Most intellectual colleges?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP if you are looking for intellectual within the US you must restrict your search to the Ivy League colleges and the highest ranking SLACs.

Then look outside the country. McGill in Canada, Oxford and Cambridge in the UK, Queens Belfast, Trinity Dublin, The Sorbonne, University of Bologna, and so on.

This is just wrong (in about every possible way). Not all Ivies are intellectual. The highest ranked SLACS aren’t inherently more intellectual than lower ranked SLACS. McGill is no more (or less) intellectual than Berkeley. Sorbonne isn’t France’s Oxbridge analogue, and so on.

If you keep repeating this, maybe you will start to believe it at least. No one else does. And you use zero facts to back up your blanket statements.

Equally true of the statement I responded to. In fact, my “blanket statement” was essentially, that these blanket statements are uninformed. FWIW, I’m an Ivy-educated academic with friends at McGill, Oxbridge, and Sorbonne. This whole discussion is ludicrous since what constitutes intellectual culture is undefined and, wrt universities, the dominant undergraduate culture is rarely going to be intellectual (however defined).

What is this strange word in your run-on sentence?

wrt= with respect to in online forums, texts (always check urban dictionary)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP if you are looking for intellectual within the US you must restrict your search to the Ivy League colleges and the highest ranking SLACs.

Then look outside the country. McGill in Canada, Oxford and Cambridge in the UK, Queens Belfast, Trinity Dublin, The Sorbonne, University of Bologna, and so on.

This is just wrong (in about every possible way). Not all Ivies are intellectual. The highest ranked SLACS aren’t inherently more intellectual than lower ranked SLACS. McGill is no more (or less) intellectual than Berkeley. Sorbonne isn’t France’s Oxbridge analogue, and so on.

If you keep repeating this, maybe you will start to believe it at least. No one else does. And you use zero facts to back up your blanket statements.

Equally true of the statement I responded to. In fact, my “blanket statement” was essentially, that these blanket statements are uninformed. FWIW, I’m an Ivy-educated academic with friends at McGill, Oxbridge, and Sorbonne. This whole discussion is ludicrous since what constitutes intellectual culture is undefined and, wrt universities, the dominant undergraduate culture is rarely going to be intellectual (however defined).

Which is why I asked where there is more intellectual culture (students, learning for learning's sake, intellectual discussions and interests) rather than less. The U. of Chicago was known for more in the last few decades (and probably before). Not sure about now because they changed their marketing to attract a range of student types. But it sounds like it it still attracts intellectually-minded students.

[Anonymous]

A number of small Midwestern Liberal Arts Colleges.

- Butler University
- Hanover University
- Manchester University
- Wooster College
- Ohio Northern
- Kalamazoo
- St. Olaf
- DePauw
- Hillsdale

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A number of small Midwestern Liberal Arts Colleges.

- Butler University
- Hanover University
- Manchester University
- Wooster College
- Ohio Northern
- Kalamazoo
- St. Olaf
- DePauw
- Hillsdale

Ok. Thank you for helping out, but these are not so good.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A number of small Midwestern Liberal Arts Colleges.

- Butler University
- Hanover University
- Manchester University
- Wooster College
- Ohio Northern
- Kalamazoo
- St. Olaf
- DePauw
- Hillsdale

Ok. Thank you for helping out, but these are not so good.

I’m not familiar with all but St. Olaf, Wooster, and Depauw are all very solid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A number of small Midwestern Liberal Arts Colleges.

- Butler University
- Hanover University
- Manchester University
- Wooster College
- Ohio Northern
- Kalamazoo
- St. Olaf
- DePauw
- Hillsdale

DePauw is VERY fratty and bro-y.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A number of small Midwestern Liberal Arts Colleges

DePauw is VERY fratty and bro-y.

Yes about Depauw! Same is true for Butler!

Hard to find intellectual school without high stats like Swarthmore and U of C

[Anonymous]

Hard to find intellectual school without high stats like Swarthmore and U of C

True. However, a lot of small liberal arts colleges in the midwest provide
large merit aid packages, a lots of personalization, and a lot of direct
offers to employers. Many college professors sit on boards of
area employers/nonprofits and have strong connections to get
students in jobs, whereas a graduate from IU has to network
and apply on their own.

I know quite a few ivy league graduates in the midwest,
while there might be an exception to the rule, I don't
know any of them that recommended an Ivy League
school to their offspring. Most of the DCs went to
state colleges or SLACS.

Honestly, if you want to be a nurse, doctor, or banker in
the midwest - connections rather than college affiliation
will matter more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What about Oberlin? William & Mary?

We are also looking for a school with an intellectual bent but not a pressure cooker. Is there such a thing?

Haven’t read the whole thread but wanted to respond to this, because my DC just graduated from W&M. DC loved the school because of the profs and classes, says it was not a pressure cooker, and already misses school a lot. It really solidified a love of learning.

Just to respond on oberlin. DS goes there after visiting about 15 other top SLACs. Was looking for an intellectual life, a less amped up student body, a real community, and some serious arts (Oberlin is more known for music, but visual arts and theater are also impressive. Three years in, he's happy with his choice, as are we.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A number of small Midwestern Liberal Arts Colleges.

- Butler University
- Hanover University
- Manchester University
- Wooster College
- Ohio Northern
- Kalamazoo
- St. Olaf
- DePauw
- Hillsdale

Not dissing St. Olaf, but it is not even the most intellectual college in Northfield.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:William & Mary

Best got the cost

[Anonymous]

Ivies today are not intellectual: the students are described as driven.

[Anonymous]

DD was looking for an intellectual college. The type where, when the students are not studying, they are talking about history, about science. About important things (to her). Where the subject du jour does not involve the Kardashians, pop culture, or sports.

She is delighted to be a member of the class of 2024 at W & M. (I am too, as I can afford it).

[Anonymous]

Wesleyan

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wesleyan

+1 for Wes.
Of the 12 people on my hall first year (or, as we said, “frosh year”), I hear that 3 are now professors. 1 each in liberal arts, hard sciences & medicine.