Forgive me if this query seems pretentious and unrealistic – By posting this thread, I hope to at least find a category of schools that I haven’t been able to find otherwise. I have little experience and knowledge of college, given that my parents have not gone to college and I was not advised while in high school (currently about to attend my second semester of community college). I have what seems like a solid transcript, with a fair overall GPA of 3.5, 3 APs, over 50 hours of community service, multiple writing awards, and a leadership role in a newspaper club. I also have a disability. In searching for schools, it’s felt like I’ve had to compromise, as opposed to finding a fit (except for Yale, which is a definite reach for me). I was enthralled by Deep Springs when I recently came across it, however, the deadline has passed. The discovery of Deep Springs has opened my mind to the possibility of schools that are thoroughly intense, physical, practical, and integrated with nature. I would like to ask for more schools of this nature – I have taken a look at lists, such as “work schools”, and “treasure schools”, and am having a hard time. While these schools are sometimes integrated with nature, the Niche stats and reviews seem unfavorable. For example, the schools I saw had stats like “median earnings of $25,000 6 years after graduation” and reviews complaining that the schools were too easy. I am also unsure about the legitimacy of some degrees.
The Witcher is a series that I was into during the 10th and 11th grade. I found much of it to be trashy, but I was affected on a significant level by the overall aesthetic and aspects of the protagonist. The idyllic feel of the presentation as well as the protagonist’s attachment to nature, firm grasp of reality, and capacity to attempt good in all circumstances motivated me as a 15 year old to improve myself so that I was able to assess life in a similar way. My purpose in mentioning the Witcher is that I would like to find a similar school that would appeal to the protagonist. I would like to find very practical schools situated in nature with an intense student body and faculty that would expect me to commit thoroughly. I would also like to take advantage of many opportunities to study abroad and participate in extracurriculars centered on physical and spiritual abilities (ie: I saw some schools offer ecs on acrobatics, meditation, martial arts, hunting, etc. I also have a recurring dream of going to a school that offers scuba diving, so I would like that to be present as well). While I mention this amount of extracurriculars, I will clarify that I do not see them distracting me from my studies, as I have been able to handle heavy loads. I started my first semester while working 30 hours a week at a job and doing 21 credit hours.
tl;dr, I would love suggestions for schools that have many opportunities to travel/study abroad, diverse extracurriculars, are thoroughly intense, physical, practical, integrated with nature.
I’m not sure going to college full time is exactly what you want. It seems to me if you could be part of an organization that satisfies a lot of your wants with part time educational opportunities near by would be better. I’m not sure what this organizational opportunity would be though but it could be something like the Peace Corp or working on a Native American Reservation or with indigenous people somewhere in the world.
College of the Atlantic might be worth a look.
Thank you, I really appreciate that both of you responded seriously to my pretentious OP! It means a lot for me. The peace corp is a great idea, and College of the Atlantic is a very interesting school. I am very eager to consider your suggestions!
This list might give you some possibilities.
https://www.bestcollegereviews.org/features/best-outdoor-schools/
St Johns in Annapolis MD. The Great Books curriculum is amazing.
Evergreen State College in Olympia, WA.
College of the Atlantic
New College in Sarasota Florida
The Honors College of Florida Atlantic University
Eckerd College in St. Petersburg Florida
Colorado College in Colorado Springs Colorado
I’d strongly consider a career in natural resources or natural history- geology, forestry, oceanography, etc… Even a career on drilling platforms or as a diver would work for you (Navy?). I’d look at some of the resource schools - SDSMT, Colorado school of mines, Michigan Tech, etc. if you are so inclined
The low salaries for Deep Springs alumni may be self-selection. I can’t imagine one of their students working as a hedge fund manager, for example.
Berea?
Warren Wilson? Goddard? Prescott? Bennington? Hampshire?