Most beautiful college campus is...?
Oct 8th, 2003, 10:06 PM
#82
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Weighing in from the West:
University of Washington-Seattle always reminds me of the Emerald City.
UC Santa Cruz
UC San Diego-you can bring your surf board to class and be hitting the waves 5 minutes after you get out of lecture.
Stanford is also lovely.
I love UC Berkeley for its character but may be biased as I'm a graduate.
University of Washington-Seattle always reminds me of the Emerald City.
UC Santa Cruz
UC San Diego-you can bring your surf board to class and be hitting the waves 5 minutes after you get out of lecture.
Stanford is also lovely.
I love UC Berkeley for its character but may be biased as I'm a graduate.
Oct 9th, 2003, 12:44 AM
#83
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This is a VERY relevant thread.
Why is it that my surfer senior son wants to go to Williams above all other choices? It's his ED first option - And soooo far away. He's been won over by Williams' reputation and amazing environment.
I'd prefer one of the West Coast options, see Alisa post above. He'd be so much closer. But I have my fingers crossed for what he'd most like to do. Williams seems fabulous.
Why is it that my surfer senior son wants to go to Williams above all other choices? It's his ED first option - And soooo far away. He's been won over by Williams' reputation and amazing environment.
I'd prefer one of the West Coast options, see Alisa post above. He'd be so much closer. But I have my fingers crossed for what he'd most like to do. Williams seems fabulous.
Oct 9th, 2003, 10:41 AM
#85
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Sorry to go a bit off topic here, but I have to defend my school - Williams does have co-ed bathrooms, but they are purely a choice - you can request to have a single-sex bathroom if you are bothered by it. 99.99999% of the students are not - I had a co-ed bathroom for all of my four years there, and never once was I weired out by it in the slighest, nor was anyone I knew. There is no reason to let that dissuade anyone from applying to the best liberal arts college in the country (not to mention the one with the most beautiful campus!)
Oct 9th, 2003, 10:49 AM
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How has this post gone on so long without mentioning Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, VA? My first thought upon getting on to campus was "This is what a college is supposed to look like!"
Beautiful limestone Gothic buildings, lots of green space and the mountains in the distance. On a Saturday in the fall it is my FAVORITE place to be (helps if the Hokies are winning!)
Beautiful limestone Gothic buildings, lots of green space and the mountains in the distance. On a Saturday in the fall it is my FAVORITE place to be (helps if the Hokies are winning!)
Oct 9th, 2003, 11:39 AM
#87
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I'm back and am very interested in all the responses. I have spent most of my life here and there on many many campuses, but what strikes me is the huge range of types of school mentioned here. You've got apples, oranges, pumpkins, and beans all mixed in together.
As you said yourself, "Ducks," beauty is not the main draw, but if your daughter is not narrowing down her choices according to a)size and b) academic profile of applicants, this is all a very theoretical discussion that won't be much more helpful than an article in a style magazine for young adolescents.
You talk about "strong" academics -- are you talking about schools that are very selective and comparatively hard to get into or are you talking about schools that don't allow their non-academic programs to run the show? Is it a matter of being on a campus where your daughters friends will be thinking of themselves above all as students or first as socializing young adults? To put it another way, is your daughter looking PRIMARILY for an undergraduate "experience" that will be a good grounding for life in general or is she looking for a place that will get her into graduate schools?
None of these have to be either-or situations, of course, fo course. Don't mean to imply that you can't be a social being if you aren't a student or v.v. -- it's a matter of emphasis.
If we knew what your daughter's priorities (other than beauty) are going to be, we could probably be more specific about which among some likely schools are the prettiest ones.
Last comment: most campuses are in some way pretty, I've found, with only a few exceptions. It's just different kinds of pretty: architecture, setting, lay-out, etc.
As you said yourself, "Ducks," beauty is not the main draw, but if your daughter is not narrowing down her choices according to a)size and b) academic profile of applicants, this is all a very theoretical discussion that won't be much more helpful than an article in a style magazine for young adolescents.
You talk about "strong" academics -- are you talking about schools that are very selective and comparatively hard to get into or are you talking about schools that don't allow their non-academic programs to run the show? Is it a matter of being on a campus where your daughters friends will be thinking of themselves above all as students or first as socializing young adults? To put it another way, is your daughter looking PRIMARILY for an undergraduate "experience" that will be a good grounding for life in general or is she looking for a place that will get her into graduate schools?
None of these have to be either-or situations, of course, fo course. Don't mean to imply that you can't be a social being if you aren't a student or v.v. -- it's a matter of emphasis.
If we knew what your daughter's priorities (other than beauty) are going to be, we could probably be more specific about which among some likely schools are the prettiest ones.
Last comment: most campuses are in some way pretty, I've found, with only a few exceptions. It's just different kinds of pretty: architecture, setting, lay-out, etc.
Oct 9th, 2003, 11:55 AM
#88
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This reply is largely to Cassandra.
My daughter is not overly concerned with the beauty of a campus. I just asked this out of curiousity and because it is of interest to me. She is far more scholarly and less superficial than I am. She would like to be with fairly serious students and certainly would love to attend one of the top ivies if she could get in (her weakness is in extracurricular area).
She is not interested in sports, would like a school that has small classes and excellent professors with whom she can form personal relationships. She prefers warmer weather than northern new england which is quite limiting and
prefers, slightly, coed schools but has not ruled out some of the top womens schools. She also likes cities which is another tough one since larger schools tend to be in cities.
Hope that helps! Glad you are back from wherever you went.
My daughter is not overly concerned with the beauty of a campus. I just asked this out of curiousity and because it is of interest to me. She is far more scholarly and less superficial than I am. She would like to be with fairly serious students and certainly would love to attend one of the top ivies if she could get in (her weakness is in extracurricular area).
She is not interested in sports, would like a school that has small classes and excellent professors with whom she can form personal relationships. She prefers warmer weather than northern new england which is quite limiting and
prefers, slightly, coed schools but has not ruled out some of the top womens schools. She also likes cities which is another tough one since larger schools tend to be in cities.
Hope that helps! Glad you are back from wherever you went.
Oct 9th, 2003, 01:38 PM
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Yet another vote for UC Santa Cruz. Beautiful redwoods and beautiful ocean views. In the summer the Santa Cruz Shakespeare festivale is held there in the festivale glen, which is a natural ampitheater surrounded by redwoods. It's not to be missed.
Oct 9th, 2003, 05:57 PM
#91
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Ducks -- gotta' encourage you again to check out Rhodes. Not just for the beauty (although it is a beautiful campus) but it sounds like it meets your daughter's criteria. It is a small school, approx. 1200 students. There is a board-mandated 12-1 student-faculty ratio. Many classes are small, discussion-type groups and there are plenty of "independent study" opportunities for one-on-one interaction with a prof. An overwhelming percentage of the profs hold the terminal degree in their field. And, because it's a college and not a university, she will be taught by these wonderful profs, not by grad students. It's not a big sports school. It's located in Memphis, TN, a city of approx. 1 mill people -- enough to do to keep you interested, but not so much to be distracted.
Check it out.
Check it out.
Oct 10th, 2003, 12:44 PM
#92
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Someone mentioned St. Anselm College in Manchester NH. I AGREE!! In fact, I graduated from there in the late 80's and loved being on that beautiful campus. I live nearby and drove past there today, actually. It's truly beautiful. The colors are gorgeous this time of year.
Oct 10th, 2003, 05:57 PM
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Have to reply to Kwoo that Middlebury is
in the "middle of nowhere". In my opinion,
Lewiston, Maine (home of Bowdoin) is
a decaying industrial pit. Middlebury
is a gorgeous town, with roots to Robert
Frost (whose papers are housed at Middlebury) and near Lake Champlain
(a beautiful natural entity) and whose
roots go back to its founding in 1800. The granite buildings are magnificent, and dramatic acreage has been preserved as open space. The college's sports complex
is unbelievable (far superior to Bowdoin's)
and they even have their own ski bowl - the
college is not named "Club Midd" for nothing. Further, as to reputation, Midd always rates above Bowdoin in US News & World Report and most other reputable college guides. It is certainly more rigorous
academically, and much harder to get into. IMO, being closer to the outlet store for LL Bean (e.g. Bowdoin) is not necessarily a plus!
in the "middle of nowhere". In my opinion,
Lewiston, Maine (home of Bowdoin) is
a decaying industrial pit. Middlebury
is a gorgeous town, with roots to Robert
Frost (whose papers are housed at Middlebury) and near Lake Champlain
(a beautiful natural entity) and whose
roots go back to its founding in 1800. The granite buildings are magnificent, and dramatic acreage has been preserved as open space. The college's sports complex
is unbelievable (far superior to Bowdoin's)
and they even have their own ski bowl - the
college is not named "Club Midd" for nothing. Further, as to reputation, Midd always rates above Bowdoin in US News & World Report and most other reputable college guides. It is certainly more rigorous
academically, and much harder to get into. IMO, being closer to the outlet store for LL Bean (e.g. Bowdoin) is not necessarily a plus!
Oct 10th, 2003, 06:11 PM
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Message to Boonie,
You are talking about Bates College, which is located in Lewiston, Me. Bowdoin is located in Brunswick, Maine. I agree that Lewiston is not very nice. And you are also thinking of Bates when you mention that Middlebury is always ranked higher than Bowdoin in U.S. News and World Report. Middlebury is always ranked higher than Bates but not Bowdoin. Middlebury and Bowdoin are always ranked quite close to each other. Sometimes Bowdoin is higher, sometimes Middlebury, sometimes they are tied. The home of Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain, Civil War Hero, graduate of Bowdoin College, former President of Bowdoin College and Governnor of Maine, is right across the street from the Bowdoin campus. Hawthorne and Longfellow are also noteworthy graduates of Bowdoin, as is one of our Presidents, whose name escapes me at the moment. And Peary and MacMillan, the arctic explorers. (The Arctic Museum is a part of the Bowdoin campus.) I certainly didn't mean this to be a competition about schools. I realize everyone is proud of where they or their children attend. I was merely giving my opinion, which is based on experience visiting and researching colleges for a number of years, and also my and my family's own personal preference.
You are talking about Bates College, which is located in Lewiston, Me. Bowdoin is located in Brunswick, Maine. I agree that Lewiston is not very nice. And you are also thinking of Bates when you mention that Middlebury is always ranked higher than Bowdoin in U.S. News and World Report. Middlebury is always ranked higher than Bates but not Bowdoin. Middlebury and Bowdoin are always ranked quite close to each other. Sometimes Bowdoin is higher, sometimes Middlebury, sometimes they are tied. The home of Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain, Civil War Hero, graduate of Bowdoin College, former President of Bowdoin College and Governnor of Maine, is right across the street from the Bowdoin campus. Hawthorne and Longfellow are also noteworthy graduates of Bowdoin, as is one of our Presidents, whose name escapes me at the moment. And Peary and MacMillan, the arctic explorers. (The Arctic Museum is a part of the Bowdoin campus.) I certainly didn't mean this to be a competition about schools. I realize everyone is proud of where they or their children attend. I was merely giving my opinion, which is based on experience visiting and researching colleges for a number of years, and also my and my family's own personal preference.
Oct 11th, 2003, 07:59 AM
#96
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Came across this list & thought you might be interested.
http://www.epodunk.com/top10/colleges/index.html
http://www.epodunk.com/top10/colleges/index.html
Oct 11th, 2003, 09:09 AM
#97
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Thanks, Ducks -- In one of my 7 or 8 other lives, I do some admissions counseling and college fairs. Your daughter should probably be looking at the Bryn Mawr/Haverford/Swarthmore group, plus some of the other mid-Atlantic liberal arts colleges. About her strength as an applicant: There are a lot of people/parents/high school counselors who think you have to have at least 4 extracurriculars from each of 3 or 4 types: sports, student govt., arts, letters, drama, etc. etc. etc. -- in other words be really well-rounded and also be an officer in as many clubs as possible.
Let me mention that small schools are more likely to be receptive to exceptional strength in one or two, or even in something that isn't part of school but something a student does on his/her own -- some community or research project, a really interesting job, a creative artistic life, etc. What will make the biggest difference, however, is how "turned on" your daughter is by whatever she does. When I interview, I look for the thing that makes a student's eyes glow, which is often not being class president or captain of field hockey but might be something as odd as Latin or teaching kindergarteners. Remember that small colleges are building classes, much as an orchestra is built -- they need a certain number of violins, drums, etc. as well as people who know how to archive music and what the biography of the composers might be.
Sure, it would be good to have her involved in things that show she is a leader (Ivies look for leaders) or popular or responsible, but the very most important thing is that she get enthusiastic and excited about something enough to be able to take it beyond the dabbling level and enough to be able to write an essay about it that sounds genuinely involved -- not just writing the essay she/you/counselors think that the admissions board people want to read.
I don't think you are superficial, btw, just a mother ;-)
Let me mention that small schools are more likely to be receptive to exceptional strength in one or two, or even in something that isn't part of school but something a student does on his/her own -- some community or research project, a really interesting job, a creative artistic life, etc. What will make the biggest difference, however, is how "turned on" your daughter is by whatever she does. When I interview, I look for the thing that makes a student's eyes glow, which is often not being class president or captain of field hockey but might be something as odd as Latin or teaching kindergarteners. Remember that small colleges are building classes, much as an orchestra is built -- they need a certain number of violins, drums, etc. as well as people who know how to archive music and what the biography of the composers might be.
Sure, it would be good to have her involved in things that show she is a leader (Ivies look for leaders) or popular or responsible, but the very most important thing is that she get enthusiastic and excited about something enough to be able to take it beyond the dabbling level and enough to be able to write an essay about it that sounds genuinely involved -- not just writing the essay she/you/counselors think that the admissions board people want to read.
I don't think you are superficial, btw, just a mother ;-)
Oct 15th, 2003, 12:57 AM
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As Emerson said "for there are many beauties" three very different ones in GA are
for beauty of size,Berry College probably has largest campus in the world. Somewhere between 25,000 and 30,000 acres I think.
for beauty of art (as well as trees), as the name implies The Savannah College of Art in Savannah is in the heart of the largest historic landmark district in the country. Many of those landmarks are now school buildings.
and of course
for the beauty of the perfect overall college experience Athens U of GA beautiful women, worlds greatest mascot Uga,classic stadium the hedges, the music scene including the most awesome hometown band REM, plus you get all that Atlanta has to offer without actually having to live there
for beauty of size,Berry College probably has largest campus in the world. Somewhere between 25,000 and 30,000 acres I think.
for beauty of art (as well as trees), as the name implies The Savannah College of Art in Savannah is in the heart of the largest historic landmark district in the country. Many of those landmarks are now school buildings.
and of course
for the beauty of the perfect overall college experience Athens U of GA beautiful women, worlds greatest mascot Uga,classic stadium the hedges, the music scene including the most awesome hometown band REM, plus you get all that Atlanta has to offer without actually having to live there
