<p>mississippi state</p>
<p>Rigorous studying and rigorous partying...Lehigh!</p>
<p>Stanford, Duke, UNC, UVA, Vanderbilt, Wisconsin</p>
<p>Thanks for all the wonderful suggestions so far. I would love to go to a lot of the schools mentioned (I have really looked into Vandy and Lehigh), but I need to be realistic about my choices and almost all of these schools would be big reaches for me. I would like some information on schools that would be good matches and safeties. I think I would definitely qualify for some need-based aid, but I would also like to look into some schools where I could receive merit money. </p>
<p>Another thing is that I really don't care about prestige. One thing that I really liked about Whitman was that everyone was very academically driven, but not in a competitive, cut throat type of way. The students were more....intellectual. At my perfect school I would like to be able to have intellectual conversations on the weekdays, and drunken chats on the weekend. </p>
<p>Thanks for all the help so far! Please keep it coming :)</p>
<p>Colorado College, maybe</p>
<p>A2Wolves makes a valid point. Although many students at Duke party, <em>at least</em> an equal number have too much work for it. The same goes for many of the other schools mentioned. </p>
<p>blawned, I suggest you post this on the Parents' forum. There have been many helpful threads there about merit $, small schools with spirit, and creative writing.</p>
<p>If Lehigh and Vanderbilt are reaches...then I'd look into Penn State, MSU, UT-Austin, a lot of the bigger state schools...</p>
<p>Check out the Honors Program at Univ. of Delaware. Big merit aid and 50% OOS. Gorgeous brick campus---big though---steps from a CUTE LITTLE MAIN STREET TYPE TOWN, BIG ON SPORTS AND PARTIES, NEAR pHILA.</p>
<p>If they are so big on sports, then why don't they have any major professional sports teams or even a college football team?</p>
<p>And since when are "Honors Programs" even remotely close to parties and having fun?</p>
<p>Since you are from washington what is wrong with the university of washington? Arizona could be a safety</p>
<p>colorado college fits everything except it is not on the coasts and the only division 1 sport is Hockey -- but school spirit is high. academics are great and students really enjoy themselves!!!!!! skiing, parties, hiking, kayaking and more every weekend. They work hard and party hard. The unique block schedule (you only take 1 class at a time for 3.5 weeks) insures that once a month you get a 5 day weekend -- great for some real fun.</p>
<p>another one to consider -- University of Colorado. very much a party school, but also rated well academically</p>
<p>I'd really consider BC if I were you... Boston is fun, BC has great athletics, great academics, a very fun-loving student body.
Tulane is also a great school, from what I've heard an incredibly exciting social scene (lots of Greek life) and you're in New Orleans which is just ridiculously fun.</p>
<p>And, as a reach, definitely consider Duke and Vandy. People may be knocking on these schools as not being a lot of fun, but I'm going into my third year at Duke and fully believe that it is very 'work hard, play hard.' I've visited friends who go to those ranked hardcore party schools and can honestly say that I have just as much fun partying at Duke.</p>
<p>DUKEEEEEEE</p>
<p>Northwestern, USC/UCLA (you could probably get into USC, but I'm not sure about the "rigor"; USC is seen as being a safety school and not as academically prestigious as UCLA, at least here in Orange County), Penn.</p>
<p>I was in teh same boat you're in, except with picking which school to attend, rather than to apply to. After eliminating Dartmouth and Chicago (not the social atmosphere I was looking for), it was narrowed down to Berkeley, UCLA, Georgetown, Northwestern, and Duke. Berkeley and UCLA are amazing, sports oriented, and a lot of fun, as well as academically rigorous. It was a tough choice, but I realized I didn't want to go to school in California, but it sounds like you should really consider them based on your interests. Georgetown isn't as social as you'd think it is-- lots of students filter out to DC. Northwestern was far too cold. Duke was the choice for me.</p>
<p>although it would be a reach for you (and it does not match your D-1 sports requirement), washington and lee. W&L has perhaps the BEST combination of excellent academics and vibrant social life of ANY liberal arts college. its small class sizes and lack of TA's would allow your writing interests to flourish. also, it is one of the only LAC's with an accredited journalism school, for which you noted interest.</p>
<p>I think you should definitely consider Wake Forest. With an SAT a little bit higher and great essays I think you'd have a shot at getting in.</p>
<p>does colorado college carry any weight outside of colorado??? it sounds like an amazingly cool college, but is it really worth 40k a year if no one (including many employers) has heard of it. I really wish it was ranked higher, lol. I know that's horrible since rankings are THE CARDINAL SIN, but you have to admit that LACs that are ranked high on something like USNEWS are going to be known by employers so the chances for recruitment are higher.</p>
<p>But seriously CC has nearly everything I'm looking for...dang.</p>
<p>Wisconsin.</p>
<p>Top social life + top 10 journalism + all around college expierence</p>
<p>Washington and Lee.</p>
<p>brand_182 - Outside the highly well read and often social elite, LACs (and most top unis) are unheard of or not respected to the level they should. Friends of mine who attend Williams, Swarthmore, and even Penn have come to accept that many people would know Texas or PSU before their school. Penn kids often complain they are confused with PSU. That's just the reality. </p>
<p>As for employers, check with Colorado College's career services department. They should be able to put you at ease. I have heard of CC and I know it is a strong LAC. Good hockey, too.</p>
<p>michigan for sure</p>