<p>I’m a international from Singapore, taking a levels this year. Just want to find out which one of the 3 LAC would suit me the best, so I can ED for it.</p>
<p>my greatest concern is actually financial aid, because I believe the 3 schools are all great schools anyway.</p>
<p>So I’d like to find out everyone’s opinions on these things regarding the 3 colleges…</p>
<li><p>financial aid package, esp. allowances for living expenses and travelling during summer/winter breaks. </p></li>
<li><p>climate</p></li>
<li><p>tie-ups or links with other institutions for overseas study or research opportunity. </p></li>
<li><p>dorm and food - availability of single rooms for first-years? flexibility in choice of rooms?</p></li>
<li><p>quality of biology/neuroscience/psychology programme</p></li>
<li><p>art & music scene - I play obscure traditional chinese instruments…</p></li>
</ol>
<p>I’m aware there’s another AMW thread… but it’s quite dead [last post jan 2007 aside from my reply], and it’s not really specifically about my concerns…</p>
<p>so… opinions?</p>
<p>or… should I not ED after all?</p>
<h2>Thanks everyone.</h2>
<p>edit: actually, put dartmouth in too, because I looked it up and it looks promising too ^^. They emailed me recently to remind me to apply; I sent in my sat scores to them actually.</p>
<p>You should do tons more research on your own about all three if you're planning to ED. All of your questions are easily answered through the magic of Google, except maybe the last one--but I doubt you'll find many traditional Chinese musicians at any American college. Also, find out which schools are need-blind for internationals.</p>
<p>AMWD are all need-blind. I don't think any of them are bad choices; all are rather similar. Mind you, D is big on study abroad. That might tip the balance in its favour.</p>
<p>They're all need-blind I know that, amherst and dartmouth going need-blind to internationals this year, williams and midd was needblind though since I don't-know-exactly-when.</p>
<p>Need can be interpreted differently by the college actually, so the amount they give will vary, and by what I hear on CC, the differences are large. The problem with ED is that if I'm scraping by to pay for it, I will still be obliged to go. So I'm trying to find out by public opinion if they tend to give a good estimate of need...</p>
<p>And also regarding the finer details of financial aid, I've looked through the websites, but they don't seem to cover extensively what's covered and what's not. Amherst gives a rather high estimate of living expenses, but I wonder if it's because the living expenses are really high? Midd states that it will not provide travel allowances, is that the case? or it depends? Because I've seen some of the need packages of friends who graduated a few years back from my high school, and they said that the college actually calculated certain things under need that they didn't know was considered a need...</p>