Laid Back LACs w/ Anthropology and CW

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Hey! So, I have my list of all the schools I MIGHT apply to, but I'm just checking if I'm missing anything. If anyone can think of any schools NOT on my list or sees an issue with the schools that ARE on my list, please let me know.</p>

<p>CRITERIA:</p>

<p>Size: Smaller, preferably under 5,000 but DEFINITELY under 10,000. I don't think I'm going to go crazy tiny, though, which is why Bennington (with 500 something students) is really iffy.</p>

<p>Location: It doesn't have to be a major city, but NOT in the middle of nowhere.</p>

<p>Environment: I'd rather not have an ultra-competetive school. It can be SELECTIVE and I really don't mind working hard, but the actual vibe at the school should be more laid back, if that makes sense. Students should be self-motivated. I'm guessing there will be a mix no matter where I go, but I'm looking for the biggest concentration of chill geeks I can find.</p>

<p>Academics: Strong anthropology department, good creative writing program, and film studies would be a plus. Also, seminars and discussion are preferred to lecture style classes.</p>

<p>MY LIST: First four are ALMOST definites, and the rest are total maybes.</p>

<p>Bard: concerned about location
Reed: no film studies program
Wesleyan
Brown: token Ivy</p>

<p>Skidmore
Oberlin: LOCATION SUCKS, and I'm not sure about their anthropology program
Sarah Lawrence: 70% female, average student may have more social skills than I do, focuses on arts/writing more than social sciences
Hampshire: I've talked to people with bad experiences
Bennington: too small? anthropology?
Columbia: weird vibes... Dunno.
Smith: all girls
Yale: really only on here because of my parents, but who knows?
Kalamazoo: new to the list, don't know much
Guildford
Beloit</p>

<p>Also, if anyone has an opinion on which maybes are the best fit, let me know!</p>

2

<p>Pitzer's known for its strong anthropology program. I don't know if you're considering southern California though</p>

3

<p>Given your top 4, I'd say Beloit would really suit you. Ask about it on the parents forum - there are several who can tell you quite a bit about it.</p>

4

<p>I'm not sure what you have against Oberlin's location. Once you're in college...really, there's so much you have to do, and so much going on around you that the location of the campus doesn't matter terribly much. It's not hard to even get to Cleveland, and I never felt the need to this year. Our anthropology program is okay, but that's a problem you're going to find at any liberal arts college. Departments like sociology, anthropology, etc, tend to get smaller amounts of funding, because they're less popular of social sciences. You're not going to find a truly superb anthropology program without going to a university. So, I'd say Oberlin's great creative writing program makes up for that (though it's extremely intense).</p>

5

<p>turn on me: I'm considering EVERYWHERE, and thanks-- Pitzer looks good. People have been telling me to check out the Claremont colleges.</p>

<p>fireflyscout: Yeah, I like Beloit so far, but I don't know much about it. Plus, I'm a BIT prejudiced against non-coastal states. It's something I'm trying to get past, because I know it's ridiculous, but eh...</p>

<p>Fanatic517: I DO like Oberlin, that's why it's on my list. But I've heard from several sources that it's anthropology program is not that great, even by LAC standards. Also, to me, location DOES matter. If I'm going to spend four years of my life ANYWHERE, location is going to matter. It's not an eliminating factor, but it IS a factor. Two equally good schools, one in the middle of nowhere and one in Portland, I'm going for Portland (not referring to Reed, I just like Portland).</p>

6

<p>Although it's a bit bigger than the LACs on your list (4900 undergraduates), consider Chicago! English/writing is very good, and the anthropology department is the best in the country. Chicago even offers film studies. :D</p>

<p>Creative</a> Writing at The University of Chicago</p>

<p>University</a> of Chicago: Department of Anthropology</p>

<p>Committee</a> on Cinema and Media Studies</p>

<p>The student body, while not always extremely supportive, is not very competitive at all. I think "chill geeks" is a good description, actually. I'm probably biased, but I think Chicago has a better mix of students than you'd find at Sarah Lawrence or Hampshire.</p>

7

<p>Seconding the rec of Beloit for fit. Its location isn't exactly a plus, though. Also, take another good look at Oberlin--similar feel to Wes, maybe? But I've heard that their advanced creative writing classes are really hard to get into if you're a non-major.</p>

8

<p>For the type of schools you seem to like, you should look at Bates and Connecticut College.</p>

9

<p>Keilexandra, that's correct--you essentially can't get into them if you're not a major. And you have to apply for each creative writing class that you take, meaning that at any point, you could be unable to finish the major (though you wouldn't get that far if you weren't a good enough writer). But, it's a fantastic program.</p>

10

<p>what about macalester?</p>

11

<p>IBclass06: I've heard good and bad things about Chicago... I'm not sure if it has the environment that I'm looking for, but I haven't looked at it that closely.</p>

<p>Keilexandra: Agree on Beloit's location, but I have a friend there, and she really likes it, so who knows? Oberlin's location is a bit of a turn off, but what really worries me is the anthropology program. Poor location can be easily forgiven if the school has everything else that I'm looking for. Eh... I'm planning on checking more into that anyways.</p>

<p>gellino and huskem55: Thanks for the suggestions!</p>

12

<p>Beloit is very strong in both anthropology and creative writing (the former perhaps even more than the latter). It would be a safer choice, too.</p>

13

<p>The Claremont Media Studies - Welcome</a> to the Media Studies Website</p>

14

<p>I am an anthropologist. best school on the list that started this thread is clearly Columbia, don't forget that is where Boas and Ruth Benedict and I believe Margaret Mead were. Other great anthro departments (although at larger schools) are Univ. of Michigan and Berkeley. You might want to go to the American Anthropological Association website and read the info there to get a feel for schools that might fit what you are looking for.
good luck.</p>

15

<p>xxx: Yeah, I've come to terms with the fact that the best anthro programs are gonna be at MUCH bigger schools. But I figure I'll probably end up at one of them for grad school, so for the moment I can pretty much concentrate on anthropology undergrad programs that are DECENT (if not great) at schools that fit my other criteria (size, location, vibes, etc.)</p>

<p>I am concerned, just looking at course listings for a lot of the schools I'm considering, that their anthro courses focus on Western Europe, North America and China and kind of ignore what I consider to be the more interesting parts of the globe (Eastern Europe, Southern Asia and indigenous people in Australia, South America and Northern Canada). But eh. Specialization can wait for grad school too, I guess...</p>

16

<p>Stercus, You should take a look at Williams. We live in Southeast Asia in a country that is usually off the charts in anthropology and religion departments. My son found to his surprise and gratification that Williams had a well established group of "off the beaten track" professors who specialized in Indonesia and other Southeast, Pacific and South Asian cultures, plus a strong South American contingent. </p>

<p>The departments are small (that's the downside of any LAC) but if you look at the educations and areas of interest of the faculty you'll see what I mean. There is a lot of interaction between Religion and Anthropology (which is already a joint program with Sociology) so I would characterize it as an interdisciplinary concentrattion as much as a major.</p>

<p>Creative writing is also excellent with several accomplished writers, notably Jim Shepard, on the permanent faculty and a commitment to fund visiting authors. Last year it was Andrea Barrett. I don't know if you've visited Bennington, but the Berkshires are a lot more intellecutally sophisticated than you might imagine.</p>

<p>As far as atmosphere, Williams is a lot more laid back and artsy that it's given credit for. Very smart, confident, multi-faceted kids. The campus is remote, no question about it, but it's insular in an positive sense as well.</p>

17

<p>momrath: Thanks for the suggestion! Sounds good. Like I said, a lot of the schools I've been looking at offer maybe 10 courses on Western Europe, 5 on China, and maybe one on ONE of the areas I'm actually interested in, so a school with a good variation would be amazing.</p>

18

<p>Chicago could be a great place for you... on the "chill geeks" front, we sent the most students to the Peace Corps for a school in our size bracket. </p>

<p>Again, with a blend of students, you're going to find some who are very "laid back" in the way that they prioritize drama, frisbee, inhaling smoke, etc. (the kids I know in this category love it here) and you're going to find some who are more straightforward about being academically conscientious.</p>

<p>Really hard to tell from the tone of your post whether it's a yes or a no for you, but maybe see if you can visit or poke around online. See if you like the essay questions and if you think they are worth your answering/having fun with.</p>

19

<p>Vassar, Brown and Princeton....not sure Oberlin's location is as bad as all that and I think you should give Chicago a chance.</p>

20

<p>If you can get past the all women's college Barnard turns out more writers than any other undergraduate program. The anthro program is excellent as well, and you do have all the resources of Columbia plus a steady stream of writers making appearances both on campus and all over the city. The publishing internships are good, too.</p>

<p>Hamilton is another school with strong CW.</p>