<p>hey everyone! this is my first post here and it seems like an amazing forum. i think a LAC education would be best for me because i thrive when i'm given individual attention.</p>
<p>as you can probably tell, i'm beginning my college search. can anyone recommend LACs with strong senses of community and pride? i have a "math-science" brain, but i really do love writing. i'll probably go into the sciences, but i'd love to have a school with a good core requirement in the humanities as well as english.</p>
<p>i really want to have peers that are truly proud of their college.</p>
<p>Given their small size, the vast majority of LAC's have a strong sense of community and pride. Can you give us some more info, like what region of the country, what your stats are, etc.? That will make recommendations easier.</p>
<p>i moved a lot when i was younger and have lived in most regions of the united states. i'd probably feel most comfortable in the northeast, midatlantic, and down the atlantic coast. i could also see myself going to school in colorodo though -- we're going back this summer to visit.</p>
<p>as far as stats are concerned, i'm a pretty good student with a good work ethic. with mostly A's, and a scattering of B's freshman year. i took as many honors classes as possible in freshman and sophomore year. our school doesn't release rankings until the end of junior year. i'm currently taking two AP classes as a junior and most likely four as a senior.</p>
<p>i've taken the SAT only once as a sophomore -- blind, no prep. i received a 1330 math+critical reading. i'm hoping to improve in the spring because of work in AP english as well as on my own. what a difference a year makes! soph. psat = 550cr and junior psat = 750cr.</p>
<p>That certainly would be a reasonable list, although if it is going to be that far-reaching and you're going to put F&M, Juniata (never heard of it and I'm from PA) on it, then you should add Bucknell, Lafayette as well.</p>
<p>my parents seem very keen for me to attend an honors program at a state university. does anyone want to weigh some of the major pros and cons for me? is it in any way a LA education?</p>
<p>ps. please excuse the many grammatical and spelling mistakes in my posts. i'm running on very little sleep. heh. i guess proofreading does pay off. ;)</p>
<p>I teach at a large University in the west that has an honors program. Not all classes are in the honors college and the first two years you may spend time in large sections on the regular campus being taught by gtf's. I have 3 children, 2 who are in college and one who starts in the fall. All 3 are at private schools away from home. One at a middle size program that has an honors college and one at a small LAC. The 3rd is most likely going to go to Juniata, a small LAC previously mentioned in this thread. It will take her a 6 hour plane flight and a 3 hour drive but for her the school is worth it.</p>
<p>lauralice-
My D goes to Connecticut College. She loves the small, warm atmosphere there. She is a Biology major, but is a very gifted writer. Conn has really given her tons of opportunities to develop her writing as well as an excellent education in her chosen major. Several of her profs have really encouraged her writing, and she occaisionally writes for the school paper. She is currently studying abroad in Kenya studying wildlife management, and has a school funded internship at the Mystic Aquarium this summer. She has definitely had the best of all worlds at Conn. Many of the classes have a writing intensive requirement. I think any of the small LAC's can give you this kind of individual encouragement, as the profs (as well as some of the Deans!) really get to know the kids. Good luck with your college search!</p>
<p>great post nikrud. i've noticed that since graduating conn a few years ago, i feel even more connected to the school! because its not very well known outside of academic circles, i get extremely excited when i meet fellow alumni, and i've gotten to be very good friends with people i never really knew at conn. the sense of school pride and community keeps on going!</p>
<p>The OP description matches my freshman son's experience at Washington and Lee University in Lexington VA. He's also a "science-math" brain who likes writing and wanted a liberal arts foundation at a small school where students and alums have great school spirit and are "doers" in the community, and then routinely go on the med/law/grad schools. The beautiful campus in the Shenandoah Mountains is also a plus!</p>
<p>you mentioned that you liked Colorado -- Colorado College is an excellent LAC with a close knit community, lots of individual attention -- you would really enjoy it. Try to plan a visit when you are in Colorado.</p>
<p>Might look at LAC 's with high alumni giving rates-Williams, Amherst, Bowdoin, Holy Cross, Davidson, and Colgate. Davidson and Holy Cross also have great basketball traditions which fosters school pride.</p>
<p>I second or third Colgate (Which you may be able to get into especially by raising test scores a little). Not sure what kind of "community" you're interested in but the Div IAA scene at Colgate fosters a lot of school pride. Also a favorite amongst math/science students. Don't know about core.</p>
<p>I would strongly recommend looking into University of Chicago. (Okay, I'm biased-- I go there), but hearing you say "liberal arts" and "core" and "community" reminds me of what I like about the school so much.</p>
<p>Like most LAC's there's a distinct focus on academics, and the support system here is quite amazing... you won't be a few weeks in before a lot of big-shots know you by name from class and from dorm activities. Chicago's bigger than most LAC's (about 4400 undergrad), but the bigger size allows for more social opportunities without compromising that "close-knit" feeling.</p>