<p>Very interesting–your interests are very uniquely matched! I try not to think of MIT as expressly math/science-oriented, even though it’s a tech school, but given your strong interest in English, I can see why it’s emphatically not for you. ;)</p>
<p>Like you, I ultimately did not apply to Chicago because the Core turned me off. (That, and I didn’t like their rec requirements. :p)</p>
<p>Since your interests are so diverse, I would really recommend you find schools that have broad strength in all these areas. Why? Because your interests can, and probably will, change. In fact, many colleges’ implicit goal is to get you to change your plans and follow newly found interests. Who knows? You might end up disliking your college-level English classes and becoming a total CS nerd. ;)</p>
<p>I am a student at Stanford, taking courses in all the subjects you’re interested in, oddly enough. (I’m glad my plug for Stanford earlier was subtle enough you had to ask! haha)</p>
<p>Out of curiosity, what other colleges do you think you will apply to?</p>
<p>With Brown, Bryn Mawr, Haverford, and Grinnell as possibilities (I may add one more to make 12). Not all of my choices offer linguistics, though. For example, Vassar is really only exceptional in English, but I really liked it on my visit and could see myself there.</p>
<p>Williams is strong in English, CS, and creative writing (among others, Jim Shepherd teaches there – he is very highly-regarded, and was recently one of a few finalists for a position at the Iowa writing workshop).</p>
<p>I know nothing about linguistics, but there must be some opportunites there as well, as these two students managed to fashion a linguistics major:</p>
<p>Here are my thoughts on Haverford with regard to the two concerns you raised.</p>
<p>o On distribution requirements,there’s a lot of flexibility within them. My understanding is that entire curriculum is divided into three fields: (1) social sciences, (2) mathematics and natural sciences, and (3) humanities. You have to take at least three classes in each of the three areas. But you get to choose the classes (any and all that HC, BMC, and Swat offer count). So, when you look at it that way there’s a lot of wiggle room within those parameters. For instance, if you’re a social science person taking three classes total in the math/natural sciences isn’t so bad (calculus and statistics would actually help you as a social sciencetist and then you take a science class to learn about that part of the study). They really make you well-rounded. </p>
<p>o I think HC is a great place for students of color. Diverse Issues in Higher Education always ranks HC high (if not the highest) in having the greatest percentage of faculty of color of any of the Top 20 LAC. HC students (true to the College’s Quaker values) students talk about race and actually engage with the issue, in a serious way, but I actually think the climate is better (and more honest) than most other schools. They’ve produced lots of prominent minority alumni of color, which is always a good sign.</p>
<p>Obviously, you need to make up your own mind and talk to others, but I wouldn’t be too quick to let it go. Good luck!</p>
<p>pointoforder, thank you for your thoughts! You have indeed put Haverford back into the running, so to speak. (You wouldn’t happen to know the % of students participating in some sort of athletics, would you? Or, put in a different way, would I stick out as someone who is totally unathletic and doesn’t enjoy watching traditional sports?)</p>
<p>I happen to know the answer… 40% play a sport… which means that 60% do not. But, you definitely don’t need to worry about that; it’s not at all a jocky culture. In fact, there’s no football team at Haverford. Studets athletes are of the “well-rounded” type, and also the size of the school means that all types of people mix with one another.</p>
<p>But I’m at a prof. at a major research univ. and I have did my grad study at an Ivy, so I think I have a good perpective. There are lots of great LACs and other schools.</p>
<p>Given your comments thus far, it would seem to be an excellent fit. Subdued sports culture, coed, 2000 students, and very strong programs in all your interests.</p>
<p>i do think you should cosnider Barnard. Yes, its a women’s college but it Columbia is across the street so there will be plenty of guys around. you can also take classes at Columbia which is nice, because it has very strong creative writing and CS programs.</p>
<p>English is our largest department, with the most faculty members and declared majors. I haven’t taken any classes in the department, since it’s not my interest, but it’s extremely strong, with a wide variety of courses offered each semester (you may have as many as 30 English courses to choose from each semester). </p>
<p>Computer Science is one of the smaller departments, but has a hardcore contingent of students. I attended an Honors presentation shortly before the end of last semester, and was very impressed. Beyond the courses intended for majors, there are usually several designed for people simply with an interest in computer science–including a interdisciplinary seminar each spring on “Mind and Machine,” which involves contributions to our understanding of the mind from artificial intelligence, neural networks, cognitive psychology, philosophy of mind, linguistics, and neuroscience.</p>
<p>Creative Writing is one of our best departments. The only downside is that so many students want to be in it that each course is open by application only–meaning that while anyone can take the courses, you have to be good enough to get into them, even if you’re a major. If you have a strong portfolio, that’s a plus. There are introductory courses that you can take in your first year to let you consider the program. Notably, Ishmael Beah’s book “A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier,” was produced as a result of Oberlin’s Creative Writing program.</p>
<p>Smith College is definitely worth considering. Smith has an open curriculum, and is known for academic excellence, terrific advising and mentoring, and available, committed professors. [Smith</a> College](<a href=“http://www.smith.edu/]Smith”>http://www.smith.edu/)</p>
<p>In addition, Smith is part of a 5-college consortium (with Amherst, Hampshire, Mt. Holyoke and Univ Mass). You can take classes at any, and there is a free shuttle bus to get to classes at the other campuses.</p>
<p>^ I’ve generally ruled out women’s colleges, with Bryn Mawr hovering on the edge because of its track record in humanities PhDs. But thank you anyway!</p>
<p>About Donna Jo Napoli - that’s really interesting, I remember reading her Daughter of Venice book when I was younger!</p>
<p>I took am interested in all the subjects you mentioned, and I plan to major in linguistics and minor/get certified in education, and two colleges that are at the top of my list are Swarthmore and Wellesley. Swat’s virtues have already been extolled, but I recommend looking at Wellesley also if you change your mind about women’s colleges. I agree with the Bryn Mawr recommendation as well.</p>
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