Very good, altruistically-minded colleges?

College Search & Selection
1

Any suggestions for my Junior who wants to help the world and isn’t interested in a hyper-competitive, stressful or overly ambitious environment? Looking for great and good schools that are more collaboratively focused. He’s a very good student, more humanities focused than STEM, good ecs, progressive but not that political, non-confrontational, gets along with everyone but not as into Greek or preppy culture.

We’re thinking Haverford, Oberlin, Bates, Tufts, Clark…would love more suggestions. Thanks!

2

Notre Dame checks some of the boxes, especially in terms of altruism/volunteerism and no greek life.

3

In the midwest, Grinnell, Macalester, Lawrence University, Beloit, Knox, Earlham.

4

Earlham
Hampshire
Unity in Maine
Marlboro in VT
UVM
Green Mountain (in the past it’s had a full scholarship competition)
U of Maine at Orono (I think of this as the cheaper UVM – it’s matching in-state flagship)
UMass Amherst if you don’t care about OOS tuition
Colorado College
Quest in Canada
College of the Atlantic in Maine
UC Santa Cruz
Lewis and Clark
Whitman
New College of Florida (offers OOS freshman scholarship)
St. Mary’s of MD (public LAC)
Maybe Wooster in OH
Bennington
Bard in NY
Wheaton in Massachusetts
Warren Wilson
Vassar
Paul Smiths
UNC Asheville
Beloit
Evergreen

5

I would definitely recommend Bates! We have found Bates to be inclusive and they work hard to be involved in the community.

My D was looking for similar colleges and also applied to Wooster, Kenyon, Macalester, Grinnell, and Haverford. She did summer camp at Warren Wilson and they are laid back and very environmentally conscious, in a beautiful part of NC also.

6

Yes, Bates. An office devoted to community partnerships (for both vol efforts and other quasi internship opps.) A Bonner Leader program (application based.) But imo, it is competitive and somewhat a grade deflation college.

7

Any Jesuit university, such as those listed here: http://www.ajcunet.edu/institutions/

8

Tufts has an entire college dedicated to community service

https://tischcollege.tufts.edu/

9

Notre Dame

10

While ND has a strong commitment to service, the students we know there describe it as very-grade focused with many students looking at business careers in Chicago and the east coast.

11

The Johnston Center for Integrative Studies, a “school within a school” at the University of Redlands, in southern California.

12

Deep Springs?

13

Definitely take a look at Eckerd in St Pete, FL. My lad loved his experience there. It fit well with his Green and Change the World personality.

I’ll admit it was nice “having” to visit in Feb. :wink:

14

College of the Holy Cross

15

One ranking system that is “based on their [the colleges] contribution to the public good in three broad categories”

https://washingtonmonthly.com/2018college-guide

16

Earlham and Guilford?

17

Brandeis
Clark
Loyola University, Maryland

18

You may find some possible schools here: https://ctcl.org/

19

I second the suggestion to look at the Jesuit colleges. As an example, my DD attends LMU and I just read somewhere that they are ranked #3 for community service hours.

20

2nd vote for Eckerd. www.eckerd.edu/about/