From that list, you might especially want to check out the following:
Pomona
Pitzer
Colorado College
Willamette
University of Washington - Tacoma
… plus several of the UCs and Cal State universities
Regarding Reed, note that the absence of a geosciences department there would, compared to other colleges, limit available breadth for exploration in environmental studies.
Its not a LAC, but have you considered Washington University in St. Louis? The campus is absolutely beautiful and it’s just outside the city. It’s also only 15 minutes to the airport. Biology is one of the biggest majors there. It has about 7500 undergraduates, so larger than an LAC but much smaller than many universities.
If what the OP wants is a good-sized LAC in a manicured suburban setting similar to Wellesley, the one big analogue to Wellesley MA is The Mainline area outside Philadelphia which also happens to include the bi-college community of Haverford and Bryn Mawr with a total student population that exceeds 3,000.
Oberlin and Vassar may not be the best choices for a Jewish student. The last two years or so have been rough at both schools. There are multiple threads on CC about the events at both schools. If you are considering either, you may want to search those threads.
If you want to add a school that isn’t a reach, look at Dickinson, which has much of what you are requesting, and is part of the Eco-League, a six school consortium focused on environmental studies, sustainability, etc.
@circusgirl1 I just had a quick skim so sorry if I am overlapping with other posters. I would highly recommend the Haverford/BM/Swarthmore consortium (apply to all three), Reed, URichmond, and Wake Forest. We visited both Wake and URichmond last summer and both of them have brand new science centers. Wake is on the smaller end for a University and has a much more enclosed campus than, say, Tufts, which is a similar sized school. Also, both school are gradually becoming less “Southern” in case that is a concern. You might also keep Tufts on the back burner as the science programs are also great and the Jewish community is very strong. Good luck and keep us posted.
OP, Reed is a great school, but with only 1300 students and 39 buildings on only 100 acres it’s gonna feel more like your high school than you may prefer. Yes, that’s fairly small for LAC’s as some with ~2000 students are on 1,000 acres and/or have 100 buildings so it feels like a big campus where you can hang out without bumping into the same people all day long.
My twin DD’s had the same concern as their HS is 1800 students, but then they realized they only know half their class (so like 220 kids) and if the campus has a couple hundred to 1000 acres with 100 buildings it’s gonna feel way different.
My twin DD toured Haverford and that was waaaaay too small feeling. There are several really great East Coast and Midwest LAC’s that have 1800-3000 students and feel way bigger.
My twin DD’s profiled the same as you, with one interested in Neuroscience and Math and the other political science and international relations (she’s also going to run xc/track in college), and while they both would have preferred a bigger town nearby they found a great NE LAC with 1300 acres campus and 130 buildings, with 26 residence halls, that felt big enough that they could be at the same school without being on top of each other.
^^
My daughter was a student at Vassar when the issues you’re referring to took place. Her roommate and many of her friends were Jewish. None felt threatened and loved their 4 years at Vassar. As with any college you have to do your homework.
Have you investigated Emory or Tulane?
Although not LAC’s, they are both on the small size for universities.
Emory has just over 6,800 undergrads, while Tulane has just over 6,500 undergrads.
Both have great bio and both are in or adjacent to large metro areas, with contained campuses.
Both have very active Hillel.
Check out the Haverford/Bryn Mawr consortium. Strong in sciences and a welcoming Jewish community. Also take a peek at Scripps and the Claremont consortium colleges and tour the Keck science center. Since the students take classes and share ECs I wouldn’t be too concerned with the size being under 2K since in reality it’s much more than that - you won’t know until you visit though. Tufts and Tulane are also worth checking out, even though they aren’t LACs.
But a student can spend time on both campuses engaging in classes, activities, with profs and students from both classes, even eating meals. How’s that any different from a larger college when you have LACs like Haverford and Bryn Mawr which are so closely entwined?
I would say that the Bryn Mawr/Haverford works because they are so close, but I know the Swarthmore part of that consortium just doesn’t happen. I also think Claremont works, but Amherst doesn’t with the exception of some firm arts courses. Also Wellesley and MIT has very little success.
“Swarthmore part of that consortium just doesn’t happen”
Actually, it DOES happen, just not to the extent of the Haverford/Bryn Mawr cross registration. You think those blue buses are driving empty all day long?
No bus for the Claremonts, they are snugged together like Lego blocks. Students easily register across the consortium, and it isn’t a problem moving between them for classes.
I know several young women who currently attend Wellesley or recently graduated. All have taken classes at MIT. In addition, they participate in joint activities as well.
