<p>I will be going to college in two years and I have narrowed down my choices to two different institutions: 1. A fairly large university in the center of a pretty big city. To study medecine or experimental psycology. 2. A small liberal arts college in the middle of nowhere, to would study either english litterature, history or sciences. I have visited both, but didn't care for either environement. I felt crowded in the city (but the campus was beautiful) and I'm afraid that by going to a large university I will miss out on the whole college experience . the liberal arts college was in a small university town and the residences were lovely victorian houses. I liked the trees and the rolling hills but there are about ten shops (most didn't sell anything usefull for students) and far from an airport. And since I'm not from the country, I felt a bit like I was stranded. Also, there weren't many different ethnics groups compared to the larger university. I don't like feeling left out either and I'm afraid that if I go to the liberal arts college greek life will be a big deal. Any idea what I should choose?</p>
<p>Well, you’re looking at the extremes. Try something in between. Maybe a suburban, mid sized school.</p>
<p>Sounds like those are just giving you a taste of what you really want. Randum may be right, look at suburbs. And you don’t study medicine in undergrad.</p>
<p>Big schools!!! Just kidding… none of us on CC can tell you what you want, you have to decide that for yourself. I also had a similair situation, where I was thinking about one small LAC in a BEAUTIFUL location, but it was rather isolated. It was on a mountain in North Georgia, and although it was very close to Chattanooga (an awesome city), it still felt qutie isolated. And even in the one night I spent there on a visit, I found that I was seeing the same people every day already, which was something I didn’t really like. Because of that visit I decided that I did not want a small colege experience, although it does have its advantages… it just wasn’t for me. So instead I picked the U of Minnesota, which is a major research university with a huge campus in the heart of a very large city. For whatever reason, I loved that feeling of being on campus. So just explore your options, and like others have mentioned, don’t just look at the extremes… look at some medium sized schools in a “college town,” or some other variation. Good luck!</p>
<p>There are a few of us that are the opposite of what you’ve looked at so far - small liberal arts college in the middle of a large urban area. Don’t know if that would work better for you or not. Erin’s Dad and Randum Persun may have the best answer, which is to look somewhere in the middle.</p>
<p>As to feeling left out, I wouldn’t worry too much about it. Rhodes is about half greek and half independent, but because the greek houses aren’t residential and the parties are mostly open, the independents seem to get along quite happily. I imagine you can find similar scenes at other LACs.</p>
<p>It sounds like you want to go to school in the city a bit more, but there’s nothing wrong with trying out something new by going to an LAC in the middle of nowhere!</p>
<p>Many LACs are out in the sticks or in suburbs. One exception is Macalester College in St. Paul, MN. The Twin Cities have a lot to offer if you can handle the winter. </p>
<p>Another option would be a LAC that belongs to a consortium. Check out the small colleges centered around Amherst, Mass., the Philadelphia-area Quaker colleges (Haverford, Swarthmore, Bryn Mawr), or the Claremont Colleges.</p>
<p>If you still have two years before you go to college, why have you already narrowed your search so much? As others have said, there are PLENTY of other options that might be a good medium – if you don’t like the environment of either of the schools you’re looking at, find a different environment!</p>