<p>I don’t actually think UGA is dominated by conservatism. It may have a little more than most universities, but it is certainly not dominated by. Also, I really don’t want to know why you aren’t going to Caltech or Cornell for science. I can understand money, but if it’s academic difficulty, Caltech has lots of take home tests. Therefore their grades tend to be really high. As in grade-wise, it ends up being easier than most engineering schools. Cornell on the hand will indeed be tough in the sciences, but moreso grade than intrinsic/conceptual rigor wise(though they’ll certainly have that, but it’ll be nowhere as intense as MIT, Berkeley, Stanford, or Caltech). Also, Cornell people like Parties and sports I believe, yet they are not conservatism and are academically driven. If you want an almost completely academically driven campus, go to Caltech (I would hate that, that’s so monotonous and almost conformist. This comes from another fellow science nerd. Trust me, you’d want a campus where students have some balance or else everyone else’s continuous academic stress will essentially be contagious). </p>
<p>In the end, I think UGA’s environment is fine. I have many friends who go who aren’t necessarily party-folks and darned sure aren’t conservatives and like it just fine. Again most won’t be conservative, just a larger minority than normal (as expected at many state flagships in the south). If anything, it would be somewhat apolitical or at least that’s the vibe I get.</p>