<p>I was actually just about to ask about matches/lower reaches/easier schools to get into in general...thanks Count_MonteFisto!</p>
<p>You're right looking at Carleton. It does seem like a great fit for you. Some more info FYI:</p>
<p>Carleton supplies about 2,000 of the 5,000 students in a lovely, historic college town sporting a total population of around 20,000. The school has easy access to Minneapolis and St. Paul, each less than an hour away. Its 15 miles of running/skiing/hiking trails criss-cross more than 800 acres of adjacent arboretum which also serve as as an outdoor laboratory for the geology, biology and environmental science programs. The wind turbine on campus provides more than 50% of the school's energy needs and the college has been repeatedly cited as one of the most "green" in the country. The strong enviromental science program is a natural reflection of this commitment by the administration.
In</a> Pictures: America's Greenest Colleges - Forbes.com<br>
Carleton</a> College - Green Report Card 2009 </p>
<p>The campus is also one of the most cohesive around with the highest alumni giving rate (for many years now) of ANY college in the country. Despite the school's academic rigor, it's known for having an incredibly happy student body that refuses to take itself too seriously. It even earned a Newsweek "Hottest" school listing for "Most Fun Loving."</p>
<p>Oberlin fits all your requirements to a T. To get a sense of what the place is like, check out the student admissions blogs: Oberlin</a> Blogs.</p>
<p>Kalamazoo College Hornets (great for study abroad)
Lawrence University Vikings
Macalaster College Fighting Scots (not rural, or in a small town, but it is very liberal and you will like it)</p>
<p>Once again, thanks for the feedback everyone! This whole college search is really overwhelming, and each little bit of information is helpful. </p>
<p>Anyway, I have one more question! Yay! Sorry, I feel so annoying. </p>
<p>I forgot to mention this when talking about campus community, and I'm not exactly sure how to ask, but are the schools I'm looking at full of hipsters posturing, pseudo-intellectuals or people more concerned about style?</p>
<p>I ran into a little of that at one school I visited, and it's not what I'm looking for. I just want to be surrounded by genuine, nice, laid-back, yet still motivated, and interesting people. If anyone (maybe current students - I'm not sure how to tell a poster's background on this website), would be able to give any information or insight on this, it would be greatly appreciated. :-) </p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>also looking for a good campus-community connection</p>
<p>ie- student-oriented restaurants/shops, students volunteering in town, people of town supporting school and school events, etc.</p>
<p>Lawrence University sounds like an ideal safety for you. Very charming town, great academics, and I would definitely say there is a strong sense of community. It also fits your previous criteria.. Look into Lawrence :)</p>
<p>Pitzer has a very diverse student population and is SAT/ACT optional. Nice and warm as well!</p>
<p>Pitzer and Pomona fit into a lot of what you're describing, agreed with sarsfield about the weather (which is more important than most realize).</p>
<p>Consider Lewis and Clark.</p>
<p>I would add Denison. It's a little more left leaning that Kenyon and very politically active. Granville is also a picturesque town not far from Columbus OH.</p>
<p>From what I know, Denison is more RIGHT-leaning than Kenyon, though it has become more liberal since the frat breakup a decade or so ago.</p>
<p>Putting in another vote for Oberlin here. It is almost exactly what you say you want. The only drawback I see is that they are pretty far on the left, but very tolerant nonetheless. They also have a great environmental science program if you think you might head that direction.</p>
<p>I agree about Oberlin, and also Carelton. Kenyon is def. worth a look, but I actually thought it was a little too party-oriented and maybe even preppy when I visited (people who know more about it might disagree with that, though). Have you looked at Skidmore? </p>
<p>As a Wesleyan student, I think Wes would be great for you, as well. Although there are a fair number of "hipster" types, many of them don't really fit the sterotype, and are avoidable anyway ;) There are some town/gown tensions, but there are also a TON of Wes students who run/participate in all sorts of programs involving volenteering in Middletown, and there are a lot of great coffee shops, and resturants that give Wes students discounts and stuff.</p>
<p>Bard College (Annandale-on-Hudson, NY)
Macalester College (St. Paul, MN)
Grinnell College (Iowa)
Reed College (Portland, OR)
Wesleyan University (Middletown, CT)</p>
<p>All are ultra-hip, uber-intelligent, mondo-liberal, and top-notch.</p>
<p>Thanks for all of the great suggestions!</p>
<p>From this thread, it looks as if I should definitely consider Oberlin (!), Carleton, Pitzer, Earlham (actually did some research and liked it a lot!), Lawrence, Wesleyan and, to a lesser extent, Haverford, Reed (still have some concerns - big city, social scene), Pomona (too competitive?, but I love the school) and Kenyon.</p>
<p>also mentioned: Lewis and Clark (also in Portland - not sure about that, thought it's a really cool city), Macalester, Bard, University of Puget Sound, Kalamazoo, Skidmore, Denison</p>
<p>In that last set, I'm familiar with Mac and Lewis and Clark, but not so sure if they're what I'm looking for. I don't know anything about the rest. I have some research to do!</p>
<p>flowering spade, don't forget to update CC with what your research turns up! These kinds of threads are hidden gems in the CC archive.</p>
<p>Wow I feel like we are the same person..
I'm applying to
Grinnell
Carleton
Macalester
Kenyon</p>
<p>and as for public schools that are kind of LAC-like
U of Minnesota - Morris
and I guess
New College of Florida (not so attractive to me because of drug use rumors)
SUNY - Geneseo</p>
<p>and considering
Oberlin
and
Saint Olaf (same town as Carleton. a little less liberal/ more religious but minnesota nice)
and some of those other ones</p>
<p>I'm just hoping to finish my main apps and then look at more places :)
But really. LAC, liberal, not too much partying, all the same criteria.</p>
<p>Haha except that I am a senior in a time-fix and you are looking to the future.</p>
<p>Well, naturally I don't know your stats, but a step or two down in selectivity, but still respected as a school is Allegheny College in Meadville, PA.</p>
<p>Meadville's a quaint old industrial town on the edge of the mountains. Allegheny's a fine little LAC.</p>