<p>I have become familiar with the NE schools, but am just learning about midwest/southern schools (especially LAC's). Can someone compare schools (like MacCalaster, Grinnell, Oberlin, Rhodes, Furman, Vanderbilt, Elon, etc.) to particular NE schools?</p>
<p>I hate to tell you, but this is a really pointless exercise. Each school has its own unique characteristics. It’s more valuable for you to research each one rather than try to find their closest match it to east coast schools.</p>
<p>I think it’s a fair question, though, esp for those of us who grew up in the east, have certain “feels” associated with certain schools, and don’t have a point of comparison for the midwestern schools. Knowing that “Oberlin is like Bowdoin” (made-up example) does help frame a school.</p>
<p>Impressions:</p>
<p>Macalester ~= Wesleyan (very liberal, urban LAC – but St. Paul of course is a much bigger city)
Oberlin ~= Vassar/Wes (very liberal, artsy – but Oberlin is rural)</p>
<p>Grinnell ~= Swarthmore (very intellectual – but G. is rural, Swat suburban)</p>
<p>Colorado College ~= Middlebury (very outdoorsy, athletic, big on winter sports – but CC is somewhat less preppy, a little more crunchy/lefty like Wes)</p>
<p>Vanderbilt ~= Georgetown (preppy, a little conservative, urban, career-oriented)</p>
<p>Carleton ~= Bowdoin (liberal, nice small rural town, outdoorsy but not as much as Midd, intense academics but not cut-throat, cold)</p>
<p>But heed blackeyedsusan ; try to investigate each on its own terms.</p>