<p>I’m looking for a college that has a great name, offers the benefits of a small liberal arts college within the context of a major research university, and focuses on undergraduate education. I also want a capella groups - the more the better. As an added benefit, I’d like for the college experience offered by the school to be completely unique and unlike anything offered at other schools.</p>
<p>I’d like the school to have need-blind admissions and need-based financial aid - except for international students. I want a school that looks for passion when sorting through candidates - although they can also focus on rigor of academic schedule, academic performance, extracurriculars, essays, and testing.</p>
<p>Furthermore, I sincerely hope to find an institution that has accessible professors. I want there to be greek life available to those who want it, but not integral to the campus community. I want amazing school spirit, as well as the opportunity to create both my own major and my own club (AND receive funding from the university!).</p>
<p>Lastly, I’d like for it to be located in an area that provides access to essentials for college students, along with other fun opportunities nearby.</p>
<p>I hate to always be recommending Rice to everyone, it may come off as though I am simply advertising my school, but I have to say that everyone describes Rice when describing the school they want.</p>
<p>Although Rice doesn’t have greek life and its school spirit is average, one of its main values is that it offers the advantages of a small liberal arts college at a research university. Rice does focus on undergrads and there are a capella groups (Philharmonics). You can hear at <a href=“The Rice Philharmonics”>The Rice Philharmonics;
<p>Admission is need blind. It offers need based and merit based aid (except to internationals).</p>
<p>I saw a capella groups and immediately thought, UVa! (misterme, we’re just both… enthusiastic students of our schools! Yeah, think of it that way haha).</p>
<p>For some reason I don’t quite get, we’ve got a ton of a capella groups. I think Greek Life is sort of big, so if you want to join, join and it will seem big. But if you don’t want to, there are plenty of other options. You can definitely create your own club and major (there are already several interdisciplinary ones) AND receive university funding. From what I’ve heard school spirit is amazing, people paint themselves + have a lot of traditions for games. UVa = great name, whether for jobs or grad school. </p>
<p>I always hear Charlottesville being praised, and it has been voted the #1 best place to live before… At least I can vouch that the professors are awesome. I’ve been emailing some over the summer and they’ve been really nice at the least and super enthusiastic O_O!! at most.</p>
<p>Now what’s with all this I hear, I think? That’s cause I’m an incoming freshman. =P Doesn’t it say something though, that a student who’s yet to set foot on campus is so gung ho for the school? I’d say everything you wanted can be found in UVa. <a href=“http://www.virginia.edu%5B/url%5D”>www.virginia.edu</a></p>
<p>If you can get in, it sounds like Yale would be excellent for you. Yale College and undergraduate education are central. Faculty are in residence at the colleges. The school has plenty of money for financial aid. And as for a capella, the Whiffenpoofs are world-famous. New Haven could be considered just the right size for a college town, neither too big nor to small, and is improving. School spirit is apparently quite high.</p>
<p>haverford seems to fit a lot of those requirments. it’s my favorite school, next to yale, that i’ve found on my college seach. it’s a small LAC right outside of philly. it has strong “create your own major” and club programs. i’m pretty sure it doesn’t have a greek scene, though. i’m actually not positive about a capella groups either, but i’m prettty sure they’ve got them. it’s also need blind and need based.</p>
<p>That’s a heck of a school you’re looking for there. All the benefits of an undergrad-based liberal arts education with the benefits of a major research university, plus optimum financial aid, accessible professors, thriving Greek life, and good location. Well, at least you’re keeping your options open :-P.</p>
<p>I’m probably going to take flak, but I suggest Berkeley. Despite what the mass of people say, I feel that if you are proactive and diligent, you can get a quality undergradute education. The professors really are accessible. Financial aid, in my experience anyways, has not been a problem. It’s next to San Francisco, which is always a plus. Greek life is great, and the weather can’t be beat.</p>
<p>Berkeley is also one of the primary a cappella hubs on the West Coast (along with Stanford, Oregon, USC, and BYU).</p>
<p>Sadly, SonataX was right. Every elite college professes to have all these things. This was meant to be a joke (come on - could no one see it with the line about a capella groups?). Everyone who’s been on a college tour should be able to understand.</p>
<p>I think that the OP has described Dartmouth and Colgate very specifically. They are both liberal arts colleges within the context of a research university (Dartmouth moreso), have a lot of singing groups (Colgate moreso), have a Greek life available, but not integral (in both cases, they’re, at least, somewhat intergral), have accessible profs, a lot of school spirit and are considered fun. The caveat you bring up is “an area that provides access to essentials for college students, along with other fun opportunities nearby”. Colgate and Dartmouth both have beautiful surronding areas to do many activities, so it depends on how you interpret this. If you’re going for trendy clubs and swank restaurants with this statement, then definitely not, but with so many other fits with your criteria of a college experience, this last aspect would seem less important in your search to me and Dartmouth and Colgate may be more suitable than any other colleges.</p>
<p>It sounds like you are looking for an honors program at a public university to me. That way, you get all the benefits of a large research institution with big sports teams, great social life, and major school spirit, while still getting individual attention.</p>
<p>You should look at Michigan, Wisconsin, UVA, Georgia, Penn State, Oregon, Washington, Texas, Berkeley, UNL, and other elite publics. Plus, at some of the less selective publics on that list, or that weren’t mentioned, most CCers would have a very good shot at an honors program.</p>
<p>By the way, as a UVa student who went into the college search looking for just about all the same things you did, I can tell you that UVa has met and exceeded my expectations. Our undergrad experience is unlike anything you will find at any other university. We are so rich in tradition, and our student life is such an amazing balance of serious, rigorous academics and a fun and crazy party scene. And being an Echols scholar, I have an open curriculum, no core requirements, and the opportunity to design my own interdisciplinary major. Don’t forget that we have a billion a capella groups! The Academical Village People are my personal fav. :)</p>