Which LAC is best for me?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Okay, so I really like the whole liberal arts feeling and I definately want to go to an LAC. my only problem is that I can't narrow it down. Here are the things that I want in the LAC that I go to.</p>

<p>1) A slightly prestigious-prestigious one.
2) One where the work hard - play hard theory is put into effect.
3) I don't mind cold weather, and I don't mind warm weather.
4) I like down to earth people, but I also don't mind snobby ones.
5) I like an LAC that has somewhat of a sports program with school spirit.
6) and finally, a school that has a nice campus (an actual campus, not a city) with nice dorms.</p>

2

<p>oh, and I'm interested in either marketing or psychology.</p>

3

<p>Places like Williams, Bowdoin, Colby, Middlebury, Colgate, Hamilton, Union, Lafayette all come to mind from your description. Most LACs aren't going to have a business major; Washington & Lee and Bucknell would be two exceptions, although I don't know if they're going to have something as specific as marketing.</p>

4

<p>Given the criteria above, I don't see any basis for ruling out any of the top 50 or so LACs in the country.</p>

5

<p>You might take a look at Knox College in Galesburg, IL. Their psych department is strong, with a lot of undergraduate research going on. Knox doesn't have a marketing major, or even a business major (business is a minor), but Forbes magazine recently ranked Knox among the top 30 colleges and universities in the nation with alumni working in business management.</p>

6

<p>
[quote]
Given the criteria above, I don't see any basis for ruling out any of the top 50 or so LACs in the country.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>I agree. Perhaps you could tell us a little more about yourself. How strong of an applicant do you expect to be? What kind of ECs do you enjoy?</p>

7

<p>
[quote]
Given the criteria above, I don't see any basis for ruling out any of the top 50 or so LACs in the country.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>That said, work hard, play hard; somewhat of a sports program with school spirit isn't exactly the ethos of Swarthmore, Haverford, Carleton, Reed, Bard, women's colleges.</p>

8

<p>Amherst and Williams both fit all of your criteria.</p>

9

<p>I enjoy sports, partying, having fun and obviously my studies. I'm a pretty strong applicant so I don't expect to go to a not-so-good school (not to be rude in any way). So right now I'm leaning towards Williams and Amherst becuase I"ve heard good things about them before.</p>

<p>Now Williams vs Amherst. can someone elaborate? (for all aspects)</p>

10

<p>Also, which one of the two has more of a "city" surrounding it. Or somewhere in a close radius as a place to do things.</p>

11

<p>Amherst, without a doubt. The five-college consortium and the Northampton community would have a more bustling feel than the relative isolation of Williams. But Amherst would by no means have a city feel.</p>

12

<p>I mean, I don't need like a Philly/Boston/NYC feel, just a feel as to there is SOMETHING to do when you get bored with campus things.</p>

13

<p>I would say neither Amherst nor Williams would fit the description of having a "city feel," nor would they be able to provide you access to one. Amherst is located in a VERY cute college town, to be sure, but it's definitely more New England-cutesy than city-like. That being said, as others have brought up, with the five-college consortium there would a dynamic social scene, or at least, more so than that at Williams (which is VERY isolated, or felt that way to me). If you're looking for a college that will give you access to a major city, neither school is a particularly good choice; however, if you don't mind not having city access, Amherst fits the rest of your preferences.</p>

<p>Some other "top" LACs to consider would include (I also listed information about the cities within range, the frat/sorority scenes, and the sport level offered at the school, because those seem to be the features which could help you narrow things the most)... [ul]
[<em>]Bowdoin College (ME): 5 miles from Portland & 120 miles from Boston, no frats/sororities, Division III sports.
[</em>]Davidson College (NC): 19 miles from Charlotte, has an active fraternity scene (40% of guys are involved) but not sororities, Division I sports with Division IAA football.
[<em>]College of the Holy Cross (MA): 45 miles from Boston, no frats/sororities, Division I sports.
[</em>]Trinity College (CT): located in Hartford (but has a very distinct campus), both frats (20%) & sororities (16%) are offered, Division III sports.
[<em>]Lafayette College (PA): 60 miles from Philadelphia, both frats (24%) & sororities (45%) are offered, Division I sports.
[</em>]Gettysburg College (PA): 36 miles from Harrisburg & 80 miles from Washington DC, both frats (40%) & sororities (26%) are offered, Division III sports.
[<em>]Franklin & Marshall College (PA): 60 miles from Philadelphia, both frats (26%) and sororities (12%) are offered, Division III sports with Division I Men's Wrestling.
[</em>]Union College (NY): 15 miles from Albany, both frats (30%) and sororities (32%) offered, Division III sports with Division I Men's Ice Hockey.
[<em>]Middlebury College (VT): no nearby cities (rural campus), no frats or sororities offered, Division III sports.
[</em>]Colgate University (NY): 38 miles from Syracuse (rural campus), both frats (28%) and sororities (33%) offered, Division I sports with Division IAA football.
[<em>]Washington & Lee University (VA): 60 miles from Charlottesville (rural campus), both frats (83%) and sororities (74%) offered, Division III sports.
[</em>]Hamilton College (NY): 50 miles from Syracuse (rural campus), both frats (29%) and sororities (19%) offered, Division III sports.
[<em>]Kenyon College (OH): 50 miles from Columbus (rural campus), both frats (25%) and sororities (10%) offered, Division III sports.
[</em>]Bucknell University (PA): a university with a LAC feel (only 157 grads and a campus population around 3600), 75 miles from Harrisburg (rural campus), both frats (39%) and sororities (40%) offered, Division I sports with Division IAA football.[/ul]</p>

14

<p>According to the 2009 Princeton Review, these are the top ten for most beautiful campuses:</p>

<p>Here is the Princeton Review 2009 rankings:</p>

<p>Princeton
Sweet Briar
Colgate
Wagner
Mt Holyoke
Scripps
Notre Dame
U of Richmond
U of San Diego
College of the Holy Cross</p>

15

<p>Wesleyan (CT) is half-way between Hartford and New Haven, though the nearest train station is three miles away. Middletown itself is the same size (maybe a little bigger) than Northampton but, is more diverse in terms of economic strata and local goods and services.</p>

<p>The key thing is that Wesleyan has a network of fraternities, "literary societies" and a sizable student neighborhood adjacent to campus that offers a fairly active and urbane social life. It is also a member of NESCAC wherein it forms a venerable "conference within a conference" with Little Three Little</a> Three - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia cohorts Amherst and Williams.</p>

16

<p>For schools that have sports programs with school spirit check out this USA Today article:</p>

<p>USATODAY</a> Photo Gallery</p>

17

<p>Thanks for the input guys. I'm pretty sure I may apply to Amherst. Of course Dartmouth is my first choice though, because it has school spirit, party scene, down to earth people, prestige, a nice campus and a "city" in a reasonable radius.</p>

18

<p>i didn't see that coming.</p>

19

<p>was that sarcasm.</p>

20

<p>you should take a look at Pomona and the other claremont schools too =)</p>