<p>To begin, I know there have been a lot of threads regarding intellectual schools. I could be misinterpreting them, but they seemed to be focused on "learning for the sake of learning" which is what I like. I'm also looking for a school that supports creativity, innovation, and coming up unique, original ideas. I suppose I'm not looking for a completely left brain, logical, convergent type thinking, intellectual school. I'm looking for more of your right brain, creative, divergent type thinking, intellectual school. Ideally I'd like a school that is well balanced with both types of people, but I'm not counting on finding the perfect school. </p>
<p>I very much enjoy learning about anything and everything. I have many different interests ranging from literature, music, theatre, and philosophy to the maths and sciences. I'm hoping to study more so into the maths and sciences, but would really enjoy spending time after class having satisfying discussions about my more liberal arts type interests. Extracurriculars are just as important as academics are to me. I thrive off of creativity and not just giving the "right answer". I need a school that supports this. I do not want to go to a school where the students are only there to meet requirements to get a good job or where more emphasis is put on grades than learning. What schools might fit the bill? What schools are and are not considered your creative, intellectual type schools and not just logical, intellectual? If I need to be clearer in my definition "creative, intellectual" I can try to clear the term up, but I hope it makes sense.</p>
<p>Note: While I want a school, who along with its students, encourages and supports creativity, it is an absolute must that they also support the real world application. I enjoy letting my imagination run, but in the end it has to fit into the real world. I find some creative types enjoy the whole creative/imaginitive aspects of thinking, but could care less if their idea was ever actually implemented into the real world or had any effect on the world. I, to an extent, enjoy these people and value them, but I'm more so into coming up with an idea and actually implementing it. I need a school that supports this. I found this quote from U.S. News' website and at at a glance it seems to describe what I'm looking for in a college. "Some colleges place an explicit value on recognizing one's responsibility to the world."</p>
<p>I would definitely recommend a LAC for you. There are many that would probably fit your personality and what you are looking for in a school. Is there a certain part of the country you wish do go to? What are your stats? Are finances important? Although you mention a wide array of interests can you narrow it down a bit as to a few you might consider studying more deeply?</p>
<p>Kenyon immediately comes to mind. Kenyon has an exceptional balance of the arts and sciences and a vibrant student body. There are plenty of opportunities for the intellectual, artist, musician or athlete, a great mix of bright kids.</p>
<p>Reed is also a serious consideration. Your post should bring some great recommendations.</p>
<p>Thanks for the suggestions. I’d like to stay on/near the East coast. I’m thinking it’s best for me to go to a smaller school as I love to discuss things in class with other students. While I love the learning that is involved with lectures, I really enjoy discussing ideas and opinions with other students. I’m a home school student who has taken courses online. My GPA is 3.8 with all honors/AP. I’m retaking the SAT as I didn’t study the first time I took it. I’m extremely passionate about horseback riding and have been riding for the past 12 years. </p>
<p>Finances are extremely important. I’m going to need as much support as I can get from financial aid. I haven’t decided on major as I could major in just about anything and be happy doing it. I’ve been toying with the idea of business, but that’s not my final decision. I do know that I need to complete pre med requirements, so that’s important.</p>
<p>Goucher sounds like it could be a good fit. With a decently high SAT score (2000+), you’d stand a decent shot at a pretty good merit scholarship. </p>
<p>Swarthmore, New College of Florida, Hampshire, Centre, Denison, Skidmore, Wesleyan, and Conn College are a few others. Have you tried a financial aid calculator? </p>
<p>Pluckypeachey- I don’t want to assume anything, but if you are female, have you considered the all women’s colleges such as Smith and Mt. Holyoke? If not, and you want to stay on east coast, Hamilton, Williams, Bowdoin, Bard, Ithaca, Muhlenberg, Moravian, Lafayette, Haverford, Swarthmore, Sarah Lawrence, gives you a starting place to add to what others have suggested. If you do go midwest you could add Maclester, Oberlin, Grinnell, Carelton, and St. Olaf.</p>
<p>Thanks for all the suggestions. Yes I am a female and no I have not considered an all female college nor do I really plan on it. I hate to be close minded about it, but I really don’t think an all female college would be a good idea for me. I can entertain the idea for a little while though. Please excuse my ignorance as I don’t know all of the shorthand names for colleges, but is “Conn College” short for Conneticut College?</p>
<p>Reed, Kenyon, Denison, Grinell, St. Olaf, Maclester, Carelton and Oberlin aren’t the locations I’m looking for. Would’ve been smart of me to specify location to begin with, eh? Bowdoin’s location isn’t settling well with me either.</p>
<p>I like a diverse group, which is what worries me about smaller schools. I did say that a small school would be great for in class discussions, but I would really like diversity. I don’t want to be at a small school with people who have very similar views in life… no fun for discussions. As for location, I’d like to be near a city, but near the country to keep a horse. I can’t have everything I want though.</p>
<p>I’m going to look some more into Swarthmore, Haverford, Bard, Ithaca, Muhlenberg, Lafayette, and Moravian. </p>
<p>Ooh, ooh, ooh… quote regarding Sarah Lawrence “The one-of-a-kind curriculum gives you the freedom to choose what you want to learn and how you want to learn it.” That’s me. I really like the idea of being able to tailor the curriculum to my needs. I just worry about rigor. I really need intellectual stimulation alone, in the classroom, and with others. I just looked it up, they’re called non traditional schools. I feel so ignorant. I’ve never heard of that before. THAT’S what I want. I’m going to have to look into these non traditional colleges some more. Off topic, can you get into med school from a non traditional school? I need to do some research.</p>
<p>Look up the College of Creative Studies at UC Santa Barbara. If you’re okay with a state school, it’s a program of about 200 kids who have enormous freedom in course study. And the goal is basically to create something through your studies. Sounds like you could be a fit.</p>
<p>PP, I would say in general that the selective LACs all encourage creative thinking within a rigorous academic context. They have similar academic approaches but different cultures and physical environments.</p>
<p>I’d suggest you take a look at Williams. Among the top ranked LACs Williams gets highest marks for equal attention to math/science, social studies *and *the arts – music, art, theater. In fact it’s fairly common for students to double or even triple major in disparate disciplines. Admissions favors students who are multifaceted – the artist/intellecual/athlete is a common phenomenon.</p>
<p>My son who is a Williams grad (art studio and art history) is now in architecture school. I’d say he well fulfills your idea of a creative intellectual. </p>
<p>Look at Tufts. It’s got about 5,000 undergrads but has the feel of an LAC. Their philosophies focus on global awareness and responsibility, as well as learning for the sake of learning, as you put it. The Experimental College run by Tufts offers really unique classes taught by grad students, professors from neighboring universities, or influential figures living in/near Boston. It’s close to Boston too, but perhaps not rural enough for you and your horse.</p>
<p>Sorry, I missed the part about the horse. Except for its location – small-town Indiana – Earlham College sounds like another great-fit LAC for you. It’s small (discussion classes galore), diverse, and encourages creative, outside-the-box thinking. It’s affiliated with the Society of Friends/Quakers, although it’s not a religious school and welcomes students of all faiths (and indeed, students of no faith at all), and it is run on the Quaker values of peace & justice, integrity, respect, simplicity, and service. It’s one of the top schools in the country at placing its students into their graduate program of choice, so you definitely could go on to medical school with an Earlham degree.</p>
<p>AND it’s big on horses. It has an IHSA team, and on-campus facilities: a 25-stall barn, pastures, and an arena. Students are welcome to bring their own horses to board for the school year.</p>