<p>I am currently a junior wondering where to go college-visiting for spring break. I am a good student, 4.4 GPA, a strong list of ec's, etc etc etc. I am looking for a school with a strong liberal arts program as well as a strong music department. I am looking at Northwestern, Tufts, Carnegie Mellon, etc. Can anyone suggest other colleges that might suit my preferences? Thanks =]</p>
<p>The first college that comes to mind is Oberlin. Very strong liberal arts college with a music conservatory. It's very left-wing politically if that'll factor into your decesion. Like, radically so. That's not a negative for me, but I know it can be hostile terrirtory for lots of conservatives. I was going to apply but I go to a very small private high school and decided that I want to branch out of comfort zone and try out a larger school. </p>
<p>Lawrence University is in Wisconsin and has a very strong music program along with a liberal arts focus. It's in Loren Pope's Colleges That Change Lives and might be a great safety school if you're carrying a 4.4 GPA. It would also be easy to combine into a trip to visit Oberlin or Northwestern, both of which are nearby.</p>
<p>Skidmore and University of Rochester have good programs.</p>
<p>Judging by your current picks, it seems to me that you prefer a slightly larger school (at least a few thousand), but with a well-rounded curriculum, and in close proximity to a city.</p>
<p>That said, I'm going to recommend Columbia, Rice, Johns Hopkins, URochester. Then maybe NYU or Indiana, as slightly larger options.</p>