It's cold, the holidays are long over, and you’ve watched everything good on Netflix. It might just be the perfect time to begin crafting your college list. We encourage our students to focus on 3 major factors as they create their lists: academic viability, program fit, and social/cultural fit. This third category can be a little confusing. How do you know what social and cultural atmosphere will work for you? Well, we’ve been experimenting with a fun lens for breaking down different social/cultural types: astrology. While we by no means recommend considering your astrological sign seriously in your college decision, it can be a helpful way to organize student archetypes.
We’ve made our way to our seventh and most controversial sign of the Zodiac: Gemini. Highly misunderstood, and deeply versatile, Geminis are a difficult sign to narrow down. For those of you with impressive multitasking and social skills, who love to learn a lot and quickly but don’t love making decisions, whose spirit animal would probably be a chameleon, this list is for you. We have compiled a list of schools where you won’t feel limited. Who knows, maybe your duality will lead you to a dual major.
Northeastern
Based in the classically collegiate city of Boston, Northeastern is a private university with an emphasis on a transformative experience. With additional campuses all over the country and two in Canada, you will always have new spaces to explore. Their 220-plus academic majors cultivate self-directed learners who are not afraid of change. Northeastern is an extremely friendly environment for undeclared majors, and even offers the Explore program, where students work with academic advisors throughout their first year to try out all of their curiosities before declaring a major.
Amherst
Moving outside of Boston to Western Massachusetts, Amherst is a prestigious college boasting intimate academics, with a 7:1 student-faculty ratio. With 41 majors and no core curriculum, you won’t be pressed for options or forced into a box. Many students choose to create their own interdisciplinary majors, or participate in the Five College Consortium of Western Massachusetts, where they have access to courses and resources of local libraries, Hampshire College, Mount Holyoke College, Smith College, and the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
Grinnell
A private liberal arts college in a quaint Iowa town, Grinnell is a great option for those considering a cozy campus experience. Ranked among the Best liberal arts schools in the country, Grinnell espouses academic freedom and intellectual curiosity. Their one core requirement is the 1st Year Tutorial, where students are offered a series of courses from a diversity of disciplines to truly get a taste of everything. 40% of students create a Mentored Advanced Project, where they develop their own scholarly or artistic focus throughout their undergraduate experience.
Stanford
An IVY League school surrounded by idyllic weather and scenic backdrops, Stanford University is dedicated to discovery, creativity, and innovation. With a strong emphasis on “thinking and doing,” Stanford’s 7600 undergraduate students expand themselves within 70 majors and programs. If your charismatic charm inclines you towards politics, you can focus on their Political Science major, rated #1 nationally by US News. Stanford is a reach school for most, but we’ll file that under academic viability.
Wisconsin
Lest we forget your major social skills, the University of Wisconsin- Madison is a great school for those who work hard and mingle harder. This school takes its culture seriously, with its value of “The Wisconsin Idea,” which emphasizes the potential impact of education outside of the classroom. Between 8 undergraduate schools and colleges and 130 majors, there are endless academic paths to discover. A reputable Political Science department and a lively arts community are just some of the incentives to consider UW- Madison for your list.
University of Texas at Austin
A big campus in the heart of Texas’s iconic music city, the University of Texas at Austin is a stimulating environment for the passionate and curious. Its 431-acre campus is host to 170 fields of study, 13 schools and colleges, and over 40,000 inspiring undergraduate students. With the Canfield Business Honors Program, students are offered the opportunity to create their own course of study, combining anything from Marketing to Finance with the Flexible Degree Plan.
Indiana University
Indiana University offers top-tier academics and a dynamic student community within charming Bloomington, Indiana. Between 200 majors, 750+ student clubs, and nearly 400 study abroad programs, you definitely won’t be pressed for excitement. IU places great value on music and the fine arts, while also offering the top-rated Kelley School of Business. Focusing on adaptability in the business world and hands-on learning, Kelly can nurture your marketing and finance instincts through inspiring courses and internship placements.
Caltech
A highly competitive school in Pasadena, California, Caltech is an excellent option for our technically astute Geminis. Famous for its focus in science and engineering, this privately funded institute is home to many large-scale research facilities, even including NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab. Its rigorous academic path includes 28 majors, not limited to science and engineering. The goal is to create well-rounded scientists, with core requirements in 6 different academic fields ranging from geology to the humanities.
University of Miami
The University of Miami promises a vibrant student body, stimulating academic options, and a state-of-the-art campus in sunny Florida. A large, private research university, UMiami has 12 schools and colleges with nearly 350 majors and programs to choose from. Calling itself “a place for creators,” it is a highly artistic environment, boasting 50 internationally acclaimed art degree programs. The university offers many Dual Degree options, so you can combine pre-law with agricultural engineering no problem.
Northwestern
New experiences and opportunities abound at the invigorating Northwestern University. Nestled in Evanstown, Illinois, Northwestern offers 3 different campuses, 12 schools and colleges, and over 500 student organizations and clubs. If you prefer the interdisciplinary experience of liberal arts, you can find that at the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences. Or, you can target a specific academic skill in a more focused program, such as the Medill School of Journalism, Media, & Integrated Marketing Communications.
So Geminis, or those who relate to the duality of this sign, we know it is not easy to narrow you down. You move through the world and all of your passions with such speed, it can be hard for the rest of us to keep up. But taking into account your versatility, curiosity, and natural charm, we think these are a few schools that could satisfy your thirst for adventure. Whether you see yourself at the cutting edge of science or as the future of democracy, there are plenty of options that can get you where you want to go.
Ready to dive head first into your college list? Hit us up.