I would not characterize Vassar as Oberlin 10x
I think that Richmond and Davidson should fit your personality. Also, check out Wm&Mary, Lafayette and Gettysburg.
@antsinmyeyesjohnson - Interesting what you say about Oberlin - seems you got the vibe that Vassar is more intellectual and that Oberlin is left leaning just for the sake of being contrary. I really can’t confirm or negate that but if that is the feeing you got, that is what is important. But I don’t think Vasaar will present as much of a ‘mix’ of people/views/political leanings as you say you want in your original post. It will be much more universally to the left of Amherst, Tufts, Richmond
Bates, Dickinson, Skidmore seems like good fits. Depending on your stats Bates might be a reach.
@antsinmyeyesjohnson Based partly on what you you have written combined with my own experience with Vassar, the school seems as if it could be an excellent option for you – as this goes, you really need not doubt yourself here. If you think you might want more mainstream representation within the student body, consider a visit to Hamilton. Kenyon might also be of interest to you.
I totally agree with above posters re: fit for Bates, Skidmore, and would add Grinnell, Macalester, Kenyon. What loops those together for me is that they are politically aware without taking themselves as seriously as others, and all strong in the arts but balanced with other strengths. Richmond, WFU, Lafayette would feel quite a bit more conservative and buttoned down.
^ I would say that Grinnell is on the left edge of those schools and has more in common with Bard than Bates, but I am probably splitting hairs.
Tufts may be a good match for someone who is put off by the Oberlin vibe. It’s definitely liberal but not to the extent that people are calling out food services for cultural appropriation. You’re also not likely to see pushback against talk about trigger warnings/microagressions like you do at Amherst and UChicago. It’s not particularly diverse, however.
Re-reading your original post, I would say that Tufts fits the “what I do want” you mentioned pretty well. Davidson also, although I’m not sure there’s quite as much cynicism/dry humor as it draws from the south a little more.
Wesleyan seems like an excellent fit (huge music nerds at that school) except for it’s widely considered one of the most liberal schools in the country.
If I may, I don’t think there’s much similarity between U Chicago (if you refer to that "no safe spaces or trigger warnings’ letter the first years go this year) and Amherst in this regard.
This is a very good summation of events there last fall, and match well what my kid shared with me as it went on.
https://www.amherst.edu/amherst-story/magazine/issues/2016-summer/home
@OHMomof2 actually I was referring to the free speech fliers, not the reaction to them. While it was obviously a very small minority lamenting the “death” of freedom of expression, it’s just not that common at liberal NE private colleges. I guess this would put Amherst in the “diversity of opinion” bucket. Assuming those kids still go there.
I think @NEwonk is on target with the suggested additions.
@ormdad : I wouldn’t lump Grinnell with Bard, except insofar as both are predominantly liberal LACs – like so many others. Halfway between Bates and Bard might be a reasonably fair assessment. (Or is that more hair-splitting?)
@porcupine98 I was just referring to liberal-ness of student body, not the schools themselves. I would venture to guess Grinnell makes it into more than a few top 10 of “most liberal colleges” lists, along with Bard and Oberlin, whereas Bates does not even make it on the list. (Source: family who went to Bard & Grinnell in the last 10 years and observation of recent Bates attendees from our high school) Maybe Grinnell is a little less one-sided than Bard given it’s location, but not from what I’ve heard.
And I just read your original post. Please take a serious look at Grinnell. Yes, lefty liberal, but not an echo chamber. I can guarantee you’ll find your people there. But you have to stay strong traveling through all those cornfields.
That’s fair @ormdad But they’re very very different places and someone who loved one might hate the other.
Vassar is not Oberlin. On the spectrum you describe in the original post, I would put it closer to Amherst with the main difference being more of a jock vibe at Amherst. The comparison to Wesleyan is fair. Many people have an image of
I second @porcupine98. You should look at Grinnell.
Also look at Macalester, Haverford and Carleton. They all vary in the relative amounts of crunchiness, preppiness, and diversity but like most SLACs, they will fall solidly within your parameters.
Your description of Oberlin is almost identical to my son’s. He really liked Haverford, Hamilton and Grinnell. He did not want a city so Macalester was sort of out but definetely worth investigating.
He is a social liberal and fiscal conservative and is extremely happy in his second year at Grinnell. He knew it was home the minute he walked on campus, midwest nice, intellectual and a wide set of opinions. It does lean very left, but has a totally different feel then Oberlin. If you are at all interested try and visit.