<p>So I've referred to the PrincetonReview and US News for rankings on what schools are like and how the student body is. They gave a short list of what schools are, for instance, the most politically conservative, and where students are most happy. But they were really short, and many of those colleges are ones I don't want to go to. So I was wondering if any of you could give me information on
1. The general political opinions/leanings of students
2. the typical religion or if there even is religion at all
3. If the students tend to be rich, spoiled kids
4. If the school is in a pretty nice town - like, safe but not where everything is really expensive.</p>
<p>I'm speaking of generalization here. I know you can't definitively apply them to every school. I'd like to know that information on the following:</p>
<ul>
<li>UCSD</li>
<li>CSU, Long Beach</li>
<li>NYU</li>
<li>U of Chicago</li>
<li>Northwestern</li>
<li>Dartmouth</li>
<li>Boston U</li>
<li>UCSB</li>
</ul>
<p>If you know anything about any of the colleges, tell me. I'll ask about some more that I'm interested in later. Again, I know it would just be generalizing, but I want to have somewhat of an idea here. This isn't my only concern on how I choose a college, I'm just curious.</p>
<p>The "Fiske Guide to Colleges" will give you a better "feel" for the culture at each school than the Princeton Review or USNews rankings.</p>
<p>It has a page or two of description for each school that provides an overview of the predominant personality.</p>
<p>BTW, I applaud you for your question. I think looking at a school's institutional personality should be very high on the list of considerations in choosing a college.</p>
<p>I'll check the Friske thing out. Thanks for the reference.</p>
<p>I'm pretty liberal, but I don't mind going to a predominantly conservative campus as long as they aren't the overzealous Bible-thumping type. And for that matter, I don't really want to go to a very ultraliberal campus, because I'm not really comfortable with the anal retentive-PC atmosphere, either. I guess that makes it kinda hard for me to follow along with these references that tell about the student body.</p>
<p>Personally, I think choosing a college based on political persuasion is generally a mistake, although there could be exceptions for a student at the extreme fringes in either direction.</p>
<p>Far more important, IMO, is the cultural orientation of a school. Religion could enter into this, but so would many other factors like preppiness, nerdiness, social status, drinking, frats, athletics, career paths, diversity, etc.</p>
<p>I agree about the Fiske guide. Extremely useful. PR is helpful but tends to go for the witty catch phrase while Fiske seems more thorough.</p>
<p>School culture and the setting of the college are important. Its healthy that you are considering this aspect of the college experience. You have a wide range on that list so as you move along it may become apparent that certain types of schools are more to your liking. </p>
<p>Keep an open mind and see that you can be successful and happy at any number of colleges. I think thats a better attitude to have than get caught up on one particular so-called dream school. You have a great list. All wonderful schools. Some urban, some "California" , varying sizes, some more of a party atmosphere than others. Keep us posted as you move along through the process.</p>
<p>I think choosing a college based on political persuasion is generally a mistake</p>
<p>I disagree. </p>
<p>Although I agree with Interestedad when he suggests it is the cultural orientation of a school; and that, Religion could enter into this, but so would many other factors like preppiness, nerdiness, social status, drinking, frats, athletics, career paths, diversity, etc, many of these factors are simpatico with political persuasion and more particularly with where the school falls on the political-correctness and intellectual-fads meter. </p>
<p>In addition, the religious tolerance (that is, tolerance of varied religious outlooks and feelings both within and out of the classroom) and the politics of a school also seem to go hand in hand. At many schools a religious personality, at the margin, can be seen as beneath the intellects of the libertine sensibilities of the campus body at large, be they Christian, Hindu, Muslim or conservative Jewish outlooks--if it involves a traditional belief in the divine, it may not 'fit,' and 'fit' in these quarters seems to be everything.</p>
<p>One of the schools the OP mentioned is Dartmouth; I chose Dartmouth because of its great academics, laid-back attitude, life-style and for the reasons stated above.</p>