<p>Colby as a cheap option deserves a glass of bubbly non-alcoholic cider for you, and champagne or mousseux for your parents! It’s a terrific school. Sure, it’s rural, but unless you’re a zombie you won’t be bored as you’ll be doing so many things you will wonder when to fit sleeping 
Can you explain a little bit more how you narrowed down your list and then how you processed all the information for each college? It’d be very useful for current high school juniors and sophomores who’ll read your thread for information.</p>
<p>Great! I know a Pediatrician who went to Colby. Great school and you really did seem to like it. You can get into Boston once in awhile, people will be driving in.</p>
<p>@MYOS1634</p>
<p>Narrowing my list was pretty easy…I get accepted into five schools, (Penn State, Rutgers, Colby, Brandeis, Bucknell) but the financial aid for the first two was terrible so I just crossed them off the list immediately (I wasn’t surprised – state schools aren’t known for their generous financial aid). Rutgers and Penn State are awesome schools but I figured I’d get more bang for my buck with the other three.</p>
<p>Websites like College Prowler helped me research some of the more social sides of the schools, while I found information sessions and visiting more useful for the academic stuff. </p>
<p>Tips for future high schoolers: Don’t be afraid to reach out to current students through social media! I used Tumblr to contact some current Brandeis students and they were very friendly. I’m sure you could do the same through Twitter, Facebook, etc. You could probably contact alum from your own school as well (Although I didn’t because no one from my high school went to Colby, Brandeis, or Bucknell. :S)</p>
<p>Also, when you visit, it’s a really good idea to talk to students who AREN’T tour guides!!! Go to the dining hall and see how happy the students look. Talk to a few. Colleges will pick the happiest, peppiest people to represent the school, but they might not be your average student. </p>
<p>Well apparently my last post was censored (???) but searching “College Niche” will yield the same result. </p>