<p>please comment those schools:</p>
<p>Amherst College
Colgate University
Kenyon College
Lehigh University
Macalester College
Trinity College
Union College
University of Notre Dame
Wesleyan University</p>
<p>I am international student, i can't decide which of those to choose. i am interested in studying IR or cultural studies. if you were me, which of those would you take and why? </p>
<p>thanks</p>
<p>Amherst College:
"At Amherst College, a small, elite liberal arts school in western Massachusetts, “The academic experience is well balanced, comprehensive, and tailored to the desires and needs of each individual student.” Students truly get exactly what they want because “There are no core requirements. Every person in every class . . . is enthusiastic about the subject and wants to learn.” Students love this set-up, telling us that “the open curriculum guarantees that every student in every class really wants to be there, which makes a huge difference in the liveliness of discussion.” Academics “are extremely challenging without being overly burdensome,” in part because support networks are so strong. Students “really develop personal relationships with professors, which makes classes that much more enjoyable.” Students also appreciate that they “get all the things [they] need and want (services, advice, etc.) when [they] need and want them.” As one student puts it, “Amherst College is a small family. Everyone here wants you to succeed; however, it’s up to you to reach out for that guidance. If you knock, Amherst shall respond.” Professors “all have a great sense of humor” and “are engaging and eclectic.” As one student writes, “Even in introductory courses, professors literally bounce off the walls with enthusiasm for the subject.” The results tell the story: Nearly three-quarters of all Amherst alumni proceed to postgraduate study within 5 years of graduation." "“It seems like there are many of your typical White, private school students from the New England area” at Amherst, but “Then there are [also] students from all over the United States and from other countries who are so diverse.” Most of these “typically well-rounded and motivated” undergraduates “played some sort of sport in high school, and a very large percentage play club or varsity sports at college.” These students are “witty, friendly, thoughtful, non-competitive, self-effacing, and know how to have a good time.” Nearly everyone agrees that “Amherst is amazing because of its small size. It’s a really close-knit community where everyone is extremely open-minded and considerate.” According to another student, “I love that [Amherst’s] students are politically aware and serious students but also willing to have a good time. The first thing that struck me about my school is how nice everyone is. The school has a reputation for being stuck-up, but I have not experienced that in the least.”" "“Life is usually busy” at Amherst, where “People are generally pretty involved.” Academics are demanding, but fortunately “Everyone is here for the same reason: to learn. We learn as much from each other as we do in the classroom because everyone is just so different and has a story to tell. I stay up till the wee hours of the morning with some of my dorm-mates sharing stories and ordering Antonio’s Pizza.” When they’re not working, students “are often playing sports” or “engaging in some other activity.” Undergrads “love the academic culture of the Five Colleges area. You can go to music performances, plays, or poetry readings any night of the week.” As one student reports, “Events are happening all the time, and there is always something going on . . . concerts, talks about Brazilian economics, West African dance shows, etc. Life here is comfortable and exciting.” A “free bus to get to other colleges and towns” makes it easy to access these events, even without a car. It’s not only about personal enrichment here, though; while students “work hard throughout the week,” they “party on Thursday and Saturday.” Why not on Friday? “Because nearly one-third of the student body [are] athletes, parties are often thrown by various teams, but open to all. As a result, Friday nights are pretty dead, since all the athletes are resting up for their games.”"</p>
<p>Rank List</p>
<h1>15 School Runs Like Butter</h1>
<h1>7 Students Dissatisfied with Financial Aid</h1>
<p>Colgate University:
Colgate University, “the epitome of a work hard, play hard school,” provides “a rigorous academic environment, an outstanding student and faculty population, and an abundance of social opportunities” to its “preppy,” “intelligent-but-not-nerdy” student body. Students report that “Colgate is academically strong in the humanities, such as political science, English, psychology, and economics” and “also has good natural sciences programs that are enhanced by the new science building,” a $56.3 million structure that houses 40 research labs, 13 teaching labs, and a teaching/research greenhouse. All students here must complete a set of general education requirements that “force you to look beyond your major work,” sometimes leading to discovery of new, unanticipated areas of interest. “It is not uncommon for students to double major in two vastly different departments” as a result of their gen-ed experiences, students tell us. Colgate’s size and location foster community-building; the “administration and faculty don’t just work at Colgate, but live Colgate. In this way, they are dedicated to your education and create a passionate, hands-on, and inspiring place to learn,” translating into “great opportunities to research with great professors and be in leadership positions.” The workload is tough here; “At the end of a semester you may have four final exams and 80 pages of writing to do, but that absolutely won’t stop you from going out on Friday night. (Saturday night too. And Wednesday night. Maybe Monday also.)”"“When looking from the surface, Colgate students don’t appear diverse” because of the “undeniable majority of white students all in Uggs and Oxfords,” but “Although most students dress alike, there are great discussions in and out of the classroom because each Colgate student is actually very different from the next once you have the opportunity to talk to them.” Even so, just about everyone here concedes that “This is a very preppy campus.” Students tend to be “very laid back, but in that perfectly groomed, ‘I just rolled out of bed looking this good’ kind of way.” They are also “passionate about something. Everyone has her own thing to enjoy. It could be a recreational club, a dance group, a community service group, an academic or research project, a student club, etc. You find that a lot of Colgate students are active members in one way or another.”""Colgate students take pride in the fact that they can handle both demanding academics and a bustling party scene. ""The daytimes is for work, nighttime (except Tuesday) is for fun,"" explains one student. ""If you know where to look, you can find a party five days a week, and definitely on weekends."" Some warn that ""The social/party scene around here can get a bit frustrating for some girls at times. If you like to be in serious relationships, Colgate is going to be a whole different ballgame for you…. [because] mostly the students here are interested in hook-ups,"" but by and large student feedback on the party scene is positive. Greek life ""makes up a lot of the social scene, but the school itself provides many opportunities open to the entire campus that are generally very well attended,"" including ""banquets, sports events, movies, etc."" Colgate football and hockey are ""extremely popular""; the school is ""Division I in athletics, which is unique for a small liberal arts school. This aspect brings a lot of school spirit and adds to the sense of community here."" There's ""not much to do in [hometown] Hamilton"" other than ""three main bars and The Jug,"" the latter being a ""legendary"" ""bar/mosh pit that underclassmen go to after making the long trek from the dorms up on campus into town."""</p>
<p>Rank List</p>
<h1>18 Best College Library</h1>
<h1>10 Lots of Beer</h1>
<h1>3 Most Beautiful Campus</h1>
<h1>16 Best Classroom Experience</h1>
<p>Kenyon College</p>
<p>"At Kenyon College, an “entrancingly pretty” campus and “personal, small, and intimate” classes combine to create “a low-stress setting” for a “liberal arts experience that allows you to make profound changes in your approach to life.” Kenyon is primarily “known as a writers’ college.” It seems fitting, then, that the English Department draws the lion’s share of students’ praise. The school’s rep, however, seems to derive more from the fact that written communication skills are valued and emphasized “in all departments, ranging from history to math,” rather than from a course catalogue only filled with fascinating fiction and poetry courses. In terms of academic workload, it “is large but manageable and students in general never seem overly worried about it.” They seem to know that they can count on their “brilliant,” “incredible” professors who “know their stuff” and “are capable of making it accessible and interesting.” Professors give students “as much individual time as [they] need” to digest the material. Administratively the school has experienced “a lot of turn-over in the last year,” leading many students to feel that administrators are “still getting their bearings.” While they don’t “always follow the student body’s opinion,” they are at least aware of it and “willing to listen” to students’ input. Both “Professors and administrators love to take an active experience in the lives of Kenyon students outside of the classroom” by doing things like attending student “art shows, sporting events, [and] musical performances.” Such beyond-the-books interaction leads many students to feel that “the school is more of a family than a business.”" A stereotypical Kenyonian is “generally very smart but not pretentious.” Most students are “rich, White, and Democratic,” which might explain why they “spend lots of money trying to look like they don’t have that much money.” Kenyon students “love to party, and [are] generally involved in music, sports, or theater.” On this “liberal,” “laid-back” campus, students are “not competitive” and describe each other as “seriously friendly.” People here “take academics very seriously, but also enjoy social lives.” They also have a “wide variety of interests. It’s not unusual to see a neuroscience major paired with a dance minor.” As one student sums up, “The ‘Kenyon Quirk’ is something you hear of often—in that way, everyone is atypical, as it is typical to be different. Hippies, collar-poppers, girlie-girls, goths, nerds, and introverts all find their place at Kenyon.”" "Student life at Kenyon is a unique riff on the typical college social experience. For example, “There are a lot of parties in apartments and fraternity lodges and lounges.” Yet though “Frats throw most of the parties,” they are “almost always open to anyone,” and Greeks are “incorporated into the same housing as everyone else,” so it “doesn’t feel exclusive.” What’s more, “People have academic conversations even while out at parties,” which is certainly not the case at your typical college bash. Basically, Kenyon undergrads “know how to let go and have a good time, but there’s always a slightly intellectual edge to it.” Parties aren’t the only social options on campus. Considering its small size, Kenyon may “have too much programming rather than too little.” “There are movies shown at the KAC [Kenyon Athletic Center],” and regularly scheduled “concerts, theatrical and dance productions, and lectures.” For “casual fun,” students “go to Middle Ground Cafe or the Gambier Grill for coffee or food.” Also, “People go to the bar on campus if [they’re] of legal age.” “In nice weather, Kenyon students are very outdoorsy.” Students enjoy “[going] out to the nature preserve (the BFEC) and play[ing] Frisbee or go[ing] for walks.” Off-campus entertainment options are pretty scarce, as hometown Gambier is “in the middle of nowhere.” Luckily, “Columbus is under an hour away,” so “When people need to go somewhere a little more exciting, they drive [there].”</p>
<p>Rank List</p>
<h1>20 Birkenstock-Wearing, Tree-Hugging, Clove-Smoking Vegetarians</h1>
<h1>9 Professors Get High Marks</h1>
<h1>19 Most Liberal Students</h1>
<h1>12 Best Classroom Experience</h1>
<p>Lehigh University:</p>
<p>"The main thing that students at Lehigh University in Bethelehem, Pennsylvania seem to share is a general love for the school and its entire way of life, as evidenced by the “amazing” alumni base that returns to the school frequently (and provides for good networking). Despite rigorous academics, Lehigh “maintains a substantial social scene,” and “work hard, play hard is not just a saying here—it’s the lifestyle.” Students have “to work for grades, they are not just given out,” and outside of the classroom, there’s a strong emphasis on experiential learning and real-world applications. The engineering and business programs are particularly strong here, and though tuition is dear, new financial aid policies have been put into place and “the school lives up to its academic reputation…you definitely get your money’s worth at the end of the day.” The level of instruction here is “top-notch,” and “the classes aren’t necessarily a drag to go to because the teachers easily manifest how much they want us to learn.” “Teaching becomes better” as students begin to take more and more upper level classes; instructors “are always available and want to help you out,” and they “really try to have a positive relationship with all of the students,” though a few professors seem to be more interested in their research than their teachings. “For my Folktales and Fairytales class, we were invited to the professor’s house to tell stories around her fireplace,” says a senior. The administration “does not take into account student opinion as well as it could,” and many students wish it was more transparent in its reasoning for changes (especially concerning the recent crackdown on partying, the surest way to get a Lehigh student up in arms), but most students are satisfied with the level of accessibility." It’s a “white and preppy” world at Lehigh, where most students come from the northeast and the typical student’s economic background can be described as “appreciates the finer things in life.” People here “like to look good” and “tend to dress up for classes very often,” and the popped collar has a home at Lehigh. There are still “a few splashes of ethnicity” here, and while there used to be a lot of pressure to fit that specific mold, now “there are a lot of different types of students. It’s a friendlier campus.” The school has actually seen a rise in enrollment by students from underrepresented backgrounds in recent years, and continues to try and build diversity. Socially, there are three types of students at Lehigh: “those who are Greek, those whose friends are Greek, and those who have no friends.” The final group is in the extreme minority, as “it isn’t hard to find a friend at Lehigh,” and even the atypical students “usually just connect with each other.” Ever the balanced bunch, Lehigh students “recognize scholastic the opportunity that Lehigh provides but also thrive on the party scene.”" "Unless you have a car, there really isn’t much to in the immediate surrounding area, though the school does provide a shuttle to some common off-campus destinations and the town is home to many festivals throughout the year. On campus, studying takes up most weeknights, and though there are events “here and there,” “drinking is king at Lehigh” and “Greek life is everything.” “It’s party hard, work hard. We have all the Ivy League rejects who are crazy competitive combined with crazy parties. What’s better?” asks a sophomore. Though the jury is out as to how crucial drinking is to Lehigh social life, “the school provides a lot of alcohol free activities such as game night, comedians, movie nights, etc.,” and there is “plenty of socializing” through sports, student organizations, and plain old hanging out. “Even kids who are obsessed with video games won’t just sit and play alone in their rooms. They’ll find others with the same interest and do so together,” says a student. “There are tons of ways to get involved on campus and have a good time, you just have to get creative,” says another."</p>
<p>Rank List</p>
<h1>18 Homogeneous Student Population</h1>
<h1>12 Little Race/Class Interaction</h1>
<h1>20 Lots of Beer</h1>
<h1>9 Major Frat and Sorority Scene</h1>
<h1>3 Town-Gown Relations are Strained</h1>
<p>Macalester College:
“Globalism, liberalism, social justice and environmentalism rule the day” at Macalester College, a small Minnesota liberal arts school where “Academics are taken very seriously and students are expected to perform.” Academic offerings “are top notch” here, “particularly chemistry, economics, and international studies,” the last of which benefits from “the new Institute for Global Citizenship, study abroad, and the diversity of international students” which together make Macalester “a very worldly place.” Departments of psychology, sociology, and political science also have their champions; students warn that because of Macalester’s small size, some other departments “are extremely understaffed, and in combination with small class sizes, that leads to a lot of people being turned away from courses they need.” Students report that “in true liberal arts style, every department is somehow interconnected to seemingly opposite departments, numerous interdisciplinary majors exist, and even within individual classes, professors approach teaching their given subject from numerous angles. While this may make choosing a specific major somewhat difficult, it absolutely enriches everyone’s thoughts and sparks discussion across campus about a variety of issues.” This can lead to “The ‘Macalester Dilemma,’ the oh-so-common problem of so many interests and so little time. With so many ways to involve oneself, Mac students, with their wide-ranging interests and their desire to explore them, often find themselves overcommitted.”" Macalester “has a very diverse population as far as ethnicity and origin goes, but as a whole is very politically liberal.” The typical student “is either a liberal Democrat and environmentalist who wants to make the world a better place, or an international student (who generally doesn’t approve of any U.S. politics) who seeks to work in industry in his home country.” Undergrads tend to be “fairly relaxed and easygoing,” “intelligent, high-achieving, hard-working, and unpretentious but conscientious and on top of the news.” Many describe themselves as “awkward,” adding “We are nerds and proud of it.” Jocks that are “only interested in playing football and partying” are atypical, “but they seem to have fun among themselves, too.”" "“Everything is pretty low key” on the Macalester campus, where “There are rarely large parties. Instead, people will drink and hang out in the dorms (if underclassmen) or friends’ houses (if juniors or seniors)” where they tend to discuss ‘big ideas.’ In this way, “Life at Mac is an extension of classes. We talk about gender, sexuality, multiculturalism, politics, etc. I always learn something new in a conversation with my friends because Mac students love analyzing things.” As one student notes, “A joke here at Mac is how often the phrase ‘social construct’ and the word ‘hegemony’ are used, both in classes and even in social settings.” Mac life is not all hanging out and deconstructing, however; on the contrary, “There’s a really strong campus community. There are always events going on on the weekends, both campus-sponsored dances and parties in dorm rooms, etc.” as well as “plays, musicals, and other things on campus.” And, “When Mac lets us down, there are two cities (Minneapolis and St. Paul) for us to go play in. Everyone should go to the Gay ‘90s at least once before they graduate.” Other urban options include “football or basketball games…some people go clubbing or out to eat. Lots go to the museums or just out shopping.” “Getting around on the bus system is easy, although sometimes slow.”</p>
<p>Rank List</p>
<h1>6 Gay Community Accepted</h1>
<h1>11 Lots of Race/Class Interaction</h1>
<h1>14 Most Politically Active Students</h1>
<h1>16 Least Religious Students</h1>
<h1>20 Most Liberal Students</h1>
<h1>7 Best Quality of Life</h1>
<p>Trinity College:</p>
<p>"Connecticut’s Trinity College “offers a rare combination of high academic standards, a balanced political climate, intense athletic competitiveness/participation, awesome financial aid” and, last but not least, “a huge party scene,” prompting some students to opine that “Trinity offers the most even balance of academics (amazing professors, room to find your niche) and social life” among U.S. colleges. Here, “Monday through Thursday everyone goes to class, studies, and gets their work done,” but, “Come the weekend, people let loose and party just as hard as they study.” Weekdays offer “a great learning experience that provides ample opportunities,” thanks in part to the school’s small size (which means undergraduates have opportunities for research), a faculty staffed by “brilliant and caring” professors who “prioritize teaching above publishing,” and a library that is “nothing less than phenomenal.” Students also appreciate Trinity’s urban setting, noting that “the city of Hartford [is used] as a valuable learning tool” and pointing out that, unlike “the majority of top liberal arts schools . . . [where] internship opportunities are limited, Trinity offered me the opportunity [for] many hands-on experiences.” This may be particularly true if yo ur field of interest is politics (Trinity’s “location in a capital city means lots of opportunities for political internships,” explains one student). Other standout departments include English (both literature and creative writing), Engineering, Theater, French, and the interdisciplinary program in human rights." "“Despite admissions’ efforts, Trinity is still characterized by the New England boarding-school grad in polos and pink pants,” undergrads here tell us, although some assert that “what many see as the typical student is actually a minority.” Still, “The picture that immediately comes to mind is a blond, blue-eyed girl buying Coach . . . with daddy’s money.” Adding some diversity is “a growing population of ‘Wesleyan-types,’ who probably got rejected from our fellow Connecticut school. There’s [been] an influx of intelligent, down-to-earth people at Trinity who are passionate about a lot more than getting wasted Thursday through Sunday.” Students tend to be “over-wired” when not in class, attached to a “cell phone, IM, computer, [or] iPod, and therefore socially awkward or impolite. . . . In class, they are overachievers, very articulate and competitive. Most spend an impressive amount of time studying.”" "For many Trinity undergrads, “The fraternities dominate the weekend social scene,” and because these groups can be “fairly elitist” when it comes to allowing people into their late-night soirees, “Sometimes it’s hard to find something to do.” Other students take a broader view of campus life. Such students tell us that new groups are “gaining social power,” among them “The Fred (named after late professor Fred Pfiel),” which hosts “open mic evenings, nonalcoholic competitions, [and] theme nights,” among other events. They also call out Trinity’s Cinestudio, “one of the best on-campus student-run movie theaters in the country.” While campus theater, orchestra, a cappella, and chamber groups have limited participation, their performances are often well attended by the student body. Students note that “everything is available on campus so there is minimal effort to find things off campus.” Those who have cars “often travel to nicer parts of Hartford or other Connecticut towns.” One student observes, “Hartford, Connecticut is not as bad as people make it out to be. It has a lot to offer as long as you are willing to leave campus. There are some great restaurants and lots of shows to go to. Don’t let yourself get stuck on campus every weekend.”"</p>
<p>Rank List</p>
<h1>4 Alternative Lifestyles Not an Alternative</h1>
<h1>1 Little Race/Class Interaction</h1>
<h1>16 Lots of Beer</h1>
<h1>10 Lots of Hard Liquor</h1>
<h1>19 More to Do on Campus</h1>
<h1>2 Town-Gown Relations are Strained</h1>
<p>Union College:</p>
<p>"Immersing a bunch of engineers and premeds in an accelerated trimester calendar should be a formula for a high-stress campus, but somehow Union College manages to keep the situation under control. A highly capable student body helps, as does, perhaps, the availability of quality liberal arts classes to intersperse among the science- and math-heavy classes; as one student puts it, “There aren’t too many schools that do a good job combining engineering with liberal arts, [but it’s] important if you actually want to communicate with people.” In fact, many students here believe Union is actually an “excellent liberal arts school with a solid footing in the hard sciences—I wasn’t sure exactly what I wanted to do with my life after graduation, [and] Union gave me a myriad of options.” Those options include not only “great Science and Engineering Department[s]” but also strong programs in economics, political science, and psychology, all taught by top-notch professors. An economics major writes, “I was really amazed and pleasantly surprised when I saw the caliber of the professors here. They are all interested in their particular field of research, and their enthusiasm in the classroom rubs off on the students and makes for interesting and fun-filled learning exercises.” Students even love the trimester system, which “allows a normal course load of only three classes a term.” Some feel this allows for “lots of free time.” Others caution, “The amount of work is increased, and in addition we must complete courses in only 10 weeks as opposed to the normal 12 to 14. By nature, Union is an accelerated school.”" "While “You can find a variety of people at Union,” students say there is definitely “a typical Union student,” who can be described as “preppy, Northeastern, [and] middle- to upper-class.” By all accounts, you’ll find “a lot of athletes, a lot of frat boys,” and a lot of students who “wear Polo and Abercrombie” here. Atypical students are those who “find their place on campus in the Minerva House activities and clubs such as Women’s Union, Black Student Union, performing arts groups, the college’s radio station—WRUC, Ultimate Frisbee, and others.” The “terribly cliquish nature of the social scene makes it difficult to provide a decent analysis of individual students.”" "For as long as anyone can remember, the Greeks have dominated the social scene at Union College, and while the frats are still “a big scene on the weekends (30–40 percent of campus is involved in Greek life),” the school is increasing attempts to provide more alternatives. The 2004 creation of seven Minerva Houses—each incoming student is assigned to one—represents the most significant effort; the houses are intended “to provide a nonexclusive (i.e., [non-] Greek) space for students to live and work.” It’s too early to deem this experiment a success or failure, although almost everyone here has an opinion one way or another. Some report that the Minervas are “a great idea” that are “slowly gaining popularity and momentum,” while others see them as “creat[ing] tension over the distribution of funds” or, worse yet, “rapidly becoming small [frat-like] cliques themselves. For example, almost the entire Ultimate Frisbee team lives in Orange House.” There’s no disagreement over the city of Schenectady; everyone agrees it is less than ideal, and worse, there is “nothing to do.” General consensus is that fun means “staying on campus and drinking” or “maybe an excursion to Albany (20 minutes away) for a concert.” Campus perks up whenever the hockey team plays, as “Hockey games are huge events here”; football also draws a crowd. While students concede that drinking is big at Union, they also report that “there are other options for students. Every weekend at least one Minerva has to hold an event, [and] there are speakers, lecturers, movies, [and] performances. We always have a lot going on!”"</p>
<p>Rank List</p>
<h1>14 Little Race/Class Interaction</h1>
<h1>15 Lots of Beer</h1>
<h1>2 More to Do on Campus</h1>
<h1>1 Town-Gown Relations are Strained</h1>
<p>University Of Notre Dame:</p>
<p>Notre Dame has many traditions, including a “devotion to undergraduate education” that you might not expect from a school with such an athletic reputation. Professors here are, by all accounts, “wonderful”: “Not only are they invested in their students,” they’re “genuinely passionate about their field of study,” “enthusiastic and animated in lectures,” and “always willing to meet outside of class to give extra help.” Wary that distance might breed academic disengagement, they ensure that “large lectures are broken down into smaller discussion groups once a week to help with class material and . . . give the class a personal touch.” For its part, “The administration tries its best to stay on top of the students’ wants and needs.” They make it “extremely easy to get in touch with anyone.” Like the professors, they try to make personal connections with students. For example, “Our president (a priest), as well as both of our present presidents emeritus, make[s] it a point to interact with the students in a variety of ways—teaching a class, saying mass in the dorms, etc.” Overall, “while classes are difficult,” “Students are competitive against one another,” and “It’s necessary to study hard and often, [but] there’s also time to do other things.”" "Undergrads at Notre Dame report that “the vast majority” of their peers are “very smart” “White kids from upper- to middle-class backgrounds from all over the country, especially the Midwest and Northeast.” The typical student “is a type-A personality that studies a lot, yet is athletic and involved in the community. They are usually the outstanding seniors in their high schools,” the “sort of people who can talk about the BCS rankings and Derrida in the same breath.” Additionally, something like “85 percent of Notre Dame students earned a varsity letter in high school.” “Not all are Catholic” here, though most are, and it seems that most undergrads “have some sort of spirituality present in their daily lives.” “ND is slowly improving in diversity concerning economic backgrounds, with the university’s policy to meet all demonstrated financial need.” As things stand now, those who “don’t tend to fit in with everyone else hang out in their own groups made up by others like them (based on ethnicity, sexual orientation, etc.).”" "Life at Notre Dame is centered on two things: “residential life” and “sports.” The “Dorms on campus provide the social structure” and supply undergrads with “tons of opportunities” “to get involved and have fun.” “During the school week” students “study a lot, but on the weekends everyone seems to make up for the lack of partying during the week.” The school “does not have any frats or sororities, but campus is not dry, and drinking/partying is permitted within the residence halls.” The administration reportedly tries “to keep the parties on campus due to the fact that campus is such a safe place and they truly do care about our safety.” In addition to dorm parties, “virtually every student plays some kind of sport [in] his/her residence hall, and the dorms are really competitive in the Interhall Sport System.” Intercollegiate sports, to put it mildly, “are huge.” “If someone is not interested in sports upon arrival, he or she will be by the time he or she leaves.” “Everybody goes to the football games, and it’s common to see 1,000 students at a home soccer game.” Beyond residential life and sports, “religious activities,” volunteering, “campus publications, student government, and academic clubs round out the rest of ND life.”"</p>
<p>Rank List</p>
<h1>1 Alternative Lifestyles Not an Alternative</h1>
<h1>9 Best Campus Food</h1>
<h1>11 Best Career/Job Placement Services</h1>
<h1>12 Don't Inhale</h1>
<h1>1 Everyone Plays Intramural Sports</h1>
<h1>5 Future Rotarians and Daughters of the American Revolution</h1>
<h1>5 Jock Schools</h1>
<h1>20 More to Do on Campus</h1>
<h1>7 Most Beautiful Campus</h1>
<h1>14 School Runs Like Butter</h1>
<h1>3 Students Pack the Stadiums</h1>
<h1>2 Most Religious Students</h1>
<h1>13 Best Athletic Facilities</h1>
<p>To be blunt, this is an unusual list for an international student. The most welcoming school on your list for international students is Macalester College, then Amherst College. You may want to consider Columbia University, Georgetown University, Johns Hopkins Univ., Univ. of Richmond & Michigan.
What considerations prompted you to select these schools? What country are from? What are your SAT scores section-by-section? Do you want a small, rural setting? Do you want to avoid large cities & large schools? If so, then why?</p>
<p>Wesleyan University:</p>
<p>"Students at Wesleyan University relish “the immense amount of freedom the school gives you,” both in terms of curricular choices (“because of the lack of core curriculum, you can mold each semester however you want: lots of lecture, lots of discussion, a mix”) and in extracurricular life (in other words, “Public Safety rarely bothers the students”). The latter may sound like a recipe for a nonstop party, but that’s hardly the case at Wesleyan; students here don’t see the school as a 24/7 kegger, but rather as “a playground for the most opinionated and social-norm-destroying students of our generation to debate issues that really matter to them.” If that suggests a school entirely focused on humanities and social sciences, guess again; Wes “has one of the strongest science programs [of] any of the top liberal arts school[s]. One-quarter of the students major in a science. Since we’re in a university, but have very few graduate students, there are tons of opportunities for students to get involved in research. As a sophomore, I was highly involved in a $5 million NIH grant. That’s pretty unique and amazing.” In all disciplines, “Professors are incredible. They are all as available as they could be to us and more willing to help than I ever expected college professors to be.” Those who teach “upper level courses are ridiculously passionate about what they teach, and are usually doing research that is very relevant to their field. At Wesleyan, I always get the sense that I am surrounded by many brilliant minds.” A “very active student body . . . frequently tries to make changes in the way that the school is run,” and “The administration does a good job [of] working with students to ensure that we all have the most positive experience possible.”" “Passionate” is a word that pops up frequently when Wesleyan undergrads describe their peers, as does “intelligent.” In fact, Wesleyan is a magnet for kids who value intellect, not only as a means to good grades and a career, but also as an instrument of self-development. “Everyone is excited about something,” undergrads report. Students here are engaged in campus life, meaning that “a lot of things on campus are student-run and a lot of learning takes place outside the classroom due to casual interaction between peers.” Demographically speaking, there are “two main molds of a Wesleyan student: The preppy New England kid and the kid . . . that [is] some kind of mix between a hipster and a hippie. Outside of that it’s an extremely diverse group of kids who come from all over and have a wide range of interests.” Most students here “are liberal and ‘alternative.’”" "The Wesleyan campus is a busy one, replete with club and intercollegiate athletics, frat and house parties, and lots of performances and lectures. One student explains, “The Wes social scene is very much what you want to make it. Want to party? We do have frats (though they’re a super-small part of campus life) and house parties. Don’t want to party? Go to a play, concert, movie, or just hang out. Not everyone here is partying.” Indeed, “There is plenty to keep you occupied” at Wesleyan, including campus politics, as “On this campus there is always some issue being fought or demonstrated against.” Students take a strong hand in driving campus life, as “Everything is mostly student-run.” “If a Wes student wants something that doesn’t currently exist on campus, [he or she] make[s] it happen.” Hometown Middletown, while “clearly lacking the resources of a large city,” “has lots of opportunities to get involved and feel like a member of the community for four years.” A junior reports, “Main Street in Middletown has changed tremendously just in the three years I have been here. Lots of new restaurants, bars, and art galleries have opened.”"</p>
<p>Rank List</p>
<h1>11 Best College Library</h1>
<h1>10 Birkenstock-Wearing, Tree-Hugging, Clove-Smoking Vegetarians</h1>
<h1>12 Most Politically Active Students</h1>
<h1>15 Reefer Madness</h1>
<h1>11 Least Religious Students</h1>
<p>The only schools I would go to on your list as an international student would be Amherst, Colgate, Macalester and Notre Dame. Out of these, Amherst and Macalester would probably be on top.</p>
<p>The best advice I can say is DO NOT GO TO TRINITY, UNION, OR LEHIGH, they're not welcoming of foreigners.</p>
<p>woah...thanks pierre</p>
<p>ColdWind, I am from latvia (europe), the main consideration is availability for financial aid. I haven't taken SAT yet, but i'll take it on 6 December (i know it's risky as it's my only chance). I don't have any preferences on setting and i wouldn't mind attending college in large city, but as i said,the main point are scholarships and as far as i have search, large universities are not very generous with fin.aid to intern. students, but i'll definately check out your given universities.</p>
<p>Check out the University Of Miami!</p>
<p>Amherst College Lord Jeffs- really athletic nice smart people, the Harvard of LACs</p>
<p>Colgate University Raiders - work hard party hard</p>
<p>Kenyon College Lords and Ladies - one of the best lacs, more of an intellectual school </p>
<p>Lehigh University Mountain Hawks - pressure cooker, big for engineering </p>
<p>Macalster College Fighting Scots - one of the best lacs, very intellectual and liberal </p>
<p>Trinity College Bantams - party school, safety school</p>
<p>Union College Dutchmen - safety school </p>
<p>University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish - every Catholic's dream school, great poly sci dept., obsessed with sports </p>
<p>Wesleyan University Cardinals - very liberal, one of the best lacs</p>
<p>sorry, not as good as pierre</p>
<p>Macalester exists to promote global study, international relations, and attract international applicants to interact with their American students. Here's a second vote for Amherst or Mac. It's also nice that Mac is somewhat less selective than Amherst, so that if Amherst is a reach for you, Mac would probably be a target school.</p>
<p>thank you all very much
what about middlebury?</p>
<p>IMHO, Middlebury and Macalester are the two most internationally focused LACs in the U.S.</p>
<p>Middlebury is by far the best place to live as an LAC and is also the 5th best liberal arts school in the country. I'd go there in a heartbeat.</p>
<p>Here's some info on Middlebury:</p>
<p>"Home to “smart people who enjoy Aristotelian ethics and quantum physics, but aren’t too stuck up to go sledding in front of Mead Chapel at midnight,” Middlebury College is a small, exclusive liberal arts school with “excellent foreign language programs” as well as standout offerings in environmental studies, the sciences, theater, and writing. Distribution requirements and other general requirements ensure that a Middlebury education “is all about providing students with a complete college experience including excellent teaching, exposure to many other cultures, endless opportunities for growth and success, and a challenging (yet relaxed) environment.” Its “small class size and friendly yet competitive atmosphere make for the perfect college experience,” as do “the best facilities of a small liberal arts college in the country. The new library, science center, athletic complex, arts center, and a number of the dining halls and dorms have been built in the past 10 years.” Expect to work hard here; “It’s tough, but this is a mini-Ivy, so what should one expect? There is plenty of time to socialize, and due to the collaborative atmosphere here, studying and socializing can often come hand in hand. The goal of many students here is not to get high grades” but rather “learning in its purest form, and that is perhaps this college’s most brightly shining aspect.” The collaborative atmosphere is abetted by the fact that “Admissions doesn’t just bring in geniuses, they bring in people who are leaders and community servants. Think of the guy or girl in your high school whom everybody describes as ‘so nice’ . . . that’s your typical Middlebury student.”" "“The typical [Middlebury] student is athletic, outdoorsy, and very intelligent.” The two most prominent demographics are “very preppy students (popped collars)” and “extreme hippies.” One undergrad explains: “The typical students are one of two types: either ‘Polo, Nantucket red, pearls, and summers on the Cape,’ or ‘Birks, wool socks, granola, and suspicious smells about them.’ A lot of people break these two molds, but they often fall somewhere on the spectrum between them.” There’s also “a huge international student population, which is awesome,” but some international students, “tend to separate out and end up living in language houses.” There’s also “a really strong theater/artsy community” here. One student notes, “Other than a few groups, everyone mingles pretty well. We’re all too damn friendly and cheerful for our own good.”" "“This high level of involvement in everything translates into an amazing campus atmosphere” at Middlebury, where “Most people are very involved. There is a club for just about everything you can imagine, and if you can imagine one that hasn’t yet been created, you go ahead and create it yourself.” With great skiing and outdoor activity close by, “Almost everyone is athletic in some way. This can translate into anything from varsity sports to intramural hockey (an extremely popular winter pastime!). People are enthusiastic about being active and having fun.” Because the school “is set in a very small town, there aren’t too many (if any) problems with violence, drugs, [or] crime. It’s the ideal college town because of its rural setting, in that there are no real distractions other than those that are provided within the college campus.” Of course, the small-town setting also means that “the only real off-campus activity is going out to eat at the town’s quaint restaurants or going to the one bar in town,” but fortunately “When it comes to on-campus activities, Middlebury provides the student population with tons of great events. Everything from classy music concerts to late-night movies and dance parties can be found as a Midd-supported activity. The student activity board does a fabulous job with entertaining the students virtually every day.”" </p>
<p>Rank List</p>
<h1>14 Best Campus Food</h1>
<h1>16 Best Career/Job Placement Services</h1>
<h1>1 Professors Get High Marks</h1>
<h1>4 School Runs Like Butter</h1>
<h1>8 Students Study the Most</h1>
<h1>8 Best Classroom Experience</h1>
<h1>8 Best Quality of Life</h1>
<p>Also look at Davidson College:</p>
<p>Davidson College, which students insist is “the best liberal arts college in the South,” is the ideal setting for students who are “not afraid to show their academic passions” and who seek “the incorporation of academics into all parts of life.” One undergrad explains, “I feel like I am always learning, even when I am not in the classroom. The atmosphere provided by my fellow classmates provides almost as many new intellectual experiences as my time in class.” A school “notorious for grade deflation” (according to one student, “This place is not a joke. And you won’t be the smartest kid in your class . . . or any other class”), Davidson is a place where “You have to expect a fair bit of work. Classes are tiny and intense, and with the small size and high level of student participation, it is impossible to hide.” The upshot is that “you will learn a lot, not just in terms of subject matter but also about your learning styles and how you learn the best.” Davidson professors “are amazing. Not only are they renowned in their fields, but they are always available for extra help or even just to chat”—they are “rare combinations of teachers and researchers.” Students tell us that “for such a small school, the amount of undergraduate research going on here is surprising,” and that undergrads often contribute to faculty work. Davidson’s honor code “is a huge part of life; for example, we have 100 community bikes that anyone can use at any time, and we trust them to not get stolen (and they don’t!). Every quiz and test in my French class is take-home, and every exam at Davidson is self-scheduled unless that is logistically impossible.”" There are two noticeable populations at Davidson: “the driven, intelligent, likely wealthy White student who likes to party a lot,” and “the driven, intelligent, likely wealthy White student who likes to read the Bible and go to church.” One student observes, “To secular folks, this is the most religious place they’ve ever been, and to religious folks, it’s the most secular place they’ve ever been.” Money is rather visible on campus; one student claims, “Students drive much nicer cars than their professors.” There are “not many African American students, and hardly any Asians here,” and “There is not a lot of diversity in terms of economic status.” There are lots of jocks, though, as “probably 25 percent of the student body is made up of Division I- or Division I AA-caliber athletes. They get no breaks in admissions or from professors, by the way, and they don’t fit the stereotypes of being elitist or separatist. We all work hard.” Regardless of differences in background, however, students assert that the school “is remarkably well integrated—while students certainly stick with their fraternity or sports team, often their best friends are from their freshman hall.”" "“Students do spend a lot of time studying at Davidson,” claim undergrads, “but that doesn’t mean they don’t have fun.” During the week “We study until our minds bleed,” but “We find ways to relieve the pressure over the weekend.” For those who drink, that often means “court parties at Patterson Court, home of our fraternity/eating house scene.” These events, we’re told, involve a lot of alcohol. The administration has sought to curtail drinking by “directing nonalcoholic events to the Student Union.” Usually these events “are a viable alternative” to the party scene. Movies, free food, and various types of alcohol-free parties fill the Student Union calendar and are favored by the school’s substantial religious population. Davidson basketball is popular; other sports aren’t as well supported. Many students recommend frequent trips off campus to “nearby Birkdale for a movie or shopping,” to the “small (but by no means boring) towns of Mooresville, Huntersville, and Cornelius,” or to “downtown Charlotte for dinner and drinks.”"</p>
<p>Rank List</p>
<h1>12 Professors Get High Marks</h1>
<h1>16 Most Accessible Professors</h1>
<h1>6 School Runs Like Butter</h1>
<h1>13 Students Study the Most</h1>
<h1>7 Town-Gown Relations are Great</h1>