Colleges with the most activism?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Hello, I'm a h.s. junior looking for small private schools with genuine senses of social awareness and responsibility. During my four years of college, I hope to be exposed to progressive, idealistic students who are motivated to make a difference, a continuous dialogue on world issues and politics, and a push for engagement in community and political processes (campaigns specifically). Being in this kind of environment, I've noticed, truly brings out the best in me. </p>

<p>So far, these schools are on my radar screen:
Pitzer College
Macalester College
Occidental College
Oberlin College
Lewis & Clark College
Beloit College
Kalamazoo College</p>

<p>How are the activist scenes at these places? Are there any more schools I should consider (might consider larger and public schools if suggested)? </p>

<p>Thanks in advance.</p>

2

<p>American University
The George Washington University
Princeton University
New College Of Florida
United States Military Academy
Warren Wilson College
Harvard College
George Mason University
Simon’s Rock College Of Bard
Georgetown University
Claremont McKenna College
Wesleyan University
The University Of Texas At Austin
Macalester College
Bates College
Smith College
United States Air Force Academy
Lewis & Clark College
Bryn Mawr College
University Of Oregon</p>

3

<p>I think all of the schools you suggested are excellent. :)</p>

<p>I would suggest GWU or Georgetown (if you have the stats) these schools are located in the best place to make change. A lot of the students find jobs with NGOs and other organizations with other classmates.</p>

<p>I know that Georgetown places a very big emphasis on making a difference in any way possible. The only thing might be that they are a little bit larger than you want, but if you are okay with that you should definitely look into them. :)</p>

4

<p>thanks for the responses. I think Georgetown is out of reach for me (congrats on your acceptance, though!), but I’m considering applying to GWU. From what I’ve heard, it’s a really chill place. </p>

<p>Anyone else?</p>

5

<p>USMA and USAFA are very aware of some aspects of international relations, but political activism is NOT looked upon very highly. There is a separation between the military and politics, and it is very risky to mix them. Campaigning is frowned upon.</p>

6

<p>[Top</a> 10 Politically Active Colleges - MSN Encarta](<a href=“http://spotlight.encarta.msn.com/features/encnet_departments_college_default_article_10schoolspoliticallyactive08.html]Top”>http://spotlight.encarta.msn.com/features/encnet_departments_college_default_article_10schoolspoliticallyactive08.html)</p>

7

<p>

I think you’d do well to look for activist organizations at colleges you’re interested in. Even colleges that are not particularly known for activism can have a sizable activist contingent on campus. For example, although my own university is not famous for activism, I found plenty of things to support by joining the GSA on campus.</p>

<p>In terms of service, you can’t beat Goshen, Kalamazoo, Warren Wilson, and similar schools that require it for graduation.</p>

<p>You might also want to look over the list of Peace Corps producers:
<a href=“http://www.peacecorps.gov/multimedia/pdf/stats/schools2009.pdf[/url]”>http://www.peacecorps.gov/multimedia/pdf/stats/schools2009.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

8

<p>^^There’s some mistake in this list. Virginia tops the list of medium colleges, because it’s undergrads are around 13,500</p>

9

<p>Nope. According to its fall 2008 CDS, UVA has 15,208 undergrads. It belongs in the large colleges category.</p>

10

<p>Hampshire and Wesleyan are certainly up there.</p>

11

<p>Thanks again for responding, guys. This is helpful. </p>

<p>Does anyone have specific info on these schools’ activism, or other suggestions?</p>

12

<p>If you’re measuring activism by peace corps volunteers, William & Mary is always up there for the smaller colleges and most students do some kind of volunteer work through politics or helping the needy in the area.</p>

13

<p>If a very small, environmental college is not immediately out of the question, you might want to look at College of the Atlantic.</p>

14

<p>I think your original list is excellent (Macalester especially is known for activism) and I second Wesleyan and add Brown.</p>

15

<p>Have you considered Brandeis? One of its founding principles is social justice.</p>

<p>[Social</a> Action | Four Pillars | Brandeis University](<a href=“http://www.brandeis.edu/pillars/justice.html]Social”>http://www.brandeis.edu/pillars/justice.html)</p>

16

<p>Brandeis is famous for its tradition of activism–producing activists on both ends of the political spectrum. For example, activists Angela Davis, Abbie Hoffman are alumni and Herbert Marcuse was a professor. Lawyer Michael Ratner, President of the Center for Constitutional Rights is an alumnus. Also an alum is convicted Republican activist/lobbyist Jack Abramoff who also was founder of the International Freedom Foundation. Currently on-campus there is a significant activist movement and even a blog devoted to the subject and related activities. See [Innermost</a> Parts](<a href=“http://www.innermostparts.org%5DInnermost”>http://www.innermostparts.org).</p>

17

<p>P.S. lawyer Anita Hill, famously Justice Clarence Thomas’s nemesis, and a pubic policy expert, currently is a professor at Brandeis.</p>

18

<p>Oberlin all the way. Ultra progressive. Not only was it a key stop on the Underground Railroad, but it was the first college in the USA to admit blacks–30 years before the Emancipation Proclamation–and the first male college to admit women. There is no friendlier or more accomodating college in America for transgender students than Oberlin. Very liberal, very activist. You want to be immersed in social justice? Go to Oberlin.</p>

19

<p>

</p>

<p>That’s an overstatement… but overall, this place is pretty damn open and accepting.</p>

<p>The climate on campus is strongly progressive, but it’s not monochromatic. Even among students with relatively similar views, there’s constant debate; you will have your views challenged, in casual conversations as well as in class. The great thing is that people don’t seem to be interested in defending their own opinion, so much as genuinely questioning issues and exploring the limits of their beliefs.</p>

<p>In addition to what Plainsman mentioned, there’s a lot of activism around environmental issues and sustainability, especially through [SEED</a> House](<a href=“http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/26/education/26green.html]SEED”>http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/26/education/26green.html). Being in Ohio, there are great opportunities to get involved in campaigns and electoral politics. And you can take courses like Situated Research (in the Comparative American Studies department), where students work with community groups to investigate issues of privilege, oppression, and power in society, and effective responses to them.</p>

20

<p>I would definitely recommend American University, it’s in D.C. I visited there over spring break and LOVED it. The tour guide said that there are no Starbucks on campus because the students protested b/w Starbucks wasn’t fair trade coffee at the time. how’s that for activism?</p>