Bryn Mawr vs. Denison Univeristy and College of William&Mary

<p>I am choosing between these three colleges and Denison offers me a scholarship of $36,000.
I cannot make a decision.
Please give me some advice!
Thanks a lot!!!</p>

<p>I have not studied Denison’s academic Departments-- upfront. However, I grew up in Ohio and happen to be familiar with the various colleges/universities in that State. Denison, Oberlin and Wittenberg are three fine LAC’s-- you would get a superb education at Denison. All three have fine reputations and draw qualified young men and women. 36K per year would seem difficult to pass up. You must be a fine applicant. Nice choice to have-- count your blessings!</p>

<p>Just my .02 David</p>

<p>I admit I’m not familiar with Denison, but congratulations on your aid.
What I can speak to is my experiences at Bryn Mawr as a current student. Aside of financial aid, a critical deciding factor in selecting a college is what kind of environment you’re looking for. Bryn Mawr is a small, women’s liberal arts college located outside of the 5th largest city in the US. It’s a diverse, vibrant community that offers a strong sense of inclusion and support. Bryn Mawr also shares courses and activities with Haverford, Swarthmore, and Penn. A brief train ride to downtown Philadelphia and two hours from DC and New York yet located on a pristine, lush campus, geographically I have found it to be the best of both worlds. My best advice to you is to consider what type of social and academic environment you wish to be a part of.</p>

<p>If I were in your shoes, I would opt for the cheapest option by default and only pay extra for another school if the added benefits justify the additional cost.</p>

<p>That cheapest option may or may not be Denison. It’s hard to tell from your post. For example, William & Mary at in-state rate would be significantly cheaper than Denison with a $9,000/year ($36,000 total) scholarship. You also didn’t say if Bryn Mawr or W&M offered you any need-based aid.</p>

<p>I don’t know what you value in a college, what your actual cost of attendance is at any of the schools you named or how price-sensitive your family is. My best advice for you is to seek an open conversation with your parents. They probably want to give you your “dream” education, but they may secretly wish that you would choose one of the cheaper options. Paying $60,000 a year for a private college is quite a stretch for most middle class families.</p>

<p>Congratulations in your offers, and good luck with decisions!</p>

<p>Sorry about the ambiguity, the scholarship is 36k per year.</p>

<p>I would want to attend a college where I can explore personal interest and develop personal abilities. Also, I would want to meet more friends.</p>

<p>You can explore your interests, make friends and develop personal and interpersonal skills at all three colleges, unless you have very niche interests.</p>

<p>Just from the perspective of personal fit, Bryn Mawr is the smallest of the three colleges. This can be great if you are the type of person who wants to have a small circle of close friends, or if you are very shy and need to run into the same people again and again and again before you become comfortable and friendly with them. The small size can also make Bryn Mawr feel very isolating, especially if you don’t fit into the predominant campus culture (been there!). W&M, the biggest of the three, might help you explore a wider array of interests and allow you to mingle with a more diverse group of people. </p>

<p>But I gotta agree with bn12gg here: it seems nuts to pay an extra $40K/year for a Bryn Mawr education, which is essentially the same as what you’d get at Denison. I’d probably chose between Denison and W&M (if that’s in-state for you).</p>

<p>I am out-of-state, so it seems clear that I am going to Denison… Thank a lot for your help!!</p>