<p>I'm looking at liberal arts colleges because I like the small environment, but I'd also like a school that's strong in science. I want to study math or natural science and would like a school that has good programs. I'm having trouble telling what schools are strong in those fields. Right now I'm looking at Reed and Swarthmore as two possible choices. Are there any other schools I should look at?</p>
<p>Other factors I'm considering are:
-I want a school in a rural/suburban environment. I want to be able to go hiking, camping, etc. nearby. Reed and Swarthmore are both near cities, not sure how well those would fit me
-I'm open to all women's schools, just not really sure which ones are strong in science
-The school needs to be LGBTQ friendly, and I'd prefer if the student body is pretty liberal, but it doesn't have to be. I would also love to be in a politically active student body
-I want to be an engineer one day, so a school with good advising would be incredible</p>
<p>The Claremont Consortium offers several departments that are strong in science, math, and engineering. Lots of opportunities for exploring a number of strong STEM departments while attending an LAC.</p>
<p>Amherst, Bryn Mawr, Swarthmore can offer something similar but there campuses do not bump up against each other as the Claremont schools do.</p>
<p>Smith could be a great fit. Harvey Mudd (part of Claremont Consortium) is very good for math, depends on what you mean by natural science regarding majors there – strong in physics and chemistry, less so in biology, don’t think they have geology. </p>
<p>If you want to be an engineer someday, then why not major in engineering? There is no need to wait until grad school for it. You can do that at either of those schools, and still get the small size you are looking for. Both are part of a consortium (although as pointed out above, the consortium Smith is part of requires a shuttle ride to the other colleges, while the Claremont colleges all are right next to each other).</p>
<p>Some LACs have engineering so those might be good fits if you want engineering as an undergraduate (ex. my daughter is at Lafayette). If you are female, some of the women’s colleges could be good fits. Other ideas to research might be Oberlin, Wesleyan, Vassar, Pomona, Bates and maybe Skidmore as more of a safety.</p>
<p>Williams fulfills all of your requirements. Excellent departments in both math and sciences. Location in the middle of the Berkshires couldn’t be better for access to outdoorsy and nature related activities. </p>
<p>I wouId would also suggest you look at Hamilton and Smith.</p>
<p>Smith is has a great science program and a nice, well-funded engineering program. They have plenty of research opportunities in those areas both during the school year and during the summer. They also have an interesting program in biomathematics and have a special study-abroad program for science and engineering students. It’s LGBTQ friendly, liberal, and many students are politically active. It’s a 5 minute walk from one of the coolest college towns in the country (Northampton) and has wooded trails heading off from the other end of campus (with more serious hiking nearby in the Holyoke Range.</p>
<p>Bryn Mawr and Mount Holyoke are other women’s colleges known for strong science programs.</p>
<p>It would make more sense to attend a school with your desired engineering major.</p>
<p>Here are some examples of small schools with engineering majors:</p>
<p>Bucknell University
California Institute of Technology
Colorado School of Mines
Cooper Union
Dartmouth College
Franklin W Olin School of Engineering
Harvey Mudd College
Illinois Institute of Technology
Kettering University
Missouri University of Science and Technology
Milwaukee School of Engineering
New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology
Rice University
Rose Hulman Institute of Technology
Smith College
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
Stevens Institute of Technology
Swarthmore College
Tuskegee University
West Virginia University Institute of Technology
Worchester Polytechnic Institute</p>
<p>Of course, with small schools, academic and non-academic fit factors can be quite important, since there may be too few students outside the mainstream for the school (e.g. non-engineering majors at a small school that emphasizes engineering, or students whose social lives are not fraternity/sorority-centered at a school whose social scene is dominated by fraternities/sororities).</p>
<p>If you do go to a college without engineering, physics is likely the most relevant science for engineering (although chemistry may also work for chemical engineering, and math or statistics for industrial engineering). But physics is not that popular a major, so you need to check smaller schools to see if they offer all of the usual junior/senior physics courses at reasonable frequency (Harvey Mudd, Oberlin, and Reed are among the better LACs for physics). Math and statistics can also be sparse at some smaller schools, perhaps due to math faculty being consumed offering service courses for non-majors. Check catalogs and schedules.</p>
<p>Grinnell has the 3-2 program, and if you’re looking for “good advising,” as a parent of a current student, I can’t speak highly enough of the personal attention and focus on advising at that school. It ticks off all the boxes on your list as well. It offers a different kind of outdoor access than a Williams or Colorado College, but nonetheless, there is an outing club and active opportunities. If you like bike riding or long-distance running, the surrounding countryside is gorgeous: don’t think flat, boring – think rolling hills with wide open skies and beautiful vistas. It also has a prairie conservation area that is beautiful.</p>
<p>Grinnell won Presidential honors (with a White House reception) for its Science Project which focused on improving education and access for underrepresented populations in the sciences (of which women are one). </p>
<p>on another note, I wouldn’t discount Reed or Swarthmore’s lack of outdoor opportunities because of their proximity to cities. Check out their website – i would imagine that there are outing clubs there, too, and ways that outdoorsy students get their activity needs met.</p>
<p>one more thing: you’ve given us and we’ve returned very selective schools – i hope that you have the stats to be looking in that direction. If not, then please update this thread so that people can help you accordingly.</p>
<p>Guys: someone who is interested in Reed and Swarthmore should not be looking into schools like Colgate and Bucknell. Just because the school offers engineering doesn’t mean one ought to go there, especially when one is talking about “good advising” for engineering and not engineering programs. Reed has an outing club, and it even owns a ski cabin in some mountain.</p>
<p>Also, it is not really helpful to point out 3:2 programs as, in reality, few students ever go through that route, esp when fin aid is a concern as aid is not transferred or guaranteed at the “2” school (let alone admission). You can get a PhD in engineering after getting a BA in a hard science.</p>
<p>College of Wooster
Ohio Wesleyan University
Juniata College
Lewis & Clark College
St. Olaf College (may be more religiously focused than you desire)</p>
<p>Also, read the numerous posts on this forum about 3/2 programs. I don’t think they are worthwhile and many folks share that opinion.</p>
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