The Perfect College

College Search & Selection
1

<p>So I saw another thread like this, and it inspired me. The OP wondered if there was a school that had everything he/she was looking for, not just the bits and pieces that he/she was finding at various schools that he/she was looking at. I decided to post this, even though I had a similar thread a few days ago, since this is way more specific.</p>

<p>I'm looking to transfer for my junior year from a small LAC in SC. I'm a history major with a 3.89 GPA, pretty good EC's (but nothing exceptional), good/very good SAT's, good high school record, etc.</p>

<p>What I would like in a school:</p>

<p>Size: Small to medium, but I would consider larger schools if they offered a sense of community and a diverse study body within which I could find my own niche.
Gender: Co-ed or all women. I never really considered women's colleges till now, so I'm not sure if they're for me though. I tend to be friends with guys easier than girls, but I would like to change that, so I think women's colleges could maybe help me out in that area.
Location: Anywhere in the US. The closer to SC better, but I'm willing to sacrifice location to get the other more important qualities that I would like. I don't really have a preference for rural or urban either; I've lived in both kinds of areas and neither bothered me. I just don't want to be in a gigantic city. If I go too far away from SC, I will need an airport fairly nearby so I can travel there. Also, if I go to a city far away, I would like decent public transportation.
Academics: Challenging, but not so difficult that all I do is study. I would like to have opportunities for hands-on learning and to study my specific interests. Classes should be taught be excellent, available professors who have a genuine interest in the undergraduate students (no TA's!). I want small classes that are sometimes discussion based, but not so much that you make a fool out of yourself if you didn't have time to do the reading last night. I love the idea of written evaluations instead of grades, but they're definitely not necessary.
Students: Not preppy. I don't mean to stereotype, but these are the kind of students I go to school with now, and I just don't fit in with them. I would like peers who are interested in the important things going on in the world, who are ambitious but not competitive about their studies. I would love to be in a school full of slightly quirky people, but I don't want everyone to be super duper weird, maybe just artsy/indie/a little nerdy but in a cool way. I would prefer to be surrounded by liberals, or at least a good mix of liberals and conservatives. Also, I would like a school with pretty decent geographic diversity.
Social Life: I want a school with no Greek organizations, or at worst, Greek organizations that are not very influential and do not dominate the social scene. I would like a good bit of things to do either on or off campus, though that's not completely necessary. I would like there to be some partying, but not the rowdy frat kinds of parties, rather the smaller, more personal ones. I do not want to drink a lot, and I don't want to do drugs at all. It would be nice if other students were also like that.
Financial Aid: Necessary. My family income is $25-30K, so I need good need-based aid, even for a transfer. That said, I don't mind a few loans, just not my whole education paid for by them.
Other Attributes: At least average dorms/facilities and decent food.</p>

<p>Anything jump to mind?</p>

2

<p>I’m not sure how they are socially or with FA, but the two women’s colleges that jump to mind in the South are Agnes Scott (in Georgia) and Sweet Briar (in Virginia). There’s also Stephens (in Missouri). So if you want a women’s college in the South, those are some you may want to look into.</p>

3

<p>Thanks mp153! I have actually been looking into Agnes Scott and Sweet Briar online, and my initial reaction is more attraction to AS and less to Sweet Briar. Will keep looking at both of them though. I haven’t heard of Stephens, but I will definitely take a look.</p>

4

<p>If you can leave SC, check out Bryn Mawr College in the suburbs of Philadelphia (and its “tri-co” kissing cousins, Swarthmore and Haverford).</p>

5

<p>The school you are describing sounds almost exactly like Pomona, except that it’s not close to SC.</p>

6

<p>Any other co-ed colleges I should consider? Also, do you think I would benefit from an all women’s education?</p>

7

<p>Why do you want to leave your LAC in South Carolina? The description of the school you are looking for is going to be another LAC I am afraid and you dont want any big cities so that narrows it down substantially. Further you dont want preppy and a lot of kids in private LAC’s are preppy by definition. The diversity you seek is more likely found at state schools. Your gpa is high so you are likely near the top of your class. Why not hang on until graduation and then go to graduate school somewhere else? Its not clear what your motivation is. Its certainly not academic. And your family income is low and getting financial aid as a transfer student is not impossible, but generally I have heard its not usually as good as it is for incoming freshmen. Transfer-itis is common with college kids who think the grass is always greener somewhere else, or they are trying to get away from an ex-boyfriend or something. Only transfer for a very specific reason, such as a specific program and improving your situation, or if you are dreadfully unhappy then you have to look really deep in the mirror and analyze that and make sure you arent jumping from the furnace into the firepit. Be careful.</p>

<p>Grad school is so different than undergrad school. Trust me.</p>

8

<p>Pine Manor College (seems to have all you are looking for + great financial aid & student diversity), Vassar College and Sarah Lawrence College (they fulfill your requirements as well, but might be a bit pricey)</p>

9

<p>This sounds like certain liberal arts colleges. The first place that comes to mind is my school, Oberlin, and so you might want to look into schools that normally overlap with it as well.</p>

10

<p>nocousin, here’s some insight into why I’m probably transferring.</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-life/604381-what-should-i-do.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-life/604381-what-should-i-do.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>I’m still not sure if I really will transfer, but anywhere else seems so much better than my current situation.</p>