college - tell me about "the best kept secret" schools - anyone have one?

[Anonymous]

Can't hurt; might help. It gives her personality even on paper (lots of applications blur together) and it suggests she's serious about and has researched the particular school(s) she's applying to. She's in the pool for a specific reason, not because she's just looked at rankings or admissions stats. And everybody likes to be wanted for the right reasons, LOL!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Re feeling at home. I'm 8:05 (and another ex-prof!). And I wouldn't start there. I'd start with programs and then only visit schools that have what she's looking for academically. Among those schools, fit's certainly a voting issue -- and could certainly be THE voting issue if she gets some place and has the "I'd hate it here" reaction.

Conversely, I think it sends the wrong message about what college is to start from which campus environments do I like best and treat academics as an afterthought.

So, yes, fit matters, but it's not all social/environmental. It's curricular and pedagogical as well. And if you start with the former, it'll be hard to put the latter in the picture.

I must have mistakenly left the impression that this is how she is approaching her college search. She is not. She is only interested in visiting schools that offer a classics/classical studies major and preferably schools where she can double major in classics and in theatre.

On the other hand, while some 17 year olds know what they want to do and stick with it, others will change majors 2-3 times before they graduate. So I do think the overall balance is important. The OPs daugther sounds much more directed than mine, who kind of thinks english/journalism but then other days is interested in psychology.

[Anonymous]

The daughter of a good friend of mine from the Boston area is now at Vanderbilt and loves it. She's also liberal, a little crunchy, went to a good prep school but didn't have the grades for a top tier school. She loves literature and writing and was opposed to a school that was "too southern" or too Greek. Vanderbilt has been a great fit. She's a sophomore now.

[Anonymous]

What about St. John's in Annapolis? Aren't they supposed to be the best classical studies education in the country? Really non-traditional curriculum and thinking.

[Anonymous]

has anyone mentioned bryn mawr?

for classics, a bigger school will probably serve you better.

[Anonymous]

St John's isn't where you'd go if you really wanted to do classics. It's a "great books" curriculum rather than ancient languages and civilizations and I think you read everything in translation. It's sort of purposefully ahistorical.

[Anonymous]

Guilford. Sorry-- I don't have time to read all 8 pages, here, so maybe it's already been suggested....and it is southern, but different atmosphere than Elon. And, they have more financial aid than some, good students but-at least until recently- somewhat less competitive than the likes of Oberlin.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was also interested in small liberal arts colleges in the 2,000 - 3,000 student range. Gettysburg College in PA ended up being a great fit for me, but I agree with the advice a few PPs have already given - the best school will be the one where your daughter feels at home on campus.

Not sure if you've already been doing this, but if any of the schools you're visiting have campus host programs, that can be a great way as a prospective student to get an idea of what going to a particular school might be like. Current students host prospective students overnight, then take them to a few classes, for lunch or dinner in the cafeteria, etc. I did this when I was looking at colleges and found it to be really helpful. Good luck!

OP here - If anyone is interested Gettysburg is having an open house on the 31st. I am almost positive we are going.

Here is the link if anyone is interested in registering.

http://www.gettysburg.edu/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is a really great list. Second the poster who mentioned Smith College - Northampton is a lovely college town. If you are looking at the 5 college area add Mount Holyoke to your list too. Students can take classes at any of the other colleges (Amherst, Smith, Hampshire, MHC and UMass)

Appreciate 21:42s take on larger univ. vs smaller liberal arts - gives me some ammo with my hubby who leans more toward larger universities.

I went to Mt. Holyoke and the school really changed my life. It is a FANTASTIC education and not quite as hard to get into as Smith and some of the other seven sisters. Great programs in theater and art...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is a really great list. Second the poster who mentioned Smith College - Northampton is a lovely college town. If you are looking at the 5 college area add Mount Holyoke to your list too. Students can take classes at any of the other colleges (Amherst, Smith, Hampshire, MHC and UMass)

Appreciate 21:42s take on larger univ. vs smaller liberal arts - gives me some ammo with my hubby who leans more toward larger universities.

I went to Mt. Holyoke and the school really changed my life. It is a FANTASTIC education and not quite as hard to get into as Smith and some of the other seven sisters. Great programs in theater and art...

That is interesting, I've been told that Smith is easier to get into than Mt Holyoke.

[Anonymous]

Can I just say that this thread has reached 8 pages and nobody's trashed anybody else's school yet (I think -- I skimmed some pages)? Plus somebody's posted some actually helpful links on college admissions on another thread on this forum, instead of making it up and posting it as gospel. I'm amazed!

I'm hoping that all those horrid people who talk about colleges on the private school forum don't find this new college forum. Way to go, friends!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The daughter of a good friend of mine from the Boston area is now at Vanderbilt and loves it. She's also liberal, a little crunchy, went to a good prep school but didn't have the grades for a top tier school. She loves literature and writing and was opposed to a school that was "too southern" or too Greek. Vanderbilt has been a great fit. She's a sophomore now.

Umm -- Vanderbilt is now a "top tier" school. I didn't go there and I don't like the south either. But, to be fair -- check out the latest US News & World Report National College Rankings online for free. Vanderbilt is not easy to get into. It rejects most of its applicants. From your post, it makes it sound as though Vandy is 'second choice' or 'second tier' -- it is not.

[Anonymous]

Check out Reed .... great for a passionate learner.

For a Buddhist experience, Naropa is very cool. Has some interesting programs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Check out Reed .... great for a passionate learner.

speaking of us news--
reed is an amazing school--do not be fooled by the us news rankings. reed on principle decided at some point not to participate in the feeding frenzy, so it got "punished" by the magazine.
http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200511/shunning-college-rankings

[Anonymous]

Reed is a fine school for kids that tend to be quirky or ultra liberal. But, Reed skipped out of US News because it's a wannabe ivy