<p>Since Hamilton is on your list, I’ll put in a good word. Politically, they’re pretty apolitical, there is the usual far left contingent on campus, but looking around, you’ll also find quite a conservative/libertarian camp. The Alexander Hamilton Institute is located down the hill in Clinton after they wouldn’t let it locate on campus and if you look on the website, they do acknowledge that the place is named after Alexander Hamilton and do have a Constitution Day lecture. They’re also famous/infamous for running Ward Churchill off campus in one of the rare instances of students objecting to a far left speaker in the years immediately after 9/11.</p>
<p>As far a quirky goes, that’s more the Kirkland/Dark Side of campus where all the humanities are located. Nothing outlandish, often just super nerdy with things like Doctor Who fans, goths, whatever. Great science center on the Hamilton/Light Side, among the best you’ll find at a LAC. Research is available to freshman and writing is incorporated in all classes at Hamilton - whether that is formal papers, posters, oral presentations, etc. It’s certainly worth a look for a student like yours and my daughter loves it.</p>