<p>OK I gotta pick one of these schools, Carleton, Oberlin, Umich ann arbor
And I plan to go to grad school in the future. No financial aid problem.
Choosing between a university and small college here.
Can anyone give some advice?</p>
<p>Very tough question to answer not knowing anything about you besides that you want to go to grad school. I personally love the small school environment! What sorts of things are you interested in? What size high school did you go to, and did you like the feel?</p>
<p>I went to a huge high school but i’ve visited oberlin and i really like there. a little too rural but you only get to stay there for 4years and you probably spend 1 year abroad right?</p>
<p>I will be majoring in economics. is that a solid program at oberlin?</p>
<p>One thing I really like about Oberlin’s size is that the classes are all pretty small and that everything revolves around the college students (no grad students), so there are lots of opportunities. At a larger university there tends to be more anonymity (which also has pros/cons).</p>
<p>Depends on what subject area you want to pursue.</p>
<p>Right sorry, economics. Didn’t see that. I believe Carleton has a really good economics program, they also have one of the best alumni networks which will really help you out getting a job out of college.</p>
<p>Carleton also has one of the highest rates of finishing a PhD program.</p>
<p>Oberlin also has a strong econ program and also sends many onto grad school and has a good alumni network, so that is not a difference from Carlton. Both are excellent schools. Differences include setting, presence of the Conservatory at Oberlin. Visit them if you can.</p>
<p>thx guys.</p>
<p>what was interesting about the two schools is that I found Carleton is nerd/pretentious and Oberlin is more of hippie/indifference/weird environment.
haha anyone agree with me on that?</p>
<p>well, “indifference” is certainly not a correct description of most Oberlin students! on the contrary. Read the blogs on the Oberlin website. Lots of passion for social justice, environmental issues, arts.</p>
<p>“Indifference” is the last word to apply to Oberlin. Nor do I find it at all weird, unless you think creativity and independent thinking are weird. Nor do I know any students whom I’d describe as hippies…</p>
<p>^ I saw a hippie on campus once. LOL. One hippie. Seriously, springbrother12, there are as many “hippies” at Carleton. And where did you get “indifference” and “weird environment?” Did you read it on Drudge Report? </p>
<p>When I first visited the campus last year, I was expecting hippies and weird. I’ve walked the campus from corner to corner and stem to stern, and still haven’t found anything that you wouldn’t find at Carleton or any other top LAC. I was actually disappointed! I wanted to see some freaks! All I’ve seen in my dozen visits since that first one is a normal mixture of preps, nerds, jocks and “normals” (I know, that’s probably not PC). Not a weirdo to be seen. You must be thinking of Oberlin from an earlier generation. Except for the albino squirrels in Tappan Square, and the world-class music conservatory, Oberlin seems indistinguishable from any other LAC.</p>
<p>I’m gonna correct myself, i shouldn’t say indifference and by “indifference” i mean the kids there have that kind of “whatever whatever” attitude towards “unsual” things
seems like nothing can amaze them because its obie…let me show you my story
i met a guy there in one of the coops, we were talking about music and philosophy while he was putting egg white on his hair…haha! and i was the only one who was staring at him doing all that… dude if you are on this forum… i dunno what to tell you… you are a typical obie</p>
<p>initially i posted this thread, wanted to hear some advice on choosing schools…
now we are talking about hippies…= =a;;;</p>
<p>Have you visited UMich? I was there last fall, during homecoming weekend, with a group of other Oberlin students. The things that struck me about it right away were that it’s much more urban than Oberlin, and has much more Greek life and athletic culture. There’s a big contrast between our small school in a rural town, and the urban university setting there. Carleton is similar to Oberlin in those respects. There are plenty of people who’d be happy at any of the three schools, but it is a big difference.</p>
<p>“Laissez-faire” is probably a better term than “indifferent”, but I think the general idea is accurate. Students here are pretty laid-back; we’re not generally fazed by things that would strike many people as odd. Also, with all due respect to Dave and Plainsman, there are definitely hippies here. It ain’t Woodstock, as some folks would have you believe … but I’m sitting in a Harkness house meeting right now, and there are more self-identified hippies in this room than I can count on one hand 
Just depends which niche of campus you find yourself in.</p>
<p>never been to ann arbor before, but i can imagine the frats and jocks walking around campus, well, everything that a huge school with 40000people should have.</p>
<p>that is a good word. i like it. i think i will go to oberlin. (because i am an academic hippie myself!^^)</p>
<p>maybe we should make it woodstock next semester!! when i am there.</p>