<p>If your main reason for wanting a LAC is finding like-minded social progressives, Stony Brook would definitely be a good fit for you 
We have a lot of lefty activist types, an awesome queer community (and we adore our straight allies too, if that’s where you fit in), pretty good merit aid for OOSers (many of my friends from OOS have scholarships that cover the difference between in-state and OOS tuition), and a top-notch philosophy department. Most people try for a balance of work and fun; the classes can be tough (in a good, intellectually challenging way) but most of us (even the long-suffering scientists and engineers) make the time to relax too. For most SB students the problem sets come first, but hanging out or going to an interesting event will get prioritized over sleep :P</p>
<p>I almost went to Reed College because I was looking for a bastion of progressive, quirky, brilliant people and thought I needed a LAC to find them. I ended up at Stony Brook because of logistical and financial factors, and have happily settled into a thriving social scene full of exactly the kind of people I hoped to find at a top LAC.</p>
<p>Another bonus is that our student body is a lot more diverse than most LACs–a wide range of socioeconomic backgrounds, lots of racial, ethnic, and religious diversity, and a large international student population make for a rich exchange of ideas and opinions. Not being a monoculture means we do have our share of conservatives, but we’re in New York so the political baseline is pretty solidly left of center. Plus I’d much rather be a social progressive somewhere that actually encompasses a wide range of people and respects a variety of experiences than someplace where the school culture is totally dominated by white, middle/upper class, traditional-aged full time students.</p>
<p>Feel free to ask me if you have any other specific questions about Stony Brook!</p>