I am looking to apply to (undergrad) colleges in the Mid Atlantic and the North East. I have a 4.0GPA and a 35 on the ACT. I want to study science - Biology and Chemistry.
I want to go to a college where
a. Leaning is collaborative. Students dont compete over grades
b. Professors want to help students learn and are very accessible to students
c. Where I will have a teacher mentor/guide
d. Where I will have the opportunity to do research in biology/chemistry
Which colleges should I plan to visit? The LACs seem to be the obvious fit. But many of them mandate a breadth of education. While I appreciate what they have to offer, I would prefer to go to a school that allows me to spend most of my four years on my chosen majors.
May I suggest you look through some available lists & resources and then see which have the programs you want and not a highly restrictive “core” program –
You might want to get a few books - Fiske Guide to Colleges is a good one - has profiles and shares student comments about quality of life and other things. .
It takes some research but I think you are asking great questions. If you can, try to visit some of the schools as well.
Seconding Wesleyan, which, in addition to being strong in sciences and not having a competitive vibe, has zero distribution requirements. Another outstanding LAC that is very strong in the sciences and has no distribution requirements is Grinnell. I also like to recommend Carleton to any kid interested in top LACs that are strong in the sciences, but I’m not sure off the top of my head how many breadth requirements they have. There are loads of others that I think would meet your criteria.
I think in general your concern about distribution requirements is probably overblown. They’re pretty modest at most schools, and pretty easy to fill just in the course of taking a few classes outside your major that sound interesting.
The students at a range of LACs are not overtly GPA oriented. The key differences among schools may relate more to the degree in which their students emphasize intellectual, extracurricular, political, pre-career and social interests.
Grinnell would fit your description, you are probably eligible for their generous merit aid and there are no distribution requirements (although you can’t take all of your classes as STEM - only most.) Not in the regions you specified, but a great choice for a non-preppy kid. Palatial facilities by the way and the smallest class sizes of any LAC we visited including many in the NE and Mid Atlantic. Less cutting-edge research than at a national research university - but a lot more faculty attention and no grad students competing with you for resources.
Plug for Vassar, with a spanking new sciences building, lots of support for research, negligible ‘breadth’ requirements, non-competitive (though academically intense) work environment.
University of Rochester! I am surprised no one has suggested it yet. Very science oriented, not too big, though it is a university, there are only 6000 undergrads. No core curriculum, and with your grades and test scores, I bet you will get offered great merit aid. I would say it is a little nerdy, but nerds are cool.
Thank you. University of Rochester is on my shortlist.
My requirements:
a. Leaning is collaborative. Students dont compete over grades
b. Professors want to help students learn and are very accessible to students
c. Where I will have a teacher mentor/guide
d. Where I will have the opportunity to do research in biology/chemistry
My D is at Lafayette and I included this based on her experiences of finding the students collaborative, accessible professors, and research opportunities.