<p>When I think of Duke, I think of old tobacco money and privileged frat boys.</p>
<p>Austin is a town that is full of both extremes. But I definitely feel students on campus (and let's face it - campus and its surrounding area is a big part of Austin) are more liberal. Austin is notorious for initiating progressive policies for greening of the area. I'm not saying Vanderbilt does not have a music scene in Nashville, but Austin's music scene is more diverse.</p>
<p>
When I think of Berkeley, I think of hippies and marijuana. Stereotypes are great, eh?</p>
<p>
I disagree, primarily because I don't consider Texas part of the South. </p>
<p> [quote] Duke liberal?
I've posted the political</a> spectrum of Duke students before, including that of Duke</a> faculty. In any case, Durham and Chapel Hill are known as islands of blue in a red state...and it's not because of their school colors. </p>
<p>To the OP- I would suggest Elon, which is a rapidly up-and-coming school with a liberal student body and a good music scene. Rhodes would also be worth a look, although the student body is more conservative.</p>
<p>
[quote]
When I think of Berkeley, I think of hippies and marijuana. Stereotypes are great, eh?
[/quote]
</p>
<p>LOL...I knew someone was gonna say that. No complaints...;)</p>
<p>The Duke student political spectrum is quite balanced...very nice.</p>
<p>Wake Forest has test scores better than UNC and on par with Virginia. Also has class sizes much smaller than either one. Like Hawkette, I wonder why someone would be so bitter against Wake?</p>
<p>Texas is not part of the South? BWAHAHAHAHAH!!!!</p>
<p>nope... they're their own entity.</p>
<p>I can say this since I was born and raised there : )</p>
<p>Check out Emory - great school, nice weather, fairly middle of the road (i.e. not too conservative), lots to do socially, great music in Atlanta and on campus, great academics.</p>
<p>UCB: Have you been hanging out with Nancy Grace and Mike Nifong? Actually, although Buck Duke and his daddy, Washington Duke, made a lot of money when they cornered the market on cigarettes after acquiring the patent for rolling them mechanically, the real money in the Duke Endowment came from the boring but steady returns of Duke Power.</p>
<p>^ Nope, I thought Mike Nifong got what he deserved.</p>
<p>Duke, Rice, Emory, Vanderbilt, William & Mary, Davidson are good moderate Southern schools. Wake Forest, Washington & Lee, UVirginia and UNorth Carolina are somewhat more conservative.</p>
<p>If you want to be technical add Georgetown and Johns Hopkins since they are both south of the Mason Dixon line.</p>
<p>
[quote]
nope... they're their own entity.</p>
<p>I can say this since I was born and raised there : )
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Well, considering that Texas was a Confederate state and that East Texas grew a lot of cotton, I'd say that makes it pretty akin to the other Southern states. Seriously, Dallas is about as Southern as it gets. You might as well be in Alabama. Big hair. Lots of makeup. The women are kinda Southern, too.</p>
<p>Fort Worth feels more Western. I think Texas tends to divide into Southern and Western between Dallas and Fort Worth. Houston is definitely Southern. All those East Texas small towns sure feel a lot like western Louisiana to me. I've even stopped and gotten Cajun food at small eateries in the sticks in East Texas.</p>
<p>We be JA mom,</p>
<p>With regard to your statistical profile (4.0 GPA and 2120 SAT) and your criteria of
1) Get out of the Northeast
2) Warm climes and outdoors environment
3) Good social scene
4) Good music scene
5) Not too conservative politically</p>
<p>I think that doctorb provides an excellent list of the schools that you should be looking at (Duke, Rice, Emory, Vanderbilt, Wake Forest U Virginia, U North Carolina, W&M, Davidson, and Washington & Lee). All great choices, great undergraduate experiences, and great destinations for students coming from the cold and snowy North. :) </p>
<p>I would also suggest Tulane. Your stats would have you at the upper end of their student profile, the school is very aggressive with merit aid and this might be of some interest to you. In addition, the weather in New Orleans is, along with Rice in Houston, the best among this group of schools and the New Orleans music scene is historically fabulous and very unique. The social scene at the school and in New Orleans is fun and the students have a good balance of their academic and non-academic activities. </p>
<p>The obvious caveat is the city of New Orleans which continues to work its way back from Katrina. It’s going to be a long slog as the city and state government is so corrupt and has been for decades and even this catastrophe hasn’t changed the culture. Tulane is somewhat immune to this and has actually played a very constructive role in the recovery to date and the student body has a terrific opportunity to participate in the redevelopment of entire neighborhoods. If this service component interests you, then Tulane should definitely be on your list. But even if not, the Tulane academic and campus scene has always been vibrant (and IMO underrated).</p>
<p>Tulane is in a very attractive part of town, more than 4 miles removed from the infamous 9th Ward and the campus displays few traces of the hurricane damage. It has long attracted students from around the country, including large numbers from the Northeast and you might find the Big Easy to be an engaging and fun place to spend your college years. So, give Tulane a look and a visit if possible. You might be pleasantly surprised by what you find.</p>
<p>Wake Forest is a superb school that offers generous financial aid and scholarships to people like you.....but it all depends on your major and career objectives. Ignore the Wake basher.</p>
<p>Wake has lots of kids from New York and New Jersey. </p>
<p>I am not in the school bashing realm, so I wont comment on specific schools and what I don't care for.</p>
<p>What I do suggest is that you examine yourself closely...your interests, personality, dreams, strengths, weaknesses, cultural background etc and focus on FIT. That may or may not be an elite school (top 20). UVa, UNC, Duke, Wake, Emory, Vanderbilt, Washington and Lee, Furman, UFlorida (a real up and coming LARGE state school that is very selective), even Georgia...are all great schools with very different cultures, programs and size. Find the schools that FIT YOU. Because too much is at stake and four years is a long time to spend somewhere you dont fit in.</p>
<p>And dont forget some of the lesser known schools....they may offer you HUGE money and have a great program for what you want to do. Go where you will be the happiest, visit as many schools as you can and get the feel.</p>
<p>You will know in your gut if you fit in or not. Some people want a small school. Some want a large state school and more anonymity. Some want a party school. Some want a serious NO party school. Some want engineering and some want philosophy or business. Its NOT one size fits all.</p>
<p>And then in your applications focus on why you are a great fit for that school and its a great fit for you. They will likely reward you.</p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>And oh yes.....Tulane and Davidson are also superb schools. Davidson is a lot like W & L...small and tends to be somewhat conservative (though not the faculty). If its engineering, for example, that you want then Georgia Tech and NCState are really hard to beat. I know a kid with stats high enough for a top 20 who is at NCState for engineering...and loves it! Thriving. It all depends on YOU and who you are and what you want.</p>
<p>Rollins Col in Winterpark, FLA? I have heard great things about their parties (you didn't hear that from a mother), and S's friend who goes there loves it. He's from NY too and HATES going back for winter break.</p>
<p>True enough, fencersmom....and actually, UMiami is a good school....yes, it has a party school image, but if you are mature and can buckle down, it has some superb programs out there....and was once the classified (and only) domestic cia base during the Kennedy Administration.</p>