Bowdoin, Tufts, Oberlin, Carlton, Middlebury, Haverford, Wash U - for an anxious junior?

[Anonymous]

I’d recommend looking at Dickinson and Skidmore. Christopher Newport also had that fun, relaxed, friendly vibe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I felt Tufts' surroundings were a little dicey/sketchy (for someone how is already anxious).

I have not been to Middlebury but know someone who transferred out because she felt the kids were mostly rich and spoiled.

We liked Bowdoin a lot. Not sure about those Maine winters.

If you visit Carleton (speaking of winters!), maybe swing by St. Olaf's. That sounds like a gentle place to spend four years.

Huh? Medford? LOL. Why? Have you been, in person (my guess is no)?

[Anonymous]

Macalester sounds like a good fit. And Midwesterners are so nice, especially Minnesotans.

[Anonymous]

Have you thought about the Colleges that Change Lives?

(chuckle chuckle)

[Anonymous]

https://www.necn.com/news/new-england/_NECN__Tufts_Campus_Named_Most_Dangerous_in_U_S__NECN-252193361.html

[Anonymous]

My DS with anxiety is looking at larger state schools - he likes to know there are lots of resources and lots of different types of people and lots of options.

[Anonymous]

I'm not sure about your list at all. It seems schools that are very academically intense and socially intense (the play hard, work hard, drink a lot type).

Haverford maybe, and check out Bryn Mawr for sure. Also, I would not write off Swarthmore. It's serious but the kids I know who went there were the right fit and LOVED it. Possibly also look at Gettysburg, franklin & Marshall, or similar.

[Anonymous]

Also wanted to throw out Wesleyan. I know nice, chill, social-justice-oriented, smart kids there.

[Anonymous]

I would HIGHLY recommend Rice. It's a university that is divided into small residential colleges. Students have the resources of a big university but the social and academic support of a SLAC. It is also always ranked highly in terms of happy undergrads. My DD is a junior there and adores it. And they just announced a big push to make it more affordable!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I felt Tufts' surroundings were a little dicey/sketchy (for someone how is already anxious).

I have not been to Middlebury but know someone who transferred out because she felt the kids were mostly rich and spoiled.

We liked Bowdoin a lot. Not sure about those Maine winters.

If you visit Carleton (speaking of winters!), maybe swing by St. Olaf's. That sounds like a gentle place to spend four years.

Huh? Medford? LOL. Why? Have you been, in person (my guess is no)?

+1 And Somerville is the Brooklyn of Boston.

[Anonymous]

I drove past the campus, had an appointment scheduled, and canceled it. We each have our own comfort zones.

[Anonymous]

I don't want to add more pressure on you or your DD, but I am not sure you have sufficient time to visit all these schools and complete applications. What schools have you visited so far? How far away from DC are you/she comfortable?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Suggest Haverford. The small, self-contained community is very supportive, probably due to its Quaker roots. Many of the faculty live around the campus. There is an honor code. We really liked the vibe.

I will also say that if your child has such a history, you might want to be within driving range.

Haverford is uniformity-oriented. The college is small and there is not a great deal to do on campus. The Homor Code stifles rather than facilitates respectul differences, and academically Haverford can’t be compared to several of the other listed colleges and universities; Tufts and WUSTL in particular have much wider curricula and much more diverse and active student bodies. Haverford seems pleasant for a few hours of initial exposure, but don’t read too much into the place. It’s basically a degree-granting prep school after high school. I went there and transferred.

Would you say the same about Bryn Mawr? Bryn Mawr does not have a prep school vibe but it is small and has the same Quaker ethos/honor code and I wonder if there is a similar tendency towards uniformity.

OP it is tough to find a school that is intellectually stimulating/challenging enough without being a pressure cooker.
The right size can also be hard to identify. I have seen people making good points about sending kids to big school and make equally good but different points about sending kids to small schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Suggest Haverford. The small, self-contained community is very supportive, probably due to its Quaker roots. Many of the faculty live around the campus. There is an honor code. We really liked the vibe.

I will also say that if your child has such a history, you might want to be within driving range.

Haverford is uniformity-oriented. The college is small and there is not a great deal to do on campus. The Homor Code stifles rather than facilitates respectul differences, and academically Haverford can’t be compared to several of the other listed colleges and universities; Tufts and WUSTL in particular have much wider curricula and much more diverse and active student bodies. Haverford seems pleasant for a few hours of initial exposure, but don’t read too much into the place. It’s basically a degree-granting prep school after high school. I went there and transferred.

Would you say the same about Bryn Mawr? Bryn Mawr does not have a prep school vibe but it is small and has the same Quaker ethos/honor code and I wonder if there is a similar tendency towards uniformity.

OP it is tough to find a school that is intellectually stimulating/challenging enough without being a pressure cooker.
The right size can also be hard to identify. I have seen people making good points about sending kids to big school and make equally good but different points about sending kids to small schools.

I would be careful to give one poster’s experiences too much weight. A friend’s kid transferred out because he didn’t think the social scene was cohesive enough. It is really small but it doesn’t seem “uniform” to me—I have friends who teach and live in campus and am there frequently.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would HIGHLY recommend Rice. It's a university that is divided into small residential colleges. Students have the resources of a big university but the social and academic support of a SLAC. It is also always ranked highly in terms of happy undergrads. My DD is a junior there and adores it. And they just announced a big push to make it more affordable!

Yes! I was just about to recommend Rice. It is very strong academically but a truly friendly, cohesive, warm environment.thats what it’s mainly known for, actually.