Hunting a brilliant small college

College Search & Selection
41

<p>ColdWind, the suggestion of Smith College is not a cruel joke, and it’s hard to imagine that any parent would post as such. I agree with Consolation that it is an overstatement to equate Smith and Bob Jones University. IMHO, any college’s culture and values aren’t black and white, there are many shades of gray.</p>

<p>Smith was recommended with all good intention, because it is a wonderful supportive community of bright, impressive women. Students tend to support one another rather than compete, and to be open-minded and respectful of each other’s beliefs, even when those beliefs are different from their own.</p>

<p>Also, a recent survey found that Smith's gay population is about the size (11%) as that in the general population, and a far smaller proportion than those identifying as gay males at many coed schools. The idea that Smith is a gay school is incorrect. The majority of students are straight.</p>

<p>Given that we now know that OP is a staunch conservative, Smith may not be the place for her. However, she would find at Smith a supportive community of brilliant, thoughtful women who value diverse viewpoints, and even a strong student Republican Club that was named the Outstanding Republican Chapter of the Year in 2006. Smith</a> College: News </p>

<p>As one student (a recent Republican Club president) stated:
[quote]
” “I’ve been openly Republican from the beginning,” says Braner. “From my first year, the climate on campus has changed, for the better for us. I think when you’re talking politics, no matter what side you’re on, there’s always going to be some sort of tension. I absolutely love Smith, and I wouldn’t have gone anywhere else.”

[/quote]
.</p>

42

<p><em>sigh</em>
This is what happens when I go to bed six hours ahead of everyone? I get up first thing the next morning to find you guys have been bickering? Goodness. This isn't good for my blood pressure, CCers, I'm only twenty. </p>

<p>flvadad, you asked what I am looking for most in a college? I'm most interested in the learning aspect: I want to be SMARTER when I graduate college, a more BALANCED person, and equipped with some SKILLS and PRACTICAL KNOWLEDGE to help in my chosen career. So I'm looking for a college with an atmosphere conducive to serious learning, studying, and interacting with people who have a good work ethic. I'd like my undergrad degree to develop me enough that I can further my education in grad school etc. if I so choose. I hope this answers your question.</p>

<p>~G</p>

43

<p>We are not "bickering," we are discussing. We have differing opinions and experiences, and different points of view. In college classes, you will find that people are expected to be able to hold differing points of view--and different in very core ways--and discuss topics in a rational manner. There is usually no one "correct" point of view. (Except maybe in math class. :) )</p>

44

<p>Consolation makes a good point but another thing that occurs to me after reading the OP's most recent post is that if she is now twenty she is going to be quite old next fall to be entering an American college. Experientially she may be young, and I am not quite clear on what the exact educational sequence has been in her case. But the reality is that chronologically she will be the age of most seniors. I wonder if this might mean that socially it would be more appealing to be at a larger school with the opportunity to meet a wider range of students.</p>

45

<p>Yes, I do see this as an issue for me. I know that when I get to school I might end up being dorm mommy (see what I mean? Oh dear!) and I'll relate much more to the seniors. To be specific, I'm twenty in December. Having lived overseas for the past 6 years, I feel like I've been this age for that long; local girls here mature more slowly, so when I moved here at 14 I was seen as 20 or 21. But I think it's rather vogue-ish to take a gap year again. And for me, twenty doesn't really seem old... But I may change my mind when I get back Stateside! A benefit of being this age is that I can have mature relations with professors and faculty instead of just being so much freshman dummy who needs a babysitter, as I would've been a few years ago. But even so, I think since part of me is TCK - Third Culture Kid - AND homeschooled! - I would have had to contend with being different from most students anywhere, in any school. Yeah mattmom I have been over this in my mind... and decided it's no good worrying. All I can do is just try - and stay true to myself! But thanks for bringing it up.</p>

<p>~Grace</p>

46

<p>Post #41: If you want to believe that Smith College has only 11% lesbian students, then I suppose you also believe that the earth is flat. Seriously, have you been to Smith recently, have you read the posters on CC who left Smith at least temporarily due to the overwhelming lesbian culture. Maybe only 11% of a small portion of polled students admitted to being lesbian and a majority either didn't answer, are bisexual, weren't polled, consider themselves just curious, etc. But trying to convince readers that Smith College is only 11% lesbian is like saying the Pope isn't Catholic. P.S. I meant no offense to Bob Jones Univ. or to Smith College--I just don't see the rationale for hiding the realities of either or any school.</p>

47

<p>With respect to Smith's College Republicans, that is impressive especially considering that Smith is in a very liberal part of the nation's most liberal state. I have nothing against Smith or the leanings of its students, but it is what it is & that isn't 11% lesbian.</p>

48

<p>"Also, Washington & Lee started a major full-ride scholarship program last year. It was all-male not so long ago, so they may still place a priority of highly-qualified female applicants." Washington & Lee went co-ed in 1985, over 23 years ago and only two years after Columbia went co-ed. They'd no more place priority on female applicants than Columbia or any of the Ivies would, as the early 80s were a time when many selective instititutions were going co-ed.</p>

<p>Furman and Wofford I was thinking of as well, and the University of Richmond is also a good suggestion. Also, Agnes Scott College is in Decatur, GA. Beautiful campus, driven, friendly, and ambitious students, and Decatur is a funky little town right outside Atlanta. It's not quite conservative, but not really liberal either, and they do have a business-type major: economics and organizational management, a good liberal arts major with business training.</p>

<p>You would definitely be eligible for some really good merit aid with your scores and grades, and ASC is known for really good financial aid either way. Their food is really good and the dorm rooms are HUGE! The campus is beautiful, and there are a lot of fun student groups there. It's small, too, with well under 2,000 students.</p>

<p>Also, the lesbian culture at Smith is often exaggerated. It is completely believable that the school is only 11% lesbian, because lesbians are definitely in the minority at the school (and everywhere). There are a lot of strong, feminist Smith women who are NOT lesbians. In addition to that, although the culture at Smith is definitely liberal, lesbian does not equal liberal. There are a lot of conservative lesbians out there, too.</p>

49

<p>As a brief follow-up on Post #41 & on my Post #47, the College Republicans have endured some very difficult times & ugly occurrences at Smith College, so any leaders on campus for this group deserve acclaim. For example, in October of 2006 a flier for the Smith Republican Club was defaced with a swastika. At other times American flags were ripped off of dormitory doors & shredded, according to the April 2004 issue of FrontPage magazine & reprinted in the 2008-2009 ISI Guide Choosing the Right College. Most college guides note the ultra liberalism present on the campus of Smith College & also note the strong prescence of lesbian groups on campus.
"The gay community is one of the most vocal and present groups on campus. Some students, however, complain that Smith is too focused on the gay community." The Big Book of Colleges '08</p>

<p>The lesbian community at Smith College is not a secret. Smith is an unusually liberal & gay friendly campus, that has many documented instances of exhibiting intolerance toward conservatives. It is encouraging to see the existence of & survival of a College Republicans group on campus. For the right type of student, Smith College is an excellent match just as Bob Jones University is an excellent match for certain students--neither of whom would be considered mainstream. Nothing wrong with that; no need to put lipstick on this pitbull.</p>

50

<p>"But the reality is that chronologically she will be the age of most seniors. I wonder if this might mean that socially it would be more appealing to be at a larger school with the opportunity to meet a wider range of students."</p>

<p>My daughter is a 20 year old freshman at a large state school (and has lived away from home since the age of 14). Although she sometimes hangs out with older girls in her major program, she finds that on weekends their social life is pretty set, and she still ends up with other freshmen, many of whom are not particularly mature. She's hoping to pledge a sorority where she might have the opportunity to mingle with girls from older pledge classes (at least until they graduate)....</p>

<p>I would suggest a school that might have a higher percentage of students who attended boarding school - they may not be more mature but they have lived away from home for awhile.</p>

51

<p>The survey of Smith students encompassed more than 50% of the student population, for what that's worth. I would note that the percentage of lesbian students at Smith is well less than half that of gay males at Yale. </p>

<p>Frankly, I am glad there is a safe place where lesbian, gay, straight, bisexual, and transgender students can live and work together.</p>

<p>"W has always had female presidents, for example, while Smith got their first one in the 1970s;"</p>

<p>Smith has had a female board of trustees for a hundred years; Wellesley's remained predominantly male into the 1980s. I'm not sure you can establish much from either factoid.</p>

<p>But no, neither school is Washington and Lee (which is quite a radical place when it comes to alcohol.) If one was looking for a "conservative" place, I would cross Smith and Wellesley (and most of the Ivies) off one's list.</p>

52

<p>Not interested in publics? There will be a wider variety of students of different ages at public schools. In the Southeast, how about a small public like Appalachian State, about 14,000 undergrads
Walker</a> College of Business
or UNC Greensboro, about the same size
Academics/Majors:</a> Bryan School of Business and Economics</p>

<p>These are both on the Kiplinger "best values" list for high quality (a bit of the brilliance you are looking for) and low cost. </p>

<p>I think you may find more kindred spirits at a slightly larger school.</p>

53

<p>Davidson all the way! great liberal arts, small college.</p>

54

<p>Not Davidson because she is not particularly strong in math and at Davidson she would have to be an Econ major; Davidson is a true liberal arts college and does not have a business school or offer a business major. </p>

<p>She has not gone far in H.S. level math. The Econ major at Davidson requires calculus and she has not had pre-calc. Having to take advanced econ classes would make undergrad life more difficult for her and could result in a lower GPA for her, and she wants to keep her GPA up for grad school possibilities.</p>

<p>It is hard to find "academically rigorous" "small liberal arts college" "business major" and "southeast" in one package. (Business is not one of the liberal arts.) </p>

<p>Emory & Henry meets the "small liberal arts college" with a "business major" and the location in Emory, Virginia, is probably okay, but this school probably wouldn't be described as a "brilliant" small college.</p>

55

<p>The University of Richmond is a LAC (#33 in USNWR this year) and is also home to the Robins School of Business (#20 undergraduate business school in BusinessWeek this year). It is the only place that combines these two things in the same institution at this level of quality. Business graduates from Richmond are highly sought after by employers because they have a very strong liberal arts foundation plus a very high quality business degree.</p>

56

<p>The University of Richmond is indeed a fine school and a respected Business School. However, I would challenge the assertion it is the only place that combines a liberal arts education and a business degree "at this level of quality." There are schools that are ranked in the National University section, which are really more LAC's but for research going on and which have outstanding Business Colleges. It is true that many LAC's such as Furman and Davidson have either non existent business programs or they are not the strength of the school. </p>

<p>I suppose it depends on how you slice the apple pie. UR is deserving of applause, but its not the only game in town for those looking for a smaller student body, liberal arts core and a strong business program. Also in Virginia, I believe Washington and Lee's School of Commerce is highly regarded.</p>

<p>My D attends Fordham University (Bronx main campus at Rose Hill). Its around 5,000 undergraduates and is really a classic Liberal Arts School, but with major research and doctoral programs as well, its placed in the National University rankings by USNWR. Just the same, its College of Business Administration, located on the Fordham College-Rose Hill campus, is an exceptional school with amazing opportunities, including a London House. All Fordham students must complete a RIGOROUS core requirement which can take up to two years to complete and includes English, History, Theology, Science, Math, Philosophy etc. Thus they come out well rounded and "schooled" in a broad perspective, whether they are finance majors or fine arts majors.</p>

<p>One of the most wonderful things about the United States is the plethora of choices in education, both public and private. In Canada, for example, there are not many choices and almost all of them involve HUGE campuses with a HUGE student body and no real LAC opportunities.</p>

<p>Its imperative that every prospective college student apply to a number of colleges and to visit as many as they can before making a final selection. There are distinctions between all colleges, large and small, and the more information a student has going in, the better likelihood they will make the right choice or "fit" for either him or her.</p>

<p>Some schools have a "culture" that is pervasive on campus and it would behoove all applicants to know that going in, so they can either "deal with it" or move to another location. That culture can be either an attraction for a particular student or it can be a huge distraction.</p>

<p>Good luck.</p>

57

<p>You might want to add Christendom College to your list.It's small,serious,in Virginia,very safe and conservative.I don't believe it offers a business or econ degree,but you can get an excellent liberal arts education and pick up an MBA someplace else.
To put Sweet Briar in the same sentence with W&L and Davidson is a real stretch.I know Sweet Briar is the sister school of outstanding Hampden-Sydney College.
You could easily visit all these schools on a Southern trip.Good lucl!</p>

58

<p>You might want to add Christendom College to your list.It's small,serious,in Virginia,very safe and conservative.I don't believe it offers a business or econ degree,but you can get an excellent liberal arts education and pick up an MBA someplace else.
To put Sweet Briar in the same sentence with W&L and Davidson is a real stretch.I know Sweet Briar is the sister school of outstanding Hampden-Sydney College.
You could easily visit all these schools on a Southern trip.Good luck!</p>

59

<p>Not in the South, but the two LACs known for business are in the Boston area: Bentley and Babson.</p>

60

<p>elon maybe? if youre not completely limited to the southeast us, i'd check out the claremont colleges, notably pomona.</p>