Tell me about campus life and culture at these schools?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>I am a rising senior finalizing a list of schools I would like to apply to. I have researched extensively and visited many schools, and so my plan is to apply, see where I get in, then reevaluate and visit again to make my final decision. That said, I really need some insight into campus life and culture of these schools, so that I can cross a few off the list and have a smaller number to apply to, as I will likely not have a chance to visit these schools again and get a better feel for them until after I have already applied. I have all the other factors under control, so this discussion is only about what life is like at these schools, which I can really only get from talking with people (you guys) or visiting the schools again (not as much of an option at this time). Here is a list of the schools in question:</p>

<p>MIT
Brandeis
Princeton
Tufts
Brown
Duke
Harvard
Williams
Middlebury
Bowdoin
Davidson
Wesleyan
UNC
UVA</p>

<p>Now about me- I'm looking for an easy-going, non-competitive atmosphere, where everyone really gets along with each other. I want a school where social groups aren't too distinct, as I like to have a diverse group of friends, and I like to be around people who think independently and are free to have their own ideas and opinions, but at the same time are not full of themselves. I'm not at all interested in (actually repelled by) the preppy, money-driven, elitist culture stereotypically associated with Greek life, and so I have for the most part avoided schools dominated by Greek life (correct me if I'm wrong in this approach). However, I understand MIT fraternities are an exception to this generalization.
I also like the outdoors appeal that drew me to Williams, but after visiting schools in Boston I came to also like the idea of college life in a city/urban area. Either way, the setting of the school is important to me as long as it is interesting, although outdoors/nature opportunities appeal to me, as does a culture of people that appreciate being outdoors and have an understanding of the environment.
On the same note, I guess I am socially liberal/environmentally conscious/open minded... etc. in my views (you get the idea), and so of course it would be nice to be around people who think the same way, but at the same time diversity of the people around me and experiencing people from all around with different ideas and views is an important part of college to me. My views may also be what pushes me away from the more conservative views that (it seems to me) are found with the Greek life culture.
Lastly, I already know that all of these schools will have a majority of academically-motivated and intelligent students, and this is appealing to me; However, I'd rather not be at a place where every student is "geeky" or too tied up in schoolwork to have a good time. I know there will be students like this at every school, but I would like the majority of students to be looking for more than just education in their college experience. At the same time, the other extreme of an all-out party school is not that appealing either.</p>

<p>So, which schools match what I am looking for in terms of campus life and culture? Which ones do not and I should not apply to? Any other comments on the general culture at any of these schools?</p>

<p>I know its a lot of information; No need to try to answer it all, but any information about the campus life and culture at these schools will help me narrow down my list of where I am going to apply.</p>

2

<p>A good book that uses student interviews to tell about the culture of the top 100 schools is:</p>

<p>Students’ Guide to Colleges: The Definitive Guide to America’s Top 100 Schools Written by the Real Experts–the Students Who Attend Them, by Jordan Goldman and Colleen Buyers (Jul 26, 2005)</p>

<p>Although it was published in 2005, I would not consider it outdated. It is the only book I have found that gives many students’ perspectives.</p>

3

<p>Take $50 and buy some guide books. There are several good ones. Or just go to nearest bookstore and sit and read them for free. New ones just hitting shelves. </p>

4

<p>I don’t think you can go wrong with any of the colleges on your list. Some are a tad more preppy or a tad more hipster-ish than the other, but. on the whole, they are a testament to how widely accepted the notion of a diverse student body has become over the last twenty-five years. To take just one example, Princeton a generation ago would not have been very high on my list; the exclusive drinking clubs there split student life into two groups, the people who made it through “bicker week” successfully and the people who didn’t. Nowadays, with an influx of URMs, and kids from working class backgrounds, the scent of privilege and entitlement hangs a little less heavily.</p>

<p>The problem with all of them, however, is that there is only so much diversity they can afford without going broke <a href=“Amherst College Makes Sacrifices To Enroll Low-Income Students | WBUR News”>http://www.wbur.org/2014/05/20/amherst-low-income-students&lt;/a&gt; They have no choice but to enroll a high number kids from extremely wealthy families in order to stay solvent. This has implications for all sorts of things, from the amounts of money devoted to sports no one outside of eastern prep schools care anything about, to the amounts of money thrown at new dorms and libraries. Even the amount of alcohol and designer drugs that get consumed on weekends have a positive correlation with the presence of very wealthy white kids.</p>

<p>So, in essence, we’re talking about degrees of diversity, not anything approaching real life diversity. Starting from top to bottom on your list, here’s is my thumbnail sketch:</p>

<p>MIT - engineering is always a big draw among the middle-class and aspirational lower classes; probably the least preppy institution on your list… </p>

<p>Brandeis - as someone once said, “put two Jews in a room and you’ll have three opinions about everything.”. Very intellectual.</p>

<p>Princeton - probably the most preppy (still) on your list, its liberal sense of noblesse-oblige may yet win you over.</p>

<p>Tufts - liberal in a generic way; large enough IMHO for anyone to find a niche</p>

<p>Brown - a bit quirkier than Tufts, but, the same holds true - large enough to find your own group</p>

<p>Duke - Made famous by its lacrosse team (which was exonerated of sexual assault charges) many years ago, it’s really more of a NCAA basketball sort of place. This can either be seen as a unifying force or just one more division among students, depending on your taste.</p>

<p>Harvard - every middle-class mother’s wet dream. It leans left, but, Harvard students are way too self-absorbed to care what you think politically.</p>

<p>Williams - There’s a lot of navel-gazing going on here, as with all the top LACs (Amherst, Wesleyan, Swarthmore, etc) these days as they confront the darker side of weekends devoted to drinking and hooking up.</p>

<p>Middlebury - see, Williams. Even though harsh publicity hasn’t caught up with them yet, - it’s only a matter of time. </p>

<p>Bowdoin - see, Middlebury</p>

<p>Davidson - smaller version of Duke, though it really hasn’t caught on with kids from New York and New Jersey as of yet.
.
Wesleyan - I’m most familiar with this school. Somewhat quirkier than Brown. It’s smaller size will be either a blessing or a curse. Currently weighing how far it can go in alienating the alum of the last three remaining all-male fraternities.</p>

<p>UNC - A very southern school that still probably has more New Yorkers than Davidson.</p>

<p>UVA - Virginia’s flagship university has the distinction of having the lowest percentage of Pell grant recipients of any school on your list. Not sure why.</p>

5

<p>MIT - geeky engineers who love what they do
Princeton - preppy and prestigious
Duke - well-rounded students who are very driven to succeed
Harvard - opinionated students who justifiably view themselves as the creme de la creme</p>

6

<p>We got a refreshingly different letter from Carleton the other day, it sounded like a “unique” school. Might be worth checking into.</p>

7

<p>The Fiske Guide to Colleges is one great source to get a flavor for each college on your list.</p>

8

<p>Reading your description of what you are looking for, I think UNC might be a wonderful fit for you. Although it’s a great school academically, it’s fairly laid back and very friendly. UNC is generally considered to be a liberal university, and the towns of Chapel Hill and Carrboro (which borders Chapel Hill) have/have had openly gay mayors. Environmentally conscious people and vegans abound, and there are still a few hippies around. There are also a number of politically conservative students at UNC. The ones I’ve known have been just as enthusiastic about UNC as their liberal counterparts. I think someone who identifies with the far right wing would probably not feel comfortable at UNC, but most students seem to be quite accepting of political differences. UNC is definitely NOT dominated by Greek life. They are there, in houses right off campus, but Greek participation is less than 20% (I’ve recently seen 17%).</p>

<p>Chapel Hill is the epitome of a college town. Franklin Street, which abuts campus, is lovely and has quaint stores and restaurants, including some that have been family-owned for years. On weekends, families stroll down Franklin Street and around campus, and there are usually young children kicking balls around or playing with dogs on north campus. Many people jog – students, faculty, and townspeople alike. It’s a very health-conscious place. </p>

<p>It’s quite difficult to get in UNC from out of state. I’ve met a few out of state students who got in several Ivies and didn’t get in UNC. On the other hand, I’ve met several students who turned down a HYPSM school or two to go to UNC.</p>

<p>You may already know a lot of this from one or more visits, but I hope it’s been helpful. Best wishes to you.</p>

9

<p>If you are trying to avoid an overly frat boy student body, and like the idea of city cultural life – have you considered Haverford? Small – more like 1200 students than the somewhat larger LACs like Bowdoin, Williams and Middlebury. Quaker heritage and no greek life (and no football team) may create a campus culture you find appealing. 20 minute commuter train to center city Philadelphia, and access to arts, music and city life. Although you would certainly find your “people” at Williams, Middlebury, Davidson – and these are schools made up, generally, of really nice, tolerant kids – they are also more middle of the road environments. Schools similar to Brown and Wesleyan would perhaps be Vassar and Oberlin. I realize you are trying to cut your list, not expand it – sorry! </p>

10

<p>I’d get some guide books (either from the library, the bookstore, your guidance department) such as Fiske, Insiders Guide, Princeton Review to name but a few. If you want to cut down the list consider if you prefer a LAC or a university and take out some schools in the group that you find less preferable.</p>