Preppiness Factor

Colleges and Universities A-Z Haverford College
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<p>Hi, i am new to the forum. S just started at HC this week. At the NH prep school where I teach (from which S just graduated), prep is much more than a descriptor. It is a world view, a uniform, a litmus test, even a means by which social hierarchies are formed.</p>

<p>I have lurked on this forum for a while, and I just think it bears stressing how wonderfully open the scene at HC <em>appears</em> to be. Correct me if I am wrong. S's search was, in large part, a quest to escape prep culture. Many of the finer LAC's seemed too preppy for him: Middlebury, Amherst...didn't even want to visit Bowdoin or Williams based on reputation. Also southern schools, a variant but still preppy: Vandy, etc. He had it down to HC and Davidson (because of the honor codes) and chose to apply ED to HC because even Davidson seemed too preppy to him.</p>

<p>(Aside: he also liked Swat but thought vibe was too tightly wrapped. Thought Oberlin and Wesleyan were too loosey-goosey.)</p>

<p>Anyway, it was wonderful dropping him off Wednesday, meeting quite a few of the students, and visiting with the other new students and their parents. People just seems very open and authentic. There was the occasional student or parent wearing plaid shorts, but so what? At HC, that seems more like a personal choice than a statement of class or conformity.</p>

<p>Again, I would love to hear others thoughts, particularly if I am off track here. Thanks.</p>

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<p>Welcome to Haverford and yes, I think you are right on track. I agree that the beauty of HC is that the students are very open and value individual expression and choice. We are from Mass. and so I know that schools you are describing well. When my S was trying to decide bewteen Middlebury and HC 4 years ago, his guidance counselor told him that while Midd is a great school, that she felt HC would be a better match for him as he is not an athlete and less preppy. She also felt that HC was a more intellectual (over party)environment than Midd and others like it. That is just her opinion, of course but I felt she was well versed on the cultures of the NE colleges.</p>

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<p>My S also just started at HC. The Honor Code was a major factor in his decision but certainly not the only one. So far, all of his expectations have been met or exceeded. We were truly surprised at the welcome provided by the Customs Folks. S felt immediately at home.</p>