<p>Just wondering, where do kids like myself, who are shy but smart and looking for a peaceful place to study for four years, generally go? As in, do they choose large universities where they can blend into the crowd, or do they choose small schools where the absence of large hordes of students makes them feel freer and more alone (in the best sense of the word)? Do they go rural or urban? Near or far from home?</p>
<p>Personally, I'm looking for a small liberal arts college (preferably near a large body of water) close enough to a town or city so that when I wake up early in the morning walk have a chai, I won't have to drink it at the SCHOOL'S cafe; I can get it off-campus, where I'll have plenty of distance from the crowd. </p>
<p>Occidental sounds like a good fit for you. Small liberal arts school, closer to the ocean than any other well established liberal arts school. By saying “near a large body of water” I would assume you would want to use it seasonally, which is why I’m not suggesting any east coast schools.</p>
<p>There are no schools with only introverted people or only extroverted people, so going by what you said in your post outside of the shy part (the coffee part) I would say Macalester sounds great, and maybe Barnard if you’re a girl.</p>
<p>I think LACs are a great place for the shy/introverted type-unless you have an obscure major not offered at the LACs. The small classes help the shy/introverted get noticed, and potentially mentored, by the faculty, and the class participation is less threatening when you know people. The smaller student body makes it easy to form lasting friendships. You can also go your own way without feeling freakish, since these places tend to have a high tolerence for quirky and individualistic. And most LAC have somewhere you can go off campus for a chai. </p>
<p>I would avoid a school in an urban area where the student body heads off into the city over the weekend to party. Also, more students living off campus after freshman year. </p>
<p>I would also avoid huge schools, unless you can find a ‘sub-program’-honors program, a small major, a theme house, where you can create a retreat from the mass of humanity in the dining halls, sports events, etc…</p>