Seeking Moderate Colleges

Hey, I'm currently a junior and I'm beginning to consider my college choices. I'm kind of in the middle of the road politically, so I was wondering, which colleges are known for having a more moderate political climate?

There are definitely colleges out there that are known for having a balanced political climate where everyone's views are respected, as well as colleges where the student body leans neither too left or right. However, remember that while you can get a sense of a school's political climate, it's virtually impossible to predict exactly what your experience will be since it's going to depend on the individual students you interact with.

Nevertheless, some colleges that are often described as politically moderate include:

1. University of Notre Dame: While it has a strong foundational commitment to Catholic teaching, students at Notre Dame have a wide range of political beliefs and experiences.

2. Brigham Young University: While very conservative in terms of religion, BYU reportedly hosts a substantive spectrum of political points of view.

3. Stanford University: Students lean more towards progressive in terms of policy, but there are a variety of student political organizations that cover every spectrum, and discussion amongst differing viewpoints is very much encouraged by the university.

4. Dartmouth College: Based in rural New Hampshire which swings both politically, Dartmouth has a fairly balanced mix of liberal, moderate, and conservative students.

5. University of Iowa: At UI, political beliefs are quite varied due to the school's large student population.

One more thing to consider: attending a university that leans in one political direction can be beneficial as well. It can challenge your beliefs and help you understand and respect different perspectives, even if you don't agree with them. But ultimately, you should choose the school where you feel you'll be comfortable expressing your own views and respecting those of others.

Remember that it is important to visit campuses and ask about this during your campus visit to truly gauge what the political climate is. This information can often be found on the college’s website, or by speaking with a current student, faculty, or staff member.