CMC vs Tufts vs Vassar vs Middlebury

<p>Hey guys,</p>

<p>I got into all four of the above schools. I was quite shocked, to be honest because they were all reaches and my plan was that I would go to whichever one if I happen to luckily get into.</p>

<p>But I got into all four and I am quite torn. Any advices?</p>

<p>I want to study Art and either Econ or Bio. But I am still kind of undecided.
I have never experienced a winter with snow before
I am an International student.</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

<p>Not sure what CMC is (Claremont McKenna?)
The other three schools all have very different feels, and are all excellent.<br>
Of them, Middlebury is the most "remote," Tufts is the closest to a city (a great one at that), and Vassar is in between.
If gender ratios matter, Vassar is generally around 60/40 women to men (and rarely less than 58/42).</p>

<p>I've been to Vassar and Middlebury and currently go to Tufts. Stereotypically Middlebury is definitely for the preppy/ski kid type and Vassar is more artistic/hipster, has more women and gays. What ultimately made me chose Tufts is that there isn't one type of student that dominates, its truly a diverse undergrad experience. </p>

<p>You're an international, I'd say Tufts has a very large international community, about 10% of students are Non-Resident Aliens. Another thing to take note of is that Fletcher, the graduate program in International Relations which is located on the undergrad campus, is about 35% internationsl</p>

<p>Academically, you can't go wrong with any of the 3 choices. You'll be in the company of brilliance. </p>

<p>CMC, no idea.</p>

<p>Claremont McKenna is an outstanding school -- quite small in size (incoming class of 300 or less) -- and part of the Claremont Consortium in California. It is very strong in the social sciences and offers interdisciplinary majors in Environment, Economics and Politics or Economics, Politics and Philosophy. Not all they offer. Values leadership quality highly. You will be able to take classes at other Claremont colleges like Pomona, Scripps and Harvey Mudd.</p>

<p>You say you are an international. Did you get/need financial aid? If so, then financial considerations might help your decision.</p>

<p>Vassar is well-known for art. Tufts is close to Boston and great at IR, econ and polisci.</p>

<p>Go visit if you can. Should be fun choosing among great choices if cost is no object.</p>

<p>Vassar and Middlebury are located in cold barren land in the middle of nowhere. Claremont is amazing.</p>

<p>I'd choose between Tufts and Claremont depending on which type of school you're looking for. Visit both! They are very very different.</p>

<p>
[quote]
Vassar and Middlebury are located in cold barren land in the middle of nowhere. Claremont is amazing.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Yeah--spending your days surrounded by parking lots and strip malls is much more inspiring than spending your days surrounded by mountains, lakes, and streams.</p>

<p>I'm pretty sure there are no lakes or mountains anywhere near Middlebury and Vassar.</p>

<p>And yes Southern California and Boston is pretty much made entirely of parking lots and strip malls... ;)</p>

<p>edit: double post</p>

<p>While it's obviously your decision, if your even remotely considering any kind of business/economics/etc. you cannot do better than CMC. The Kaplan Colleges book from this year that 1 of 8 students who graduate from there end up becoming a company executive of some sort. Also, you can cross enroll at the other Clarement branch schools, meaning if you don't like the art program at CMC you can go to one a (8?) amazing schools for this information.</p>

<p>
[quote]
I'm pretty sure there are no lakes or mountains anywhere near Middlebury and Vassar.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>You're joking, right?</p>

<p>^^ Middlebury was a whole lot of flat land last time I visited. There was a river I think??</p>

<p>According to Google map, Vassar apparently does contain a (very) small lake on campus, which is not exactly unique to a middle-of-nowhere campus. The lake in the middle of Manhattan is many times larger.</p>

<p>
[quote]
Middlebury was a whole lot of flat land last time I visited. There was a river I think??

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Are we talking about the same Middlebury? The one in Vermont?</p>

<p>Middlebury College is sandwiched between the Green Mountains and the Adirondacks, and is about a 10-minute drive from Lake Champlain.</p>

<p><a href="http://collegejolt.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/twilight-hall-middlebury-college.jpg%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://collegejolt.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/twilight-hall-middlebury-college.jpg&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p><a href="http://images.businessweek.com/ss/08/10/1029_college_costs/image/middlebury.jpg%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://images.businessweek.com/ss/08/10/1029_college_costs/image/middlebury.jpg&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p><a href="http://vlsmsel.files.wordpress.com/2007/09/img_4392.JPG%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://vlsmsel.files.wordpress.com/2007/09/img_4392.JPG&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>