<p>We would be very appreciative of any advice, suggestions, & other general help as we start looking at colleges with our junior in high school who has a passion for the environment, sciences (environmental science, physics, biology, botany), & drawing/painting.</p>
<p>Our dau is interested in a LAC or university that is:
1. either a LAC of 1500-3,000 students or a medium size school of up to 12,000 students
2. involved in environmental sustainability (environmental programs & student organizations, a major in environmental science, slow food & local food interest in cafeteria, etc)
3. very strong in the sciences
4. strong in painting & drawing
5. not sorority or fraternity-oriented
6 co-ed
7. smaller classes, opportunities for seminars & tutorials, & interaction with professors
8. would be open to anywhere in the country</p>
<p>She's an introverted thinker who is actively engaged in classroom discussions & energized by ideas. She prefers having active classroom experiences where she gets regular interaction with faculty & students in small classes & seminars.</p>
<p>Her SATs, grades & ECs would give her an excellent "chance" at the top LACs & Ivies, but she doesn't have any "hooks" that would guarantee or even give her higher odds of admission at any of the top tier LACs or Ivies. </p>
<p>If she is open to a very rigorous college with junior qualifying exams & writing ( & defending) a senior thesis- she may be interested at Reed College in Portland Oregon.
[Reed</a> College | Environmental Studies | Home](<a href=“http://academic.reed.edu/es/]Reed”>Environmental Studies - Reed College)</p>
<p>Thanks for the reminder about Reed College. She is interested in a rigorous program & we both just looked through Reed’s program, which looks excellent. My dau wonders whether Reed students are able to achieve a balance with academic rigor & pursuing non-academic interests such as skiing with friends. Another plus with Reed or some of the NE schools is the gorgeous surroundings, and it’d be nice if the students were able to immerse themselves in their academic pursuits and take time to hike, ski, etc. I’ll look up more about Reed and whether they have an outing club, too. Thanks again for the idea.</p>
<p>She might like Bard. It hasn’t been known for science in the past, but they beefed up their offerings and have a gorgeous new building. You’ll get tons of interaction with professors. Bard requires you to defend your choice of major and to write (or produce) a senior thesis. [Bard</a> College](<a href=“http://www.bard.edu/]Bard”>http://www.bard.edu/)</p>
<p>Toured UVM recently. It has 10,500 undergrads. It offers majors in Environmental Engineering, Environmental Sciences, and Environmental Studies. It is co-ed, and only 8% of students are involved in Greek life. Skiing is close by, of course, and there is an active Outing Club. If your daughter has top grades and test scores she’d be a candidate for the Honors College.</p>
<p>The tour guide did not mention the Arts departments, sorry.</p>
<p>emeraldkity4: Reed College owning a ski cabin for students to use is wonderful & does indicate the administration’s interest in helping students have lives apart from studying. Thanks.</p>
<p>mathmom: Bard College & Warren Wilson are both interesting suggestions. The strong focus on the environment is such an excellent match with our dau, & both schools are perfect fits with her passions & personality. </p>
<p>My only question is related to the intellectual/academic fit. Is it a concern, do you think, if there’s a significant difference in a school’s average SAT scores & your child’s scores? My impression is the students at Bard & Warren Wilson tend to be quite bright & interesting intellectually.</p>
<p>wuggroe: My dau had mentioned how great it would be to be a part of a smaller college within the university setting. We’ll look up UVM’s info—I’ve heard they have an excellent environmental program. In case it’s not easy to find online, do you know if their honor college kids live together in a dorm? My dau likes the idea of living with the same group of students that she studies with IF she is attending a middle size or large university. Thanks for the UVM suggestion.</p>
<p>I am adding to my original post as I really recommend you look more closely at Brandeis. It seems to fit the bill. There is a large commitment to environmental awareness and sustainability with many student initiatives. It is a non-Greek school-there are frats and sororities but off-campus and not the main culture of the school. There are many small seminar classes with interaction with professors. My d graduated with a double degree in studio art and art history and was originally a bio/studio art major. She did take several Environmental classes as well.</p>
<p>bookmama–Brandeis was off-our-radar for no reason, so thanks for reminding us. Easy for us to visit & for dau to get a feel of the campus & students & faculty–Thanks. </p>
<p>nngmm & bookmama–Both Brandeis & Wash U were off my radar, yet both have incredibly strong science programs as well as student-led initiatives in environmental sustainability & administration-led environmental centers. Studio art seems excellent at both schools, too, & the size of their student population & classes are also a good fit. </p>
<p>Thanks again for all of your continued suggestions, which are helping us think outside-of-the-box & look at a whole new group of possible schools.</p>
<p>^If you are looking at Brandeis you might look at Tufts. If you are serious about art you can even do a joint BFA with the Museum School. It’s got environmental science, not a big Greek presence. [Welcome</a>! - Tufts Institute of the Environment - Tufts University](<a href=“http://environment.tufts.edu/]Welcome”>http://environment.tufts.edu/) I’d say it’s a bit more mainstream than my previous suggestions.</p>
<p>Another place you might not have thought of is American University. I know it has a strong art department and environmental studies (which you can also combine with international affairs) [Environmental</a> Science Degree Programs & Department Information | American University, Washington, DC](<a href=“http://www.american.edu/cas/environmental/]Environmental”>Environmental Science at American University | American University, Washington, DC) Nice honors college, good location in DC. I don’t think it is as strong in straight science though.</p>
<p>Does she also have a great curiosity, love of learning and ability to laugh sometimes? </p>
<p>Oberlin College: cutting-edge building and programs in Environmental Sciences, and as evidence of a great program in Physics note their record for Goldwater Scholarships from that department. Nationally significant art museum (Allen Memorial) with art studios alongside it, a large LAC at around 2600 undergraduates only, strong ethos of faculty interested in students with seminars and senior faculty teaching freshmen, first coed school in the nation and deeply committed to that history, food/housing cooperatives as alternatives to conventional dining/residential halls (they have both), no fraternities or sororities. As well: January Term for opportunities to do independent projects in those interests (on or off-campus) and ExCo (experimental college) where peer teaching includes some of her interests there. </p>
<p>Since you say she’s without a great “hook,” she should certainly explore Oberlin first by website and, if interested, begin to communicate with other students who understand the campus culture. Plan to visit the campus for an overnight to determine if it’s a “fit” before she writes a superb personal essay. Frankly it’s not a college to just throw off an application as a casual safety; they can fairly smell that a mile away. If she gets passionate or keenly enthusiastic about Oberlin, then apply; otherwise, don’t bother (that’s my perception). </p>
<p>By the way, her openness to live anywhere in the country is a plus, since the Ohio location doesn’t appeal to every student.</p>
<p>Here’s a different kind of suggestion for a student whose focus is Environmental Studies:
[SUNY-ESF</a>, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry](<a href=“http://www.esf.edu/]SUNY-ESF”>http://www.esf.edu/) a campus of The State University of New York. </p>
<p>I don’t know whether it satisfies enough of the other stated criteria to make your D happy. It’s located in the geographic center of Syracuse University, so that may help.</p>
<p>Another off the usual radar is Colorado College. VERY environmentally concerned (most recent building just got gold award), VERY big on hiking, skiing etc but stong academics. May not have quite the science focus since a small LAC college, but they have cadavers for the UGs, geology class in Moab and the Grand Canyon, a strong neuroscience dept, and you get a rat to train in Psych 101. Be aware of their unique “Block plan”</p>
<p>We don’t know much about Tufts or American, but both would be easy to fit into our college visits just to see if my dau is interested. Both have solid reputations in her interests, & living in Boston or DC could only be a plus.</p>
<p>Colorado College is another school that I didn’t know had a strong environment program. Love their block scheduling, & then giving students several days off between their 3 week blocks. Fabulous for hiking, skiing, & enjoying that gorgeous area around Colorado Springs. Huge plus being near the Rockies, & not far from Denver. Will research how their sciences & art departments are. Cadavers, of course, are also a plus :). Great excuse to visit Colorado this winter during the ski season for a college visit!</p>
<p>I second Middlebury. The school’s ethos is focused on environmental awareness. Environmental science program is considered very good, they offer studio art, strong biology, but not clear on physics.</p>
<p>WashU has an art school, and so the art classes are very hard core. Sciences are strong overall.</p>