<p>I am a senior, and I do have a list of colleges carefully planned, based on a variety of factors, including financial aid. </p>
<p>However, now that I have a concrete list, I would like to add a school or two based primarily on its feel/how it would match my personality. Preferably not tippy-top colleges, as I only have a 2020 SAT and 4.0 UW GPA. Please don't ask about what location, cost, etc. I need, because I already have colleges that match those areas- but I want one on my list based solely on the feeling it gives off.</p>
<p>I know all colleges have a variety of students, but it seems like the student body tends to give off a certain "vibe" that can strongly differ from school to school.</p>
<p>I'm looking for a fairly traditional curriculum (not St.John's, for example.) </p>
<p>What describes me:
Weird, geeky, eccentric, awkward. Not overly political. Easily bored. I love when people are surprising/unpredictable. All schools have some degree of drinking, partying, and drugs, and I don't mind, but am not interested in that scene. I'd rather study, experiment, have a fake sword fight or discuss ideas. I accidentally anger people because I tend to debate for any position and pick apart their reasoning. Most of my responses tend to involve quotations from a related study. I love science, art, and music. I'm an actual insomniac (not self-induced to do work,) addicted to caffeine and sleep at odd hours. I become interested in specific topics for periods of time (ex., I might spend a few days researching some obscure topic.)
Do any colleges/universities come to mind when you read this?</p>
<p>University of Chicago fits that vibe, and they have a brand new arts center. You might not like the Core Curriculum though, although it’s not as strict as Columbia’s. A 4.0 UW GPA is definitely not bad btw…</p>
<p>There is no hands down perfect school for you, but schools that come to mind, from more to less selective, include:</p>
<p>Deep Springs (not traditional), Chicago, Swarthmore
Carleton
Reed, Grinnell, Oberlin, Macalester
Earlham (and maybe Hendrix )
Eugene Lang? (as much for its NYC location as the college itself)</p>
<p>You could, however, find a similar kind of student at many (if not most) other schools.</p>
<p>I suspect that arty/bohemian places like Sarah Lawrence or Bennington are not what you’re after.</p>
<p>I’d recommend UNC-Asheville as much for the city as for the school itself. Many liberal arts colleges will help with the interested in many things and debating topics parts.</p>
<p>
I’ve looked into Deep Springs. I’m not sure that anyone who isn’t from a background of manual work (grew up on a farm or something like that) will fare too well. You also won’t find anything specific in the way of science, art, or music. Just a 2-year general education to transfer to a different school and a lot of hard work.</p>
<p>New College of Florida might be the perfect match for you. </p>
<p>“If you are interested in learning for the sake of learning in an honors college that has no required courses, an evaluation-based grading system, and that produces winners wholesale, try New College of Florida in Sarasota. You’ll love it.”
-Loren Pope
[New</a> College of Florida | Colleges That Change Lives](<a href=“http://www.ctcl.org/colleges/new-college]New”>New College of Florida – Colleges That Change Lives)</p>
<p>Less than 2% of Americans live on farms. DS is one of the most selective schools in the country. I doubt that a majority of DS students come from a background of farming or other manual work. Though I agree, the combination of farming and academics for 2 years is not for everyone. </p>
<p>Nevertheless, graduating students do seem to fare well. According to a 2009 survey, more than 40% of graduates transfered to one of 4 highly selective universities (Harvard, Chicago, Yale, or Brown). 61% went on to receive an MA, JD, MS, or PhD. 33% earned PhDs, which must be one of the 2 or 3 highest rates in the country.</p>
<p>By the way, DS gives free tuition, room & board to all students. Compare:
2 years of academics free-of-charge at DS, in exchange for 2 years of concurrent farm labor;
4 years of academics free-of-charge at a military academy, in exchange for 5 years of subsequent active-duty military service plus 3 years of inactive duty service.</p>
<p>(Not that anyone should pick either of these options primarily for the money.)</p>
<p>Chicago, Swat, and Carleton are reaches with a 2020 SAT. I’ve always suspected Chicago places a much larger emphasis on test scores than it claims. I don’t think UNCA is a good fit.</p>
<p>I do like the suggestions of Reed, Mac, and especially Earlham. zobroward’s suggestion of Hendrix might be a good one as well - it’s in a dry county, which definitely doesn’t appeal to most students but might be a plus for the OP.</p>
<p>Beloit would be a very good fit, I think. Possibly Lewis & Clark and/or Kalamazoo.</p>
)