<p>Dogs can be friendly, unfriendly, or indifferent.
I don’t know about colleges. </p>
<p>What are you looking for that would make a school seem friendly to you?
The fact that few people were roaming the Swarthmore grounds on a random day in November would not necessarily make it unfriendly, in my view. Maybe everybody was off in the classrooms, labs, gym, and dorms being incredibly friendly with each other in their quiet, Quakerly way. </p>
<p>A boisterous, rah-rah sports scene would seem friendly to some people, but not to others. Carleton may be a friendly enough place … but I’m sure some people clam up pretty tight when it’s -5F outside on a winter day.</p>
<p>I would expect big, impersonal, bureaucratic schools to make many people cranky. Maybe that does not happen in California. Connecticut College is small but the parking attendant hollered at my wife and son when they made a wrong turn during a visit. That was very unfriendly. He never applied. </p>
<p>Check out Colorado College. It is small and personal, with lots of sunshine, gorgeous mountains in the background, and outdoorsy, adventurous students. It might be another good “match” school for you.</p>