<p>Summer begins and I’m preparing to write applications (or at least the essays!)
But first I’d like to make sure I’m covering all my bases in prospective schools to apply to. </p>
<p>Match me with a prospective soulmate?</p>
<p>My criteria:
-I want a great education.
-Intimate classes when possible, dedicated professors, and absorbing class discussions.
-I not only want to learn from my professors, but from the student body. That said, I’m looking for a student body that’s passionate and diverse – in ethnicity, religion, ideas, socioeconomic backgrounds – all that good stuff.
-My need to be surrounded by people has me leaning towards more of an urban environment
-Dance parties anyone?</p>
<p>Thanks for attempting to tackle this!</p>
<p>Sounds like an urban LAC might be a good fit-intimate classes and teaching-focused faculty. Actual names of schools would depend on your grades, test scores, and the kind of culture you thrive in. Also, whether you will be needing FA.</p>
<p>Grades: 4.0 (with most difficult courseload or whatever)
Test Scores: (they will be high enough ;), however my first try was a 1950 for the SAT)
Hook: URM
Financial Aid: Not Needed
Culture: Friendly, social, intellectual, i like to party</p>
<p>Many top LACs are out in the sticks.
Exceptions: Macalester College (St. Paul, MN), Wesleyan University (Middletown, CT).</p>
<p>Macalester has a more exciting (but cold) urban location. Wesleyan is a little more selective (one of the country’s most selective LACs in fact). Wesleyan has been called “diversity university”. Macalester has a relatively high number of international students. </p>
<p>For a less selective school, you might like Eugene Lang College. Two features stand out: (1) it’s located in Greenwich Village (urban enough for you?) (2) if you believe Princeton Review, it is one of the best colleges in the country for encouraging debate and discussion. </p>
<p>So there you have it. A reach (Wes), a high match / low reach (Mac), and a safety (Eugene Lang). Wow, you’re almost done. Go party.</p>
<p>When you finish partying, here’s a negative: all these schools lean left, to the point they may lack intellectual diversity. Read up and visit to see if that’s a problem for you or if you can live with it. I can’t think of more intellectually diverse, good urban LACs that have the same positives. Close: one of the traditionally Quaker colleges in the Philadelphia suburbs (Haverford, Swarthmore, or for women only, Bryn Mawr). All are very selective, especially Swarthmore. Haverford is a friendly, intimate, intellectual place. Small but close to downtown Philly. Pretty campus.</p>
<p>Barnard for urban (all women, but right across the street from Columbia). Vassar, Macalester and Reed.</p>
<p>If you are willing to go suburban, with easy access to the city, there are more: Pomona and the Claremont consortium, Swarthmore, Haverford, Bryn Mawr, etc…And several bigger schools with LAC-like feel such as Brown and Rice. Wesleyan is certainly a possibility. </p>
<p>Diversity? Check out the Common Data Set for each school (google it) and you’ll get the stats for racial diversity and percent receiving financial aid. You’ll have to read up on each school for other kinds of diversity.</p>
<p>Emory U is good possibility. It situated in very nice area of Atlanta and it is pretty diversity.</p>
<p>I was going to suggest Reed too because I like it so much. But I’m not sure it fits. Its location is more suburban than urban; Portland is not exactly NYC; not sure about the diversity; it’s one of the most intensely intellectual places anywhere, great for discussion/debate but maybe not for partying?</p>
<p>Pomona and Claremont Mckenna might warrent a look. Both are LACs in LA</p>
<p>Occidental College could be a safety for the OP (it is also in LA)</p>
<p>thanks all!
i never really looked at very many liberal arts colleges actually…
and by urban i mean not rural. (so suburban is fine and nyc is not a necessity)</p>
<p>thanks again!</p>
<p>William & Mary is a match.</p>
<p>“william & Mary is a match”</p>
<p>It would be a high match if OP was instate, OOS it is a reach for almost everyone</p>