<p>Are there any schools you compare or find similar to Colgate or Dartmouth, but in a slightly warmer OR less rural area?</p>
<p>What is it that attracts you to those schools? If you can define it, that will get you better answers. For example, for many people, the cold, snowy, New England small town environment is huge attraction. What else about Dartmouth do you particularly like?</p>
<p>I’d definitely look at Washington and Lee if you want the Dartmouth/Colgate atmosphere without the cold weather. W&L is often called “the Dartmouth of the South” because of its similar academic rigor and small, community-based campus.</p>
<p>Depends what you like about the schools…I think they even have some pretty big differences (Dartmouth much more diverse, study abroad/ sophomore summer, bigger, more active social scene, etc). </p>
<p>I LOVED Dartmouth and I also really liked Brown. Unfortunately there aren’t too many similar schools in the south or in nice weather. Pomona is one to look into though.</p>
<p>I like the abundance of social and active people at both, and the community-based campus as polo mentioned… The people that I’ve known who have went to those schools are social, very friendly, and athletic (and intelligent). I unfortunately don’t like very cold climates, so neither location is particularly appealing to me. Also I’d prefer to stay in the east, so Pomona is out also. </p>
<p>Thanks for the suggestion polo, W&L is a school I’ve been looking into :)</p>
<p>I’m really pleased that you’re considering W&L - it’s such a fine choice in so many respects. It possesses a strong academic reputation (ranked as high as #8 in U.S. News in recent years, and only getting more selective), a spirited social life (very much centered on fraternities and sororities), arguably the strongest honor system in the nation (this, by far, is the most distinguishing aspect of the school), and a close-knit atmosphere (you will get to know many of your classmates and professors on a personal basis). Individually, each of these qualities makes W&L stand out among other elite liberal arts schools; Collectively, they make W&L one of the best institutions of higher learning in America.</p>
<p>Bucknell! Slightly “warmer” and slightly less rural…
Have been to Colgate and found the town dismal, but gorgeous campus. Bucknell has a similar campus- ( as stunning, if not more so) with a quaint, Victorian town, voted as top 25 best small towns in US.
I know students can take trips to Phila- or NYC quite easily. </p>
<p>Bucknell has same vibe as Colgate, and I imagine Dartmouth (but , I haven’t visited there)</p>
<p>Middlebury… although it is definitely NOT less rural.
The MAINE LACs… like Bowdoin, Bates, and Colby …maybe…</p>
<p>Unfortunatly I think the vibe you are looking for (social, friendly, intelligent) + the LACy feel is a northeastern thing. William and Mary might be worth looking at though, as well as Duke.</p>
<p>Davidson is warmer and quite similar.</p>
<p>U Richmond, Wake Forest, Duke, UVa all ‘in there’ too.</p>
<p>Take a look at Rice.</p>