<p>I got into Amherst, Haverford, Tufts, and Wesleyan, and now I can't decide. I loved all of them when I visited, and I plan to visit them all later this month.</p>
<p>Factors...
-They all cost about the same for me.
-I don't have any idea what I want to major in... it could be anything from Biology to Spanish to Art.
-I'm not into partying/drinking/Greek life, nor am I into sports. I've heard rumors (may not be true) that these are a bigger part of life at Amherst than the others.
-Being near a city isn't vital, although it would be nice, so Haverford and Tufts are the best in that regard.
-I'm not sure what size is really ideal - I always liked the idea of a small community, but a somewhat larger school like Tufts has more resources, classes, etc. Is the community feel sacrificed once you get beyond, say, 2000 students? </p>
<p>The great thing about both Amherst and Haverford is that while they are both 2 small LACs, you will also have the resources of other colleges to draw upon, break things up, etc.</p>
<p>Amherst has the 5 college consortium where you will be able to take classes at Smith, Mount Holyoke, UMass -Amherst and Hampshire. Since Amherst probably has the most open cirriculum of all of your choices you and literally study anything from Spanish to Art. Amherst does have the Thursday night TAPs so they can get their drink on.</p>
<p>Haverford has the tri-college where you can cross register at Swat & Bryn Mawr. You can even hop on the SEPTA to take courses at Penn.</p>
<p>You are right, visit again, talk to students listen to your gut and trust your instincts. You will know the right place for you.</p>
<p>Size-wise, Wesleyan is a pretty good compromise between the community of a small LAC and the academics of a larger university. They are technically a university, so they have the depth of facilities and programs designed to accommodate graduate students and they receive funding for more advanced research - but since there aren't many grad students, many of those benefits go straight to undergrads.</p>
<p>Don't discount fit when you make your choice. I think you'll see immediate differences between the schools when you visit them. Wesleyan is the most "quirky"/"radical"/"hippie"/"hipster"; Haverford is pretty open and progressive but has a quieter, more conventional feel. I didn't look at Amherst and Tufts, so I won't try to compare. But you'll probably find that you like the community and social scene at some of your schools a lot more than at others.</p>
<p>Each school will offer solid academics but if you can't connect fit-wise to any one in particular and have some reservations about each, I'd consider going to the least "niche" of the lot, Tufts, in my opinion. The other three are smaller, more isolated communities, with more individual "personality" which is great if that personality suits your own. If not, the environment can change from wonderful and nurturing to stiffling and exclusive. The good AND bad of Tufts compared to the others is that it will feel a bit less defined personality-wise, is larger, and offers a Boston escape.</p>
<p>i don't disagree with Quaere's assessment of Wesleyan, and Haverford.</p>
<p>Just to put things into perspective: Amherst the town, is smaller and more bookish than Middletown will ever be. Amherst, the college, is about half Wesleyan's size. Tufts can't make up its mind whether it's "an aspiring Ivy" or a NESCAC college. It's about three times the size of Wesleyan, counting all students (grad, professional & undergrad.)</p>
<p>Beyond these specific schools, what do you think is most helpful for getting an accurate picture of each?
-Are local admitted student receptions/gatherings useful at all?
-Is staying overnight absolutely essential? What can I do if that is not possible? </p>