<p>I've done a bunch of research, and I have a bit of a list, but I'm gonna post some of the characteristics I'd like in a college and see if you guys can come up with somewhere I missed.
Thanks!</p>
<p>-internships/career placement
-research for undergrads
-no huge lectures (teachers know the students WELL)
-liberal artsy with strong sciences
-no emphasis on fraternity/sorority
-familyish student body (not cliquish)
-strong study abroad/foreign languages program
-not much drinking/smoking
-student body of an above average intelligence, but not ivy caliber
-students into music
-no huge core curriculum
-name recognition
-no INSANE workload
-good library (periodical subscriptions?)/food/dorms</p>
<p>I know they're pretty specific, I'm not expecting to get any epiphanies, just if anyone has like an "oh, that reminds me sorta of soandso school" that would be cool. I also know that no school has all of these, and probably even many of these characteristics. Just some thoughts.</p>
<p>not much drinking/smoking is almost impossible. Don't think that only party schools have problems with this stuff. It's just a really hard requirement to fill if the school doesn't have substance-free living, and even then, it's not something you can ignore. Avoid, to a point. :D</p>
<p>That was easy:
Haverford - takes the cake for peacefulness and serene, Top 10 LAC, the best facilities I've seen for the sciences at a LAC, and many of teachers live on campus, I can't think of another school that fits all of you requirements to some form </p>
<p>Dickinson - good in nearly all sciencs and ranked the best study abroad program among liberal arts colleges</p>
<p>Oberlin - probably the LAC with strongest music program, and very
good in hard sciences, ranked as one of the best libraries in country... IMO fits every category except drinking, that can arise</p>
<p>I've been looking into Dickinson a lot because I want med school, but my backup plan is college professor. I want to major in french and study abroad, as I think that a second language is an amazing attribute for a doctor to have. Dickinson gives money to students who teach high school after graduation (which I'd be willing to do, I think it would probably be wise to get teaching education so that I don't become a phD that doesn't know how to teach). So, then maybe I'd minor in french or something. I was looking into another school that didn't have a minor in french, so it's cool that Dickinson does. </p>
<p>Anyway....</p>
<p>Does anyone have any information about Dickinson (students, atmosphere??) I tried searching, but I couldn't really find anything. I've contacted their admissions office, and they sent me a few letters, but I don't really know much else about the school. I'm going to be a junior, so I haven't visited anywhere, and I don't really have much of a hard and fast list as I don't have to worry about the definite places that I'm going to apply to until next summer. </p>
<p>ok, about the Dickinson post, I apparently didn't search that well, as I just found a great post on Dickinson, so I think I'm good on CC's info for the school.</p>
<p>shiningstar, I looked at Wesleyan when I first heard about it, but I really don't think I'd get in, as it is very selective.</p>
<p>Any other questions, I'd be willing to help you with :)</p>
<p>Just to note that Dickinson and Oberlin were both ranked on the new Princeton Review for Top 20 libraries, I highly suggest you take a closer look at Oberlin, b/c it is has everything you want.</p>
<p>or some Protestant christian schools on the live and let live end of the spectrum....that are not overly doctrinaire. I don't know what those are but i'm sure there are some and somebody here would know...</p>
<p>or some of the smaller state colleges / universities? like William and MAry selective though) and I LOVE St. Mary's College of Maryland in historic St Mary's City, MD.
<a href="http://www.smcm.edu/%5B/url%5D">http://www.smcm.edu/</a> everyone was spectacularly helpful to me when I applied last year.</p>
<p>I'm limited to colleges from Maine to Maryland, so Oberlin, although really cool sounding, can't be on my list.
And as for Jesuit colleges, I really don't want a college with a specific religious feel. It can have the affiliation, because I know some schools were just founded by a certain religious group, but the students don't fit that demographic, but I don't want a religious presence.</p>
<p>If you're looking to go to Dickinson or any school in Maine, then Oberlin is no difference in distance for you, unless some law or superior is restricting you, then I see that as a bad reason to rule it out, weren't you the one looking at Colby and then Maryland-College Park? Show your parents a map and pull out a ruler, see how far Clevland is from your location, compared to:</p>
<p>Waterville, Maine
College Park, MD / Washington D.C.</p>
<p>mdhopeful...i guess i wasn't too clear...sorry ..my point about the jesuit schools is that they do not stress religous education any more. but they mey provide a more calm social scene you may be looking for (if i am not reading too much into your original post) also the different schools each have a different character. I'm just suggesting that high quality religous "affiliated" schools may be a viable option...you just may have not thougt of it. check out the schools on the link individually they range from Boston College to Fordham to Georgetown.</p>
<p>Spiker: Thanks for the clarification. Now I see what you're saying, and I agree, that yes, it's definitely desirable for me to have a calmer social scene. So I'll look in to what you suggested. Thanks!</p>
<p>par: For one, I have not seen one post on this entire site that does not have you reccommending Holy Cross. Single minded much? Also, Georgetown???? I very much do not have the stats.</p>
<p>Creative: No, nothing's restricting me besides the distance. And yes, I was looking at Colby. Colby is (according to mapquest) 398 miles from my house. Oberlin is more than 500 miles. Dickinson is a little more than 200 miles. College Park, to be exact, is 253 miles. So, that is what makes the difference, not the state itself.</p>