Re # 15: I was not recommending LACs as a class to the OP, but specific colleges. I mentioned three schools (post 1) that I believe to have very strong geosciences departments. None were Amherst or Williams. With the exception of Colorado College, which is on a block plan, Hamilton and Colgate do appear to offer ~12-13 geosciences courses, or more, per semester.
(Regarding the Keck Consortium, this is a corporation sponsored grouping of colleges; as a source for identifying strong geosciences programs, I regard the consortium lightly.)