<p>I want to go to a school where people teach with passion, learn because they love learning, and are kinda geeky in an awesome way? Like, people aren't the stick-in-the-mud, pre-professional type, but the type who isn't afraid to be weird, be different, or take risks. </p>
<p>A school that values creativity and interdisciplinary learning. Preferably one with a good engineering program and open access to fabrication labs, but at the same time where I can explore my many interests in other things: (in order of importance) industrial design, art, (mostly social) entrepreneurship, nuclear physics, animation, environmental studies, social sciences.</p>
<p>I also really want to start lots of projects and change the world (!)</p>
<p>The occasional wild parties, an existent dating scene, and not-so-strict rules/administration would be nice. Also, decent residential living, food, and not-too-cold weather (although I guess I could acclimatize). Oh, and low crime please! I'd rather not get gunned down freshman year...</p>
<p>I'm an international female Chinese student, if that is important.</p>
<p>Oh, and the schools I’m thinking of are: Stanford, Olin, Carnegie-Mellon, Brown, Rice, maybe Worcester Poly, Swarthmore, RIT, Clarkson University?</p>
<p>I was considering Georgia Tech, but people (my seniors, my counselor…) have this strange aversion to GATech? The people there are overly focused on just getting a degree, or are very un-fun, or something? If you could clear this up, I would be grateful! And if you have anything to say about any of the above schools and whether you think they would be a good fit (or if you have any tips… hehe), please please feel free to blabber on! I’d appreciate any comments.</p>
<p>I love Reed’s feel (much like Oberlin) - that deeply intellectual, yet off-beat, friendly kind of atmosphere! It’s just the lack of an engineering program :(</p>
<p>Harvey Mudd sounds so awesome, and my seniors love it there, but I’ll only apply if I get a scholarship since it’s so expensive!</p>
<p>barrk123: Rice has some really cool clubs, but it feels kinda of… preppy/more strait-laced? Not that I’ve had the chance to visit, so it’s not like I’m in any position to say anything. What is your experience like at Rice?</p>
<p>I read somewhere once that while GA Tech ranked as one of the highest for most stressed students, they also ranked very highly in the student happiness category. I can’t actually remember what rankings those were though, so take that with a grain of salt.</p>
<p>Most highly regarded liberal arts colleges roughly fit your criteria, although many of them are in colder climates. You may want to add more of them to your list. You’ll find that at small residential colleges the weather can be less of a factor than at larger schools because of compact campus sizes. </p>
<p>Most of the schools you name seem like good options, but I question how Clarkson showed up on your list. You are wise to look at some schools with less selective admissions for internationals, but that one would not have come to mind for me. I also agree with your counselor that Georgia Tech may not fit your personality and goals as well as the others you mention.</p>
<p>The school that came to mind is Macalester in St. Paul, MN. It will be cold but I think it would be worth considering. They have a 3-2 engineering program with both U - Minnesota and Washington University. Definitely meets the intellectual, passionate, and quirky criteria!</p>
<p>Georgia Tech has plenty of parties. Many of them get wild precisely because the students there are so stressed. As a female student, you’ll have no trouble dating or getting invited to parties.</p>
<p>You may also want to look into UCLA, UC Berkeley (great nuclear physics), CMU, and North Carolina State.</p>
<p>Except that most do not offer engineering… not a minor detail, as that is the OP’s proposed major. The thing about 3/2 programs is that lots of students come in thinking they will take advantage of them, but then don’t want to leave their schools for that fourth year. Some students do, of course, but I think a high percentage of students who expect to take advantage of them don’t.</p>
<p>Aamiller321: I’ve learnt not to trust rankings much!</p>
<p>niceday: You brought up some good points; thank you.</p>
<p>sportsmom2016: I’ve heard some wonderful things about Macalester! But it kind of dropped off my radar for some reason… thanks for putting it back on But is it true that most people end up dropping out of 3-2 programs? They change their minds, or the transition is too abrupt… </p>
<p>For someone who’s interested in but not 100% sure about engineering, is it better to go to a school with an engineering programme I can take courses from without committing to a major in the beginning (schools like Stanford, MIT… hmm what else? I guess Rice is pretty flexible too even though freshmen must declare a specific school), or an LAC with a 3-2 engineering programme?</p>
<p>In high school I worked for two UCI engineering professors doing bookkeeping and entering in financial records. There were a few undergrads on the payroll, and they assisted in research. Additionally, many of my hs classmates who are studying STEM fields at a UC have participated in UG research in some capacity at their various UCs so the idea that just because the schools are big, UG will not do research is completely false. In fact the UCs are research powerhouses and get far more funding than most other universities meaning more opportunities for undergraduates to assist professors.</p>
But is it true that most people end up dropping out of 3-2 programs? 
They change their minds, or the transition is too abrupt… </p>