<p>Hey everyone,</p>
<p>I'm trying to choose between these three with the week I have left and I've really hit a rough patch of indecision recently, so I figured I'd look for some advice here. I applied to a ridiculous amount of schools and of the 5 I got into, these are the 3 I narrowed it down to (though I also have been waitlisted at 7 - that's a bridge I'll cross when I come to it).</p>
<p>At Bates and Tulane, I did not receive any scholarships. My parents didn't apply for financial aid (despite me begging them...) because they felt they would not qualify. At Lawrence, I received two merit scholarships that I think would take at least a quarter off the cost (~$18,000/yr, I think). My parents told me not to take cost into consideration, that will pay wherever I go, but as the deadline gets closer it does seem to me that financial strain may be an issue...</p>
<p>My parents each want me to go to different schools but I have yet to sit down with them to discuss why (planning on doing it tonight or tomorrow). My dad wants me to go to Lawrence and my mom wants me to go to Bates. My mom has not seen Lawrence. My dad has not seen Bates. It seems either way I'm gonna have to disappoint one of them, but I think I can deal.</p>
<p>I've visited all three but I'm having trouble figuring out the exact difference between the three. i guess this is where I need help.</p>
<p>The main things I worry about are...
-How happy are kids at each school?
-What kind of pressures might I face at each school, socially?
-What is the "stereotypical" student at each school? Is the stereotype true?
-How well regarded/prestigious is the school? (this is one I try not to worry about because it seems superficial.. but honestly the more I think about the more important it seems to be). Can I get into graduate school...?
-What is music like at each school? (I play piano, trumpet, and euphonium... i'm interested in classical music and jazz).
-What are the athletic facilities like? wasnt an athlete in high school but wanna do at least IM or club sports in college... didn't see the athletic facilities at Bates or Lawrence but they seemed ok. Tulane's gym was really nice.
-At each school, how often do students go to the city? (Tulane --> New Orleans, Bates --> Portland or Boston, Lawrence --> Appleton or even Milwaukee)</p>
<p>Any other advice outside of those categories would be appreciated too. Anything from anyone is great.</p>
<p>I know the obvious differences of Bates and Lawrence vs. Tulane with regard to size. But when I visited Tulane it still felt pretty close-knit and seemed to still have a liberal-artsy feel... Any views on that?</p>
<p>Thanks.</p>