<p>Hi. Please help me.
I am a high school junior. My guidance counselor and college counselor are really pushing me to get my college list together, but I don't even know where to start. I live in Mississippi. Neither of my state schools are particularly appealing. MS State is not strong in the areas of study I am interested in--English, Int'l relations, journalism. Ole Miss is way too preppy. I do not want to end up with a bunch of kids who are just going to college because their parents are making them or to party. I want a place where (gee this sounds corny) people are actually passionate about learning. But I also love sports and competition and want to go somewhere where I can.. er, bask in the knowledge and be in the real world. I am going to college to get the best education I can so that I can do something really useful with myself when I get out. I want to go out of state (distance is fine w/ my parents) but I just don't know how to find a school with the right atmosphere. I am a conservative Christian. Assuming I can get in/afford it (which is the next hurdle) I am open to any college, but I don't want to be ridiculed for my beliefs or morals.</p>
<p>Also, say I end up "way up north." I have friends coming home for Christmas from Brown saying they lost count of how many people asked them if we actually wear shoes down here and whether we are racists. I don't want to have to deal with people like that. All my life I have been the serious kid who likes to read and doesn't care about gossiping 24/7...please tell me there are universities out there where I am not considered a nerd. And how do I find them?!</p>
<p>GEORGETOWN is excellent in the areas you named. and it's in a great place if you want to know the real world, and if you don't want super-super-liberal...Good luck.</p>
<p>I would also suggest buying a college guide. My grandparents are quite conservative and they sent me the ISI guide Choosing the Right College. It's written from a more conservative and religious base than other guides. It looks at student and academic life from that perspective. It might be of interest to you. I own a copy and found it quite interesting. </p>
<p>Unless you try to impose your beliefs and morals on others, I don't think that you will be ridiculed for them.. It's sad that there are students that are SO ignorant at Brown, but most people aren't like that. If you're afraid about the schools "way up north", you should check out some schools in other regions...duke is good for polisci, is in a city, is in the south (durham, nc), and has excellent sports teams. georgetown, as mentioned, is excellent for international relations...</p>
<p>there are definitely schools out there where you won't be considered a nerd. and in my opinion, being a "nerd" isn't a bad thing. but no1 can really give you a complete list...except, cliche as this is, yourself. use guidebooks (i recommend students' guide to colleges, i LOVE it), get viewbooks/prospectuses from unis, look at websites, etc.</p>
<p>you sound a lot like me, except for the political/religious leanings. pm me if you want :) and good luck!</p>
<p>Thank ya'll so much!
Just to clarify: I won't be imposing my beliefs on anyone, just want to be able to find people that share them if I get lonely. People who intelligently question my politics and faith are fine with me; its the ones who stereotype me because of it that I want to avoid. And its not that I am afraid of the north, but it will be a bit scary to possibly move across the country (in less than two years!) and have to adjust to a whole different region... Also, don't misunderstand...I am proud of my nerd status! lol. Just looking to go somewhere where other people are proud of that too.
Psychicspiesfromchina: If I could figure out how to pm...gah.
thanks again!</p>
<p>Face it: you will find folks that may be ignorant or ridicule you wherever you go. Thus, go to the best quality school that you can get into, and forget about those ignorant folks. In fact, both educate and make fun of folks that do say the things to you that you noted. For example, if someone says, "do they actually wear shoes down where you are, " you could respond," actually this is my first pair of shoes in 10 years." " We just love going barefoot and naked especially in 30-40 degree weather." They just need to be educated about what goes on in southern states.</p>
<p>When I was in the army and asked whether I was descended from the devil or where were my horns, being Jewish,( Yes, I was asked that), I told folks, "I clip my horns every day." </p>
<p>Just exaggerate with your answer to make them realize how ignorant their beliefs are.</p>
<p>What about Davidson in NC? The atmosphere there seems to be pretty open and friendly, though the school is very rigorous and well-regarded nationwide. There's also a large Christian population and sports emphasis, so that may appeal to you.</p>
<p>Hi! I am a native Mississippian myself. I now live in Alabama, but spent the first 26 years of my life in Mississippi. I also went to MSU and had a great experience there. Have you talked to those in the International relations, etc. schools at State? I had a friend in International Business who ended up with a great job with Citigroup right out of college. There are many co-op opportunities which is what she took advantage of. If you haven't looked into it, I urge you to contact State and just talk with those there.</p>
<p>However, if State isn't for you, then I have a few recommendations. Have you looked at any of the LAC in the area such as Millsaps, Birmingham-Southern, or Rhodes in Memphis. Rhodes was on my final three list when I was going to school. Emory, Rice, and Vanderbilt are not that terribly far away either if you are looking for the university setting. Samford University in Birmingham might be worth a look too. It's a great school with a Baptist affiliation. I have many friends in Alabama who attended for either undergrad or law school.</p>
<p>Another Alabama person, and I agree with Davidson, and Teach's suggestions. Some of those are really preppy, but all have a good proportion of serious students - particularly Davidson.
My daughter sounds a little like you, and she is very happy at Dartmouth. No one has asked her about her shoes, but she's had a few other awkward questions, and has been dubbed "the belle".</p>
<p>I'm having a little difficulty understanding how far away you want to go - give us a mileage range?</p>
<p>Thanks to you all!
Well...I honestly don't have a preference about it. I don't have a problem with any distance being too far as long as I will be comfortable there. Part of me wants to get away, but realistically I am going to look closer at colleges in the southern half of the US, if only for convenience's sake. For a college that really fits I don't care where it is. </p>
<p>Teach2005: I have not spoken with anyone at MSU yet, though I do plan to do so. Both of my parents as well as practically my entire extended family went there and loved it. I definitely bleed maroon and white, but when it comes to actually going there I am worried about it just becoming a repeat of high school..aka I am the smart nerd who likes school way too much and doesn't care about partying...etc. I want to go somewhere where I will be REALLY challenged and where a majority of my fellow students will also enjoy being challenged.</p>
<p>And cangel...Which of them are preppy? We're talking about hopping off the tractor here and heading off to college in the pickup...I can pull sophistication off but no way am I wearing a cocktail dress to a football game (ahem..Ole Miss). Preppy is not my thing!</p>
<p>They are all somewhat preppy in that they have a goodly number of Southern private school grads - think huntin' camps and cocktail parties. However, and this is why my DD looked at these schools, the kids whose parents put education first are the ones who self-select these schools - again especially Davidson, not many people there who are making contacts before going home to Daddy's car dealership, or dry cleaner chain or to run for office. These kids may be going back home, but it is to the med school or law practice.</p>
<p>How DO you feel about dressing up and sororities, etc? One thing about big state Greek schools, there is an org for everyone. Some of the smaller schools may or may not do that as well. My DD began by being adamantly against Greeks, and gradually changed her focus. Rhodes is about 50-50, but non-Greeks can feel as if they are a part of campus life, but Greek is BIG. Davidson has frats, but the women join eating clubs, which do not have rush - you visit, list 3 clubs, and a computer sorts you out - I can't remember if the clubs even get to submit a list. B'ham-Southern is about 70% Greek, but still trains a lot of Methodist ministers. Samford is very Sou-Baptist, but a great school in a super location.</p>
<p>I wouldn't go to any school in or close to DC like Georgetown, GW, etc. The students, on average, may be moderate but the townspeople are liberal. I think about 90% voted for Kerry in 2004.</p>
<p>While the town many be liberal, the people in general are pretty accepting of other views - its not like we have never seen a Republican before ;). Plus, it's very cosmopolitan...meaning there will certainly be a niche for you.</p>
<p>But yes, something like 90% of DC residents did vote for Kerry in 2004.</p>
<p>Ok. As to sororities...I do not think that will be my thing, but friends are adament that I will eventually change my mind. I actually go to a very preppy, small private school...and that is why I don't like it. However, I have been fortunate enough to belong to a great basketball team that forms its own sort of 'family'. I have to say it is a relatively sheltered world...as in no one is ever EVER remotely impolite or obnoxious...if sororities translate to backstabbing and competition, that would disgust me.
Where I live, voting for Kerry is an anomaly. But I guess as long as they are accepting of my leanings, I'm fine with whatever they believe.</p>