<p>In the spring, D and I plan to visit several mid-western LACs. The current contenders are: Hiram, Wooster, Ohio Wesleyan, Marietta and Earlham. Our criteria: liberal; not too remote (ie: won't need a car to buy pizza or shampoo); more than 3% black enrollment; less than 25% frats/sororities; easy foreign lang requirement (max of 2 semesters) and open curriculum or minimal geneds.</p>
<p>Is this a trip we can do in 4 days? </p>
<p>Any gem we've over looked (we can extend the trip a day or two)?</p>
<p>With exception of Marietta and Hiram, the distances are not great. Including both I think four days would be a bit of a stretch. (Where are you starting?) I'd definitely add Wittenberg to the list, and I'm sure someone will suggest Denison.</p>
<p>NewHope, my plan was to fly in to Cleveland, starting with Hiram, travel south (Wooster, OWU), end with Earlham and fly out of Dayton (or vice versa). I was afraid that Marietta would require an extra day - - but on paper it looks like a good fit for D, so worth the time/effort, especially once we're in Ohio. Maybe if I paly around with the route (leave from Columbus?) it will be easier to fit in Marietta.</p>
<p>Yes, I considered Witt and Denison, but in earlier threads, both schools are described as very prep, with frats/sororities dominating campus social life. I'm not sure how D would take to Greek life - - in the right setting, she take to it like a fish to water, but if not, I don't want her to feel like an outsider, so I'm steering clear of schools with high frat/sorority participation. Also, at least a couple of posts described the buildings at Witt as being in need maintenance.</p>
<p>I read about the maintenance at Witt. I have to tell you that I did not see any mainenance problem. They have a beautiful campus. I cannot comment about frats, preppy students, etc. but I did see the campus. It is very very nice.</p>
<p>Marietta-Be aware that for larger merit awards they have you coming back to campus to compete for it. I find this an obstacle since we live so far away too. Something to consider before visiting. </p>
<p>You might look into Otterbein as well. They will be transitioning from trimesters to the semester system, so that is something for an applicant to consider. They say that the transition will be a smooth one. I think that it is a nice area to be in without a car. Seems to be strong in theatre/arts.</p>
<p>Hiram is very isolated, although I'm not sure exactly how much. Check my previous threads for the one asking about Hiram in general.</p>
<p>I've also heard that Denison has been strongly deemphasizing Greeks; the percentage is definitely dropping, although I'm not sure what it is at present.</p>
<p>Keilexandra is correct about Denison deemphasizing the greek life. All sorority and fraternity houses have been converted to dorm housing and all students must stay on campus all four years. DD1 attends, loves it there, is not in anyway involved in a sorority, walks down to the town weekly (the trip down is fine - the trip back up the hill is a workout). :) DD1 lost at least 5 lb due to the regular walking.</p>
<p>Think about your stamina. Everyone's different, but I can't get much value out of seeing more than two schools in one day, even if they are geographically close together. After a couple of tours in a row, they all start to sound the same!</p>
<p>For those of you who have visited, are Hiram and Earlham any more remote than Kenyon or Wooster? </p>
<p>As for Denison, even if the the frat/sororoty houses have converted to dorms, I'd prefer a less prep environment where Greek life is less popular than it has traditionally been at Denison.</p>
<p>Glad to hear that Witt isn't coming apart at the seams (but the preppy rep and low oos enrollment are still concerns). </p>
<p>Oberlin would be great, but I've visited (though D hasn't ) and have a good sense of the campus culture, so a pre-application visit isn't really necessary. If D's SAT scores make Oberlin a reasonable reach, she apply and visit if she is admitted.</p>
<p>I have been to Earlham. I do not think that Earlham is more remote than Wooster. I do not think that Wooster has public transit and it would be a nice hike to get to stores by foot, but rhsmom could tell you more. I remember that Earlham has a grocery store within walking distance. I would guess (just a guess) that you would find bus transportation from Earlham. I would ask. Both Earlham and Wooster have places to go (shops and restaurants) within a short car ride.</p>
<p>Wow! What a great site! According to the site - - Wooster is passable, Earlham less so and Hiram is at the edge of civilization as we know it (but gets a "walability" score surprisingly close to that of Hampshire College, which scored lower than Earlham).</p>
<p>yeah, Hampshire college isn't really walkable to anything except farms (it is pretty though!). They do participate in the Five College bus system so it's not hard to get to Amherst or Northampton.</p>
<p>We visit Butler last summer....it was gorgeous, nice area around and nearby it. Son loved what he saw. It's just a bit farther than what he (and we!) wants.</p>
<p>My brother lived in the neighbor of Butler University in Indianapolis. The school is well regarded there. I found it to be a true hidden gem. Its theatre offerings were top grade. I wished my son had included it in his choices, but he was a year too early. I also like that it is in a major city which gives students there the resources of Indianapolis, yet it is a small school and not so city like that it lacks a campus. It is not in the main downtown party of Indy which UIPU is. UIPU is a very large school and felt more impersonal than Butler. Butler seemed to have an active campus life.</p>
<p>Butler is nice. You might want to skip Marietta; my understanding is that it is a very regional school. Have you considered Baldwin Wallace? It has kids from all over because of its outstanding musical theatre program.</p>
<p>Do give Hiram a visit. A very neat college. The town of Hiram is small but there is a town there (you can buy shampoo and pizza), and there is a bus that loops into Cleveland on weekends if you want to get out of Hiram and don't have a car.</p>
<p>If you are wanting "big city" things like the Browns or the Indians or touring Broadway plays or interesting ethnic restaurants, Hiram is 40 miles from Browns Stadium (downtown on the Lake Erie); Wooster is 60. Neither is convenient. However, Hiram has about 1200 people and Wooster has about 24,000 people - Wooster is 20 times bigger. Both schools are great but they may fit different people. It is certainly worth visiting both.</p>