<p>What LACs do you all think have a strong basis of community. I'm talking like overall friendliness-non-cut throat-good school spirit, traditions (but not necessarily all sports traditions), professors want you to succeed (but do not "baby" you), admin that listens to student concern/takes them into consideration/does something productive with that information--those kinda schools.</p>
<p>Since I'm from MN, I've heard many talk about Carleton in regards to the above description. Tough academics, and those Carls have some crazy, funny, and straight up wierd traditions. I don't want to make this a "that's Carleton right on the money" or "yeah right, Carleton couldn't be far from it". Just say the school and some additional info on the overall atmosphere and community and maybe some funky traditions--and if you feel obliged at the end of the post to sum it up with "If you like X, Y and Z, well then ____ College might be for you." then do it!</p>
<p>Dartmouth is huge on traditions. It's one of the only schools I know of where every single student knows the Alma Mater. We race around a 40 ft. bonfire 109 (or this year 110) times, we get arrested for rushing the field during our freshman homecoming, we build a giant sculpture out of snow on the green, we all do the Salty Dog Rag (or, well, we don't, but we could), and most importantly, we all love being here.</p>
<p>middlebury (amazing alumni connections, vermont seclusion)
colby (very tight-knit, though waterville is as isolated as it gets)
sewanee (aside from the run-of-the-mill southern prep thing, great underrated school)
haverford (also underrated, super-active student body)</p>
<p>Bryn Mawr College has very strong traditions that go back over 100 years. There are no sororities on campus, but some of the traditions are akin to something you might see there.</p>
<p>The administration listens to students. The students are able to participate in the administration of the school. For example, students are members of the Faculty Curriculum Committee and part of other committees with faculty. When I was in school there 10 years ago, I had to go to Faculty Senate meetings to do presentations before they voted on some key issues that would affect future students. </p>
<p>The government for the college is called the Self Government Association. The students there are completely in charge of budgeting and funding clubs. They also get to be a part of the molding and shaping of the college. The administration will actually listen to the students and will often attend the SGA meetings or hold forums to solicit questions/comments from the students. Every year, the students hold PLENARY which allows them to vote as a student body on resolutions to change/uphold campus issues/missions.</p>
<p>Bryn Mawr College also encourages non-competitiveness with your classmates as the Honor Code encourages people to not discuss their grades. People often do not know what latin honors others have until graduation day when it is announced. By not discussing grades, you can focus on competing with yoruself, not your fellow student. </p>
<p>Also, the Professors will not baby you, but are very supportive. Many have open door policies and will encourage you to visit outside of office hours. Due to this environment, Professors are more than just PhD's who have done amazing research, they are people who the students aspire to be in the future.</p>
<p>Finally, Bryn Mawr has a distinct advantage in that you can take classes not only at Bryn Mawr, but you can also take classes at Haverford College, Swarthmore College, and U Penn. You do not have to pay any extra money to do this. You can even major outside of the college. And, despite it being a women's college, there are men in the classes at Bryn Mawr. I studied Computer Science in the 90s and usually about 30-40% of the class was men for classes in my major.</p>
<p>Kenyon is very community/tradition based! A wonderfully classic campus, supportive professors, closeknit community. Many wonderful traditions: singing on the steps of Rosse Hall during freshmen orientation and graduation, processions down Middle Path, class dinners, etc. There is a page on the Kenyon website with all the traditions: <a href="http://www.kenyon.edu/x647.xml%5B/url%5D">http://www.kenyon.edu/x647.xml</a></p>
<p>The sense I get from talking to graduates are many LACs are like this. Ones especially steeped in traditions and strong community feel I've heard about include: Amherst, Williams, Bowdoin, Colgate, Middlebury, Washington & Lee.</p>
<p>Ya BOWDOIN def. Seriously time and time again, I will listen to my friends talk to alumni that are at their internships and how much these alumni embrace current students.</p>