Where would I fit in?

College Search & Lists
1

I am a current high school junior at an elite private prep school in Indianapolis and my college search has yielded several exciting options but I am so far at a loss to find the right place for me. I would appreciate some advice on colleges that I would fit into. First off a little about me:
GPA Unweighted 3.9 Weighted 4.1
SAT Composite 2070 (planning on taking the ACT very soon)
I have played soccer all four years of highschool.
I play trumpet in the concert band.
I am active in clubs such as Habitat for Humanity, GSA (gay straight alliance), Artisan (the literary magazine) and YWL (stands for Young Women Leaders and is a new club I co-founded to provide support to victims of domestic violence and to enhance the discussions of feminism in my community.
I have had a steady part time job at a local sporting goods store for 11 months and on weekends I volunteer at the Humane Society.
I am currently enrolled in 2 AP Classes and will have completed 7 by the end of my high school career.
I am in the middle of writing a two year research paper on the topic of recidivism and prison reform.

I am mostly looking at smallish liberal arts colleges in the northeast though I am very open to opportunities elsewhere.
In a college I am looking for something with rigorous academics and an intellectual spirit. I would appreciate a more collaborative environment in which students compete against themselves for success, rather than against each other. I am very interested in the idea of an open curriculum as I have interests across many different disciplines though I plan to be a history major. Essentially I would love somewhere that allows me to dabble while still remaining focused on my chosen discipline.

My perfect college would consist of…
Somewhere around 2,000-5,000 people
A great college town and an integrated feel between the college and the surrounding town
A high level of both socioeconomic, political, as well as racial diversity
A bikeable and walkable campus
A fairly active party scene
A good relationship between the administration and the students

Also as a white middle class girl I realize that I am competing against a plethora of other white girls for spots in some of these very high powered and low admittance schools so I am definitely looking for places that I could not only get in, but also get some scholarship money.

So far I have visited Wesleyan, Amherst, and Skidmore and I have been impressed with many aspects of all of these colleges, such as the views and student professor relationships at Amherst, the housing, facilities and town at Skidmore, and the diversity and socially active feel of Wesleyan. I just don’t think I have found my niche at any of them yet.

I know this is a lot to chew (and a lot to read!) but I would be very grateful if anyone had any ideas as to where this elusive college I am looking for might be.

Thanks for your help in advance.

2

What is your SAT breakdown? I am wondering about Dickinson. Or Macalester (not east coast, but meets some of your other criteria). How abut Scripps? West coast, but you get the size of the Claremont consortium for academic and social opprotunities, with the benefits of a smaller college. A lot will depend on your final test scores, though.

3

Have you considered a woman’s college?

4

I have looked at Smith as well as Wellesley but I would probably prefer to go to a co-ed school.

5

My first round of the SAT had me with a 740 reading 680 writing and a 650 math. I’m working on getting a tutor to bring the math up a bit. Thanks for you’re suggestions!

6

Scripps has the benefit of essentially sharing a campus with four co-ed school – they are nestled together sort of like Lego blocks.

7

You may have to compromise on the seamless town/gown relationship. At most of these places either the town is so small as to be a non-entity or just doesn’t have a lot of young people (I counted four senior citizens centers, four churches and a synagogue all within a three-block radius of Wesleyan.) Amherst comes closest to what you want, but, I wouldn’t count on biking to any of the other colleges in the area.

I have two slightly off-beat suggestions: 1) Barnard; the place is never completely bereft of men and the Morningside Heights neighborhood is very much a part of the scene there, and, 2) Davidson (NC) - the town seems to have a unique relationship with the college that bears its name - they actually like each other!

8

Schools with open curricula include Grinnell, Smith, Hamilton, Amherst and Brown.

9

Lots of great choices being given. My son is a history major at Skidmore. Although they do not have an “open” curriculum, the requirements for a history major are relatively light which allows for a lot of exploration of other subjects. AND the town/gown relationship in Saratoga Springs is very good. Lots of opportunities for both sides to get to know each other.