University of Richmond

Amherst College.

This is a great thread, but I wonder if it answers the original question. In my humble opinion, there are as many beautiful campuses (campi?) as there are people who attended there. Aside from the fact that so many posters named their own universities as the loveliest, there are hundreds if not thousands of colleges and universities deserving of being included in a "most beautiful" list, but they won't be.

The number of schools is much too great. Ducks, if you are really interested in your daughter's college education, perhaps you could get your daughter to narrow the choices a bit -- either geographically, curriculum-wise, size-wise, or any other-wise. As you can plainly see (I always remember from L'il Abner comic strips many years ago when he would say "As any fool can plainly see") the number of suggestions is limitless.

Pick an area. Pick a major. Pick a place where a boyfriend is. Pick a school because of its football team or its cheerleaders. Just pick something to narrow down this endless discussion. Good luck.

I'd have to go with two: University of Colorado based on the Boulder and the natural surroundings, and Virginia Polytechinic Institute (V.Tech) for the beauty of the campus alone, although the surroundings are up there too.

Other favorites: UF, Utah, UCLA, UNC, and the older part of UVA. There are a lot of smaller campuses just as pretty, but I tried to stick to the major universities.

This obviously won't do your daughter any good, but if you have ever been to West Point and seen its setting on the Hudson River with green hills all around, you might think it's the most beautiful. Of course, if she's militarily inclined or is a natural leader, and if she has an outstanding academic record, and if she can pass the grueling physical tests, and if she can live through plebe year hassles, she might be the next female general some day.

University of Redlands (CA) when there is no smog

My husband and I both gradudated from USC, so thats my vote. But, I cant imagine a more beautiful campus. LA might not be your pick of a city, but USC is a whole different world...there's nothing like walking down Trousdale Parkway on gameday towards the Coliseum...plus the Trojan Family is so strong that anywhere you go in the world there will be another alum just like you. Fight on Trojans!

Somewhere among these remarks ducks I believe mentioned a site of eopinions by students. Can anyone provide more precise information about it or other similar sites? Thanks

The sites are: epinions.com under colleges; studentsreview.com;
collegeconfidential.

Amazing, so many replies and such loyalty to ones' alma mater!

What will your daughter be majoring in ?

Let's start there, it's much MUCH more important to figure out which school(s) are most respected in what fields, especially in today's world/economy, and double-especially over the last 5 years. You academics and choice of college is EVERYTHING, 10 years ago that wasn't the case. It is today.

We can narrow it down a lot more once we know that.

If you already posted it, I missed it and I apologize.

Oh - University of Nebraska-Lincoln - NOT.

Kansas is nice, Michigan U. is nice, Wisconsin is nice, but when I say that, I am thinking to back when I was in College, and the age for drinking -er- 'partying' was 18 or 19, and I have slight memories of what I did 30 years ago, hehehe. Anymore, it's 21 across the board.

This thread may be 2 years old, but it's more important than ever to go to a school based on your interests of academia than location.

It's cool how many great colleges we can choose from here in the States. Kind of overwhelming when you're making the choice, though. A good way to narrow it down it to use the Fiske Guide, updated every year. You can find it at the library. It gives a really good two-page synopsis of a school's strengths and weaknesses, from academics to dorm quality to social atmosphere. It focuses on the 'best' schools, so not every single college is outlined, but it's a great way to narrow the list.
And, while not the most important factors, location and attractiveness of a campus do play a part in how happy the student will be there when it becomes home for four years. Colleges that are difficult to get to-- i.e. a plane trip followed by a three-hour drive-- can add considerably to the expense over the four years. In our experience, the 'little' things really add up-- like beddiing and outfitting the dorm room and later the apartment, travel expenses, cab fare to get essential items, etc.
Such a great learning experience on so many levels.

Ducks53, you started this very popular thread almost two years ago, so I conclude your daughter must have decided. Where did she choose? Why? What was her/your reaction to some of the schools you and she visited? I think we'd all like to know.

If we are just speaking of beauty of the campus itself. Obviously being a SPartan Girl I vote for Michigan State U. I thought the University of Wisc. Madison to be very nice and I thought UC Santa Cruz to be beautiful as well. I haven't been to any campuses out east.

Sorry, but the Boston-Cambridge area is the best place to go to school. Lots of great universities and colleges, lots of great libraries, a very active cultural life, beautiful place, lots of history... I myself went to Boston University (for Graduate School), but I think Harvard has the most beautiful campus. Besides, there are a lot of great cafes around Harvard Square to linger over cappucino and croissants on a Sunday morning...

I am very biased, but I'd have to say Williams College, in Williamstown, MA is one of the most beautiful campuses anywhere. More importantly, it's an outstanding academic institutuion. Please, remember, for your child's sake, that looks aren't everything; the most important thing is that your daughter is selecting the best school for herself, even if it is in the middle of Manhattan (my current home and none of our local college campuses can be described as "beautiful").

I think the Princeton Review recently chose Wagner College in NYC, and St. Mary's College of Maryland as most beautiful and runner-up.

I love this thread! Nearly two years and going strong!

My three votes go to:

University of Indiana-Bloomington

Northwestern

University of Wisconsin-Madison (*my alma matter)

I work for USC-- it doesn't come close.

Pepperdine is also beautiful, as is Princeton. Lawrence University, in Appleton, WI, is very beautiful, albeit small, too.

Northwestern?! I went there, and don't think it's all that. Lake is nice, but... Evanston is a great town, though.

I live in Princeton, NJ, and that campus is very impressive. Part urban, part suburb.

Also went to SMU in Dallas, which was OK, and Rutgers (New Brunswick,NJ) parts are very nice, other parts are ugly.

Personally, I thought Oberlin was very nice, when I was visiting campuses way back when.

I second the vote for William & Mary. There are mornings where a mist covers the Sunken Gardens and workers from Colonial Williamsburg walk by the Wren building decked out in Colonial garb, and you are simply transported to the 18th century. Beautiful and serene campus, small classes, fantastic professors...what more do you need?