<p>Hey guys, I'm still a sophomore but I'm looking at colleges. I've posted about this before, but I have a few different questions and am looking for recommendations.</p>
<p>My current career plan is to become an urban planner of some sort (either transportation or environmental) but that could change as I'm only 16. I know I want to go to a liberal arts college because I want a school with small classes and professor-student interaction. Since I'll be going to graduate school most likely, reputation isn't of the utmost importance. Schools with merit aid are ideal.</p>
<p>Now, to become an urban planner, one can major in lots of things but the best ones are Urban Studies and Geography. Environmental Studies is great too. I'm interested in a school with an enrollment between 1k and 3k students. I live in the Midwest, so another region would be a nice change. Preferably no religious affiliation, relatively liberal and accepting. Doesn't have to urban, rural/suburban works fine.</p>
<p>Some colleges I already like are Occidental, Colorado College, and Whitman. Those are probably my top three as of now. Other schools I'm interested in are Grinnell, Macalester, Eckerd (maybe as a safety?), Pitzer, and Rhodes (too conservative?).</p>
<p>My stats are good, top 8%, 3.7 UW, high weighted, excellent ECs, all that good stuff. </p>
<p>I think Whitman is an excellent choice, I’m biased because my son goes there. He too was very interested in Environmental Studies and impressed with Whitman’s program. He wanted a rigorous academic environment without the overt competition of some of the other schools that accepted him. Rigorous but laid back at the same time. He received a really nice chunk of merit aid.</p>
<p>He’s decided against Environmental Studies, not because of the program but because he’s gotten very interested in the interdisciplinary major of Geology/Physics. He too was aware that he would be headed for graduate school. He’s now very excited about his major leading to civil or environmental engineering.</p>
<p>Walla Walla is a great small town with everything you need a short walk from campus. If you like the outdoors the Outdoor Program is top notch and you can go rock climbing, skiing, kayaking, hiking, etc.,etc… If not, there are many things to do on campus that stimulate the mind or exercise the body. The student body is gregarious and involved. </p>
<p>For urban studies, there might be advantages to a LAC in a more urban setting such as Occidental, Colorado College, or Macalester. Bryn Mawr College has an interesting “Growth and Structure of Cities” department. BMC is for women only, but students at neighboring Haverford College can share classes. The Colorado College “block plan” creates a lot of flexibility for field work or study abroad. </p>
<p>Whitman’s “Semester in the West” would be a great experience in the context of an Environmental Studies/Science major. Middlebury has a very strong Environmental Studies program, too. This year they are participating in the Department of Energy’s “Solar Decathlon” competition to design super energy-efficient houses.</p>
<p>Bowdoin College would be an amazing choice. Right along the Atlantic Ocean and in the state of Maine. It has a Coastal Studies Center, its own islands for research, and hundreds of acres for its environmental studies program.</p>
<p>Pomona also has a ton of great environmental resources, but it’s a reach. I’d consider adding a few reaches to your list because you have a shot if your EC’s are good.</p>
<p>I heard that East Coast LACs don’t really offer much merit aid. We’re in good financial standing, but I’m gonna need money. Aren’t Bowdoin and Middlebury also preppy?</p>
<p>Doesn’t Pitzer have access to Pomona’s resources?</p>
<p>Most of the more selective ones do not offer merit aid at all. The one exception I can think of is Davidson College. Most of the midwestern LACs (except for Carleton) do offer merit aid, typically averaging about $10K/year. To qualify, you’d want your scores and GPA to be in the top 25% or so for enrolled students. You can find details about merit aid in section H of each school’s Common Data Set (Google and download) and about score/grade distributions in section C. </p>
<p>Clark was an excellent suggestion and the school I immediately thought of.</p>
<p>Wooster (Ohio) has a decent environmental studies program as well as an urban studies major; it’s usually quite good with merit aid. Rhodes (Memphis) and New College of Florida likewise have both.</p>
<p>Yes, Bowdoin and Middlebury are preppy. There are non-prep kids there too, but if you are picking a LAC, you should check out how comfortable you are with the dominant culture.</p>
<p>Note that there is a big difference between environmental studies and urban planning: You may want to look more deeply the classes that are being offered to make sure you are getting what you want.</p>