anxious senior seeking advice

College Search & Selection
1

<p>hey all, </p>

<p>sorry for another one of those shameless "i can't decide where to go" posts, but I'm really terribly confused. I was waitlisted to Middlebury, my first choice, and every other school to which I've been accepted seems to have just as many "cons" as "pros" - I haven't fallen in love with any of them. However, I do still need to visit Colby and Rhodes next week, so maybe I'll have a different perspective after that. </p>

<p>I got into:</p>

<p>Kenyon College - adored it on paper, communicated with a professor there who seemed brilliant, had several people tell me that they loved it. however, less than impressed with my visit - classes seemed surprisingly apathetic, campus too small. Distance is an issue, and I can't fully reconcile myself to the isolation. Also, would be paying full price :(. I could do it, but it would mean some sacrifices on my own part and for my family.</p>

<p>Rhodes College - heard from several sources (lauren pope's book, etc.) that it is really underrated. hated the admissions video (maybe that's just an advertising problem, though, lol.) a little reluctant about distance, but like the location. worried that it'll be predominantly southern, that it'll be awkward coming from the NE. Great merit $</p>

<p>Colby - like the intellectual focus, don't like the reports of generally athletic, preppy students. a little concerned about over-intense liberalism (i don't mind a mixture of ideologies, but i don't want one to predominate too much). No $</p>

<p>honors at Catholic U - no idea what the relationship is btwn honors student body and regular student body, like D.C., but been to Catholic school all my life and looking for something a bit more diverse. lots of merit $ here.</p>

<p>Ruled out Gettysburg and Providence already.</p>

<p>Personally - I am from the Northeast, and interested in English, French and philosophy. Want to do theatre as an extracurricular. No interest whatsoever in sports. From a conservative background, religious, with pretty conservative values and tendencies, but would like a diverse/open-minded (but not oppressively liberal) campus. non-drinking alternatives a must. Very, VERY interested in strong student-professor relationships and a truly intellectual but down-to-earth student body (perhaps my two most important criteria).</p>

<p>Everyone on this board is so helpful, I was just wondering if anyone had the time to advise me or point something out about any of these schools. Thank so much.</p>

2

<p>I think you should visit Rhodes and make an assessment. Could be a good school.</p>

3

<p>I would also suggest checking Rhodes. Given your interests and personality (along with financial considerations), I think it could be a good choice for you.</p>

4

<p>"I am . . . interested in English, French and philosophy. Want to do theatre as an extracurricular. No interest whatsoever in sports."</p>

<p>This points strongly to Kenyon.</p>

<p>"From a conservative background, religious, with pretty conservative values and tendencies, but would like a diverse/open-minded (but not oppressively liberal) campus. non-drinking alternatives a must."</p>

<p>This points to Rhodes or Catholic U. </p>

<p>"Very, VERY interested in strong student-professor relationships and a truly intellectual but down-to-earth student body (perhaps my two most important criteria)."</p>

<p>Could fit any of the LACs on your list.</p>

<p>Given the merit money, I'd lean toward Rhodes. But if you are reasonably self-motivated and independent, the academic environment at Kenyon looks to be great fit.</p>

5

<p>I think you'll find that Catholic U has lots of students who are NOT Catholic. One of the faculty members I work with received his PhD from there, and he's Muslim. It has a wide range of programs to choose from. So, I don't think it is overwhelmingly "Catholic." </p>

<p>All, however, sound like great choices. How terrific that you have so many nice options:)</p>

6

<p>Catholic U does have a lot of non-Catholic students. Washington DC is right there- there is a metro stop on campus. And your merit aid sounds like a plus, as is being in the honors program. You can take courses at American U and GW. They try to keep the atmosphere non-cutthroat, friendly, and nurturing. (My husband went to grad school there and works there).</p>

7

<p>The prior advice for you to vist Rhodes College is excellent. I would not be too worried about the presumed "southern" mentality. Rhodes is very proud of the fact that many of its students are deeply involved in the Memphis community and Memphis itself is a major sprawling, dynamic city. You may be pleasantly surprised if you visit.</p>

<p>In the "I already know that" type category - Catholic U. is in a more gritty, urban neighborhod than its three Washington counterparts - American, GW, and Georgetown - so your personal safety antennae needs to be attuned. (I went to the University of Chicago and loved it, but one still had to be more careful about personal safety than in the pristine suburbs.) To a lesser extent, this same point holds for Rhodes.</p>

<p>Happy choosing!</p>

8

<p>Sounds like you may not have visited Colby. It is nice, and I doubt that it is really overwhelmingly liberal, certainly no more so than other schools of its type. If you are from the NE and distance is an issue then Colby would seem a more logical choice than Rhodes. Hopefully, Colby will be what you had thought Kenyon would be. </p>

<p>Drinking is going to be an issue just about anywhere. I think at almost any school there will be people who prefer not to drink but still enjoy good social lives; it will just take more effort to find them.</p>

9

<p>Part 2 on my Rhodes/Urban comments (or the "I forgot to mention" note)</p>

<p>To give context to my prior remarks since you are from the Northeast, I grew up just outside Philly (went to college in Pittsburgh (one year) and Chicago), worked briefly in Detroit after college, and then moved to Texas for good (Houston, San Antonio, and Dallas among the stops) with a few year stop in Atlanta (a great town). I also work for the federal government so I am often back and forth to Washington.</p>

<p>Each major city in America (like Memphis) has its own character and flavor with much to love and sometimes - hate, but trying it (the city and college) briefly on for size(via a visit) is the only way to know to see if it fits or not. DC is wonderful, unique, and virtually limitless in its cultural and governmental opportunities. The countryside in Maine and Ohio are beautiful in their own unique ways. Visit the two colleges that make your final cut and then decide. Your gut instinct will then tell you what to do.</p>

10

<p>I think you will like Colby - it's down to earth, energetic, and not as left of center as Kenyon. Rhodes also sounds interesting - really give that one a chance when you visit, and don't get caught up in stereotypes.</p>

<p>Congrat's on being such a fine student and having so many great options!</p>

11

<p>thank you so much for all of your advice!</p>

<p>j'adore CC...</p>