Looking for artsy/academic schools for D20. Already has Vassar and Wesleyan on the list (visited and loved them.) She’s a very motivated student (4.25 unweighted GPA), looking to study in the liberal arts, but also enjoys performing and directing theater (not looking to major in it - definitely not looking for a BFA.) She still wants to be able to enjoy working in theater but also wants to be with similarly motivated academic peers.
We’ll be touring Brown soon, but we know that all 3 of the mentioned schools are reaches and a crap shoot.
Anyone have any good ideas for targets and likelies? On paper, it seems like Skidmore might fit the bill? Bennington? We visited Barnard and she didn’t like it at all - just not a good fit (sure seemed like it would be, but the chemistry just wasn’t there for her.)
Not worried about financial aid and she wants to stay in the northeast (although we will likely hit Chicago to see Northwestern - my alma mater - and U of C.) Doesn’t care about size - willing to go small or large; but doesn’t like schools like NYU (has a sibling there and D20 finds it “overwhelming.”) Not interested in Greek life and would definitely prefer a politically liberal environment. She’s also not a big partier so a party school wouldn’t be a place she’d be comfortable.
She’s just an earnest, focused, artsy, a little quirky, kid. We’re attending a college fair next week and we want to open our eyes to more schools that have just not been on our radar.
Clark University in Worcester, Mass, fit that description, and would be a safety for her. Bates is regarded at the most “artsy” of the Maine NESCAC’s, and is known for being relaxed, friendly, and liberal, but not in an in-your-face way. It has no Greek life. Kenyon sounds like a very good option for her. Very creative, and also very academic. Oberlin is a good choice, though it’s a little too liberal for some people. I think Skidmore is an excellent match school.
About partying, it happens at all schools. I think at all the colleges I’ve mentioned, she will easily find people who aren’t into partying.
Edit: I agree with Rochester, but it’s more in the “cool but nerdy” camp, rather than creative, I would say.
Connecticut College, Skidmore. Hamilton’s theatre facilities should be seen. Sarah Lawrence and Bennington will offer a certain appeal. Muhlenberg often gets mentioned in this context. Middlebury might be worth a visit. Vassar belongs as you’ve seen.
Carnegie Mellon is worth a look. Most people know it for its science and business programs, but its theatre school is one of the very best in the country (especially its MT program).
I was going to mention Ithaca and Muhlenberg and Carnegie Mellon
Some schools that aren’t always on people’s radar for theater include –
U of Indiana Bloomington
Penn State
U of Maine at Orono – which I think of as the less expensive UVM in that it’s matching your in-state flagship tuition currently. It has theater (who knew?)
Marymount Manhattan
SUNY Purchase
Hampshire has graduated several top actors
Wagner
Drew University
I know you said Northeast, but the Claremont Colleges very much fit what you’re describing. Pomona has a great theater program and all the colleges have strong academics. Very politically liberal and absolutely no frats or sororities! It might be worth looking into them. There’s also Lewis and Clark and Willamette in Oregon. If not willing to go east coast maybe Williams or Skidmore?
@warblersrule at Carnegie Mellon does have a fantastic theater program (with alums such as Sutton Forster, Josh Gad to name but a couple)-- BUT the OP would have to check carefully to see what (if any) opportunities with theater exist for non-theater majors.
Agree that Skidmore could be a great match and Muhlenberg should be considered (and may be a safety assuming she has some demonstrated interest).
@happy1 Yes - I have a daughter studying drama at Tisch and we know the CMU program well. I don’t think CMU would be a good fit for her. She’s really looking for a place that she can continue to have fun with theater, but not take it super seriously.
Thank you to everyone. Your ideas have been really helpful.
It’s another reach but I would mention that Williams also has a terrific theater program, great facilities and lots of involvement opportunities for non-majors. Double majoring is also very common. The Williamstown Theater Festival, which you probably know is one of the most prestigious summer theater venues in the northeast, isn’t administered by the college but its influence rubs off on the community.