<p>Is there any college/university that stands out as giving the traditional college "feel"? ...I know this is a relative term, but in terms of most students live on campus, there is a lot of unity and on campus events, academics are hard, Gothic architecture, great library, etc...</p>
<p>I would say all of the Ivies have that feel, as do Cal, Duke, Georgetown, Michigan, Notre Dame, UVA and Wisconsin. Stanford is hardly "gothic looking" but it is traditional in most other respects. I am probably missing dozens of schools that qualify, but those are the ones that come to mind.</p>
<p>collegebound:</p>
<p>Aside from academic excellence, the % of students living on campus and the college "feel" were the primary characteristics important to my D. </p>
<p>She found that many non-urban LACs had 90%+ students on campus all four years, and plenty of on-campus activities. Urban or urban-near (i.e. Sarah Lawrence) sometimes means kids scatter to city to have fun on weekends. Low % living on campus sometimes means "commuter school." </p>
<p>Re lots of on campus social options: take away frats, take away city alternatives, and the number of social options on campus goes up. However, if big time sporting events are part of the "feel" you want not all LACs offer this.</p>
<p>Some LACs with the qualities you mention: Vassar, Hamilton, Kenyon, Trinity, Wesleyan, Conn College, Haverford, Bryn Mawr, Smith, Skidmore (though S's architecture not gothic)...</p>
<p>Wellesley has gorgeous Gothic architecture, a stunning campus, and boatloads of money. Also don't forget Bucknell, in rural Pennsylvania. Its architecture is Georgian, not Gothic, but the campus is cohesive, hilly, green, leafy, and altogether beautiful. Same goes for Amherst.</p>
<p>University of the South-Sewanee.</p>
<p><a href="http://www2.sewanee.edu/why/gallery?id=8%5B/url%5D">http://www2.sewanee.edu/why/gallery?id=8</a></p>
<p>Columbia probably fits that ideal less than the other Ivies. But, the fact that it's in NYC more than compensates for the lack of unity, residential feel, etc.</p>
<p>Look at Colgate too.</p>
<p>Thanks so much! The Greek life doesnt fit into my personality, so its fine if there isnt one. Also, sports are great to watch, but not a must. Lastly, Im currently at Cal, and Ive got nothing wrong with it, its a great school; however, it just doesnt click with my personality, so I will be a transfer, Ill look into all of these schools you listed, and am welcome to any more suggestions! Thanks a million!</p>
<p>Davidson seems very traditional. Agree- Colgate, too.</p>
<p>Traditional college atmosphere-hard to beat these three!</p>
<p>I doubt Cal has what you're looking for; most students do NOT live on campus, it has a huge undergrad enrollment so you don't get personal attention. But many of the buildings are beautiful and could fit in any movie about traditional colleges.</p>
<p>Truth is there are hundreds of colleges out there that have what you're looking for, you don't have to just go to an ivy. LACs and smaller privates are the place to start your search, especially those in smaller communities.</p>
<p>Mikemac: thats one of the main reasons Im looking to transfer! Im actually one of the freshmen not living on campus, and from out of state, so its just not a good fit for me. </p>
<p>There are a few smaller colleges Im looking at, my biggest concern is leaving Cal for a college that doesnt have the reputation...and while rankings arent important to me, I would like to go to law school and am a little worried that they will think it strange that I left Berkeley for a small private university that isnt known of.</p>
<p>One of my daughter's friends at Wesleyan transfered there from Berkeley. Law schools will recognize good colleges, small or not. There are lots of great schools, big and small, which have wonderful reputations. Schools understand that you transfered because the school you started at wasn't the right fit for you; they won't think it's strange.</p>