<p>These are two schools that I'm considering. I would like to study anthropology, Spanish, and possibly philosophy. I highly regret that I won't be able to visit Dickinson before spring, but I have visited Beloit a few times.</p>
<p>How do the two schools compare and contrast with academics and social fit? I'm assuming that Dickinson is not as liberal as Beloit.....my ideology is slightly liberal, I think, but not super liberal.</p>
<p>My fear about Dickinson is that I may not fit in. Many guide books say that the students look like J. Crew models....which isn't a bad thing....but I do not haha. I also don't come from a wealthy background.....we're modest but comfortable. </p>
<p>My fear with Beloit is that it is too "hippie," but to be honest I only have a small grasp of what that means. I asked my friend what a hippie was and he said it was someone who spokes pot and doesn't shower. I don't know how true that is. I really think that I was raised to look down upon smoking.....I just think it's dirty and I fear it. Well, I met someone at my school who smokes pot and he's actually a cool guy. Really funny. I just have this really weird phobia of smoking......idk.</p>
<p>I don't really know if I can stereotype myself into a clique, like a "prep" or a "hippie;" I don't play sports, I don't wear name brand stuff, I'm not popular in the sense that I have a ton of friends.....I'm not really anything. I'm sort of artsy, though. I like to draw and paint. I also really love Spanish and I would like to learn other languages, like French and Arabic.</p>
<p>What more should be known for "fit?" Sorry if any of this seems stereotypical....it is.</p>
<p>I’m not familiar with Dickinson, but Beloit is significantly stronger in anthropology, for sure. Beloit is one of the top anth schools in the country. It’s not a pushover in languages, either, but I don’t know if it’s better than Dickinson.</p>
<p>As far as the “hippy” vibe, Beloit isn’t as bad as other similar LACs, at least from my experience. You’ll find plenty of stoners, but there are plenty of “normal” people too.</p>
<p>We visited Dickinson and did not find it overly-preppy – at least compared to some other schools we saw. They emphasize getting a “global education” including study abroad which may fit in well with your interest in foreign languages. We did not look at Beloit so I can’t help you to compare the schools. If there is any possible way to visit Dickinson yourself, I would highly recommend it.</p>
<p>I visited Beloit last year on business. I was very impressed by its look; it is very attractive. It is located in a very nice residential neighborhood and it is walkable to some commercial development. Madison and the University of Wisconsin is an hour north. Chicago is not far away and the Van Galder bus will take you to O’Hare where you can get the blue line to downtown.</p>
<p>Major caveat, the city of Beloit has fallen on very hard times. Their GM plant closed a while back. Without knowing for sure, crime may be a problem in the community at large. I do not know what impact this has on the college.</p>
<p>DS is at Beloit and I haven’t heard mention anything about hippies. The usual drinking and smoking but what you would expect at any college. It’s not his thing and he has found friends and activities that don’t center on it. I think you’ll find the hippie types if you look for him but he certainly hasn’t been looking.</p>