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I am looking for a college with a small student/faculty ratio (preferably 10:1) in a suburban area.

My family and me drove through Massachusetts and passed South Hadley, home of Mount Holyoke College. We visited the campus to simply look around, and although I am not female, I loved the campus and as a result, full in love with the school (wait! I can explain!). It had this elegant style, an intimate atmosphere. I would apply to one of the five colleges just to take a course at MHC, only, Amherst is too competitive, U. Mass is over populated, Smith is another all-female school, and Hampshire is too "radical," academically (creating your own curriculum..etc.). Unfortunately, this means I have to look elsewhere.

I don't want to seem freaky, but I am looking for a college like Mount Holyoke ( http://www.mtholyoke.edu/adm/tour/index.htm ); A private, liberal arts, coed college in a beautiful suburb (Either as competitive or less competitive; anywhere in the U.S.)

Any ideas?

By Thedad (Thedad) on Friday, November 28, 2003 - 01:37 am: Edit

Have you thought of Bryn Mawr, Haverford, and Swarthmore?

My D fell in love with Smith...couldn't wait to get away from Mount Holyoke.

By Kmom (Kmom) on Friday, November 28, 2003 - 07:58 am: Edit

We just visited Muhlenberg, Gettsyburg and Dickinson - all good schools with nice campuses. They may be worth considering.

By Coureur (Coureur) on Friday, November 28, 2003 - 10:54 am: Edit

How about Williams? It's an excellent school, and like Mt. Holyoke it's kind of isolated out in the middle of nowhere.

By Jaye123 (Jaye123) on Friday, November 28, 2003 - 03:06 pm: Edit

Williams is amazing...unfortunately, it is nearly impossible to gain admittance. I'm sure all of the prospective Harvard students have a chance; I don't even qualify for admittance.

Dickinson looks beautiful and is more of a possibility, thank you Kmom.

Muhlenberg is on my list already of schools to apply to. I'm not too keen on Gettysburg for some reason...it doesn't strike me as "elegant" like Mount Holyoke.
I suppose I'm looking for that "ivy look" of chapels and older buildings, something really nice and charming.

Keep the suggestions coming! I really appreciate them!

By Chasgoose (Chasgoose) on Friday, November 28, 2003 - 04:30 pm: Edit

Kenyon

By Muzicgal04 (Muzicgal04) on Friday, November 28, 2003 - 08:25 pm: Edit

I'd try Swarthmore and Haverford (bryn mawr is all womens). Small liberal arts, challenging academically, great extracurriculars, and within about a 15 min train ride of Philly. Also, gorgeous campuses

By Reidmc (Reidmc) on Friday, November 28, 2003 - 11:03 pm: Edit

I'd reinforce Dickinson, Kenyon and Haverford as options, though Haverford is tough to get into and Kenyon and Dickinson are not suburban. Colgate would be another rural option - very attractive campus.

By Jaye123 (Jaye123) on Saturday, November 29, 2003 - 02:14 am: Edit

Kenyon is now on "The List".

I would love to apply to Colgate but unfortunately, it is too competitive. I would only be wasting my money on a rejection.

I'm still thinking about Dickinson.. I'm not sure yet.

Thank you all for the great suggestions! I really appreciate them.

By Interestedmom (Interestedmom) on Sunday, November 30, 2003 - 06:32 pm: Edit

You should look at Colby College in Waterville, Maine.

By Antigone (Antigone) on Sunday, November 30, 2003 - 09:29 pm: Edit

kenyon is awesome! It's my favorite! By the way, I was not impressed with Dickinson. Yes, they had old buildings but the campus was dissected by heavily driven streets that seemed almost dangerous to me--but seriously more annoying. Also, the people I met were kind of drab, lost in their own world, and scattered throughout the dull little town rather than the campus.

By Arcadia (Arcadia) on Tuesday, December 02, 2003 - 09:47 am: Edit

Middlebury

By Bobmcc (Bobmcc) on Monday, December 08, 2003 - 12:15 pm: Edit

Also..Macalester..St. Paul IS a metro area..but we were amazed at the "small town" feel, after driving up from NCarolina to St Paul. Mac has an extremely compact, but pretty campus..And, unlike around cities here, in NC or Va, it seemed like we just drove through a series of pretty, small towns - rather than suburbs - and then found ourselves in downtown St. Paul.
BTW..Mt Holyoke DOES have a lovely campus..certainly one of my favorites.

By Shennie (Shennie) on Monday, December 08, 2003 - 12:40 pm: Edit

You might want to look at Allegheny in Meadville PA. Meadville is a town of about 18,000. The college is on the edge of it next to a nice residential area. Lovely campus.