Small, southern non-"party schools"?

<p>Hello! New to CC and wondering if anyone has suggestions of smaller southern schools that tend to be more wholesome/less focused around greek life and partying than typical southern schools like UVA, UNC, Vandy, Duke, etc. I am brainstorming for a younger sibling who is very shy, mild mannered, doesn't party, and isn't really cut out for greek life as I know it to be at any of those schools (I recently graduated from one, was in a sorority, and that was very much my scene, but it is not hers). Of course I realize that not EVERYONE at these schools parties but my sister would be better off somewhere smaller and less intimidating where those activities are less a part of the culture. Ideal for her would be: small, southern, semi-rural (close to a city or large town but an insulated campus) friendly but still competitive/selective. Any suggestions would be much appreciated!</p>

<p>Sewanee (University of the South) is one suggestion.</p>

<p>Also: Rhodes, Agnes Scott (women's), Rice, St. Mary's College of Maryland (public) are some others.</p>

<p>Without knowing more about your sister's stats, it's hard to think of schools.</p>

<p>She's only just starting to look at schools so we're just trying to get ideas. She currently attends a very competitive private secondary school and if things keep up the way they're going she'll be on the track for top liberal arts colleges, Ivies and equivalents.</p>

<p>
[quote]
Sewanee (University of the South) is one suggestion.

[/quote]

Eh?? Greek life is HUGE at Sewanee. Roughly 80-90% join a frat or sorority. It's extremely preppy and one of the few schools where students actually dress up for class.</p>

<p>Davidson is fairly laidback. It only has one sorority at the moment, although it has "eating houses" that are loosely related. Students are extremely friendly, and Davidson is close enough to Charlotte to avoid being a bubble. Campus events are open to the entire community.</p>

<p>Eckerd might be worth looking into as a safety.</p>

<p>If you're interested in women's colleges, look at Wesleyan College and Agnes Scott College</p>

<p>Another non-party school is Berea College in Kentucky</p>

<p>new college of florida?</p>

<p>^^NCF is surely small. I don't think it would be much "southern" at least in my understanding of the word (other than in the purely physical geographic sense). And they do have parties there ("walls," they apparently call them).</p>

<p>How about Hendrix in Arkansas? And nobody ever mentions this one - check Millsaps.</p>

<p>Definitely consider Hendrix, like fireflyscout said.</p>

<p>The lengthy thread on this subject is on the parents' forum.</p>

<p>COLLEGE OF WILLIAM AND MARY!! also hendrix too definitely. and rhodes.</p>

<p>Have a look at:</p>

<ul>
<li>Trinity in San Antonio (very underrated!)</li>
<li>Rice (campus is near downtown Houston but very closed and you wouldn't guess you're in a major metropolis for one second)</li>
<li>New College of Florida</li>
<li>William and Mary</li>
<li>Hendrix</li>
</ul>

<p>Rice, Davidson, W&M are all top schools for the serious student who is fun but not in the Animal House tradition.</p>

<p>Look at universities/ colleges in the Washington D.C area.</p>

<p>New College of Florida in Sarasota is a great choice. My daughter is considering passing up the honors program at University of Florida to go to NCF.</p>

<p>Its principal features are its small size (less than 800 students), undergraduate teaching focus (no graduate or professional programs to use up professorial resources, and, best of all, no graduate student TAs), and low student:faculty ratio (10:1).</p>

<p>NCF places about two-thirds of each graduating class in medical, law, business, or graduate schools. It is highly ranked by Forbes (29th best college or university in the U.S.), The Wall Street Journal, USNWR, and others.</p>

<p>I don't know what the OP means by "southern": whether OP means simply "located in the south" or "southern" as in Ole Miss. NCF is certainly located in the south, but I wouldn't regard it at all "southern" in the sense that Ole Miss is southern.</p>

<p>NCF is not a non-party school, drug use is also very common at NCF</p>

<p>Furman. Its a completely dry campus. There are always party animals at all schools, but Furman is by far the least party oriented.</p>

<p>^^"NCF is not a non-party school, drug use is also very common at NCF"</p>

<p>Because my daughter is seriously considering NCF, I've checked out that allegation as well as I can on CC and otherwise. What I've been able to glean is that NCF historically was lenient towards drug and alcohol use and drug and alcohol policies were lightly enforced. That has changed somewhat in recent years.</p>

<p>When you consider the quality of students NCF attracts (CR + Math SAT mean consistently in the upper 1300s) and the intellectual rigor of its academic programs, it is doubtful many potheads (if I may use such a pejorative term) get in and stay in.</p>

<p>Because NCF is such a small college at which everyone knows just about everyone else, a few students' excessive over-abuse is broadly noticed.</p>

<p>Furthermore, NCF has no Greek system (instead, there is a myriad of interest-driven clubs) and there is little in the way of intercollegiate sports (no football; NCF is "Undefeated Since 1960"). They do have campus-wide weekend parties, called "walls," to which the entire school is invited.</p>

<p>From what I can gather, drug use at NCF is no more prevalent than at other schools.</p>

<p>Davidson and William&Mary would be my suggestions.</p>

<p>Maybe Washington and Lee. It seems like a fit although I don't know much in terms of parties at the school.</p>

<p>Any school with a "completely dry campus" is lying.</p>