NESCAC LACs still generally represent Northern preppy; Princeton remains among the preppier schools in the Ivy League; D.C. remains a popular destination for preppy students; Virginia colleges still generally represent Southern preppy; Colorado College still resembles a NESCAC LAC moved westward.
I went to Sweet Briar and I 100% recommend a womenās college. Being around mostly women opens your eyes to how differently youāre treated by men and a liberal arts education allows you to challenge that post-grad. 100% would not recommend Sweet Briar though
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My daughter was at 2 different lacs (not fitting your descriptions) but the first one it seemed most took the easiest path to getting an āAā and like all they talked about. She transferred to another Lac that had her major and the feeling was students took classes that were intellectually challenging even if that meant they got a lower grade. They were taking classes to ālearnā. Funny thingā¦ It seemed they just worked harder and still got the grades.
I just so appreciate your comment on this.
@libsea: My assumption is that you attend an elite NYC prep school. College is different.
While āruthless competitionā and āendless studyingā are unattractive realities of your current environment, it is important to attend a college or university with highly intelligent, motivated students. If you settle for less based on your current experience, you may be setting yourself up for disappointment.
Since you want a fun, preppy environment with lots of cultural opportunities but do not want to be in a major city, you may like SESP at Northwestern University which is on Lake Michigan and has sailing available for all students.
Another approach may be to consider the Honors Colleges at large public universities.
Miami University in Ohio may be of interest to you.
Hard to make recommendations without knowing your intended major, any career plans, and weather preference.
My simpliest advice to you: Do not over-react to the competitive demands of your current environment. If you doāand aim too lowāyou may be seeking transfer advice in a year or two.
P.S. I agree with other posters who have suggested Dartmouth College. Low pressure, preppy, high intelligence environment. Taking just 3 courses per trimester alleviates a lot of stress.
Also, there are some schools suggested in this thread which are almost certain to disappoint you.
Examine Dartmouth College & Northwestern Universityās SESP and share what you like & dislike about each school in order to better refine your search.
Completely silly to rule out a school because it isnāt perceived to be āpreppyā enough.
List of Suggested schools to consider:
Northwestern University SESP (Super intelligent, collaborative students in a cozy small college type atmosphere with all the benefits of an elite major university adjacent to a dynamic city)
Dartmouth College
Pomona College
Wesleyan University
Bowdoin College
Davidson College
University of Michigan
Colgate University
Duke University
Brown University
Vanderbilt University
University of Texas at Austin
University of Vermont Honors College
Middlebury College
University of Virginia
Washington & Lee University (country club living at its best)
University of Washington
University of Wisconsin-Madison
If you really want a dramatic change from your current environment:
College of Charleston Honors College
University of South Carolina Honors College
University of Puget Sound
Southern Methodist University (SMU)
Lewis & Clark College
Kenyon College (not really a ādramaticā change other than significantly less pressure)
Skidmore College
Vassar College
Tulane University
St. Maryās College of Maryland
Indiana University Honors
University of Colorado at Boulder
University of Denver
Maybe Rollins College in Florida
@WildestDream I used the term āpreppyā because I felt it was a word that would best describe the sort of culture Iām looking for in a college. This is the sort of information that isnāt something you can just google and know for sure, so Iām asking for peopleās personal opinions. Itās the same as someone who looks for politically conservative or liberal schools, or someone who wants to go to school in a certain part of the country for the climate. Itās not something that will make or break my decision, just something that I want to consider as I create a list of schools to consider.
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Iām thinking of studying history or something similar. As for career plans, Iām not too sure. I think I might go for a PhD and then work in museums as a curator, but that might change.
On your other point, that is a concern. Iām still not too sure how I feel about that yet, so Iāll have to do some thinking.
I forgot to mention: weather isnāt super important. Itād be nice to ski on winter weekends, but not having to walk outside in the cold also sounds nice. As long as itās not 100 degrees+ more than like twice a semester.
Academically, you would find what you would need at schools such as Williams, Hamilton, Bowdoin, Bates, Trinity, Colgate, Kenyon, Princeton, Georgetown and UVA.
Btw, since you have expressed an interest in Bryn Mawr, also consider the coeducational Haverford.
Colby could check a lot of boxes in terms of culture, having a museum, etc. But alas, not sailing team. A nice boathouse on a beautiful lake, lots of kids who sail, but AFAIK, no team.
Tufts has an excellent sailing program. Has always attracted a lot of prep school kids but I would not describe it as āpreppyā (realizing that term seems to mean different things to different people.) A bit bigger and more urban as n than many of the other schools mentioned here.
You may want to try to separate out gotta have, wanna have, and would be nice. As well as no way!
My daughter is very interested in SBC. What was your experience as far as interaction with other colleges, did you ever feel too secluded?
Sheās loves the inclusive vibe sheās gotten thus far and we are both blown away by their equestrian program.
My concern is longevity and reputation of the school. Would love to hear your experience!
I think you should look at St. Andrews in Scotland. It seems to fit your criteria and is an absolutely gorgeous school in a gorgeous town with all sorts of interesting traditions. They are very accustomed to/welcoming to US applicants so may be more user-friendly than some other UK schools.
Amherst is probably the single school highest on the PH list 40 years ago that has changed the most.
The UW rowing team going to the Olympics in Nazi Berlin is the subject of the book The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown. It gives a fascinating picture of rowing at that time. Not the same as sailing, but close enough?
UW might be more famous for rowing, but they also have a big varsity sailing team with a rich history including some Olympic sailing athletes.
Although it is a big diverse urban campus and hardly what anyone would call preppy.
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Well, for better or worse, the WASP lifestyle and choices donāt change too much. Whether itās 40 years or 100 ā¦
Closing old post.