<p>My DS and I went to a Road to College program at Wash U. He really liked how Wash U empahsized a multidisipanary approach - many people double major and there is no problem whatsoever to switch colleges or have majors in different colleges. This really appealed to him because he has no idea what he wants to do. He also really liked the size of Wash U, about 5-6,000.</p>
<p>What colleges would you recommend that you feel are similar in their ease of switching colleges/majors, the encouragement of a multidisipalnary approach, and the medium size. I'd like ideas in all selectivity levels and all areas of the country. </p>
<p>WashU doesnt have a strict core requirement from what I gathered and that is what allows kids to double and triple major and still graduate in four years. So you can dabble and still have fun. Though its plenty stressful there as the competition is pretty high brow. </p>
<p>Vanderbilt, Washington and Lee, Sewanee, Northwestern, Emory, all have a similary feel, though they are not as "core-free" as WashU. Brown is pretty open about curriculum. Most kids who apply to WashU also apply to several Ivies and so there is a lot of "wait and see where we get in" mentality.</p>
<p>Thanks for the replies - keep them coming :) Also, please give me some less selective schools in the same mold if possible.</p>
<p>Son loves biology, but does not want to be a doctor. Is he interested in engineering? Not now, but never say never. I could see him being a science major, business/finance major. . . it's really hard to say. He is only a sophomore, so it's early, but he really liked the idea that Wash U was so open to let you easily switch colleges. Only problem, we live in the area and he wants to go to school out of town - although after we left he said he wants to apply there.</p>
<p>hotasice - Rice sounds very similar in their philosphy - thanks!</p>
<p>Rice, Tufts, and Johns Hopkins all come to mind. I would also add Princeton to that list, though it's obviously much more selective. Looking south, Emory and Vanderbilt are similar in some ways, but they are more traditional than WashU.</p>
<p>I can't speak for Rice one way or the other, but I have to agree about Northwestern. I think it attracts a similar student body and has a similar feel (albeit near a larger city).</p>
<p>I know that Knox is way smaller and less selective than Wash U, but seems very open about kids creating their own majors and working with them to create course offerings or independent study to meet their needs.</p>
<p>Thanks again for the replies - any more are appreciated - esp more that are not in the top 25.</p>
<p>I'll have to look at Northwestern again. Older son considered it but I had the feeling it was harder to switch majors there - (maybe I am thinking that because of the journalism school?) </p>
<p>Hadn't thought about Tufts or John Hopkins in this vein - that's why all these suggestions are helpful. Tulsa looks good too. Knox sounds great, but unfortunately it is too small for him.</p>
<p>Consider the other schools in its sports conference (Nerdy Nine, although not really 9 now that Johns Hopkins left):
Brandeis
Carnegie Mellon
Case Western Reserve
Emory
NYU
U of Chicago
U of Rochester</p>
<p>It's extremely easy to switch or add majors at Northwestern. You were thinking about the few exceptions: switching to theater major or journalism and music (non-performance majors that don't require audition are probably fine) schools.</p>