I loved Swat but am worried because of the all work, no play reputation it has… I also don’t want a super hard drug party scene like at Reed… What schools can you recommend that are a good mix of academics and fun and maybe not in the boonies (although that’s not a must).
Some other schools have a strong party reputation, although the drug of choice may be alcohol.
Others may help you better if you defined your idea of “fun”.
Haverford is similar to Swarthmore but a bit more laid back.
Kids seem to have fun at Bates. Ditto Colorado College, Whitman.
I mean I want somewhat of a party scene with alc etc but I don’t want one that’s dominated by drugs
I’d suggest you look at Carleton, probably most Swat-like vis a vis intellectualism but way more playful, way less likely for kids to take themselves too seriously. Not quite in the boonies with Northfield less than an hour from Minneapolis/SP.
Agree with Haverford, nearer to large city, don’t know if very small size a negative. Would also look at Pomona - may appear less overtly intellectual but very, very smart kids, LA not too distant. Bowdoin should be on the list as well, but don’t know if small town Maine a deal breaker.
LAC partying, like most colleges, is going to center around alcohol and weed. Some schools will lean a little more alcohol and some will lean a little more weed relative to the others. Any drugs more than weed aren’t super prevalent and are easy to avoid.
Really, “hard drugs” are something else.
Find schools with active outdoors activities and community engagement, internship opps, etc.
Lewis and Clark college. My D is a non-drinker but lots of fun to do unrelated. Good outdoors scene. And Portland OR!
Ditto Carleton. Google Rottblatt. Add beer. That’s the kind of weird partying they do.
Also, you might like Rice. Lots of “house” traditions, many of which involve drinking. Google Beer Bike. It’s not a LAC in the traditional sense, but it’s not a huge university either. I always think a good list has a little diversity so Rice could be a nod to a slightly larger campus than your average LAC.
My D is at Lafayette College and that school may fit the bill for you.
Reed has had [some troubles](reed heroin overdose - Google Search) with the harder drugs.
Thank you guys so much! I sort of based this off of something I read on college confidential about some graffiti at reed that says “party hard because if you don’t were just Swarthmore” or something along those lines. is the swat stereotype accurate?
@technogirl21, Each small LAC has its own personality and culture, and there’s some truth behind persistent stereotypes. Most students, however, fall into the less label-able middle range. Swarthmore and Reed (plus a few others like Wesleyan and Oberlin) are known for serious scholarship and intense social activism.
If you want the rigorous academics, but more of a laissez faire cultural attitude you might look at some of the schools that attract smart, active, happy, outgoing students like Williams, Amherst, Bowdoin, Hamilton, Middlebury, Kenyon, Pomona. You’ll still get a high level of community engagement and intellectual curiosity; just less blatantly politicized.
I’d look at schools in or close to cities. Students often seek entertainment from substances when they attend isolated schools.
I think it is accurate at Swat. Bowdoin might fit what you are looking for, if you can get in.