Thanks, I will check into your suggestions for D1 and D2. I was hoping to find some schools out of the box for D2 that she could have a solid education AND performing arts. In the MT forum, a lot of focus is on top MT programs, which are great but we should have some middle and safety schools, too, and the opportunity to study other subjects.
I admit to not really knowing what hipster actually means. But as @morningside95 mentioned, my DD was definitely looking for a nerdy type school and we are not Lutheran or super religious (although we go to church weekly). St. Olaf is a great fit and they gave her tons of merit money which was nice since we were full pay (note she also got into Carleton, Grinnell, Kenyon and Oberlin but Olaf was a better fit for her more quiet personality and she was young for college).
Hi @lisabees â Our daughters have somewhat similar desires, stats and personality (mine is very shy and anxious but very secure in her identity at the same time). So Iâm following this thread with interest. I wanted to say that Agnes Scott is very high on my personal wish list (sheâs not on board, yet, for a womenâs college). Itâs in a great suburb of Atlanta (walkable as far as I can tell with cool restaurants/cafes, etc; Emoryâs not too far, as well as public transport to Atlanta); it has cross-registration with Emory + GA Tech; it has GEMS, which is a stem/math support program. Iâve read of different opinions from students but, overall, it looks like a great place for women (I went to a womenâs college and I would have preferred Agnes Scott over the one I went to, Iâm pretty sure.) Iâll be super curious if you visit. I ran the EPC and do find it somewhat expensive â more so than some of the other LACs mentioned here, but maybe it would work out better for you.
I love Agnes Scott, too. Another often unsung hero of small LACs is Wells college. It has hands-on internship programs, cross reg at Cornell, daily buses to Ithaca, a gorgeous campus.
Keep in mind that St Olaf is ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America). The âEvangelicalâ might throw you off; this is one of the more liberal mainline Protestant denominations. Google âProgressive Christianityâ and ReconcilingWorks. Iâve heard that some students (or perhaps parents) wanting a more conservative type of Christian environment have been taken aback.
My D16 is at St Olaf. She is not religious (nor particularly familiar with Christianity). At no point has she felt any âindoctrinationâ; the environment is âeveryone is free to do their own thingâ (wrt faith/no-faith). She has done one of her required classes as part of the Great Con program. They read many different texts in addition to the Old and New Testament. Below are the class descriptions for Great Con year 1. As you can see Great Con year 1 (which will satisfy Biblical and Theological Study, BTS-B) is not focused on the Bible exclusively.
That said, the school mission includes âSt. Olaf College challenges students to excel in the liberal arts, examine faith and values, and explore meaningful vocation in an inclusive, globally engaged community nourished by Lutheran tradition.â My D says quite a few students are religious and are seeking to deepen their faith.
BTW, note what St Olaf is in spades is âmusicalâ. D says, with happiness, that it is like living on the set of a musical and her dormmates break out in song regularly. She loves this aspect.
Great Con Year 1.
GC 113: The Tradition Beginning: The Greeks and the Hebrews
First Year, Semester I
Students contrast the world views of the ancient Greeks and Hebrews: Greek polytheism and the hero with the Hebrew notion of one God and the believer; Greek notions of civic community and earthly life with the Hebrew ideal of a religious covenant and historical destiny; Greek thoughts about beauty, war, peace, justice, politics, metaphysics, art, architecture, and drama with the prophetic stance toward the past and the future. Students read and discuss works by Homer, Sappho, Thucydides, Sophocles, Plato, Aristotle, the writers of the Hebrew scripture, and the artistry of the Parthenon.
GC 115: The Tradition Continuing: The Romans and the Christians
First Year, Interim
Students explore the Greek and Hebrew legacies in Roman society and in the New Testament, discussing various attempts to find personal fulfillment in political life, in stoicism and Epicureanism, and in the teachings of Christ and St. Paul. Students read works by Cicero, Horace, Virgil, Epictetus, the writers of Christian scripture and study the artistry of Roman sculpture.
GC 116: The Tradition Redefined: The Medieval Synthesis
First Year, Semester II
This course pursues the expansion of Christianity throughout the Roman world and the synthesis of Judeo-Christian and Greco-Roman thought in the early Middle Ages. Students consider the development of a unified world view as expressed in religious devotions, philosophy, literature, and art and in monasticism and feudalism in Church and Empire. Students discuss works by Augustine, Benedict, Hildegard of Bingen, Aquinas, Dante, Chaucer, and Christine de Pisan, medieval drama, and the artistry of Chartres Cathedral.
@morningside95 gives a good overview of L&C and Willamette. Weâre fans of both schools, and DS17 agonized over his decision between them (ended up picking L&C). The L&C vibe is more alternative/liberal, though not by a lot, and itâs by far in the better city, though Iâm not one who thinks that matters much. Both schools are very politically focused with many global studies/political science majors, but Willamette has the capitol right next door. I think L&C is better known right now, but Willamette is one to watchâŠthat school is on the rise, Iâm sure of it.
Hope your S has an amazing time at Lewis & Clark! We didnât get to visit either school while school was in session, so S based his impressions of the schools on the tour guides, interviews with the admissions departments and student reviews, online and here on CC. To DS it felt like the students at Willamette were a bit more outdoorsy, and, although Portland is WAY cooler than Salem, he really liked the easy access to the Capital and nearby businesses. It was very nice that Willamette offered to cover the airfare to fly DS out for Bearcat Days, after his acceptance, but they could not offer enough in terms of aid to make it as viable an option as S wanted. He knew we are all on a budget, and he had to take that into consideration.
We loved our summer trip to the Pacific NW, though, and will definitely go back to visit again. Part of the aid issue is the responsibility of my S, who did not earn a high enough GPA to get as much help as we needed. He is attending St Olaf, which is closer to home than he thought he wanted, but they are a âMeets Needâ school, and offered the best package. Having 2 in college at the same time helps with Fin Aid. But most importantly, looking at all the programs and opportunities, St O is the best overall fit for my S. Iâm sure heâll be looking at schools out west for grad school, though! B-)
Havenât read the entire thread⊠but Agnes Scott may be worth a look if she wants an affordable womenâs LAC.
The first thing to know about Willamette is how to pronounce it. Not âwillaMET.â Itâs Wil-LAM-it, damnit!
And if youâre from California, or wherever, the name of the state is âOR-uhgun,â not âori-gahn.â