<p>I am in love with St.Olaf college and will likely end up there. However, my parents are insisting that I apply to other schools as well. If you know of any schools that fit my criteria please let me know (I will be visiting Haverford and Bowdoin later this year).</p>
<p>Criteria:
LAC
Strong Biology department
Beautiful Campus
Minimal Drug/Alcohol scene
Preferably not too rural
Good academics and serious students
A loving community
An appreciation of music
Good food (I'm a picky eater)
Places to run
Not in the south</p>
<p>About me:
White, upper middle class girl
3.9 gpa
Choir, band, cross country, nordic skiing, track, volunteering at a children's hospital</p>
<p>Swarthmore, Kalamazoo and Carleton all rank highly in percentage graduates who go on to earn PhDs in the life sciences, share some similarities to the other schools you have listed and meet many of of other criteria. </p>
<p>You mention not too rural. Is Bowdoin not too rural for you? It certainly is a beautiful campus in a very pretty area, but Brunswick is, at least to me, a small town and is very far from the nearest big city. </p>
<p>What about Tufts? It’s obviously a much more urban campus than the other schools, but somewhere with a strong sense of community, a serious minded student body, and a very strong life science program. Music opportunities abound in Boston with all the music schools in the area.</p>
<p>I am glad that you are visiting Haverford because that is what came to my mind. When you are there check out the nature trail, 2.5 miles around the campus. </p>
<p>Your parents are wise. Unless yuor school is an automatic admit school, being “in love” with it does not guarantee that you will be accepted, even if you are the best of the best of the best. Look at other schools with an open mind. Then go and read the many many thread in the College Life forum by sad, miserable students who hate their choice of college.</p>
<p>If you’re going to be at Haverford, you might as well take a look at Bryn Mawr and Swarthmore. They’re all part of the tri-co and it’s pretty easy to take courses at all three. Bus goes to all three colleges. You can walk from Haverford to Bryn Mawr–it’s probably a little under a mile. All have great academics.</p>
<p>Another vote for Lawrence here. I just posted on your other thread, and depending on your test scores you might be eligible for decent merit aid at Lawrence. They also have a conservatory, but allow non-music majors to participate in ensembles and groups (that is hard at some schools with conservatories).</p>
<p>LAC - ✓
Strong Biology department - ✓<a href=“considering%20Claremont%20consortium”>/color</a>
Beautiful Campus - [color=green]✓
Minimal Drug/Alcohol scene - ✓
Preferably not too rural - ✓
Good academics and serious students - ✓
A loving community - ✓
An appreciation of music - ?
Good food (I’m a picky eater) - ?
Places to run - ✓
Not in the south - ✓ Southern CA is definitely not “South”. :)</p>