<p>mdhopeful, i'm not sure if you were attracted to smith because of its feminine character...
As you said,
[quote]
I like the fact that the school is small enough to have real individual attention, has excellent academics, not so small where everybody knows everybody's life story, has a strong program in the sciences, and is a supportive (as opposed to relatively competitve) environment.
[/quote]
And if you don't mind going to the midwest, Carleton is an excellent college for your desired categories.
Carleton is selective but not to the extent of Amherst, Williams, or Swarthmore.
It's small with very good individual attention. The faculty-student relationship is regarded as one of the best in the nation. It is VERY strong in science among the LACs. And the atomsphere of the student body is very supportive.</p>
<p>OP: Bates does sound like a nice option and your numbers probably put you in the middle of the applicant pool if not at the very top. For a Smithier feel, what about Welseyan? A bit of a reach, but not quite so much a reach as Amherst/Williams/Swarthmore (of which the first two are not much like Smith anyway, in ways that are hard to quantify but are noticeable when you know the schools).</p>
<p>Has anyone mentioned Haverford? It would be a reach, but a good fit. Also consider Goucher (its still 2/3rds female, so may have that "smith-y feel").</p>
<p>jrpar, momrath: Thanks. Great posts. I'm too lazy to check back (shoveling snow all day will do that to you), but I don't think I referred to Amherst as "feminine," just more to the center than Williams. Having said that, upon reflection I think this masculine/feminine thing is really an overall impression that one gets, depending upon the issues you want to consider. Knowing grads of both programs and SOME of the common scuttlebut, I think I was simply focusing on two issues: (1) the HUGE importance of athletics at Williams (by a large percentage of the student body -- athletics including a passion for outdoors activities too); and (2) the relative amount of people headed down pre-professional paths vs. more academic and scholarly paths (including teaching). On these two factors alone, I have a tendency to think of Williams as the more masculine of the two. Yet, now that you mention it, some of Williams' most celebrated "differences" -- the 1:1 tutorials, the arts scene, the arts history department -- for THESE aspects of Williams one sees a lot of "Yin" (and I like the Yin/Yang reference -- it's perhaps an ideal way to deal with this issue because Yin/Yang (at least at the very basic level in which I understand it) is all about neither black nor white, but blending of characteristics). Anyway, this is so much about "feel" that I'm a little bit embarrassed about running with this subtle distinction in connection with a school where I have next to know personal knowledge. That's going to stop. D and I will visit ... best way to identify what part yin, what part yang.</p>
<p>I did read your PM. Thanks ... lots of good stuff in there. Yeah ... I don't know where that word came from ... it's not one of mine ... I've only even thought the word while groovin' to Tad Dameron. What can I say? I'm such a <em>ditz</em>! ;)</p>
<p>Yes, I was originally interested in Bates. A lot of the recommendations here sound great, and I will definitely look into them. Carolyn, I think your characterization of masculine/feminine is very insightful, and I agree with the statements you made. I have looked at Haverford, and enjoyed it very much, but I'm concerned that it might be a little too difficult for me to get in. I appreciate the help everybody!</p>
<p>I think YB is just saying, cryptically, that Smith is on the extreme end of feminine -- since it is a) all women and b) has a large lesbian population and c) has few conservative students (not none, but few) and perhaps an unusually PC environment. Exactly right for some, but not for others, like perhaps OP, in light of this thread! Haverford, Goucher, Skidmore, Bates etc etc are good examples of schools with a more feminine tilt perhaps than other similar LACs, without being as extreme as Smith. We should probably focus on mdhopeful's request -- I think shes getting lots of great suggestions!</p>