Social life for non athletic boy at mid sized private vs SLAC

[Anonymous]

is it easier for a somewhat nerdy, somewhat artsy boy not planning to play club sports to find friends at a mid sized private (brown, tufts, case western) where there are more people to choose from but it might be harder to find your people, or at a SLAC (WASP, Wesleyan, Haverford, Bates) where there is more more of a community and it is easier to meet people but not as many male friend options, especially if the varsity athletes tend to do their own thing. Not looking at schools where Greek is a big presence.

[Anonymous]

Diverse urban? Columbia, NYU, BU?

[Anonymous]

My DS is in a similar boat. He’s looking at SLACs for math or other STEM. He’s fairly outdoorsy so is looking for schools with solid outdoors clubs as a social outlet rather than Greek.

Look at schools that have a lot of arts-focused clubs. We saw that at Wesleyan, Skidmore, Bates and Hamilton on recent visits.

[Anonymous]

Look at Emory

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DS is in a similar boat. He’s looking at SLACs for math or other STEM. He’s fairly outdoorsy so is looking for schools with solid outdoors clubs as a social outlet rather than Greek.

Look at schools that have a lot of arts-focused clubs. We saw that at Wesleyan, Skidmore, Bates and Hamilton on recent visits.

Sewanee

[Anonymous]

My DS is at a SLAC and it can be very tough for boys not in a sport or not in a frat. If going for a school with less than 3000 kids, find one without frats.

[Anonymous]

Similar kid at Davidson and loving it. He turned down Tufts and Georgetown after admitted students events. Highly recommend visiting all the schools mentioned to see where your son is most happy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DS is in a similar boat. He’s looking at SLACs for math or other STEM. He’s fairly outdoorsy so is looking for schools with solid outdoors clubs as a social outlet rather than Greek.

Look at schools that have a lot of arts-focused clubs. We saw that at Wesleyan, Skidmore, Bates and Hamilton on recent visits.

Sewanee

I’m from the South, love Sewanee and completely agree. Sewanee works for the outdoorsy kids (unless they want skiing) and artsy kids.

[Anonymous]

I don't think medium vs small makes much difference initially. The key is still finding some kind of activity or community - art, newspaper, music, camping/outdoors club, community service, college radio - and sticking with it until you start to know some people and make friends.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DS is in a similar boat. He’s looking at SLACs for math or other STEM. He’s fairly outdoorsy so is looking for schools with solid outdoors clubs as a social outlet rather than Greek.

Look at schools that have a lot of arts-focused clubs. We saw that at Wesleyan, Skidmore, Bates and Hamilton on recent visits.

He do great at Pomona

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DS is in a similar boat. He’s looking at SLACs for math or other STEM. He’s fairly outdoorsy so is looking for schools with solid outdoors clubs as a social outlet rather than Greek.

Look at schools that have a lot of arts-focused clubs. We saw that at Wesleyan, Skidmore, Bates and Hamilton on recent visits.

He do great at Pomona

He would*

[Anonymous]

If willing to look in the cold of MN, he could check out Carleton or Macalaster.

[Anonymous]

Reed has no athletes at all.

Percentage of athletes at Carleton, Vassar, and Bard are lower. Pitzer would probably work as well.

[Anonymous]

Nephew graduated from Middlebury last year. Loves to trail run outside and to hike but no t into competitive sports at all. He loved his 4 years there. Classic pre-med bio major he found plenty of opportunities to get clinical hours and such as well with strong support from the school. He is in Med School this year without needing the typical gap year.

[Anonymous]

If he's gay, Brown is the school. Large percent of the school is LGBTQ+.