<p>After all of the college visiting and looking around that we did, I was able to narrow down the field to 3 schools for Early Decision. I liked both Brown and Penn for their breadth and size, Brown especially for its radio and its open curriculum. I also like Amherst a lot, namely for its lack of a core curriculum and also the really warm sense of community engendered in part by its small size. I am concerned though that, as much as I like Amherst, social life will be constricted by its side, even with the 5 college consortium. Can anyone help me try to shake out the top three a bit here? I figure I cant really go wrong with any of the 3, but I need to get it down to 1.
Thanks!!</p>
<p>Why do you "need" to get it down to one? You clearly don't have a favorite, or any particularly pressing reason why one will serve you better than another, so you'd seem a particularly poor candidate for ED. Do you require financial aid?</p>
<p>We do, but i spoke with my parents and we just barely dont qualify. I would be happy to go regular with all of these, but i know that at Amherst, the % accepted jumps up almost double; plus, at Amherst, I am an athletic prospect for football. Even though I can get in without the athletic help, the coach mentioned that it is maximized through ED. I feel a very large pull towards Amherst, as well as one towards Brown. Penn, not so much. I guess its really more between those two. Personally I would like to apply early to either of those 2.</p>
<p>Brown's community is pretty good too. It's much bigger than Amherst, but the Unit system for freshmen and the dorms are really conducive to building a good community. My second day here, just walking through the quad, I said hi to like 4 people. I don't know if this is a big consideration for you, but Amherst tends to be slightly more WASPish than Brown.</p>
<p>"I don't know if this is a big consideration for you, but Amherst tends to be slightly more WASPish than Brown."</p>
<p>Statistically false, on two levels. Amherst has a smaller percentage of the student body paying full freight, and a substantially higher percentage of the student body on Pell Grants (i.e. very low-income).
Both great schools. </p>
<p>If you require financial aid, but don't qualify, why not look for a school where you might actually receive merit aid? (especially as you are football prospect.) I mean all three of these are wonderful, wonderful schools, but all three cut you off from what you say you need. Remember, four years, all inclusive, we are talking $190k give or take. Isn't that rather shortsighted?</p>
<p>How important is the football? My hunch is that at Brown you'd have zero to none chance of making the first string. But, I'm no expert. I don't see any hidden traps at either place; Brown has an active (and easily avoidable) political scene; Amherst has more of a "blah" reputation. Academics superb at both.</p>
<p>Mini: didn't mean to post statistically incorrect info, that was just my observation visiting Amherst.</p>
<p>I might have thought the same thing, too, but I think the major difference that would be noticeable is size, so the impression of just a few folks at Amherst would leave a "larger impression".</p>
<p>Anyhow, as the OP talked about his requirements for financial assistance, I don't think any of them are particularly good choices - even though I happen to love all three.</p>