Ok. ED deadlines are approaching much faster than they were two months ago. I kinda need to figure out where I might want to spend the next 4 years of my life. HELP! *** Note: Just assume I get in everywhere for the purpose of this exercise. I know I won’t, but just do it anyway. For me.
I think I want small, really small. I KNOW that I don’t want to be in a city. Money is not really a problem, but who would turn down their top choice w/ money. Also, I want a place where people leave their dorms every now and again and brave the weather to have fun. I am not looking at SEC schools, but I want a place where people party regularly (this does not necessarily mean Greek).
What else do I want? I don’t really know. I feel like I am going to get more or less the same experience at most of these places. My “frontrunners” are Bowdoin, Williams, and Middlebury. I would throw Kenyon in there, too. Should I look Ivy League like Dartmouth, or Princeton? I fear that I will lose the small school feel at those places (I know they are both top in undergraduate teaching yadayada). If I really just want small and top notch, should I look no further than Williams, Midd and Bowdoin, with Kenyon or Davidson as a backup?
What is your major? What are your stats? How about Dickinson? You do not found like a good candidate for ED to me, as you don’t seem to have a clear first choice. Also, Kenyon and Davidson are not good safeties. My kid with a 2380 superscored SAT and 800 subject tests in Math II and Lit did not consider Kenyon a safety (got in, but it was certainly no safety).
If you want good advice, provide stats, major, gender, home state.
Does that mean you are now ruling out UVA and UNC (from one of your earlier threads)? Do you really think you will only do well/be happy at those 3-5 schools? And what happens if you don’t get into any of them? Do you have a safety you would be HAPPY to attend?
Haha, you’re right I am probably not a good ED candidate, but I want to explore all my options (not leaving any stone unturned and all that stuff).
Erin’s Dad: UVa and UNC are both too big for me. I’ve got a safety in my back pocket that I would be more than happy at. I posted this thread to explore my other options. Don’t worry, I have thought of that.
As for major, I don’t really know. Probably something like English, Philosophy, Classics, etc.
I’m going to throw you a curve ball. Look into Illinois College and Knox College in Illinois. Both are small and known for great LACs. I know several students who have gone to IC, and all have been able to have an extraordinary experience tailored to their interests, and have been personally encouraged and mentored by professors who enjoy being involved with their students. I know less about Knox, other than by reputation, but a young friend of mine went to work for them last year and raves to me about the school. They’re both private.
My son’s a Williams alumnus. I would agree that Middlebury, Bowdoin, Davidson and Kenyon fit into the same general character and ambience spectrum. You might also look at Amherst, Hamilton, Colgate, Carleton and Pomona. He also liked Wesleyan, even though it’s somewhat more politically active than the others. The recurring personality thread seemed to be active, curious, extroverted, confident, optimistic.
Have you visited your top choices? These schools have a lot of cultural overlap, but there are distinctive differences that become apparent on visiting. For ED, visiting is essential.
My son didn’t look at Dartmouth or Princeton, but he did visit and consider Yale and Brown. After visiting, he was most drawn to the small LAC experience (and especially the rural insular experience), so yes, although the Ivies on his list were different from yours, he did discern a difference between the LAC and Ivy environment.
Add Haverford to the list. You said you want really small and it’s only about 1,100 students but still a top LAC, in a suburb (near Philly but you wouldn’t know it). Most of the Claremont schools fit your criteria too.
For a safety (or not, depending on your stats, but since you said to assume you could get into anything these are safeties relative to the ones you first listed), consider Lafayette, Skidmore, Dickinson, Franklin & Marshall.
Regarding Dartmouth’s “strong party scene” you may want to look at this thread. The “strong party scene” was so strong that it cost Dartmouth a 14% drop in applicants. This may still appeal to you, but be sure you know what you’re getting into. The details are on this thread–
Someone I know who goes to Dartmouth right now says that party/fratboy atmosphere remains and is extremely unfortunate. He regrets having chosen Dartmouth now.
If you want really small and are interested in English, Classics, Philosophy, consider St. John’s College with campuses in Santa Fe and Annapolis. They have one major: the Great Books curriculum. Don’t know anything about their party scene except for their annual croquet match against the USNA and swing dances at the Annapolis campus.
As an opinion as to what might constitute a good size for an undergraduate college, I’d suggest up to ~2000 students (and perhaps at least 1200). On this basis, Williams, Bowdoin, Davidson and Kenyon (from your your original post) are the choices that nicely adhere to this historically established size.