<p>"Are there any picturesque schools in the northeast region of the country that aren't horribly competitive? "</p>
<p>Though I concur with interesteddad's statement about the admission "value" of northeastern colleges (Hamilton tougher to get into than Grinnell?? Boston College tougher to get into that UW-Madison?? Yikes!!), my nephew and I both liked Dickinson when we visited in 2003. Looked like a great place for a student interested in social sciences or foreign languages and they have developed a nice focus on international issues there. Great library.</p>
<p>And here in the midwest we have heard good things about Union College, one of the few selective LACs to offer engineering. I know that Schenectady, NY is not the last word in picturesque, but the campus is supposed to have a very nice site outside of town and some of the surrounding countyside is very attractive.</p>
<p>"Now, now, Mini ;-). I live three hours from Boston and not far from Middlebury and it ain't like Alaska, sorry (been there, have brother who lives there in fact). I do believe that for those who live in more urban areas, when they come to Vermont, they really think we live in japip (spelling?) or the "middle of nowhere" and it is all relative"</p>
<p>Not my relatives! ;) Not to belabor the point. I think Vermont is wonderful, and Middlebury the same, and it is a good combination. BUT, if it were me, and I were traveling 3,000 miles across the country to the "old world", I'd prefer ready access to what the old world is famous for! Now for you and I, we've been there (and escaped!), so it's a non-issue. And less for your kids, and to a limited extent, less for mine, with relatives in New York and Washington, DC, and lots of friends in Philadelphia, where we once lived. But for someone coming across the country, without signficant experience of the east coast, I think they'd likely be missing something. That's all I meant. (And Middlebury is definitely better located than Williamstown.) I mean, 45 minutes to....Troy? </p>
<p>(And yes, I hope there would be more purple hair at Smith! (I dyed my hair, and moustache on Saturday for a part I have in Pagliacci - sadly, not purple, though. Plain ol' black.) Demographics would suggest it is likely. The attraction of Smith's location stems purely from the fact that, when it comes to a cool town, you can walk to it.)</p>