciences/departments/environment/index.dot]Overview”>http://new.oberlin.edu/arts-and-sciences/departments/environment/index.dot)</p>

<p>And they really walk the talk.</p>

<p><a href=“How Green Is the College? Time the Showers - The New York Times”>How Green Is the College? Time the Showers - The New York Times;