<p>There are some of those people still at Bennington, but I think the population might be changing somewhat. This year's Freshman class was known as the straightest (and highest achieving) in a long time, second only, according to some students, to next years class. Our daughter's friends have mostly been only slightly funky, very beautiful, motivated, young women. There seems to be a little of everything, but for the most part the several times we have been up there the students have looked pretty "normal." They are however an artsy, intellectual, and often outside the box, bunch.</p>
<p>I am exhausted and will provide details in a later post, but I did want to say THANK YOU for all your recommendations and suggestions! We incorporated many into our trip. </p>
<p>The most important of which were the recommendations to include Bennington and Bard on our tour of alternative colleges in the Northeast. Time limitations prevented us from including Bard but we did tour Bennington, and my DS liked it a lot. So... THANK YOU for that recommendation!!! We live about 2 hours from Bard so we'll be sure to visit later this summer when I can get some additional time off.</p>
<p>As you predicted, the order of appeal changed significantly after this initial visit, and may change again once he does overnights in the fall at the schools he likes the best. </p>
<p>Before we saw the schools, the order was:
Hampshire ~> Sarah Lawrence ~> Marlboro ~> Skidmore</p>
<p>Now the order is:
Sarah Lawrence (far and away his first choice) ~> Marlboro ~> Bennington ~> Hampshire ~> Skidmore (acc. to DS, is "too traditional" and he will not be applying there.)</p>
<p>Hope to get back later this evening to share my impressions before time muddies those memories. If anyone reading this has questions about these schools, please post them and I'll try my best to answer. Remember, the students were NOT on campus during these visits though. </p>
<p>More to come...
Jjsmom</p>
<p>The students not being there means he's comparing the campuses/towns. When kids are there the feel will be much more accurate.</p>
<p>But yes, skidmore is the most conventional of that list.</p>
<p>jjsmom-I would really like to hear what your (and your son's) impressions of all of the schools were. I have so many friends who, with their children, are planning to look at schools this summer, and are trying to decide which ones to visit. It is helpful to get input other than just from the many books.</p>
<p>Many (too many) years ago I transferred from Univ. of Michigan to Sarah Lawrence, specifically because of SLC's unique academic structure: 3 classes/year (or some for a semester); +independent study in each academic with a "Don". I wanted to do more music and at SLC, I was able to take piano lessons, composition, theory, etc., all as part of my" Music third." At Michigan, taking five academics a semester and piano lessons extracurricularly--I was frustrated and spread too thin.</p>
<p>When I took my daughter around to look at colleges last year, one of my big questions was how many classes people took at one time. </p>
<p>SLC also benefits from proximity to Manhattan. But it's a still a small school, so junior year abroad or in another school is a good thing to keep in mind.</p>
<p>OK... my son and I worked on this together, and only got as far as Sarah Lawrence and Marlboro. I hope to get our full impressions of the others down "on paper" soon but I'm supposed to go out of town tomorrow so let me copy/paste what we've accomplished thus far and will work on the rest later.</p>
<p>Sarah Lawrence College: </p>
<p>Campus: A+
In suburb 15 min from NYC. Tudor style older buildings interspersed with striking modern, ecologically sound structures. Lots of hills, exposed bedrock, mature trees, comfy benches, and wrought iron gates. Campus is small enough to get to class on time from any corner, big enough to keep surprising you. </p>
<p>Dorms: A
Many different types of dorms from old Tudor to classic 70s generic dorm building construction. Dorm room size of the double we saw was more than adequate for two kids, much larger than typical dorm rooms. Furniture actually matched. Some rooms are set up as suites, others typical dorm style. A wide variety of options, including theme houses, all female, healthy living, and so on. </p>
<p>Academics: A+
This is where Sarah Lawrence really struck my son as extra-special. </p>
<p>As we were driving to the college, my son had been trying to articulate to me his ideal system for structuring a class. My son said the SLC system of classroom seminars, individual conferencing and faculty donning "hits it on the head, by providing the perfect balance between independent research and input from faculty. </p>
<p>Heres how SLC itself describes its educational system, right from its website:</p>
<p>A seminar-conference system through which students learn in small, highly interactive classes and in private tutorials.</p>
<p>A system of donning in which each student works with a faculty adviser to design his or her own program of study and through which the faculty member is available for ongoing academic and personal guidance.</p>
<p>An academic format in which students take three courses each semester in order to explore each subject in depth.</p>
<p>An emphasis on program planning, encouraging students to choose the courses of study most meaningful to them. The College recognizes the importance of tailoring each students program to his or her specific needs and interests. The faculty don and the student work together to plan a program that will be most beneficial.</p>
<p>The use of written evaluations by faculty of each students work, in addition to a traditional grading system. </p>
<p>A system of teaching in which there are no graduate assistants, instructors, or adjunct lecturers. There is no hierarchy of faculty ranking at Sarah Lawrence. The commitment, above all, to the role of teacher as one who seeks to help students realize their fullest possible potential.</p>
<p>Social Life: ?
According to the tourguide, the students keep busy with lots of on campus events and shows, visiting lecturers and performers. NYC is a ½ hour train ride away, but SLC also offers daily shuttles into the City. Our tourguide said he goes into NYC twice a month. </p>
<p>Otherwise, we really dont know. There are many serious concerns regarding the SLC social life, as there are mixed reports online. They run the gamut from everyone being very friendly to everyone being morose and introverted. The only way to know for sure is an overnight visit once classes resume.</p>
<p>Overall: The academics seem to be exactly what my son is looking for. There appear to be enough ways to keep busy. The school presents itself as having a sense of character and purpose. We are both very interested to see how my sons view of the school becomes clearer after sitting in on some classes and meeting some actual students in the fall. Stay tuned.</p>
<p>Marlboro College:</p>
<p>Overview:
Small. Very very small. 320 students. Total.
Isolated. Very very isolated.
I was skeptical. In fact, the more I read about the smallness and remoteness convinced me that there was no way this school would be a serious contender.<br>
I was wrong.</p>
<p>Campus: A
Very rural, about 15 minutes from Brattleboro, a quaint town where the largest store was "Sam's" -- an outdoors outfitter. On campus in tiny Marlboro, which is on top of a large hill, face any direction and have an amazing view of the Green Mountains. Trails go out into the woods and trees and ponds abound on the hill. Most buildings are converted farm buildings; some are as new as a year old. Although our tourguide said that the paths and streets are well kept in the winter, we'll bet that there's still no way to get from class to class without getting a bootful of snow. ;></p>
<p>Dorms: A+
Biggest dorms weve seen yet. Lofts allow most rooms to be doubles or triples, but even making these rooms a triple would leave any college student feeling spoiled. Giant windows and clean bathrooms. Each house creates a charter at the beginning of the year establishing quiet hours, substance (in)tolerance, etc. </p>
<p>Academics: A+
Independence is key here. Students spend 2 years exploring everything their hearts desire, and 2 years honing in on a more specific aspect of their education. This culminates in a professional paper and presentation at the end of the senior year called The Plan. Everything learned about the faculty has been extremely positive and with the school being such a small, tight-knit community, faculty support is great. The only question regarding academics is the possibility of too much independence. The idea of studying exactly what you want is great, but at the same time my son is concerned that by creating his own classes for two years, he will miss out on exposure to learning about some fundamentals and things hes never even heard of. His concerns here are the exact opposite of those my son has regarding SLC.</p>
<p>Social Life: ? Could be an A- to C
Wonderful people with nothing to do? Once again, its hard to say anything definite until school is in session. Here is a school that had cable TV but the students voted it GONE because it was a distraction. Hmmm
</p>
<p>So, on the one hand, boredom is definitely a concern, as Marlboro is in the boondocks and you cant go kayaking or spelunking every day of your college career. On the other hand, it has been described by our tour guide, the people we met in admissions and Marlboro student posters online as a big family, with students and faculty passionate about their education. They assure us that there is always something to do, despite the Princeton Review book stating that being in the middle of nowhere with the same 300 kids can get a bit... oppressive. Having only seen the school out of session, it is hard to know for sure what to expect. </p>
<p>Overall: The academics seem to be very close to what my son is looking for. Though right now SLC seems to have the slight edge, a visit to each could very well reveal that SLCs system doesnt allow enough independence and that Marlboro provides enough faculty guidance to balance the seemingly chaotic free reign students have over their education. Students going to Marlboro MUST be very self-motivated and passionate about their studies, and they must be decisive enough to jump right into their work instead of pandering over what classes to create. The size of the student population risks being oppressive but might very well be the nurturing group of people needed to help give students the confidence to be independent and successful. The questions can only be met with speculation until my son visits again in the fall.</p>
<p>Well, that's it for these two schools. We also saw Bennington, Skidmore and Hampshire on this trip, and I'll see if I can at least give a paragraph or two about these in a bit.</p>
<p>OH and son corrected me on the order:<br>
Sarah Lawrence ~> Marlboro ~> Bennington ~> Skidmore ~> Hampshire (he didn't like Hampshire at all, and Skidmore was "ok, for a traditional school.")</p>
<p>More later! :)
Jjsmom</p>
<p>Bennington:</p>
<p>Campus: B
The older buildings are of the typical white clapboard with green shutters New England style, and are arranged in a semicircle around a large quad. The vista is absolutely exquisite, with the Green Mountains all around. At the end of the quad is "The End of the World" -- a point where the land slopes down sharply and as you stand at the edge it looks as if it really is "the end of the world." There is also a red barn in which there are many academic classrooms. At the center of the campus is a large structure called the Commons building with a steeple and wrap around porch and a balcony, which is home to the dining room, mailroom, and the only cable tv on campus.</p>
<p>Our tourguide was excited about showing us the newer buildings, especially the VAPA arts building, which was ok in a glassy boxy otherwise nondescript boxy way. </p>
<p>Academics: A</p>
<p>The most interesting part of Bennington's academic structure is "Field Work Term." Each year, the students leave campus for 7 weeks for internships and jobs in areas related to their studies. These take place literally all over the world! The Field Work Term office has a list of hundreds of these opportunities and helps the students find, interview for and obtain these jobs and internships. Students graduate with a degree, work experience and an impressive resume. </p>
<p>Like Marlboro, Bennington students design and evaluate their education through development of an individualized "Plan." In the Plan, the students propose what classes, projects, volunteer experiences, field work term experiences and so on are anticipated to achieve their educational goals. With faculty input, these goals are achieved and ultimately the Plan is realized and the diploma is conferred.</p>
<p>Tourguide reiterated over and over again how the students were so supportive of each other and that there was simply no competition between students on campus. </p>
<p>Dorms: C</p>
<p>OK, there's quaint and then there's ramshackle. In doubles the beds, desks and chairs didn't match. My son called one of the rooms Laurel and Hardy, after the tall thin dresser in the same room with the short wide dresser. Paint was peeling. There was a musty smell. Oh, and room size was average. </p>
<p>Social Life: ?</p>
<p>Again, hard to know when visiting without students! It is a small community of 600 students and we keep hearing and reading that, like Marlboro, there is a supportive family feeling on campus. However, we've also read that my son might find himself an oddity on campus as his hair is not dyed, spiked, shaved, or mohawked, his body parts are not pierced nor tattooed. His clothing choices are boring teeshirts and cargo pants and he changes his underwear daily, though I wonder about his socks. :) He likes girls. He does not partake of illegal substances. </p>
<p>He has no problem whatsoever with those who are different from him as long as they have no problem with him being different from them. Again, he will have to do an overnight in the fall to get a feel for what is what. </p>
<p>Hope this is helpful to someone out there! Hampshire and Skidmore next.</p>
<p>Jjsmom</p>
<p>Hampshire:</p>
<p>We heard the rumors. We read what TheDad wrote. But we had preconceived notions about Marlboro, too, and thankfully we discarded them once we visited. And so we were determined not to let Hampshire's rep as a school for slackers and stoners deter us. </p>
<p>Well...</p>
<p>Ahem...</p>
<p>Errr...</p>
<p>Ok, ok, here's the thing.</p>
<p>Our tourguide was apparently high. Hey, I'm a child of the 60s. I know when I see/hear a high college student. :)</p>
<p>This did not impress me, my husband or my son. And so though we went thru the motions of the tour and info session, we had a really bad taste in our mouths and son is taking Hampshire off the list.</p>
<p>For the record:</p>
<p>Campus: B
Campus was huge. College was founded in the 70s and so all the building were new and had no character.</p>
<p>Hampshire is in the middle of the Amherst/Northampton area which is quite the happenin' place for college students. Free bus service to either of the downtowns and the other 4 schools of the 5 school consortium too.</p>
<p>Academics: A
Fascinating story how Hampshire came to be and it's educational philosophy. Can take classes at any of the other four schools: Smith, Amherst, UMass/Amherst, Mt. Holyoke. Too bad our tourguide was unable to explain this too well due to his forgetting what he was talking about midway through a sentence... Check out <a href="http://www.hampshire.edu%5B/url%5D">www.hampshire.edu</a> for details. </p>
<p>Dorms: B-
We saw one single. It was a nice size but the bathroom was GROSS. The hallway was dark and dingy. The paint was peeling.</p>
<p>Social: ?
We'll never know if most of the student body is a bunch of slackers and stoners. I like to think not. Despite the great academics, son doesn't think this will be a good fit socially. </p>
<p>Overall:
Off the list. Rash? Perhaps. But first impressions are important and if a stoned tourguide was the best the admissions office could provide then... well, ta ta Hampshire. :/</p>
<p>Skidmore next.</p>
<p>Skidmore:
Campus: A
Simply beautiful grounds, lovely newer buildings, the campus is visually exquisite. </p>
<p>Dorms: A+
The largest dorm rooms of them all, and all rooms have a window seat!</p>
<p>Academics: C
OK, for the performing and visual arts, business and premed, academics get an A. For my son the history/social science major, not much going on academically here. Very traditional academically and son is looking for something a bit more student directed.</p>
<p>Socially: A
Tourguide was really terrific, very funny and knowledgable and talked up all the wonderful activities available. Sounds like a blast! Saratoga Springs is a fun fun fun place, and there's a shuttle from campus to downtown.
However my son thought that what Skidmore had to offer prospective applicants was more about social life than about education. My son is looking for a school where thirst for learning is first and foremost and he just didn't get that vibe from Skidmore.</p>
<p>Overall:
He loved the campus, the location, the dorms... he's just nervous that his chosen major isn't one of the strong ones and that he would be an oddity as one of the few who are serious about learning for learning's sake.</p>
<p>He is considering returning in the fall for an overnight and sitting in on some of the honor's classes.</p>
<p>That's it!
Hope this was helpful to someone out there! :)</p>
<p>I'm very much interested in reading YOUR reviews of additional "alternative" schools. </p>
<p>Especially:
Bard
Reed
New School in Florida
St. John's</p>
<p>Any others?</p>
<p>Good luck to all of our kids! May they all find the school that's a great match for their interests and personalities!</p>
<p>Jjsmom</p>
<p>You've captured my D's reservations about Skidmore without benefit of us visiting, though we attended a local alumni presentation & prospect gathering: "...the few who are serious about learning for learning's sake." It was her Safety, the one most fitting what she was looking for, but with reservations. The performing arts strength was the pull over otherwise comparable schools.</p>
<p>And, umm, regarding your Hampshire experience, umm....ah...which is to say.... Oh, never mind.</p>
<p>Thanks for the reports! Two years ago we visited all those schools. Sounds like your son is looking for the same type of school my daughter was. For her it came down to Earlham and Marlboro. It was a tough choice but she ended up at Earlham and is happy there. I never thought she'd end up in the midwest!</p>
<p>Good luck</p>
<p>Son visited Bard 3 times. First, visit soon since you should apply shortly via the Instant Decision Plan <a href="http://www.bard.edu/admission/applying/idp.shtml%5B/url%5D">http://www.bard.edu/admission/applying/idp.shtml</a>. My son did that last year and he had an official college admission to Bard the first week in November! The IDP has a limited number of applications and you may find if you wait till August all spots will be gone.
The president of Bard, Leon Bottstein is world famous and one of the strengths of the school. The Dean there who spoke to the parents was the most honest college rep we ever met - very forthright about negatives they are working to fix (ie high rate of smoking (cigarettes in this case) among students including in dorms.
Faculty works very closely with the individual student. A history major could spend a semster in New York city studying IR or abroad <a href="http://www.bard.edu/bgia/%5B/url%5D">http://www.bard.edu/bgia/</a>
My son, a creative writer, in the end chose Johns Hopkins over his other choices. I want to emphasize that for him it came down to 4 schools and in each case he sat in on actual classes (and at CMU did an overnight in their dorms) before making a decision - this was crucial.</p>
<p>I forgot to add that my husband is a Marlboro grad, also many many years ago. It was a FANTASTIC place for him, in hippie days, when he needed to be at an accepting place. He was an art major and the independence and closeness to teachers, plus beautiful Vermont, were great for him. Now he is an architect.</p>
<p>So, SLC+Marlboro parents= my daughter is going to Middlebury. She needed a great dance department, balanced genders, and strong academics. Vermont is such a +!</p>
<p>A great review of your tour. I would strongly suggest checking out Bard when the students are there and revisiting Sarah Lawrence at the same time. You may get a different vibe. You might also check out Vassar for a more "conventional" school.</p>
<p>I liked the "short tour" of Bennington post asll. I have toured Hampshire twice and think it is a very interesting place. Their facilities are running down a bit but the area may compensate.</p>
<p>Hampshire and the University of Chicago had the most interesting tours for me. I was told by my sone that Bard's was great as there were only three students and all of us parent stayed in warmth of the Admissions house.</p>
<p>A quick note on Sarah Lawrence: Lots of uber-liberal girls there, and your son likes that. But many of the girls like girls. There is a large contingent of introverted, morose poets-types. Uber-wealthy, too. And not everyone takes advantage of the proximity to the city. One '06 grad told me that living there is like being in "a bubble." He was an adventurous, musical, traveler-type.</p>
<p>No grades, no SATs. No math or science required for graduation. One great thing about Sarah Lawrence is that they are EXACTLY what they claim to be. </p>
<p>It's a beautiful campus & town.</p>
<p>As others have stated, I also think it is VERY important to go back when the students are there. Last Spring (2005) I toured Hampshire, Sarah Lawrence and Bennington with a friend and his son. This tour business is very interesting because one can have such different experiences based on the guide, the weather, and one's mood that day (this last is perhaps more true for the teenagers than the adults).
--At Hampshire we had a terrific young man as our guide who was able to answer all of our questions in a very articulate manner. We made a point of talking to three random students, one of whom was off to graduate school at Harvard in the Fall, one of whom was pre-med, and the other was a freshman who seemed quite happy with her choice. The campus seemed very socially vibrant, with people greeting eachother and talking happily.<br>
--At Bennington my friend's son really loved the dorms, even, and perhaps especially, the old clapboard houses, which would perhaps be considered the most "ramshackle" of the three living arrangements. He loved the big windows, the hardwood floors and the common rooms all with fireplaces, he said they felt like a real home to him. My friend and I were most impressed with the newest of the buildings, which are much more modern and the furniture did "match." Academically, we were all very impressed with the Field Work Term and thought that the experience out in the real world, and graduating with a resume, was invaluable. We were also surprised by the helpfullness, warmth and "normalcy" of the student body.<br>
--Sarah Lawrence was initially this young man's first choice. He came to feel, however, that though the academics were impressive, there was not the campus culture he was looking for. After speaking to several students, it sounded like the campus pretty much emptied out in to the city on the weekends. It was also at Sarah Lawrence that we saw the most dyed hair, piercings and tattoos. My young friend is interested in an alternative education but is fairly straight himself. He does not drink, or take drugs, and so this was also an important factor to him. He tried to sense from talking to students where he would feel most comfortable.
Though he loved the Bennington campus and feel, he ended up choosing Hampshire largely because of the five college consortium. He started last Fall, and according to my friend, had a wonderful first year.
I write all of this just to give another perspective, and to re-iterate the importance of seeing, and talking to current students.</p>
<p>The advice to visit when school is in session is well taken. I've seen at least four or five schools under both "in session" and "not" conditions and impressions would probably change for most of them.</p>
<p>About Sarah Lawrence: we never visited, but it was on the medium-sized list for a while a options were being whittled down. A friend who knew my D from ballet taught at Sarah Lawrence while on sabbatical from UCLA for a year. Her comment in the context of D: too many piercings and too much blue hair for her to be happy there.</p>
<p>Hey, even if you go in session-- there is a huge difference between a rainy Monday and a sunny Friday...</p>
<p>I have several friends at Hampshire and have visited there many times. I think your experience was pretty unusual (and awful! What an idiot your tour guide must have been) Not that there isn't partying there, but all of the people I have met there have been very motivated, not slackers at all. Everyone there seems very excited about their work and spend a lot of their time outside of the classroom, doing, talking and thinking about it. My friends there are not partyers at all and have had a great time socially. I love Bennington, but I think that the five college consortium can't be beat. You get all the advantages of a small school, but all the resources of a big one. It would be a shame not to give it another chance. As to Bennington---We love our old houses, and the fact that the furniture doesn't match! Some ARE nicer than others though and I'm thinking that you probably saw them at the worst possible time. The students only left a couple of weeks ago (yes, we get out late) and maintenance may not have gotten to them yet. Also, many of the houses are about to be renovated--Bennington recently came in to a lot of money that they have earmarked for the physical plant. I hope your son comes back in the fall--he will not feel AT ALL odd in a t-shirt and cargo pants, its the preferred uniform for most of the boys!</p>
<p>SBMom: true.</p>