<p>I'm not really thrilled with most of what I've read about Trinity. The whole popped-collar mentality kind of urks me. I know it's not as much of a party school as it used to be, but still... I don't know. Something about it doesn't seem to fit. Thanks for the suggestion, though.</p>
<p>Another idea would be Middlebury. Covers most of your requirements plus a renowned language program. Selectivity in the same range as Bowdoin.</p>
<p>You seem to have two genres on your list. I really see the thread between Brown, Wesleyan, Reed, Oberlin, Smith, etc. All have the traits you have mentioned. </p>
<p>BMC, Haverford would be 'less alcohol' schools though they have less quirkiness too.</p>
<p>Williams, Bowdoin, (& if you take momrath's suggestion, Middlebury) are quite different in feel. Not particularly "liberal" nor "quirky." They are of course excellent and appealing schools but just a FYI; more of a sporty, hearty, snowy (& yes, beery) culture-- in part because of their more isolated locations. BTW I myself applied to Williams so I am not trying to knock these schools.</p>
<p>Grinnell, Macalester, & Vassar are probably more similar to your core list in terms of liberal and artistic. (G & M not in east however.)</p>
<p>My D does not drink either and wanted a less-drinking-oriented school. </p>
<p>It is not so easy to find; most schools have drinking. What she discovered was the factors that made her comfortable were: (1) lots of social alternatives-- movies, clubs, plays, a cappella, etc, and (2) accepting, friendly, low-pressure environment (kids might drink but would not be judgemental of non drinkers) (3) little to no greek presence. </p>
<p>By and large these schools were not in isolated locations.</p>
<p>momrath, you are such a wonderful cheerleader for Williams! I think you've recommended it to every poster looking for a LAC! You're recommendation to us certainly played a role in my D's decision to put it on our list to visit in the next week's tour of the east. If you'd like, I can tell the Admissions office to put you in for a raise!</p>
<p>quilt, I know you're being sincere, but your comments fill me with apprehension because I know I do posit Williams too much. It's just that my own stereotypes were so pleasantly overthrown by my son's experience that I like to mention Williams' art/music/theater side to kids who may only know it as the preppy sports school out there in the frozen wasteland where as one poster so charmingly put it "[you're]going to be surrounded by folks vomiting in your hallways." This kind of misinformation needs to be balanced.</p>
<p>After a visit, reaction is purely visceral; kids either love it or hate it. I never argue with a kid's impression.</p>
<p>In the case of this particular poster, I agree that Williams and Bowdoin are somewhat different in character from the others on her list, but it was her list, not mine.</p>
<p>SBmom, you're very right in saying that Williams and Bowdoin are very different from the rest of my list. That has been sort of bothering me for a while. In fact, I've decided to take Bowdoin off my list. There are little things about Williams (Free U., William-Oxford Exchange, Critical Languages Program, et alia)that really make me like the school, however. C'mon, they're the Purple Cows for goodness sake. I swear that I'm not choosing colleges based on mascots, but...man...I want to be a Purple Cow.:) I'm visiting there in about a week, so I hope to get a more definite impression of it then. I appreciate the suggestions of Grinnel and Macalester, but I've lived in the Midwest my whole life and, well, basically want to get the heck out of Dodge. I'll have to take another look at Vassar.
Momrath, I did have Middlebury on my list for a long time mostly for their language program but decided to take it off after hearing so many reports of intolerance on campus (and no, not just the infamous Village Voice article). Thanks though.</p>