<p>Can anyone give some major distinctions between Beloit, Bowdoin, Colby, Carleton, Connecticut, Hamilton, and Haverford? I'm mostly interested in differences regarding course requirements, student teachers, and the character of the student body--I'm trying to avoid super-preppy. </p>
<p>I'd primarily like to know your thoughts on the above question, but if you're really feeling helpful, here are some things I'm interested in. If If you think any of the above schools would fit well (or poorly) let me know!</p>
<p>anthropology--huge interest, top pick for major
music--i play violin (both classical and several styles of fiddling--old-time music is a particular passion), and the oboe. I'm extremely into music, am in two orchestras and band, and have recently founded a combined wind/strings orchestra at school. I've also started a klezmer band and have taught the style to the 8 other musicians in the ensemble.
languages--i study both French and German and would love to continue in college, although I don't know which I prefer. Very interested in studying abroad
theater--I'm a techie (light/sound) and would like to go to a school where I can work tech for shows, even if I'm not a theater major</p>
<p>i've always said that if I could, I would major in travel, language, and culture. I am seriously considering joining the Peace Corps after graduation and have thought a lot about spending time in Africa (hence learning French). </p>
<p>I'm outdoorsy at heart but don't get the chance often to do outdoor activities and sports (rock climbing, kayaking, and hiking top the list). Any school with opportunities for these things would be perfect. I've also always wanted to take a dance class...</p>
<p>thanks for reading my incredibly brief description =) and thanks for your help!</p>
<p>Have you considered SUNY New Paltz? It seems like a really good fit without knowing your stats. Great Anthropology dept with some really interesting class choices. Very strong in theater and music as well. The area affords lots of outdoor activities and rock climbing is very popular along with hiking, camping and I noticed this Sunday the wellness center is having a kayaking trip. Today was a trip tubing down the Hudson River and coming up are camping, hiking and rock climbing trips. There is also an outings club that takes a lot of adventurous trips. My son is thinking of going on the white water rafting weekend. He is an art major at New paltz. Also really interested in Africa and talks about joining the peace corps after college to get to spend more time in Africa. He was there the summer before last. There is a good study abroad program he plans to take advantage of too. The student body is very diverse and down to earth, artsy and liberal. You should definitely check it out based on your interests. I can answer any questions for you.</p>
<p>Just to throw out what comes to mind–these are by no means unique characteristics: Hamilton has an open curriculum. Beloit is excellent for anthro. You might think about Knox–it has an interesting pre-Peace Corps program. Carleton has a rock climbing wall.</p>
<p>If you’re trying to “avoid super-preppy”, Beloit, Carleton, Bowdoin and Haverford are your best bets. As Keilex said, Beloit is fantastic for anthro.</p>
<p>Colby and Connecticut are definitely the most preppy. Bowdoin is up there too; Hamilton has that reputation but also has an artsy side (research the “light” vs. “dark” campus divide).</p>
<p>hold on. . .to say Bowdoin has no orchestra may be verifiable, but to say Bowdoin is very preppy is not. my son attends Bowdoin and is anything but preppy, as are his friends, and he loves the school. when folks use these general terms to describe the student body i become rather bothered. maybe some schools can be described with one word, but i suggest not doing that with Bowdoin. his experiences with the outdoor club, organic gardening, cooking, frisbee, environmental sciences and biology, music, and sports, suggest there is room for anyone at Bowdoin. BTW, he plays cello and is immensely impressed with the musicians at the school.</p>
<p>colby would probably be the preppiest on your list.</p>
<p>i can speak for connecticut college: conn is no where near as preppy as people on this site seem to think- there are big populations of artsy students, those who are enviromentally focused, etc. a nice thing about conn is that all students (not just music majors) can take free private music lessons. strong theater, dance and study abroad, and the school offers $3,000 for funded internships which you can do abroad. very international focus.
there are also college sponsored trips to africa (among other places), where a professor leads a small group of conn students for a semester (as well as traditional study abroad programs anywhere you want to go).</p>
<p>No school can be summarized with one word, but any school can be described with one word. </p>
<p>Preppy is a significant facet of Bowdoin’s character, from my research and anecdotal reports of friends who visited. Not the only facet, but a significant one. I think it was either mythmom or momrath whose S was an artsy moderate drinker at Williams, and extremely happy there–valid, yes, but not characteristic of the majority of Williams students.</p>
<p>A possibly related data point to consider–Google “Equity in Athletics Analysis.” According to data from that site, almost 40% of Bowdoin’s students are varsity athletes in at least one sport. Of your list, I think Beloit probably has the lowest percentage at ~24%.</p>
<p>Having visited all but Beloit and Carleton (just not enough time!), I’d say that you’d find your crowd at any of them. From your description of yourself I’d look at Oberlin.</p>
<p>In my opinion the term “preppy” has ceased to have any practical application. As social and economic diversity moves down the food chain, even elite prep schools are no longer preppy. More often than not, kids who attend colleges that might have once fit the preppy image just don’t care about clothes or adornments. You are not likely to see green hair and piercing OR popped collars and navy blue blazers. The statement is in the non-statement.</p>
<p>Rural schools that offer outdoorsy activities and access to nature are often – unfairly I believe – posited as the opposite of urban intellectually edgy schools, but in fact it is possible to find both a perponderance of active, sporty students and a focus on the arts. I wouldn’t describe these kids as artsy – to me that has a pseudo intellectual ring – but I would describe them as talented artists, actors, musicans and athletes, rock climbers, kayakers and hikers.</p>
<p>Williams, for example, while certainly not artsy has a wider and deeper arts scene than most of the similarly academically rigorous schools on its level of selectivity. Actually, quite a few of the Williams Mafia – graduates who went on to top museum posts – were varsity athletes. A student involved in the arts at Williams would in no way be considered a rarity.</p>
<p>So, my conclusion is that you don’t have to sacrifice the active outdoorsy side of your personality in order to satisfy your theater/dance aspirations. Travel abroad and European languages are fairly common at all LACs and most send respectable number of volunteers to the Peacecorps and Americorps. </p>
<p>I haven’t visited all of those on your list, but from those I’m familiar with I’d retain Hamilton, Bowdoin, Conn College and also take a look at Kenyon. I don’t remember if Williams was on your list; it sounds like it would be a good fit as well.</p>
<p>Have you looked at Vassar College? Huge theater department, most juniors study abroad, not preppy (more hipster), and virtually no course requirements. Lots of dance classes and located in the beautiful Hudson Valley of New York (about an hour and a half from NYC) … with a very active outdoors club.</p>
<p>No TAs - strictly an undergraduate population with wonderful professors and small classes.</p>
<p>I can only put my 2 cents in for Carleton and Beloit, the only two I know about on your list. Carleton is an amazing school but hard to get in to even with high stats as it is highly selective. Best to see how you fit in statistically before going any further. </p>
<p>Meanwhile at Beloit, where my D goes, there is a lot that fits your interests - anthro is really big as other posters say. Study abroad is big. If you want a music conservatory - not the place to go, if you want to be around a lot of music - great place. This weekend is the annual Folk and Blues concert [News</a> & Events: Folk ?N? Blues Live Music Festival Returns to Beloit, Sept. 11-12](<a href=“News & Events • Beloit College”>News & Events • Beloit College). The setting on the Indian mounds is pretty phenomenal.
Dance - so far my D has mentioned Ballroom dancing club (they also have a ballroom dancing class), a swing dance, a 70s dance, and belly dancing, all in the first 3 weeks. Many students dress up for dances. Beloit has a reputation for a strong theatrical flair. Definitely not preppy at all. It seems to be an eclectic mix of students, though, not just one ‘type’
Outdoors - Southern Wisconsin is lovely, glaciated, lots of state parks but it is not Colorado by any means so don’t know about rock climbing - college does not have a climbing wall - I believe a source of pride to have resisted one of the extravagances of the last decade.</p>
<p>Really much of what you want will be found at many LACs - you might want to start focusing on narrowing your list through stats and ‘fit.’ The CTCL website is a great starting point for looking at different LACs. Good luck with your search!</p>
I wouldn’t describe these kids as artsy – to me that has a pseudo intellectual ring – but I would describe them as talented artists, actors, musicans and athletes, rock climbers, kayakers and hikers.
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Yes. This rings very true to me (except for the “pseudo intellectual ring”). Artsy is used on CC as a cultural indicator, not just “interested in the arts.” Vassar, for instance, has an “artsy” campus culture; Williams has more of a “preppy” one, overall–but people who dress well can be athletes and/or artists.</p>
<p>Beloit does indeed have a good music program. I am involved in two musical ensembles (orchestra and flute choir) and have a music scholarship. Overall there is a wide range of talent. There are some fantastic players and some beginners. I find the music interesting. Beloit is a good place to play music if it is a hobby (like it is for me).</p>
<p>Study abroad and languages is huge at beloit. Many students participate in both and many are very excited about both. With a huge amount of international students (over 11%) you can also meet plenty of students from various countries to converse with in different languages.</p>
<p>Theatre is kind of a cult from what I have seen at beloit. I know lots of freshmen that immediately get involved with both tech stuff and acting. Theatre tech is a huge club and there is a lot to do within it.</p>
<p>There is a very active Beloit Outdoors Club which goes on lots of different trips. They are heading to the boundary waters this spring break. There are lots of opportunities for hiking, camping and boating here.</p>
<p>xAAAx: “The Physics Department coordinates the 3-2 engineering option, in which Bowdoin has an arrangement with Columbia University’s School of Engineering and Applied Science, the California Institute of Technology and the University of Maine.”</p>
<p>Most of the LACs have the 3/2 option that enables a student to obtain an engineering degree.</p>
<p>And our impression of Bowdoin-admittedly an impression but based on a visit, and interview, conversations with students and with alums-was that it was extremely preppy compared to the midwestern LACs.</p>
<p>SmallCollegesFTW–how do things work with music lessons at Beloit? can non-majors take lessons or music classes? I am very proficient at the violin (I’ve made VA All-State orchestra, gone to camps, etc). At my high school there is a very flexible music department with many very involved students. It’s really easy to find people to play with, in any style, and I have formed several groups. Is it anything like this at Beloit?</p>
<p>One other question–weather. I live in central Virginia where it is hot, HUMID, and the winters are becoming nonexistant–six inch snowfalls max. I hate it. I have never experienced a New England or Upper Midwest winter but I did visit Middlebury in Vermont last January and LOVED the weather. I’m barely even looking at southern schools and am not in the least deterred by the cold, but would like to know what it’s like–in Wisconsin, or anywhere.</p>
<p>Also, unrelated–do you know much about Beloit anthropology? It’s what I’m looking to major in.</p>
<p>Beloit anthropology is a very popular department. Beloit is home to the largest undergraduate anthropological museum in the world and has a strong, large (for a school of its size) and respected anthropology major. It is second in all LACs and Unis in the nation for future anthropology PhD production.</p>
<p>As for music, I was also very into music in high school (it sent over 16 players a year on average to Illinois’ All State bands and went to many top competitions across the nation). I came to Beloit and found the literature to be very interesting. There are lots of small chamber ensembles of all sorts which attract more serious musicians that are all very good players. Everything (including scholarships) is open to major and non majors. They have very good private lessons teachers which come from as far away as Madison and Chicago. Overall I was pleasantly surprised with Beloit’s Music offerings.</p>