<p>It’s not a matter of others “following my directions”. I have been accused of trying to turn my daughter away from women’s colleges. She has no interest. Yet while we are in MA, she has said she will look.</p>
<p>You just jumped into the thread right now. The suggestion of yet another women’s college, and one that is arguably more difficult than the co-ed schools that she likes, seems as though many of you have an agenda. </p>
<p>I have thanked the people who have given suggestions that are appropriate, ad those who have also volunteered that their daughter’s are not interested in single sex colleges.</p>
<p>I don’t think I am the one who needs to relax. A few posters got into a veritable frenzy when we stated my daughters desires for a co-ed college. </p>
<p>First of all, we made no mention that our daughter wanted to govern anything. We did mention that she wanted a left of center school. Why would you mention her “childish views” of world peace and abortion. You don’t even know her, and her views are not childish. Actually our church has the same views that my daughter has.</p>
<p>No one has an “agenda,” LuxLake. People here don’t know you. But they are trying to help. Many of us offer advice (solicited…remember?) to lots of posters on lots of subjects. If you are going to criticize those who are giving of their time to offer suggestions–some of which you may agree with, others which you may not–maybe you should stick to real-life conversations with family, friends, and college counselors.</p>
<p>I’m thinking that we should let this thread die and stop responding to him. He’s started two threads over the last few weeks asking the same question - has been given multiple suggestions - what more is left to say?</p>
<p>I think your daughter has childish views because she’s a child. Idealist. Most kids who are heading to college are idealistic, have a dream of what school should be like and how they will find all kinds of kindred spirits. And they might, but hopefully their education will help mature their views. </p>
<p>Two of the best known schools for political science and government are UW-Madison and Cal Berkeley. They are huge, and while there are liberals, there are also many conservatives which makes for great discussions and conflict. Just my opinion, but I don’t think a small school in Vermont or NH is the best place for politics. I think a school in a state capital or in DC is best for political science or government, but you want small, New England, ‘crunchy’ (whatever that means), co-ed, and clearly not any of the 20 schools that have been named here.</p>
<p>Our daughter wants a New England College. She is open to upstate New York and the Midwest. She has changed her mind about women’s colleges. From “probably not”, to “no way, but I will look at them”.</p>
<p>Safety - Unsure as of yet. Open to suggestions, though. It is difficult finding average colleges that have an even slightly progressive flavor. We would appreciate any suggestions. </p>
<p>Thanks to those who have assisted us in refining our list! </p>
<p>We are still looking for three schools. Any ideas? To refresh, Political Science, left leaning, co-ed.</p>
<p>Took her ACT again and received a 29. I don’t think this changes anything substantially. </p>
<p>Still wondering about Trinity, Connecticut. </p>
<p>If you do not want to answer, Fine. If people want to respond it is their decision, not “let’s let this thread die”. Go somewhere else and give your blown-up opinions to others. For the most part, people have been helpful since this will probably be the biggest decision both our daughter and we will make.</p>
<p>I would add Bates and Colby to her reach list. Especially Bates- very progressive campus culture, easy going students, but top notch academics and opportunities. Love love love this school.</p>
<p>You are going to be annoyed by this recommendation but here goes anyway… Lewis and Clark could be an admissions match for her and fits every possible criteria other than location. Portland sounds like a perfect city for your D… except that it is not NE. Too bad for that, as I honestly think from everything you have posted about your D… her interests, ideology, academic preferences etc… she would fall deeply in love with Lewis and Clark.</p>
<p>Regarding Trinity, it really isn’t fair for me to give a negative opinion since I have never visited (I steered my own D away from visiting even though she will look at Wesleyan and Connecticut College) but I don’t think the “culture” of each LAC/school has changed dramatically over the years. Yes, I admit to this unfounded bias even though I know they have tried hard to shed the preppy rich kid reputation. I am sure they have succeeded on certain levels, but honestly I don’t think it appeals to as many of the intellectually curious and overall academically inclined type student that many of its peer institutions seem to have attracted.</p>
<p>Thanks for your thoughtful response. I think she’d like Lewis and Clark also. It’s just very far away. Living in Ohio, Maine is also far. I’ll discuss Bates ad Colby with my wife and D. I admit to getting those two mixed up, Isn’t one more preppy and the other less so?</p>
<p>Reach schools that fall into her “wish list” are relatively easy to come by. </p>
<p>Matches (to use CC lingo) more difficult and safety nearly impossible. Most average colleges tend to be conventional. Which is not what she is seeking. </p>
<p>We are thinking that Wesleyan is too much of a reach. </p>
<p>Has anyone mentioned Wheaton (the one in Massachusetts, NOT the one in IL)? It sounds like a good fit. It was a woman’s college, but is now co-ed and quite progressive. I sat with two current, male students at an extended-family Thanksgiving dinner last year, and they are both very happy. One is a NYC boy, the other from NJ - both are hippie-ish.</p>
<p>Thank you both for mentioning Wheaton. I don’t think anyone else mentioned it except for my wife.
We are still searching for safeties and have not been able to come up with any that she would like.</p>
<p>Wheaton seems like a really nice school. My son was accepted there but ended up going somewhere else. It’s in a really good location compared to a lot of LACs.</p>
<p>My younger son attends Bates and loves it. He’s found it very open and friendly and progressive. Our boys have friends who attend Wheaton in Mass. All three are happy there. I can’t speak to poli sci programs but think it’sworth checking into. My understanding of Trinity is that it’s pretty conservative. I haven’t observed personally though. </p>
<p>We are still looking for some real safety schools that do not have an anti-intellectual atmosphere.</p>
<p>The more that we read about the former seven sisters, the more that my daughter does NOT think that she is that type. She is not “sportsy” - more “artsy”. Hates field hockey and most women’s sports.</p>
<p>Is a feminist, but does not think that feminism means that women are superior to men. Or that a Freshman man is more likely to “vomit o her front door” than a female. She looks at people as individuals. </p>
<p>We have enough reaches and matches.</p>
<p>Still seeking a few progressive safeties. She is willing to go out of area to find them.</p>
<p>^well, wrt to a “freshman man vomiting on her door”, she’ll change her mind. Seriously. Young men in college are worse than young women in that regard, even if young women parttake quite heartily too. I guess throwing up in drunken-ness doesn’t have the same cachet among young women and isn’t seen as a badge of courage/conviviality/fun or whatever meaning it has for young men, but for them it does have a meaning that’s different from young women. Regardless of where she goes to college and where she falls asleep on Saturday/during the night, she does NOT want to go into the first year men’s bathroom on Sunday morning. It’s a skill she’ll have to learn very quickly, along with wearing flip flops in the showers.
That has nothing to do with women’s colleges - and I’m not sure where you’re getting your information as a lot of it doesn’t seem very true (note: I do not work for a woman’s college nor am I a graduate of one). I understand why someone wouldn’t attend a women’s college, but Barnard isn’t “sporty” (rather, think “sipping sun tea on the lawn a book in hand before heading to the Truffaut festival in the VIllage” and even that is an exageration…) at Bryn Mawr there’s a tradition involving being the first woman who gets… her PHD. </p>
<p>Now, to answer your question: what about Guilford, Eckerd indeed, (Earlham, Hiram and Wooster already on her list), Whittier, Hendrix, Goucher, or Wheaton?</p>
<p>Not sure about Moravian but I maybe confusing it with Eastern.</p>
<p>I find that offensive because our son is a thoughtful young person, who is literate and responsible. He is not out to get drunk and “hook up”. Feminists, such as my daughter and my wife, would take issue with that.
Most college men are not as you describe. Some are.</p>
<p>Not confusing Earlham (Indiana, Quaker) with Moravian (Moravian PA) Hiram seems pretty safe as does Eckerd. She did not like the overly structured first year plan at Guilford and has a general issue with the South, and heat. She might visit Eckerd, though. Wheaton (MA) is a thought and worth a visit. </p>
<p>Isn’t Wooster a bit of a match, rather than a safety? It’s very hard to find smart, slightly edgy safety schools. </p>
<p>Clark is really her goal. Liberal without being too hippyish. Close enough to her brother and to Boston. She’s also seriously looking at Bennington. </p>
<p>Clark also said that it would disregard her "C"s in Catholic Theology that she earned at her first two years at a Catholic HS., and pay attetio to her upward trend - which is more than a trend, it’s a sharp contrast. </p>
<p>UVM in Burlington could be a nice safety for her and it is in her preferred geographic region. Not a small LAC but still an excellent school with solid community, left leaning atmosphere, and an emphasis on undergrad education.</p>
<p>Now, for out of the NE region:</p>
<p>This is a new one but is way out of your geographic region, Westminster College in Salt Lake City. Not a religious school, is an excellent small liberal arts school that would definitely be a safety for her. Automatic merit money based on her stats. Good professional school placement. Probably middle of the road liberal vs conservative atmosphere. Great location, and SLC airport is so easy to get in and out of. Poli Sci only a minor at Westminster so maybe not as appealing: <a href=“404 Not Found”>http://www.westminstercollege.edu/undergraduate/</a></p>
<p>Also, as has has been mentioned before, Goucher in Baltimore if she is looking for closer proximity to a city and more integration with other schools (like Hopkins). Apparently good poli sci department.</p>
<p>The hardest part about finding safeties is that she really doesn’t know if they will be a fit or not unless she can get to campus and get a first hand sense of the school’s culture. If she can’t visit possible safety schools this fall she could still cast a wide net (applications wise) and visit them in the spring if she winds up needing to consider a few of the safety schools. For what it’s worth I think your D has an excellent chance at her match schools, and Clark seems like a perfect fit. Best of luck to her!! </p>
<p>^LuxLake: you yourself have indicated your son is not “cookie cutter”. He enjoys Marlboro, right? You can contrast his personality with the kids from his high school and surrounding high schools who are attending college. I’m pretty sure that what he did for fun on weekends and what they did for fun was in part different.
Some young men may indeed find the concept of throwing up from too much alcohol absolutely repulsive.Young men CAN be sensible and respectful of course, and most are outside of the strange world that has become college parties (it’s changed in the past 20 years and is strangely more “hardcore” in some ways) Nevertheless, your son is not representative of most first year men at more “traditional” colleges, whether they have a Greek scene or not, or are not known as party schools. Ask your son what he knows about parties at UMass, or Amherst, or whether he’d advise first year men’s bathrooms on Sunday mornings at most universities. </p>
<p>I meant (wrote :p) <em>I</em> may confusing Moravian with Eastern - two colleges that are nearby. One is more liberal than the other.</p>
<p>Clark sounds like a perfect fit but perhaps more a match than a safety indeed, but I do think Wooster would be a safety if she’s demonstrated interest and has the right turn of mind (interested in learning/research).</p>
<p>I agree that the party scene is more “hard core” than it was 20-25 years ago. I am fairly sure that my wife and I are alone in this, but we think that the “just say no” culture of many campuses and the ridged policing of marijuana and alcohol on campus is to blame. We lived near a large STEM oriented state university on Long Island. On weekends we noticed students, male and female, purchasing enormous quantities of beer to consume at frat houses and off campus apartments. Even if the student is 21, they are not permitted to keep more than 2 bottles of beer in their dorm. If an RA discovers this, the student is referred for substance abuse counseling. </p>
<p>This is NOT a party school. It’s a highly ranked research university with students who sometimes select it over Cornell and MIT because of the value. </p>
<p>I think that when we went to college we learned to drink responsibly and socially. We had bars o campus and drinking was not the only thing done there. We played primitive video games, listened to music, put money in the juke box, and had conversations. The cost of a glass of wine or beer kept binge drinking down. In fact, neither of us know of any instances that are as Bacchanalian - ad dangerous - as what appears to be going on today. </p>
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