<p>My daughter is still weighing these three schools. She is interested in cultural anthropology, international studies, and psychology. She’d like to be in a major city, but she also wants a rigorous academic environment. Any thoughts for her?</p>
<p>thanks!</p>
<p>Dickinson is not anywhere near a major city. How important is that criterion to her? Has she visited all three places?</p>
<p>Sarah Lawrence is an artsy school; GWU, more pre-professional; Dickinson, somewhere between. Sarah Lawrence and Dickinson are LACs, GWU is a university.</p>
<p>I would think that for international relations, GWU or Dickinson would be best. She can study psychology anywhere.</p>
<p>She needs to visit – those three schools are very far apart in terms of campus culture and ambiance. It’s hard for me to imagine a student being a good fit for all 3. I mean, I hate stereotypes, but this is basically a choice between artsy, preppie(?)*, and very serious, pre-professional. (I know of one kid who refused to apply to Dickinson several years ago because the student tour guide was wearing pearls. At SLC, the running joke is that “even the squirrels wear black”. My d. was appalled after visiting GWU because so many students were wearing business suits. All of these things are just superficial, stereotyped impressions… but again, you are talking about 3 extremely different environments.)</p>
<p>I’m not sure that “international studies” is the same as “international relations” – maybe the student who is interested in psych & cultural anthropology is curious and wants to learn more about other world cultures and languages --I think that SLC offers plenty of study abroad options that would fill that desire. In fact, the flexibility of the SLC curriculum might work out very well for her, if she is very independent minded.</p>
<p>*I’m not sure of “preppie” is the right word – I’m just trying to get across the idea that it’s a different type of student body. “fit” is particularly important at a smaller LAC – at a larger U., it’s easier to find students with divergent interests who defy the stereotypes – but it’s hard to see a kid who would be at home with the small seminar-style classes and conference system at SLC being comfortable with the urban, large-U environment of GWU. It’s an interesting array of choices.</p>
<p>Interestingly, she is a kid who can manage the three vastly different cultures. Right now she’s leaning toward GWU because she feels that that large school atmosphere is out of her comfort zone and she wants to challenge herself. She went to an all girls’ boarding school (and loved it), so she feels SLC is TOO familiar…we will visit all three. Thanks for your input.</p>
<p>GW seems to make the most sense if she wants to be in a city, and with interest in international studies.</p>