<p>So--I went into the college application process with the theory that the more schools I applied to, the more likely i would be to get into one I really liked, with enough financial aid to go there. Now, I got accepted to all (except Harvard, but I didn't want to go there, my dad just wanted me to apply). That's Wesleyan, Amherst, Oberlin, Reed, Swarthmore, Bowdoin, and Colgate. Oberlin didn't offer enough financail aid, and I don't like Colgate as much. Bowdoin's financial aid wouldn't be good enough without a national merit scholarship, which they said I would know about by May 15. As I have to make a decision by May 1st, they are out.
What I'm looking for: Good academics, strong English/Poli. Sci. departments, socially/politically liberal and active student body, not too into partying, plenty of relatively good vegetarian food. I'm a pretty laid-back person, so I don't want anywhere that will be super competetative or keep me from ever getting a decent amount of sleep. On the other hand, I'm not much of a partier and I have no problem with needing to work hard and study a lot.
So far, I'm leaning toward Amherst because their financial aid was the best and I really like not having a core curriculum. I also like the Law, Jurisprudence, Social thought major. BUT-I have the impression that Wesleyan or Swarthmore would maybe be better fits for me socially, and would be more politically active. Both had acceptable financial aid offers. Does anyone on here have input that might be helpful? I need to hear more negatives about all the school...my main problem is that most of my information comes from visits and the schools themselves, and it all sounds great.</p>
<p>First, congratulations on identifying and getting accepted at an excellent group of liberal arts colleges. </p>
<p>My gut feel reading your post is Wesleyan, but your interest in Amherst is well-grounded. The standard rip on Wesleyan is that the student body there is very liberal and very outspoken, but that wouldn't appear to be a big issue for you. Wes has very smart and engaged students and more of a cooperative than a competitive academic environment. A common criticism of Amherst is the prevalence of drinking and party culture, but it's academic strengths are well-known. </p>
<p>For your academic interests, either school would be great, as would Swarthmore. The knock on Swat is students do nothing but study. Personally, I don't believe that, but there may be a little more academic paranoia there. Focused students will ignore that, the same way they'd ignore whatever excesses exist at the other schools you list. </p>
<p>You are clearly smart and mature enough to make a good decision and you will. If you can, try and block the whole college thing out of your mind for a couple of days. A fresh look at the subject after a little break is probably all you need to make your decision.</p>
<p>I am still trying to decide - I appealed financial aid offers from Amherst and Bryn Mawr (they had not received complete information), showing them both a better offer from JHU. Haven't received replies yet. It's getting late!!! But I have reservations about each school. Is Amherst too "preppy" for me? I am not a "BWRK", nor a popular kid. I stand out with my background, my attitude on religion (atheist, yet interested from an intellectual viewpoint), my interests (opera, anime, evolution). I am also not comfortable with a completely coed dorm (b/g room by room, shared bathrooms), and I am not at all into drinking nor hooking up. Amherst is farther away, but I loved the campus when I visited, and BMC is closer to a big city (I could get to see my first ever live performance of an opera!). But is BMC lacking in prestige from graduate school viewpoint, and would it be too "comfortable" for me?</p>
<p>The Boston Conservatory has a much stronger reputation. Not necessarily a better school, but it's known much more universally than the NEC.</p>
<p>And for the original poster lol - Wellesley and Amherst seem like good choices to me. Reed looked really liberal to me when I was researching it if that's what you want. And you should ;)</p>
<p>I do want liberal, but more intellectual/liberal than drugged/liberal. I got the impression that Wesleyan students were pretty into drugs, and I'm pretty much an extremely liberal and non religious good little girl. </p>
<p>I've finally decided on Amherst, mostly because of their financial aid, but I'm sure I'll be happy there and get at least as good an education. I honestly don't really like the idea of coed bathrooms either-i understand their reasoning (more comfortable for transgendered students) and I'd get used to it, but I don't exactly like it. They aren't all coed tho.
Thanks for the help!</p>
<p>hi cynthia, I am looking for a school just like the one you described, and I was wondering if you could give me a bit more info on your views of the schools you listed. thanks</p>