<p>I'll admit...I'm a geek...I love to learn for the sake of learning and I'm not into the big party scene. I would like a college where academics are the focus, but where I could have some semblance of a social life. Right now, I'm looking at anything, so any colleges you could suggest would be great. I'm thinking U of Chicago, but it's a reach...any ideas? I would prefer to go out of California, but that is not absolutely necessary.</p>
<p>Reed, Whitman, Carleton, Oberlin, Bard, Bates, Carnagie Mellon, St. John's, Colorado College, Earlham, Grinnell, The Evergreen State College, Haverford, New College, etc...</p>
<p>There's a certain science/tech school in Massachusetts that's pretty focused on academics.</p>
<p>From my experience, academics are not a focus at Evergreen.</p>
<p>UC Berkeley of course. Just dorm in Foothill.</p>
<p>Also one in Pasadena...shares MIT's focus, as does Rice, WPI, RPI, FU of Columbia, Case Western....</p>
<p>As for TESC...it can be nerdy for those who take charge of their program...laid back for those who decide to do the minimum....</p>
<p>There's one in Claremont too, rather close to Pasadena, although not as well among the general public.</p>
<p>Thanks for the suggestions...if it helps, I'm probably not going to major in anything math-related. Science is a possibility, but is also unlikely. Right now, I'm thinking poli-sci.</p>
<p>Swarthmore maybe?</p>
<p>Swarthmore would be cool, but with a 29 ACT? What's its middle 50% range?</p>
<p>For PolySci- Claremont McKenna. It's competitive, though. Look at Case Western, definitely.</p>
<p>S is a political science major at BU. Although BU is known more as a safety for kids trying for the Ivy League, admissions has become much more selective in the past few years. There is a definite subset of serious academically oriented kids, including those in the University Professors program. S's best friends are in the honors programs in the various colleges and have hefty merit scholarships. Social life in Boston---well, what can I say? It's probably THE best place in the U.S. for an urban college experience. With a 29 ACT, BU is a match for you. Lots of California kids too.</p>
<p>That is a good idea from Kinshasa. If you want a similar school, but in Washington, DC, look at George Washington University. Good location for political science, too.</p>
<p>Rensalear Polytechnic Institute
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Georgia Institute of Technology
Rose-Hulman Institute
University of the Sciences in Philadelphia
U of Alabama-Huntsville</p>
<p>
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Also one in Pasadena...shares MIT's focus, as does Rice, WPI, RPI, FU of Columbia, Case Western....
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Not to quibble, but I really think Rice is out of place in that list. Although it certainly offers a great education in engineering, Rice as a whole is not engineering-focused. Definitely a "well-rounded" type of education.</p>
<p>Definately check out Case- you seem very similar to myself, and if not for the city environment of case, I would definately have checked it out... Sci Fi Marathon... need I say more? :)</p>
<p>Also, the University of Rochester (my ED school) is incredibly pretty (despite the really harsh weather)- it has the typical red brick buildings and ivy and the student are very diverse and incredibly freindly for the most part. They also are vey intellegent, so it's the perfect combination... except for the whole weather thing. And you would have a normal social life there. The work is pretty hard, though not the toughest, and you have to study a lot. However, no one really seems to mind, and they are very modivated people.</p>
<p>Definately look into it...</p>
<p>RPI, WPI, RIT, Johns Hopkins, Rice, Case Western, Swarthmore, Reed.</p>
<p>RPI and WPI don't offer political science, and RIT only offers an International Studies major.</p>
<p>Brandeis, Syracuse, Notre Dame, U Rochester, Tufts.</p>
<p>Bowdoin is worth looking into if the rest of your application is strong- they don't require test scores. Their Government program is arguably the best among the LACs.</p>
<p>I'm already applying to Bowdoin and Brandeis, so that's good. U of Rochester sounds pretty great - would my test score be ok there? The rest of my info is pretty strong. Thanks to everyone who replied!</p>