<p>Hello!
I’m looking for schools that are “quirky” (a vague term, I know). Intellectual, pretty strong fine arts presence, classes with projects, discussions etc. I would also prefer a school with an open or near open curriculum; I want to double major in art (B.A., not BFA) and a natural science or social science (preferably cognitive science).
Not to be overly picky, but I can’t see myself at a school thats a “bubble” or really tiny.</p>
<p>My unweighted GPA will probably be around a 3.7 and I’ve taken almost the toughest schedule my school offers (everything but super advanced math). ACTs in the mid 30s, and several strong leadership positions. </p>
<p>Brown! It has an open curriculum, and the students are supposed to be very happy and “interesting.” It’s tough to get into, but you might have a shot with mid-30 ACT’s.</p>
<p>It sounds as if William & Mary may fit your description. Its moderate sized (6000 undergrads, 2000 grads) and known as fairly quirky by any definition. Its not quite an open curriculum, but it highly encourages the liberal arts (as in a diverse field of learning).</p>
<p>If you are interested in cognitive science you should check the LACs and make sure that they offer it as a major, as many do not. I believe that Vassar, Pomona and Swarthmore do. I think all three of these would provide the type of environment that you describe. However they are all quite selective…</p>
<p>Grinnell may be too small and too much of a ‘bubble’ for you - but quirky and intellectual are among the adjectives most often used to describe this school. I would add that it has no distribution requirements, great financial and merit aid, state-of-the-art facilities and the smallest class sizes of any of the LACs mentioned this far. The mentoring is also outstanding. </p>
<p>Most of the LACs mentioned here are likely to be ‘bubbles.’ Only those in urban locations can generally escape the strong inwardly focused culture typical of surburban and urban LACs that goes by the more positive description of ‘a strong sense of community.’</p>
<p>Thanks everyone for your help! There are some really great suggestions that I hadn’t thought of before.
M’s Mom-I hope I didn’t offend by saying “bubble”-I really do see the appeal in attending a school with that type of community. Its not that I’m against school spirit or anything like that… I did a program just this summer where we were in walking distance of harvard square, though we weren’t in it. I loved being so close to such a fun area, but also having that campus. It wasn’t all dorms all the time, which I was more comfortable with.</p>
<p>I’ve got to say I love the “bubble”. The schools mentioned are all great ideas, but if you need something a little less selective, I’d say Bennington, Hampshire, Bard, maybe Emerson. (Again, though, “bubbles”.)</p>
<p>Hampshire College fits most of your criteria (maybe to a fault). It is small but also part of a consortium in a lively college town. So you can make the bubble a base of operations for your personal 5-college learning plan.</p>
<p>Are any of the other colleges in that consortium kinda “quirky”? What about a school like University of rochester? I really liked Carnegie Mellon when I visited.</p>
<p>I’m a junior in high school, and I’ve been checking out some schools lately…</p>
<p>you should check out Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin. it’s small, so that’s not necessarily a good thing in your book, but the classes they offer there are pretty interesting. The campus is gorgeous, and they value learning in more than one field. one of their popular degree programs is the 5 year double degree, in which you actually get two separate Bachelors Degrees in 5 years. the people there seem really nice, the classes are small, so you get one on one time with the professors. all freshmen are required to take a freshman studies class, which at first I was like what? that’s lame. but it actually sounds kinda cool. they make you read the classics - Plato, Shakespeare, etc. they also put in works of music, films, etc. it gives you a chance to learn about some of the building block of our society, and explore potential majors.
like I said, the campus is beautiful. the food is excellent.
check it out
[Lawrence</a> University](<a href=“http://www.lawrence.edu/]Lawrence”>http://www.lawrence.edu/)</p>
<p>I have two family members who have attended Rochester, I have met their friends from there, and have been there twice. and two work associates. So I’m no expert, but I haven’t seen anything “quirky” about any of these people whatsoever. I doubt any of them would have applied to Oberlin, for example.</p>