School for "Nerds"

Parents Forum
1

<p>My daughter said she wants to go to a school for nerds cause she thinks she is one (?)...she
plays in the band, likes to read, doesn't like crowds/parties, has a small group of friends who are all smart and like to study. She likes math, science and writes well -- is in all honors classes, plays 2 instruments, but is not going into music. She is quiet, a bit shy and young for her class.</p>

<p>Where should we look?? She wants a school in the NE.</p>

<p>Haverford College actually has been mentioned as a nerd college--but could be a reach for her. I want her to get a good education but have some good clean fun too!
Any ideas out there?</p>

2

<p>Sounds similar to DD2. In the NE she looked at Smith and Vassar.</p>

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<p>vassar is right in the middle of poughkeepsie and living around the area it has the impression of being a nerd school. Theres alot of fun things to do in the area drinking or not.</p>

4

<p>U of Chicago is the first school that comes to mind. Without knowing her stats, it’s impossible to start suggesting feasible possibilities. Also, what does she want to study? Does she want a large or small school? Urban or rural?</p>

5

<p>Rice, quirky and suitable for nerds. Lots or leeway for partyers and non.</p>

6

<p>It’s not the NE, but Knox College, in Illinois, one of the Colleges That Change Lives. In an online college review site, one of the kids actually described that it’s a great school for “nerds”.</p>

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<p>Carnegie Mellon, RPI. My S was accepted at CM but did not go because he perceived it as a nerd school. The trouble was, he was a nerd. He choose a much preppier LA school because I think he did not want to be a nerd. I realize that now. I think he would have done much better at CM.</p>

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<p>Wheaton College, (MA), very small about 1550 undergrads, an LAC, no Greek Life, easy access to Providence & Boston. Great Music & Arts etc. good academics, need-based aid, merit aid, over $50,000/year.</p>

9

<p>Haverford would be a reach for just about anyone, and Vassar for any girl from the NE. So you’d want to have some more accessible possibilities–Smith, Mt. Holyoke, Brandeis, Bates-- all great schools, Holy Cross if you’re comfortable with the religious aspect, then Clark, Wheaton… Hamilton maybe? Muhlenberg is another in PA…</p>

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<p>And don’t forget that there are plenty of nerds at non-nerd schools. Somehow, they find each other (perhaps while everyone else is at fraternity parties). </p>

<p>If your daughter’s academic interests lead her to a school that does not have a nerdy reputation, she is still likely to find compatible friends. Not everyone at a college fits that college’s stereotype.</p>

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<p>Since people are adding schools outside the NE, the other schools DD2 looked at were Knox, Carleton, Reed, Lewis and Clark.</p>

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<p>“If your daughter’s academic interests lead her to a school that does not have a nerdy reputation, she is still likely to find compatible friends. Not everyone at a college fits that college’s stereotype.”</p>

<p>Or maybe not. I know PLENTY of people who went to schools where they didn’t fit the reputation of the school, and really didn’t find compatible friends - especially if they were shy and nerdy.</p>

13

<p>Bryn Mawr, if she likes Haverford. Your daughter sounds like a young woman I know who is very happy at Kenyon. (Ohio)</p>

14

<p>“And don’t forget that there are plenty of nerds at non-nerd schools” - Very true. </p>

<p>A lot will depend on her stats, her desired major, your budget etc. You’ve come to the right place… lots of good info on CC. I originally found it checking out scholarship opportunities, but I soon learned that fit (like you are looking for) is critical too.</p>

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<p>I would think any of CC=college confidential list of top universities or top liberal arts fit the bill.</p>

16

<p>Carnegie Mellon, U.Chicago, and Carleton come to mind. CMU is a nice mix of left brain and right brain nerds.</p>

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<p>At my d’s graduation, the senior class president talked about the class as nerds who like to party. The president paraphrased him for the school’s new motto: “Party nerds who know how to win!”</p>

<p>The school is University of Rochester.</p>

18

<p>Definately look at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and Carnegie Mellon.</p>

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<p>We were pleasantly surprised by many aspects of Case in Cleveland. It was a last minute application addition, partly based on postcard for free application. DS had top stats and interesting ECs, and the Case merit scholarship was one of his best (beat only by a NMF full tuition scholarsihp at Northeastern). The scholarship brought Case slightly below cost of of CO in-state schools.</p>

<p>We visited Case in Feb 2010. I added a lot of posts in that timeframe on the Case threads. It’s a school with lots of techie students, but there are many music opportunities too. They claim the most common double major is engineering and music. But there are many opportunities to do minor, perform in audition-band, or just play for fun. I think that was the college that counts marching band as PE credit.</p>

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<p>I think she would like Kenyon.</p>