<p>D is quirky (tufts of pink hair, nose ring) and half the schools on her tentative list are known for being quirk-friendly - - Sarah Lawrence, Hampshire, Earlham, UNC-Asheville, Guilford, etc. </p>
<p>Other schools on the list offer some of what she wants (location, diversity, open curric) but aren't known for scoring high on the quirk-meter. Of course, not being known for quirkiness if a far cry from being quirk-hostile. Still, I like to get a better sense of some of the straighter schools on D's list. </p>
<p>Ursinus
Clark
Muhlenberg
Queens Univ. Charlotte
High Point
Hobart/Wm Smith
Eckerd</p>
<p>Totally anecdotal so take w/2 grains of salt:
Two of the quirkiness people I know (different generations, even) attended Clark, quite happily. Two of the preppiest kids in my D’s graduating class last year had Hobart-Wm Smith on their short list. Both schools with an equal-or-greater prep factor.</p>
<p>I don’t think Ursinus would be quirk-hostile, but since the population is small and (from what I have seen) there is a low percentage of “quirky” kids, there might not be a critical mass of quirky students to feel truly “quirk-friendly”.</p>
<p>Maybe it’s just that the students have grown up since high school, or maybe it’s specific to the atmosphere at Ursinus, but I get a very “accepting” vibe from the student body. Someone might not have the same interests as you, but they do their thing and let you do yours.</p>
<p>Ill have some fun with this, but I dont mean any disrespect to <em>anyone</em> .</p>
<p>If you followed a quirky kid (as defined above pink tufts of hair and a nose ring) and a nerd (that would be me back in college or my D now).</p>
<p>Nerd goes to classes in the math and science building. Gets excited about the Chem lab that shell do tomorrow, but dreads writing the four-page paper assigned by the CIE professor (compare Hindu teachings to Christianity). After classes goes to track practice, then eats dinner in the dining hall .soup and a cheeseburger.</p>
<p>Quirky is taking philosophy and literature classes. She spends an hour between classes discussing the role of religion in America with the professor and two classmates, because the in-class discussion was just not long enough. After classes she helps put together the school newspaper, then heads to the dining hall to eat the vegan selection.</p>
<p>They each have a text message conversation with their respective mothers that start with “how was your day?” and end with “I love you” :)</p>
<p>I’m guessing there might be room for the quirky kid at Muhlenburg, because of their big theater program. Not that quirky kid and theater kid are interchangeable, but I think they’d be very compatible.</p>
<p>D’s interest tend more torwards psy/soc/educat than phil/religion (definitely NOT a math/sci student), but after discussion w/ prof and classmates, she’d dash off to soccer, volleyball or to community child-related community service (replace nose-ring w/ “invisible” lucite stud) - - breathless and late to practice b/c she didn’t keep track of time during the apres-class discussion. When practice/service was over, she’d text friends to meet her at the dining hall and inhale a burger and fries, wishing dumplings, kim chee or pad thai had been on the menu. Then “hang out,” again losing track of time and finally rush through her homework.</p>
<p>(Also funny that D1 is the nerd - - strong in math and a track “star.”)</p>
<p>We visited Eckerd and my sense is that there would be no problem being a quirky kid there.</p>
<p>(My quirk-o-meter is somewhat calibrated to seeing kids on skateboards – saw this at Eckerd along with students in bare feet. They also have student gardens and I saw a tent pitched as well.)</p>
<p>Well, Earlham is wonderful! A lovely campus, amazing and supportive environment. It was a finalist for my older daughter who is now a junior at Wooster. Wooster gave her a much better merit award than Earlham did–nearly three times as much, so that was a factor in the final decision. … Along the lines of Earlham, have you considered Guilford, in North Carolina? Like Earlham, it’s a wonderful little Quaker school. My younger daughter’s best friend, a quirky girl herself and a very gifted writer, is thriving there as a sophomore.</p>
<p>My brother (who is “quirky” in certain senses–likes art and music and woodworking and is great with little kids…might want to be an elementary-school teacher) attends Hobart and really likes it. He had some medical problems last year and the faculty and administrators were wonderful. It seems like there are a lot of different housing options after freshman year (co-ops, ethnic culture houses, etc.) that might help a quirky kid fit in.</p>
<p>I’ve seen both elements in many schools and commingling as well. I had quirky and preppy friends as have my sons, and we really don’t fit either category. Visiting for a weekend is the best way to figure this out. My son reluctantly decided that one school was not for him, though it was high up on list, after his visit. Not that he would not have gone there had there not been better choices, but given his choices, he had other preferences. That is where visiting can make a difference. </p>
<p>But again, it would not have mattered that much where my son went among his top 3-4 choices, in my opinion. It was a true luxury being able to make this determination. Though a “quirky” kid would have trouble at a school like VMI, he isn’t necessarily going to be the happiest at a school where there are more kids like him. He too may like the variety of different types at the school. I, for one , do, as my sons do.</p>
<p><em>Just</em> pink hair tufts? Only the one color? I dunno, that’s pretty minor league quirky. <em>grin</em> Does she meow when stressed, or anything like that? Does she expect to keep an empty seat next to her for the imaginary friend? Vegan is getting pretty mainstream, after all. If she were a raw foodie, that’d be more in the quirky ballpark. :-)</p>
<p>Or maybe, I have now lived in the San Francisco bay area too long.</p>
<p>I worked for Clark–(writer in the advancement/develop office) so I had limited interaction with students other than those who interned with our project. Based on my experience, I’d say that quirky wouldn’t be a problem at Clark. One word of warning, however, Clark is located in Worcester, MA. Visit and see what you think. The town is dying and nothing can help it even though the politicans and the city’s movers and shakers try desperately to bring it back. If the town in which you go to school is important to you, you might find Worcester to be pretty disappointing. All I know about Earlham is that it’s a Quaker affiliated college and based on D1’s experience at a Quaker secondary school, I can assure you that Quakers welcome and accept all kinds of
people–quirky or not.</p>
<p>Clark intrigued my younger daughter during her college application process. But the website didn’t do it any favors by emphasizing one big building. She finally decided not to apply, because it reminded her of her high school. … Speaking of Earlham–Richmond, Indiana is no prize. I loved the school, but my (older) daughter thought the surrounding town was depressing. Ironically, she’s at College of Wooster, where the surrounding town is … you guessed it. Depressing. She could care less since 95% of her life up there takes place on campus.</p>
<p>So if one colors their hair and is a herbivore and is excited about humanities subject matter, one is quirky. If one is a carnivore and is excited about science subject matter, one is a nerd. So…, I guess those who are not too excited about any subject and are omnivores make the vast majority of regular college students?</p>
<p>idad – remember, I’m not trying to hurt anyones’s feelings…From where I sit (in math/science land with the nerds…and proud of it!), I think of “quirky” as I described. I’m sure the definition changes depending on who is making it…which is the point, isn’t it?</p>