<p>I am a highschool junior, and have really started looking at colleges seriously. Two schools that have really stuck out at me are Brown University and Tufts University. I like their philosophys of teaching, their atmospheres, their students, their campus', and pretty much everything about them. I visited both and wouldn't mind going to either. I think I am a candidate for admission, but I was wondering if their are other schools, similar to these two, that I could consider. I don't know all of my stats now, but I have a 3.9 (on an unweighted 4.0 scale), great EC's, test scores pending, rigorous schedule(AP's), I'm attending one of the best schools in Michigan, and I can count on good recs. I am really just wondering if their are similar schools that are a little less competitive to attend. Thanks!</p>
<p>Can you give us a better idea of what else made Brown and Tufts stand out for you? WHY did you like their campuses, students, etc.? Maybe if you name some of the schools that you visited and disliked, we could understand better what qualities made them special.</p>
<p>I liked:
The size of the schools
Browns open curriculum
Tufts ability to go aboard
academics of both schools
students seemed smart, but laidback
abundancy of majors
New England location
Not in huge cities
Old school buildings
Options it left for future (career or continued education</p>
<p>Some schools I visited:
NYU- city too big and lacked "normal campus"
College of Wooster- academics not that great
Uof Michigan- Too big
Wheaton- nothing to do
I hope that helps, I haven't visited a ton of big name schools</p>
<p>Tufts reminds me a lot of Georgetown--something about the campus and the students and the general atmosphere.</p>
<p>Oh yeah, I visited Tufts too. duh stupid me.
I really liked the modern, yet retro campus
The nice dorms!</p>
<p>Geniusriki- isn't georgetown a top tier school like brown or tufts?</p>
<p>virtually every school has study abroad</p>
<p>the "laidback" aspect is probably the most unique one there...I'd say williams fits great or you, maybe a tad smaller than the other two</p>
<p>Northwestern - A nice campus, but a little larger than tufts, in a nice Chicago suburb</p>
<p>Vassar - A lot like Brown but smaller</p>
<p>Dartmouth - Similar "laid back" new england charm and one of the best study abroad programs in the world.</p>
<p>Yeah, Georgetown is top tier but I think it's great so I thought I'd throw that in there :)</p>
<p>I applied to Boston College as well; I don't think it has quite the intellectual but laidback atmosphere that Brown or Tufts has, but it is a really nice school and the people I met there were very friendly. It's a gorgeous campus too. Plus, if you have good grades/scores, the honors program there is pretty neat.</p>
<p>It sounds like you will be applying to schools similar to those that I applied to, so, I know you said New England, but I have heard a lot of good things about Rice and I kinda wish I had applied there.</p>
<p>Thanks Geniousriki! I went to a college fair and learned about Rice a little, and despite my want of a New England Campus, I was really impressed by what I heard.</p>
<p>Can anyone think of any other schools?
And in michigan we take the ACT more often, so I was wondering if there is a range of scores I should be aiming for(not that Im going to stop a certain score) to have a fighting chance at these schools?</p>
<p>Oh yeah..it might help to add my interests
Poli Sci, Econ, Psych, English, History, but now(It will prorbably change) I want to attend law school afterwards</p>
<p>How about (in no particular order):
Brandeis U.(Waltham, MA)
College of the Holy Cross (Worcester, MA)
Johns Hopkins U. (Baltimore, MD)
Boston College (Boston, MA)
University of Rochester (Rochester, NY)
Wesleyan U. (Middletown, CT)
Colgate U. (Hamilton, NY)</p>
<p>Of all the schools mentioned U of Rochester has the highest ranked poli sci and econ depts</p>
<p>Look at Carleton--good in departments you mentioned and the only school mentioned so far that's not in the east.</p>
<p>I agree with Geniusriki. Boston College fits the bill on most of what you're looking for--EXCEPT the open curriculum.</p>
<p>BC has the Core Curriculum. It's not a set list of courses you have to take but still a framework (you choose courses from within braod academic areas: philosophy, history, literature, theology ..) which you might not want.</p>
<p>For what its worth, if my s. hadn't gotten into Rice ED, he was going to apply to Brown and Tufts. He really liked all 3 of them (and LOVES Rice). Even though Rice is smack in the middle of Houston, you wouldnt' know it when you are on campus. It is a very pretty campus, and Rice Village is somewhat like the shops around Dartmouth.</p>
<p>I went to Vassar, and can say that there is a similar feel. Small, close knit school. I had the same "feel" when we visited Williams as well.</p>
<p><em>edit</em>
Vassar has no required classes, like Brown. Rice has distribution requirements, but no "required" classes. The distribution options are quite varied, and you'll have no problem filling them.</p>
<p>Like jab93 said, look at Wesleyan University. Brown and Tufts are schools it's often most compared to. It has optional distribution requirements (required for honors), a very laidback atmosphere (though a reputation for being very liberal), and is of a similar academic caliber and prestige level. It's slightly smaller - around 2700 undergraduate students. The campus is great, and really - everyone there loves it. I'm slightly biased, however, in that I'll be attending next year =o)</p>
<p>thanks guys, these schools sound great</p>
<p>Hey! What high school in Michigan?</p>
<p>The schools you looked at seem alot like the schools that my school pushes......!</p>
<p>Holland Christian Highschool, it is on the West Side of the state. I'm not really sure if it is one of the best highschools in michigan, it is just want I have been told. What school do you go to?</p>
<p>I just saw something about Connecticut college and looked at their website, I kinda like it. Anyone know anything about it?</p>