<p>Agreed. However, I also feel as though that is true of most all highly selective LACs. At Middlebury there's the "Midd Kid," Wesleyan has the "Wes Kid," and for the most part, Williams, Bowdoin, Vassar and LAC X have their own "bubble." I feel like, in some ways, however, I fit into each's bubble, but only one small part of that bubble.</p>
<p>kev07wan, </p>
<p>i think you might want to think about whether you're okay fitting into a small part of a bubble at an LAC. i think sometimes i felt my group was small at bowdoin, but i thought it was exceptional. perhaps i would have felt more institutionally common (given my interests) at a place like swarthmore, or uchicago. but there is something about being in a small bubble and not necessarily part of the large bubble: there is, i guess, an idea of uniqueness, of honing arguments, of alliances with professors and students that is a bit more intense if you think of yourself as part of a minority. </p>
<p>some people aren't looking for that, in which case, they should choose their school carefully and (sometimes) will end up transferring. others find that even if they're not in the majority of a certain school's culture, the minority at that school is so much closer to who they are than the majority at other schools that may fit better. is this confusing? </p>
<p>i think williams and bowdoin both don't necessarily have a type. they do have a culture, but they make room for a suprising number of other cultures, too. i think if you decide whether or not your okay being in a minority point of view at a certain place first, this decision will seem less weighty. </p>
<p>to answer your question about sports at bowdoin: there is a culture of activity that i think orbits around sports a bit, but it isn't, i don't think, "the culture of the school." i never went to a football game; went to one hockey game (because of the rink's proximity to the dining hall); but i enjoyed going to the pool on nights when i was procrastinating and jumping off the high dive. or trying squash for the first time ever inthe squash courts. i suppose my idea of sports at bowdoin is limited, because i never prioritized them. in my experience, the lectures were big, the films, the art openings, the theater openings, the one act festival, the radio, dance recitals. these were the most important things in my world at bowdoin, and there were many who felt the same. so although my experience may (?) be atypical, i made it my own and loved every minute of it.</p>
<p>As for being a libertarian at Wes:</p>
<p>As a facebook group I recently saw says, "it's easy to be in favor of no governmental assistance when you, personally, don't need any". That said, though, there certainly are some. The Wesleyan Republicans has also recently become an actual group with real members (no kidding!). There is definitely respect for conservative viewpoints if you're willing to defend yourself.</p>
<p>Well, on both notes...</p>
<p>At Wesleyan, I recently heard (somewhere) that Wesleyan is the place of radical individualism, ie. it is highly respectable that you be COMPLETELY outside the norm or conventional. My being a gay, lower middle class, libertarian, atheist, Republican sympathizing individual seems to fit in with the ideals of "radical individualism." Please correct me if I'm wrong there!</p>
<p>And as to Bowdoin: I have often heard of similarities between Bowdoin and Williams. Living near Williams, I feel I have a <em>decent</em> grasp on the culture/social life there. In spite of sports being popular, there is a huge "artsy" culture there, with the Williams College Museum of Art, MassMoca and the Clark Art Institute, all, in some way or another, involved with Williams Students. At Williamstown there is a fair amount of cultural restaurants and centers, giving me the feeling that Williams is not entirely a place of "white prep school rich kids." I tend to think Bowdoin is similar. Again, correct me if I'm wrong!</p>
<p>This is getting to be VERY helpful!! Thanks!</p>
<p>bump this up!</p>
<p>any other opinions?</p>