<p>This international student’s ability to work off campus will be very limited regardless of where he goes to college. </p>
<p>I would vote for Davidson. Another plus…he won’t have to pack bulky winter clothes or boots. Easier to get his “stuff” there. </p>
<p>OP, you mention you will do “work study”. As an international student you are not eligible for federal work study funds. Your colleges would have to provide work study monies from THEIR coffers. Did they offer you this?</p>
<p>Look, I’m going to be honest with you. Reading through this, it just doesn’t seem like Amherst is the right place for you. I actually made an account just to post this. Don’t get me wrong, Amherst is a fantastic school, but at this point in the college search, it’s not about anything intellectual anymore; that part’s over. It’s about the feeling of “fit.” And you don’t seem to have gotten that as much from Amherst.</p>
<p>Personally, hailing from a two-college town with LAC professors for parents, Amherst doesn’t really have a better reputation than some of the other schools on your list, particularly Davidson, and the only one I would be hesitant to attend myself is Denison. For me, due to monetary concerns, it came down to three schools, and I’m proud to say I will be attending the College of Wooster in the fall. I didn’t make the decision intellectually–I loved the other two schools, too, but Wooster just felt RIGHT. And as far as pedigree is concerned, I must say I’m extremely disappointed with some of the posters on this forum. I firmly believe that Wooster is as great as Grinnell, better than Oberlin, and beyond them both for me. Pedigree does not matter, and when LACs are concerned, that is particularly the case. You seemed to get that towards the start of this discussion, but you’ve been bullied into submission. </p>
<p>Based on your initial description, I think you feel the best about Kenyon, a school that has an amazing pedigree here in the Midwest, as good as Amherst or Davidson. Stop agonizing over the intellectual aspects of this process. I was a nervous wreck with all of that until this past weekend, when I realized that intellectually, all of the schools I was accepted and waitlisted at, even beyond the three it came down to, were perfect for me intellectually. Wooster was just perfect for me emotionally, too. It FIT. </p>
<p>With you it’s a little complicated with the money and being an international student, which is why I personally get the feeling that Kenyon is right for you. It’s the cheapest next to Denison, which I don’t get the feeling is right for you, and you had only good things to say about it. If you haven’t already, watch the terrific film “Liberal Arts,” which is set at Kenyon and gives you a nice feel for the culture.</p>
<p>Your concern about Amherst is telling. Remember that it’s quite a bit bigger than your average LAC, and can be as pretentious as Oberlin (don’t get me wrong, I love both, I just don’t think either are right for the OP). </p>
<p>Whatever your decision, make sure it’s not based on pedigree, and doesn’t stress your resources too thin. These are all fine schools, so going into a lot of debt for one over another seems a bit ludicrous. Go with fit now; that’s what matters at this point.</p>
<p>Best of luck to you in the future! You’ve got some great options (and generous parents). </p>
<p>Good point goldandblack! Personally, I love Kenyon and have several family members that attended Wooster and had a great experience. Unfortunately for OP, Wooster is the most expensive option. My reservations about Kenyon were mainly travel related, and Gambier is so small, I question whether many jobs in proximity to campus would be available. </p>
<p>I think that goldandblack makes some good points, but Amherst isn’t “quite a bit bigger than your average LAC,” according to the most recent numbers I could find. USNWR says that Davidson has 1,790 students, Kenyon has 1,667, and Oberlin has has 2,900 (including conservatory kids). Amherst has 1,817 students, so its size is consistent with that of its peers. </p>
<p>As an international student, if you are going back to your country, none of those schools may be known or mean diddly squat. Even here in the US, these smaller schools are often unknown outside their immediate regions. But for those truly in the know, yes, Amherst is higher up in that sort of hierarchy, though wouldn’t hesitate an instant, not even a blink to tell someone who all things equal just preferred Davidson, to go there. </p>
<p>Also, the idea of parents selling their home, really going into hardship mold for Amherst when a Denison education is so outstanding…I wouldn’t go that route at all. </p>
<p>^ I agree with Cpt . Before I found CC I hadn’t heard of any of the colleges you listed. I would go with Denison .I am assuming that the work study isn’t really federal work study. That instead the college has promised in writing that part of your scholarship package includes you working somewhere on campus for X hours a semester.
I would make sure that the work is promised for all 4 years not just one and if it requires you to keep a certain gpa that it’s a reasonable one. </p>
<p>About the financing issue.
The work I referred to is work-study offered to me by the college and work that I have in my home country; i am not just postulating but actually have the amount guaranteed.
My parents would rather remortgage our house than have me take out a student loan. So if it comes down to house vs. student loan, the first would be the one to pick. So don’t worry about that; it’s more about fit/return of investement. </p>
<p>@goldanblack: That was quite the post and it really hit home with me.
I am filling out my giant spreadsheet right now, weighing all the options. Sometimes I’m drawn by Amherst’s prestige, diversity, and consortium. Every one of these colleges has something I love, I wouldn’t have applied if they didn’t. That’s what makes this so difficult. </p>
<p>If you love all of them, go for the cheapest. I’ve heard good things about Denison, but I chose not to apply because it seems a bit new to the higher-tiers of LACs, and didn’t seem as well-rounded and holistic as the others. I agree having your parents remortgage (or taking out loans) isn’t a good idea if you have other options. As I said, all great schools, so don’t go that far into debt. I’m fortunate enough to be able to go to Wooster (and three other schools I applied to) for free except for room and board, and if a school other than those four had hit home with me like Wooster did, I probably wouldn’t have gone because It would be, well, stupid. Save the money for grad school.</p>
<p>Hi guys, </p>
<p>I am about 70% in favor of Amherst at this point. Through contacting multiple students and talking to some of the Deans, I alleviated my fear that I wouldn’t fit in. Diversity is really important for me, as is intellectualism, and I wouldn’t really find either at Denison despite its beauty and affordability. Kenyon, as much as I love it (lovely neuroscience major and Humanities program), might be a bit too remote for me. What bothered me in the beginning about Amherst (no special “features”/no edge) actually seems to be a huge advantage: I can create my own experience. And if there are not enough hipsters at Amherst, I can venture off campus (Hampshire? :)).
Current international students assured me that despite lacking an official host family program, internationals typically get invited by friends and faculty to spend the holidays with them. There is a lovely western canon program at Smith, and having lived in Canada, Indian summer is a huge plus as is being close to my home.
I will always be in love with the other colleges as well, but someone on the parents thrilled said: this is the first time we have to pick between multiple options where every single one is desirable. </p>
<p>Sounds like a good choice to me. :)</p>
<p>When it’s a close call, and all else being equal, go with the academically superior institution. That’s why you are there. </p>
<p>I know this is late, but here’s my 2-cents anyway. … Amherst is only a cut above in terms of name recognition. Don’t let anyone kid you about this. For quality education, you can’t go wrong with any of the schools you named. My daughter graduated from College of Wooster in 2010, while her sister graduated a year later from a much higher ranked LAC. Wooster gave not only more value for educational experience, but a tremendous leg-up post graduation. She got into Teach for America (with an 11% acceptance rate) along with many Ivy applicants, taught two years at an inner-city school, and is now a rising executive with TFA in Washington, D. C. Wooster also has an impressive percentage of future PhD’s among its grads, especially in the sciences. So don’t let folks push you toward “bigger” name schools where you may very well be just another face in the crowd. Go where they’ll give you the best education … and treat you like you’re something special.</p>
<p>I wonder what @americanhopee finally decided? Was it Amherst?</p>
<p>D is looking at 3 of these schools herself this year, and I know students at all the ones on your list, so I am just curious :)</p>