<p>nyu and wesleyan have a similar hipster quotient. Go to Wesleyan if you want some time to yourself before heading to Williamsburg (or West Hollywood or Silver Lake, etc.) Anyway, the OP sez that was just their initial list.</p>
<p>I think everyone is misinterpreting what the OP means by "alternative". He says schools like Deep Springs (where you work hard outdoors) and the military academies.
You might add the Coast Guard and Merchant Marine Academies, VMI and the Citadel.
I would second (third, fifth?) the University of Chicago for "character building " rigor.
I've referred to it as the Marine Corps of higher education for a while now.</p>
<p>I really appreciate Deep Spring's philosophy:rigorous academics in an isolated setting, with people who are there simply to learn</p>
<p>U of C is definitely a college I've become interested in. But that's a "reach" school for me, and I'm hoping for a few more low-reach, high-target schools with such a quirky student body/academic standards. On the other side are these other work schools I've looked into, and a few others that are really "safety" schools for me. And while that's fine, I don't want to feel underextended academically for the sake of a unique college atmosphere; and if the college is virtually open admissions (70%+ acceptances), how can they weed out who's really interested in education from who's just jumping in? It seems contradictory, unless the school is unbelievable self-selective.</p>
<p>So, my point is, I was wondering if people had any other suggestions besides U of C and Reed? Both I've added to my list..I might include that Florida Honors College and one work school, but I want more low reaches, if more schools like this are out there?</p>
<p>What about the college of wooster? They give out great scholarships, you don't have to have a minimum GPA to keep them, they have the 2nd best independent study program (so I've heard) in the country.</p>
<p>I second Beloit and Earlham as great colleges with solid reputations for quirky students who want to study in a nurturing environment in which students are interested in learning for learning's sake. I visited both and loved them. Earlham, in particular, was intellectually alive. U of Chicago is not a nuturing environment; it is extremely intense. NYU may be in Greenwich Village, but it is a large university without a dominant student personality. Wesleyan and Swarthmore are full of academically serious students, who are generally quite competitive and less "quirky" than meets the eye. Reed, Oberlin and New College are worth exploring as highly regarded colleges with a sense of intellectual freedom and quirky student bodies; Hampshire and Marboro have less structure and less of an academic reputation. The College of Wooster is a great college with a terrific independent study program for upper classmen, but the student body did not strike me as "quirky" when I visited. Best of luck.</p>
<p>The only other factor I could use to know: does anyone have personal experience with someone who attended one of these schools? Is it easy to continue on into medical fields (M.D. track) or the likes?>></p>
<p>Earlham is one of the top producers of percentage of students going on to earn PHD's in chemistry. For several years in a row (not sure about last year), they also had 100% med school placement.</p>
<p>Beloit, Wooster, Lawrence and Knox also all have very strong science programs. Knox has an early med school acceptance program with Rush Medical School in Chicago (you apply in sophomore year of college). Lawrence has an exceptionally strong physics program for a small LAC. The College of Wooster is well respected by grad and professional schools and their senior thesis requirement is a plus for admissions. Beloit has a strong biology program and does well with med school placements. They also have an excellent geology department, and are set to complete a state of the art science facility later this year. </p>
<p>So, in answer to your question - these schools are definitely well respected and viable options for going on to grad and professional programs. I would, however, be more cautious about schools with less traditional curriculums (Hampshire, for example), simply because any time you have to explain what the heck you actually studied, it can add an extra layer of complexity to the application process. Doesn't mean they won't work -- but I think you'd need to be a little more concientious about making sure you were getting the right knowledge at schools with less traditional curriculum approaches.</p>
<p>St John's College in New Mexico and MD are pretty quirky and a lot easier to get into than say, Reed, or even New College. The curriculum is based on the Great Books, and you'd have to be ready to write a thesis in senior year, like you would at New College.</p>
<p>hahaha idk if this helps you at all.
but I live in a very jappy town, and my bff's sister just went to Swarthmore this year. She's very into the alternative scene, etc., and was voted "Most Unique."
I was talking to her the other day and ask her how she fits in over there and she goes "hahaha, I'm like THE Jap of Swarthmore. but I love it here."</p>
<p>idk how if Swarthmore works with your situation though</p>
<p>Carolyn, I know one person who went to Marboro, but she is an elementary school teacher now. My mom went to NYU dental and was not fond of it. My best friend's mom also went to NYU and transferred to SUNY Buffalo (now a physical therapist). Apparently it is very cut-throat in both the undergrad and professional schools. If you do well there, you can be successful, but it isn't a cosy community or anything. My neighbor goes to NYU-Tisch, which is different, and she seems to like it and one of my bro's friends just transferred from Stern (apparently the students are uptight or something?). Each of the schools has a different personality, but overall Arts and Sciences seems to be the way my mom and friend's mom interpreted it. </p>
<p>I used to be friends with a girl who went to U of C for math. She seemed really stressed out, but she was really interesting and smart. I think that she is now in a grad program for math or something.</p>
<p>BELOIT COLLEGE
It's known in the academic world. Its tailored around helping you figure out what you want to do. If youre interested in anything Anthropology or International this is the place for you. Its easy to design your own major (many have) and create special projects you can receive credit on. Also, Beloiters are just always doing new things, challenging the establishment, and making a difference at home or in the world. I love it here.</p>
<p>I'd like to second the suggestion of Bennington College and its Field Work Term.</p>