<p>Currently I'm choosing between Amherst, Grinnell, Colby, Carleton, Whitman, and the University of Chicago.</p>
<p>I CAN'T CHOOSE!! (As you can see because I have to choose in about two weeks and I've only narrowed it down to six.)</p>
<p>I've visited, or am visiting in the next week, all of them, and I've liked the ones I've visited so far. Does anyone have any insight into how these schools compare academically, socially, etc.?</p>
<p>Any and all help would be appreciated.</p>
<p>It seems to me like you’re all over the place (and I’m not saying that’s a bad thing). You may have already considered this, but I would go back to the basics: Urban (U Chicago, relative to the others) vs Rural (Carleton and Grinnell) or in between (Amherst and Colby). Location within the country. Even the facilities. </p>
<p>The most important thing, though, is the composition of the student body on each campus. This is going to be the community in which you live for the next four years. Make sure that you’ll like the people that you’ll be with.</p>
<p>Good advice! And look online at each school’s course catalog–make sure they’re offering the things you dream of taking, and have the depth you’re looking for in the fields that interest you.</p>
<p>This won’t be very helpful, but I’d say:</p>
<p>Amherst, Colby or UChicago, in that order. The five-school consortium is super cool, and Amherst (town) >>>> Waterville. Maine is stellar, and I really, really, really loved being there, though. So, I suppose Maine >>>> Mass. Basically, I love Colby, but Amherst is dope.</p>
<p>Congratulations; you absolutely cannot go wrong!</p>
<p>Again, this post should really not be helpful in any way. It’s important to chose a school that matches your personality, especially since all of your choices offer phenomenal educations. What field of study are you interested in? Some of these schools really excel in specific areas (though every aspect of education at each of these schools is bound to be at least on-par/average or better).</p>
<p>Caveat: For environmental studies/sciences, Colby may be the strongest. Colby also has STELLAR government and economics programs, but I believe Amherst and UChicago do as well.</p>
<p>werd814, you’re right. Not very helpful. At least a day late and almost incoherent. Should do better as a Colby alum and Yale grad student.</p>
<p>Anytime.</p>
<p>I can see my “advice” on location was pretty confusing. I’ve only spent considerable time in Maine and Mass, Amherst and Colby. Generally, the overall atmosphere of Maine (backwoods NE, unadulterated open spaces, lobstah) suits my fancy quite a bit more than the suburbany feeling I get when in Mass. On the other hand, Amherst doesn’t quite have that feeling to it and is rather nice. Waterville specifically has a typical Maine feel to it, but really doesn’t have the charm of Amherst (yet). I think there is merit in the consideration of “location” outside of just the town in which the school sits, as many students chose to step off campus and explore.</p>
<p>From my experiences in ES and Gov: Colby has very strong deptartments, while Amherst and UC stand out in, at the least, gov. All, though, are apt to offer wonderful educations regardless of the specific focus.</p>
<p>I suppose I wasn’t aware of the exact deadline other than “about two weeks” from the 19th. The gist of my post was “congratulations;” hope all went well, RachelJS. What did you decide?</p>
<p>I’d go for Amherst</p>
<p>Sent from my iPhone using CC</p>
<p>It would seem that people are putting a lot of thought into this now. C’mon guys. What is this, middle school? Even though the discussion no longer applies to the OP, let’s keep it civil (and useful) for future potential students who may view this.</p>
<p>What one decides totally depends on who one is. My daughter didn’t want to apply to Amherst because she said, “I just can’t see myself there.” She said the same thing about Princeton (much to the frustration of her mom). She ultimately applied to Bowdoin and Colby (among others), but before hearing the admissions decision on either decided, “I have decided that Bowdoin is not for me. Even if accepted there will will not be going there.” When accepted to Colby visited and fell in love with the place, and will be in the class of 2015. Smart, outdoorsey, athletic students that she connected with in a way that did not happen at many other schools she visted. Don’t forget school rankings, but don’t let them rule your life either. Pick the school that resonates with you when you visit and meet the kids there. So much about the intellegent selection is “Do I feel drawn here?” Colby’s acceptance rate this year was 29%. If there are jocks there, they are intelligent jocks.</p>
<p>Pick a midwest school over NE. I’d go 1. Carleton, 2. Grinnell, 3. U. of Chicago</p>