<p>Crunchy is from granola eating, not vegetables! I like the idea of picking schools by what kind of food they serve. </p>
<p>Lehigh and Drexel are known for their high percentage of engineers, preppy and slightly nerdy (ahhh, another stereotype!) but not crunchy. That’s not to say that they aren’t there, just that’s the word on the street around here. Lehigh is about 15 minutes from me.</p>
<p>My son was bowled over by the technology at Drexel and RIT but I don’t think he noticed the students too much. I can’t say I’ve ever heard the term crunchy applied to Lafayette…</p>
<p>But really, any good size college is going to have all different types of people, just like any city or town. You just have to visit to see if it feels right.</p>
<p>It’s not a judgment on preppiness, it’s a question of fit. People from really conservative families might do well to read “Choosing the Right College” so they can avoid schools they’d be horrified by. Saves everyone a lot of wear and tear in the long run. But I’m not sure prep is about conservative either. Nothing beats time on a campus full of kids, I guess, so they can feel it for themselves. Even then it’s just a snapshot.</p>
<p>Wackymom,
I am a Carnegie-Mellon grad albeit not from CIT or CS. I would say CMU is apolitical. When I was a student, there were no extremes either way mostly due to apathy.</p>
<p>Try Allegheny. Even though there are a lot of J.Crew types at the school, there are some crunchy granola types, too. When we visited, our guide was one of the latter. I guess it’s possible he would qualify for both need-based and merit aid there. The campus is beautiful.</p>
<p>Any more comments on Lafayette? Is the pre centage of Greek a factor that defines the student population? 50% girls join? Does that indicate a large portion of girls who are focused on "what to wear?’ and “what bag to carry?” Is that a fair assessment? I think Lafayette’s academics are more than reputable but I’m looking for a “feel” of the population it attracts. With the “crunchy” label I would think of students who are more down to earth on many levels especially though their lack of concern for material things. Sorry for the ramblings…</p>
<p>The sorority presence at Lafayette has been on a historical downwards trend. All sororities are on campus in houses owned by the college. No rushing permitted until sophomore year. My daughter has found a good group of friends in her dorm, freshman and sophomores and has not attended a frat or sorority party yet. Yes I know its still early but it seems there is plenty of opportunity for social interaction without engaging in the Greek scene. </p>
<p>I have been impressed about the accepting nature of Lafayette students. “Crunchy granola” is a term that means different things to people but my D is active in the Lafayette theater program, plays in the orchestra, is a member of the club promoting gay/lesbian toleration but makes a seamless transition to rooting for the football team and being friends with those active in the College Republican club.</p>
<p>This is not in the area you are looking for, but he would fit in perfectly at UT Austin. It’s a state school but very highly ranked. Has LOTS of vegetarians. My son is vegetarian and plans to go there. There are several housing co-ops that are 100% veg! Lots of political activism, too. Just a totally cool place, with great academics too.</p>
<p>Oh yes, my daughter goes to Bennington and by most of the definitions above, it is still crunchy granola. I think, though, that the population has probably changed since the seventies–not as many hippies, more hipsters.</p>
<p>There is an article in the Sunday’s Washington Post about UT Austin and their co-op living dorms . It also has a great music dept . Could UPitts have these sort of dorms? Living co-ops ? Or Temple ???</p>
<p>Re: Duquesne . It’s on his list now . Thanks for recommendation . Recently learned it was "hipster " enough for him (-: </p>
<p>Re:Alleghany is beautiful loaction , beautiful school but alas, not enough music ?? </p>
<p>Re: Thanks for warning us on Bucknell. He would not be happy there .</p>
<p>Re: Temple . I guess I am hearing that it would not be a good fit for him but we are going to check it out anyway on a visit to Philadelphia . He is very tolerant of politics and open-minded , sort of working - class liberal . It’s the vegetarianism that worries me ( can’t have him live on bread and butter and milk like I did in college in the '70’s !) .</p>
<p>Allegheny is a great school but not for kids who want to pursue orchestra in college. Choral music opportunities are quite good, however. And they have a wonderful pianist on the faculty.</p>
As the parent of a child who “is a die-hard vegetarian , politically liberal , not Greek type, needs aid”, may I suggest Hendrix? I never thought our DD would be at school in Arkansas, but it is the perfect fit for her. She loves the food (numerous vegetarians there), the campus is very liberal, there are no fraternities or sororities, and they offer great scholarships. DD could not be happier.</p>
<p>My S is a freshman at Dickinson. While it has a “preppy” reputation, there are all types of kids there. I think that is one of the things that S likes about it.</p>
<p>On move-in day, they had a student speak to parents/students about how much she learned from her Jazz Improv (performance) class and how it made her stretch intellectually. I am not sure about the scope of the music program at Dickinson, but she spoke quite passionately about her experience with that class.</p>
<p>I think that the quote by President Durden about the US News rankings may have been in an an internal e-mail to the faculty and students that somehow got republished.</p>