<p>To the OP–</p>
<p>FWIW, Republican and/or conservative-leaning students from our high school (NY suburbs) have often chosen Bowdoin, Bucknell, Colgate, Trinity (Ct.), Villanova, and Williams and been quite happy there. </p>
<p>But these are traditional, Wall Street Republican types–often pursuing economics or business degrees, and not particularly passionate about politics. In other words, NOT the more ideologically driven social conservatives.</p>
<p>geeps20</p>
<p>“By the many responses here, I think I now know the answer…as disappointing as it is.”</p>
<p>In other words, the answer to your original question of “Is this a real concern or not a concern at all?” is yes, it is indeed a real concern.</p>
<p>I haven’t done detailed research myself, nor can I quote such that was done by others, but the “many responses here” do give one a general sense of the situation. I get the same sense upon reading The Fiske Guide, Princeton Review, Colleges That Change Lives, Choosing the Right College, and The Insider’s Guide. The sense I get from those books, both individually and collectively, is that colleges and universities that even approach a 50/50 split of political viewpoint among student body or faculty are few and far between and must be sought out, while those that are overwhelmingly liberal are a dime a dozen.</p>
<p>That said, Hunt’s attempt at a “more practical answer” in post #120 comes fairly close to what I would say, particularly in the first paragraph. </p>
<p>Picking up on another of Hunt’s ideas, I think that the main question you’re faced with is the broader one of finding the proper fit for your son. But, with all due respect to Hunt, rather than saying that that depends on what kind of “conservative” your son is, I’d say it depends on what kind of “person” your son is. I think it has less to do with your son’s views about any particular issue and more to do with who he is. The two of you, I’m sure, know the answer to that question and will do a great job of finding several schools for him to apply to which will be good social/cultural/political/intellectual fits for him.</p>
<p>I’d quibble, however, with Hunt’s notion that a large state university, by virtue of its size, will encompass “more variety of views.” My son goes to a large state university and I can tell you that even there both the student and faculty populations are overwhelmingly liberal. So do your homework with those schools too.</p>
<p>All of that aside, in my opinion it is only natural that colleges campuses lean somewhat left. After all, it is a time of exploring options, being open to a multitude of ideas, and “finding one’s self.” </p>
<p>It’s only becomes a concern when one feels pressured - either by the collective social atmosphere of the school or by individual members of the faculty - to “explore” one particular set of options at the expense of others; especially if that pressure is felt in way that seems threatening or intimidating that it becomes a concern. (In harassment training in the workplace that situation is called a “hostile environment.”)</p>
<p>So, is it a real concern? Yes. Both types of pressure, collective and individual, are sometimes felt by conservative students on many of today’s college campuses. Is it the single biggest concern? Probably not. Is it worth paying attention to so that the student enters into the college application and selection process with full information? Absolutely.</p>
<p>hrrumpph</p>
<p>Where are you wrong? Read afdad’s post #138 for a partial answer.</p>
<p>And this:</p>
<p>Where are you wrong?</p>
<p>The fact that the vast majority of professors and administrators are liberal is true enough, but in this case sheer numbers prove nothing. Your entire argument hinges on numbers. Since the numbers are meaningless, so is your argument.</p>
<p>Said another way, the majority may rule, but that doesn’t make it right.</p>
<p>Specifically, here’s where you’re wrong: </p>
<p>The notion that liberals value education more than conservatives is wrong.</p>
<p>The notion that liberals give back more than conservatives is wrong.</p>
<p>The notion that conservatives want to take away educational options is wrong.</p>
<p>The notion that “those that only want to go to conservative schools are truly not understanding how educations works” is wrong (and by the way specious).</p>
<p>The notion that colleges with a conservative bent don’t really get much respect from the “vast majority” of Americans is wrong.</p>
<p>The notion that one can conclude, or even imply, <em>any</em> of those things from the one simple fact liberals predominate in academia is also wrong.</p>
<p>As well, the question you pose offers a false choice because both options put conservatives in a bad light (i.e., it implies that either conservatives are not invested in education or that their claim of the predominance of liberalism on college campuses is wrong.)</p>
<p>Since all of your conclusions are wrong, as well as the question you pose, then your thought process is also wrong.</p>
<p>I stand by my original idea: That your thought process and the conclusions that come from it are nothing more than corollaries to mam1959’s fallacy. </p>
<p>Namely (paraphrasing); I can’t imagine a more fallacious approach than to imply that because liberals dominate academe, and academe draws the “best and brightest,” that the far left approach in some sense is quintessentially correct.</p>
<p>As long as you cling to the notions you espouse you are guilty of the self righteous elitism of which liberalism is often accused, which serves only to hurt your own cause and prove the correctness of the OP’s concerns.</p>
<p>The most important type of diversity is the diversity of ideas.</p>
<p>A campus full of white, black, asian, indian, Christian, Muslim, Jewish, rich, poor etc, etc, etc, kids and faculty who all, or almost all, think the same is no diversity at all.</p>
<p>I want my kids to go to a college or university that has true diversity. I’d venture that that’s all the OP is looking for too.</p>
<p>“and according the the stats the OP posted on another thread, he is unlikely to gain entrance to them unless”</p>
<p>My so hasn’t even taken PSAT’s yet, 1800 was a guess…I would bet it will be higher. I’m exploring all options at this point…that’s why I wanted info on the NE LACs. From this thread, I’m very wary of them now…I feel a better fit would be a BU, Northeastern, Uconn. Lots of time to decide.</p>
<p>I Drove by Clark the other day, thought it was too small. As I posted in another thread, I didn’t realize how small some of these colleges can be…I went to Purdue and thoroughly enjoyed my college experience at a big school, the sports scene, night life, always something to do. I want my son to experience something similar, but perhaps on a smaller scale. Holy Cross had a good feel to it.</p>
<p>Your son is a freshman, right? Your son has years of growing ahead of him, and may want something completely different when he’s a senior than you think he might want now.</p>
<p>Is there a possibility he will enter college early? (My S is a sophomore, and is hoping to enter college next year, so yes, this is a serious question!) Is that why you are looking for a college for him now?</p>
<p>Geeps, since you quoted projected SAT and GPA figures elsewhere, I assumed that your son was at least a sophomore, probably a junior. I’m surprised to hear that he is a freshman.</p>
<p>In my view, you don’t need to be overly concerned with subjects such as picking his college major and ensuring that the politics of his fellow students don’t offend him more than three years before he even graduates from HS. I would suggest that it would be more productive to support and encourage him in his ECs and classes at this point and wait to see what develops in terms of scores, grades, and interests. He may surprise you in any number of ways.</p>
<p>I do agree that it can be a good idea to drive or walk through a couple of college campuses in the earlier years, just for general inspiration.</p>
<p>“ensuring that the politics of his fellow students don’t offend”</p>
<p>That was never mentioned…just concerned in regards to schools where their professors push there views.</p>
<p>Believe me, I’m not being over the top and don’t worry that I’m pushing my kid…he doesn’t even know I’m thinking colleges already. I just want to be prepared…I’m a thorough person…3 years will be here in a blink of an eye…I want to be ready. I know what kind of grades he has put up in the past and has put up so far this year…so I’m starting the screening process early.</p>
<p>double post</p>
<p>But… shouldn’t he be the one to screen colleges, when the time comes?</p>
<p>I like to know about possible colleges for my son, too, but it’s more to make sure he doesn’t overlook some he might like – to broaden his possibilities – than it is to screen out colleges.</p>
<p>geeps20 - that’s not exactly true. your first post never mentioned “pushing their views”. You used the word “expressing” their views. That can cover a lot of ground. And, it leads me to wonder whether the so-called, “outcome” of this thread wasn’t a foregone conclusion?</p>
<p>the exact statement was: </p>
<p>“doesn’t like it when teachers express their liberal opinions”</p>
<p>“push” would have been the better word…but the above is clear enough…you left out the word “opinions” which makes a difference.</p>
<p>“But… shouldn’t he be the one to screen colleges, when the time comes?”</p>
<p>We will of course figure this out together. But, if I’m footing the bill, my opinion certainly will matter…lol</p>
<p>geeps20–you’ve started a monster with this thread, but your responses indicate you are managing all this feedback quite well. . .
my guess is you’ll also do quite well in engaging your son with the appropriate dialogue when the time comes.</p>
<p>good luck.</p>
<p>john wesley,
(Picture the yellow head nodding affirmatively. We need better smilies. ;))</p>
<p>“it leads me to wonder whether the so-called, “outcome” of this thread wasn’t a foregone conclusion”</p>
<p>It appears it was…but I didn’t know what it would be.</p>
<p>“my guess is you’ll also do quite well in engaging your son with the appropriate dialogue when the time comes.”</p>
<p>Yes we will, that I have little doubt…it will be interesting, I’m looking forward to it.</p>
<p>I also have a daughter a few years younger that is completely different…dare I say(gulp)…leans to the left</p>
<p>OP, not entirely sure what we are looking for but…depending on where the kiddo ends up on the stats ladder I’d suggest you look at the Mid Atlantic states. Pennsylvania schools like Dickinson, Muhlenberg, Ursinus, Franklin and Marshall, and Gettysburg or maybe Colgate, St.Lawrence and Skidmore in NY.</p>
<p>(Although my moderate but religious D was quite comfortable at her visits to Hamilton and Middlebury.)</p>
<p>geeps20–curmudgeon’s list is good if you haven’t already thought of these schools. Skidmore is, perhaps, a bit on the creative side compared to the others. </p>
<p>Yes, S2 had completely different interests and ambitions than S1 so the search for his school took us in new directions. There are a lot of great schools out there!</p>