Help us identify "safeties" for junior DC's list

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What's the issue with the social scene OP?

If your son doesn't want to be Greek, at any school, he can choose to not participate and suffer no ill effects academically or finding his own niche.

If you are in VA, safety schools should be state schools as well. VCU, VTech, UVA. Lots to pick from.

I'm not OP, but it seems pretty easy to imagine that a kid who isn't interested in "Greek life" might want to go to a school where that's not the only or dominant social scene.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What's the issue with the social scene OP?

If your son doesn't want to be Greek, at any school, he can choose to not participate and suffer no ill effects academically or finding his own niche.

If you are in VA, safety schools should be state schools as well. VCU, VTech, UVA. Lots to pick from.

I'm not OP, but it seems pretty easy to imagine that a kid who isn't interested in "Greek life" might want to go to a school where that's not the only or dominant social scene.

Right. OP here. dC does not want to live in a freshman dorm that is rowdy until 3 am on weekends and smells like barf. Prefers to be at a place where going to big parties is not everyone else's idea of a great time. Maybe the stories we have heard about some schools are exaggerated, but that is the concern. DC prefers a temperate climate, but the Southern schools do seem to have more Of a party reputation.This thread has really given me some good ideas, and I do appreciate it!

[Anonymous]

Won't be a safety, but Johns Hopkins might fit the bill, temperate climate, moderate size, and not a big Greek scene. I was surprised how much several of my quite social/interesting/non-premed friends of my DD's have liked it, it is not just premeds and lacrosse players!
Also look at Rice, in Houston, no frats/sororities allowed, also probably wouldn't be a safety, but a fantastic school and easier to get into from outside Texas/south where it is better known. Organized into residential colleges for the entire 4 years which sponsor lots of events/teams/have tutorials/sections and dining halls, so fulfill some functions of a frat or sorority, i.e. creating a smaller social structure. Sciences, politics, arts all really good departments there.

[Anonymous]

Agree with above and also while not safeties F&M and Carnegie Mellon are small LACs for more introspective students not interested in greek scene. Yes to Christopher Newport and St Mary's as safeties, too.

[Anonymous]

How about Loyola MD?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What's the issue with the social scene OP?

If your son doesn't want to be Greek, at any school, he can choose to not participate and suffer no ill effects academically or finding his own niche.

If you are in VA, safety schools should be state schools as well. VCU, VTech, UVA. Lots to pick from.

I'm not OP, but it seems pretty easy to imagine that a kid who isn't interested in "Greek life" might want to go to a school where that's not the only or dominant social scene.

I agree. Too many schools are dominated by Greek culture especially in the south. Many students choose to avoid schools because of this. Everything else may look good on paper but when you see a high% of students go Greek it is a turnoff for many college bound students. OP's dc is not alone.

[Anonymous]

Goucher in Baltimore would be a good choice

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you are looking for something for as quieter student, I'd look north. Comparable schools might be Bates or Vassar. Union in NY might be a bit easier. Dickinson in PA might also be a bit easier to to get into, and they have some great faculty members.

Vassar isn't a safety school

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you are looking for something for as quieter student, I'd look north. Comparable schools might be Bates or Vassar. Union in NY might be a bit easier. Dickinson in PA might also be a bit easier to to get into, and they have some great faculty members.

Vassar isn't a safety school

I think the PP was suggesting that Vassar would be comparable to Wm & Mary, and for OOS students it certainly is. I believe, though, that OP is in Virginia, so, Vassar would actually be tougher to get into than W&M. Bates is much farther from DC than OP's DC wants (about 10-12 hours from DC). Union has a big frat scene. I've heard positive things about Dickinson from friends who are academics at research universities, but I don't know what it's like socially.

[Anonymous]

University of Mary Washington and Christopher Newport

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow, thanks again for all the help. We are from VA so have not thought about UMD or St. Mary's so far. UMD is probably too big. DC likes W&M the best because of its size and reputation for attracting quieter, more introspective students who are not so much into the Greek scene. Wake is on the list because it is similar in size to W&M, but maybe not similar in culture from what some of you have said? Are you saying Richmond is a big party school, too? I know W&L has a big Greek scene so DC does not want to visit, despite its great academic reputation. What other schools are good for the quieter kids? I know several of the northeastern and midwestern LACs don't have frats, but so far DC is not keen on going that far away. Would Davidson fit the bill? Sewanee? Appreciate any more good advice!

There are a lot of students in Greek life at W&M.

[Anonymous]

Yes, but my understanding is that a larger share of the Greek life at W&M is service oriented and that fewer involved students live in the houses compared to some other schools. Never attended so I don't profess to really know, but from recent college visits to both UVA and W&M our impression was that greek life played a larger role in the undergraduate life of the school at UVA than at W&M.

Vassar and W&M are very different. My understanding is that Vassar is more like Wesleyan on steroids -- very liberal, social action oriented, and has significantly higher average test scores than WA&M as a whole (though perhaps not for out of state applicants). W&M came across to us as a more middle of the road political feel.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: Yes, but my understanding is that a larger share of the Greek life at W&M is service oriented and that fewer involved students live in the houses compared to some other schools. Never attended so I don't profess to really know, but from recent college visits to both UVA and W&M our impression was that greek life played a larger role in the undergraduate life of the school at UVA than at W&M.

Vassar and W&M are very different. My understanding is that Vassar is more like Wesleyan on steroids -- very liberal, social action oriented, and has significantly higher average test scores than WA&M as a whole (though perhaps not for out of state applicants). W&M came across to us as a more middle of the road political feel.

The reason more students don't live in the Greek houses is twofold: the houses aren't as large as at other schools. Also, the houses are inconveniently located to the academic buildings. Most prefer to live in regular dorms.

And there are service projects for the Greeks, but certainly not to the point that I would describe them as more service oriented than social oriented, not by a long shot. There is a service-only co-ed fraternity, but honestly, it was considered undesirable to be a member. I know, that's awful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What's the issue with the social scene OP?

If your son doesn't want to be Greek, at any school, he can choose to not participate and suffer no ill effects academically or finding his own niche.


If you are in VA, safety schools should be state schools as well. VCU, VTech, UVA. Lots to pick from.

Va tech and James Madison....eternal safety schools to uva and w&m

Yeah but not so easy to get into anymore.

[Anonymous]

Davidson is harder to get into than Wake and it's very challenging academically. It's also smaller. You might also consider honor's programs. Elon has quite a good one and it's a lovely school.