Help! Schools for creative/independent learners? Unusual schools?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Hi! First of all, thanks for your time/attention. :) </p>

<p>My problem - the reason for this post - is that I have no idea what to do about school next year and I'm hoping that some of you can give me some ideas. </p>

<p>My story:
I've taken this year off from school after a couple of difficult years at a school I wasn't in love with. [Difficult in terms of personal issues, not classes, although my classes suffered as a result.]</p>

<p>Honestly...I'm LOVING the time off. It's not wonderful all the time, but I feel like myself again - and that makes up for a lot. I'm working on projects that interest me - writing a book (with the support of my boss, an author), learning to program, and experimenting with artistic projects for fun; I'm excited about what I'm learning (on my own and at my job); I'm full of ideas and interests and things I want to do, see, learn, experience - NOT how I felt when I was at school. </p>

<p>I'm incredibly relieved to feel curious and interested in learning again, but I'm afraid that I won't feel this way if I return to school. Going back to my previous school would definitely be a bad idea, but I'm worried that any school I go to will make me feel the same. </p>

<p>Given the option of going to a school I'm not happy with or learning on my own, I'd much rather learn on my own. Dropping out (for now) is an appealing option in certain ways - there's plenty of stuff I'm interested in learning or doing on my own. On the other hand, I'm not giving up on college just yet (so please don't lecture me about it). My problem right now is that I have no idea where to apply other than my state school! </p>

<p>Does anyone know of schools that take slightly different approaches to education than your typical school? I'm also interested in schools with good entrepreneurial programs. </p>

<p>I don't care about how well-known the school is. My priority is to be around creative, interesting people who like to think and want to learn (not just get good grades). </p>

<p>Unfortunately, the only schools I know of that seem like they would suit me are very competitive, and I think my college transcript will get in my way at those schools. Brown appeals to me, for example, and it 'feels' like a good fit when I spend time with people there, but I can't realistically consider it an option. Colorado College (which has block scheduling!) sounds like it would be great for me, but it's the only other 'unusual' school I know of (and I have no idea how competitive it is). </p>

<p>Sorry for the long-winded post. Can anyone help me? Please?? I really appreciate it!</p>

2

<p>Oh, there’s plenty! First off, check out Colleges that Change Lives, a book and a website by a former New York Times editor that profiles a bunch of great, unique schools.</p>

<p>Colorado College is a great pick.
Also:</p>

<p>Marlboro
Reed
Bard
Hampshire
College of the Atlantic
Whitman
Sarah Lawrence
New College of Florida
Evergreen State
St. Johns NM/MD (all classics all the time)</p>

<p>(is that Orange_Juice the band?)</p>

3

<p>New College of Florida – this unconventional, extremely liberal college doesn’t assign grades; they instead give detailed evaluations discussing the pros and cons of your work in your courses over the semester. The study body could certainly be considered creative and interesting (and extremely liberal) and you have broad areas of concentration instead of narrow majors, which give you the opportunity to tailor your education for yourself.</p>

<p>Reed College – known for its offbeat student body and its serious yet unconventional approach to education.</p>

<p>Sarah Lawrence – there are very limited general education requirements here, and students take tutorials with professors. A couple of my friends are SLC grads and they had to interview their professors before taking classes with them, stuff like that. A lot of artsy people attend school here, and it’s close to New York for a good escape.</p>

<p>Vassar – another New York area school, Vassar is known for having an artistic/creative, liberal student body. It’s a school with a great reputation as well.</p>

4

<p>Thanks for the suggestions! Most of these are new to me. </p>

<p>(My username is actually in reference to another community, not a band. :slight_smile: )</p>

5

<p>to elaborate on some of elinks suggestions:</p>

<p>Marlboro- Great tiny school that will provide an amazing education with very small classes and a lot of personal attention</p>

<p>Reed- one of the toughest schools to graduate from in the country, the workload at Reed is beyond intense but is a great school for liberal intellectuals</p>

<p>Hampshire- Similar to Marlboro</p>

<p>College of the Atlantic- Tiny college that stresses organic foods and enviroment stuff</p>

<p>New College of Florida- Great Public LAC in Florida, very intellectual, used to be UofFloridas honor college</p>

<p>Evergreen State- Very quirky school in pacific NW with no grades/requirements. You get written evaluations from profs VERY INTELLECTUAL, VERY liberal artsy</p>

<p>St. Johns NM/MD- Two great schools that provide a classics curriculum which focuses on the arts (all students must take art classes), classic literature (Greek and beyond) and philosophy.</p>

<p>And some more suggestions</p>

<p>Grinnell College- The Reed of the Midwest</p>

<p>University of Chicago- Great intellectual environment with quirky unusual students and an amazing education</p>

<p>Deep Springs- Two year college that feeds into Harvard, Yale, Caltech, UChicago, etc. Work for your tuition and spend time with ~30 other male students and 2-4 professors. Great education, very self selecting, very hard to get into (excepted around 10 out of 300-400 applicants last year)</p>

<p>Shimmer College (Illinois)- Great small school similar to St Johns and Deep Springs</p>

6

<p>I’ll second New College of Florida</p>

<p>however many of the schools mentioned here do not have entrepreneurial programs (actually all of the ones i see mentioned here don’t - i think). Here are the rankings for entrepreneurial programs: [Top</a> 50 Entrepreneurial Colleges for 2008 – Entrepreneur.com](<a href=“Top colleges and business schools for entrepreneurs.”>Top colleges and business schools for entrepreneurs.)</p>

7

<p>These are great!!! (I think I’m in love with Reed.)</p>

<p>Thanks so much for all of these suggestions!</p>

<p>ETA: Thanks for the entrepreneurial rankings list - I’ll have a look at those as well!</p>

8

<p>I have to disagree with St. John’s College. Yes, it’s a different style of learning, but there is little to no flexibility in the curriculum–everyone takes the same classes; there are no electives. There is a ton of reading involved, so you may not have the time to read books of your choosing. And I doubt you’d be able to transfer in any credit, if that matters to you. </p>

<p>Deep Springs is all-male, so if you’re female, that’s not going to work. Again, can’t transfer any credits</p>

<p>If you do happen to be female, take a look at Mills College in California. </p>

<p>I do agree that Hampshire, Evergreen State, College of the Atlantic, and Sarah Lawrence may be good matches. You may also want to look into NYU Gallatin, which allows students to design their own curriculum. I believe students can take classes from any school, including their well-regarded Stern business school.</p>