<p>I'm looking for a comparison between the outing clubs at top schools. I was just admitted to UChicago EA, and one of the only things I don't love about the school is the fact that the outing club there isn't especially strong.. I also applied and was admitted EA to Colorado College, which has a really awesome outdoors club but isn't quite as strong academically as UChicago. So, I was wondering which top schools including maybe the top 25 national and liberal arts schools have the best/largest/most active outdoors clubs. I know, for example, that Dartmouth and Bowdoin both have great clubs.. Opinions?</p>
<p>It sounds like you are trying for an Ivy but an outing club is important to you. I don’t know much about outing clubs in the Ivies and sub-ivies, but can bet that many other schools have more ‘real’ outing clubs. I would say Colorado College would have a far better one than any Ivy. Other schools known for Outing or Outing-like clubs are U. of Vermont and Warren Wilson, or any school with a strong outdoor program near a wilderness area, but not downtown Chicago. Bowdoin is in a great location, so if you go to that forum, you may be able to get some student or parent insight on their outing club.</p>
<p>Dartmouth has a great Outing Club. Honestly, University of Chicago seems to have a sub-par club only because of its urban location. I feel as though most selective universities in the NE would have a nice ones, so if both academics and activities matter, apply to schools in that area. </p>
<p>These seem to be the Outing Clubs worth your time (according to my peers): </p>
<p>Dartmouth (around 1/3 of students participate… best I’ve heard of)
Bowdoin
Vassar
Colorado College
Stanford
Whitman College
Williams
Brown
Middlebury </p>
<p>Keep in mind that most of the schools are very selective LACs, so you can get a great feel for nature and still belong in a great school.</p>
<p>Most top LACs have good outing clubs, including Williams, Amherst, and Hamilton.</p>
<p>Among Ivies, Dartmouth and Princeton probably have the best outing clubs.</p>
<p>Bates and Colby in Maine also boast of the exceptionally high participation rate in their outing clubs - which exceed 50% of the student body as I recall from visits several years ago.</p>