<p>Harvard
MIT
Yale
Princeton
UPenn Wharton
Stanford
Columbia
Dartmouth
Amherst</p>
<p>I just wanted to hear any opinions as to whether there are any obvious outliers in my college list, thus reflecting a possible misunderstanding about the school. I will not be able to visit, but I'm trying to trim based on "fit". Are there outliers based on the culture of the campus? Hopefully you can derive what I'm looking for through the list itself... haha.</p>
<p>In my opinion, all of these schools fit my interest in Economics, and situated in the Northeast (with the exception of Stanford). Later, I want to go to Business/Law school. IBanking is a huge possibility. I really want a strong liberal arts foundation. I also have a strong interest in the science/tech world, if you were wondering about MIT (plus, I love that school). Is there any school I could remove? Any I should add?</p>
<p>(Note: My applications to these schools will be mostly free because I'm going through Questbridge... and please don't comment on how it's filled with reaches. I have a safety that I love, and these are the only schools (that I like) where I could go without incurring debt. The school has to be loan-free for my income bracket (20K/year) and need-blind. Also, I mentioned "fit" above, and the only exception to that is the wealth at the school... I don't fit anywhere by income so that shouldn't be a factor affecting "fit".)</p>
<p>I know this post is long... and potentially useless... but if anyone wants to suggest schools or something, I would be grateful. Thanks :)</p>
<p>It’s pretty clear that you are shooting for prestige over ‘fit.’ Columbia vs. Dartmouth? Stanford vs. Harvard? No similarities in weather or environment- solely prestige.</p>
<p>Some of those schools are only alike in terms of student selectivity and prestige. For example, Amherst vs. Columbia. However, I also know that there are a lot of people who are not applying to top schools that apply to different kinds of schools in terms of location, urban vs suburban vs rural, etc.</p>
<p><em>sigh</em> I was afraid someone would suggest I’m chasing prestige.</p>
<p>Top universities happen to be the only ones with enough money to offer me full rides should I be accepted. If it’s not a top top top university, I probably can’t afford it. For me it’s really either reaches or financial safeties. And this is my reach list, I have my own personal safety and I’m fine with it. You don’t see Duke or Brown on here, and those are very prestigious but I wouldn’t want to attend. And most people I know have never even heard of Amherst…</p>
<p>IMO, the only big outliers on this are Columbia and Stanford, but I have no reason to cross them out. As of now, I would love attending either of them! They all have their pros and cons. Does this mean I haven’t thought this through enough? Is it possible I could enjoy either Amherst OR Columbia, or is it a demonstration of my ignorance on these schools?</p>
<p>I’m confused! Any advice would be wholeheartedly welcome.</p>
<p>I’m curious as to why you picked certain top schools and not others. Why not some other LACs? I understand your interest in economics, but why are you limiting yourself to the northeast (except for Stanford)? It doesn’t seem like you have a particular location preference other than northeast. You don’t seem to care for urban vs rural, for example. Why not venture out to other schools that are rather prestigious and will give you great financial aid outside of the northeast?</p>
<p>Your argument is weak. First, if you’re good enough to get into Harvard, then a whole mess of schools will offer you merit scholarships. Second, there are so many schools that meet 100% of need and have millions/billions of dollars in endowments. Most people are versitile, I mean it’s not like your physically unable to live in a certain environment. It comes down to preference. If you’re into prestige, then admit it. Don’t say “Oh well only top 10 colleges in the United States have money to give to their students.” All your schools have completely different feels. Harvard is a lot different than MIT is a lot different than Dartmouth etc.</p>
<p>There’s no doubt having HYPSM all on his list, and then Columbia and UPenn Wharton, makes it pretty clear that the “pros” of some of these schools is that they’re considered to be the “best” schools in the country.</p>
I find it pretty funny that you’re implying that weather has to be one of the deal-breakers when coming up with a college list. As if a student who enjoys the temperate weather at Harvard would despise the very sunny weather at Stanford and hence take Stanford off his/her list…Puh-lease.</p>
<p>Everyone, calm down. Please stop accusing me of only wanting to apply to “prestigious” schools. Now, why would I be posting this thread, in search of counter-arguments and people’s opinions for schools that fit me? My college search would be a lot easier and quicker if I was only chasing prestige. I wouldn’t even have to do any research</p>
<p>modestmelody, what’s COE? I’m insterested</p>
<p>Here are some schools that I considered, along with why they’re no longer on my list. I have been trying hard to reduce my list, I’m trying to keep it at 10. Feel free to rebut any arguments I give, that’s what I’m looking for. I want to avoid any possible misconceptions I might have. But this is my perception:</p>
<p>Williams: too secluded. amherst has the town + big Umass so it’s more alive. and at least dartmouth is bigger + the frats make up for the size.
Duke: I’m not feeling a fit. southern/conservative. too sporty/jock, (though duke barely crosses that line). Many people will swear over this school, but I’m still not feeling the fit.
Emory: georgia, don’t want to go to school way down in atlanta. boring, not enough school</p>
<p>To monster… I find it pretty funny that you don’t realize how weather effects a lot more than just how you feel when you walk outside. Weather effects vegitation, recreation, architecture, food, clothing, etc. Go to California and then go to Massachusetts. They are completely different atmospheres. I was just giving two examples that included but were not limited to college selection. Next time I’ll make a bigger list for you because I guess some people would think that those two things were the only possible things I meant :crash:.</p>
<p>Edit: To llama… you clearly haven’t done research when your interested in the extreme liberal arts colleges and the extreme engineering institutes and everything in between. It really isn’t that bad to admit that prestige is your main factor in determining what colleges you like. Denying it just makes me think you are rediculous.</p>
<p>Weather is a very small factor in my college selection. Unless it’s something extreme, like -30F or 110F, I don’t care. Skiing and the beach are different but acceptable/fun ways of spending 4 years</p>
<p>Haha, Duke, southern/conservative… I really doubt that the New Jersey kids at Duke suddenly become southern/conservative just because they are in NC. Besides, there is no prestigious university that is really conservative. Some like Vanderbilt probably have much more balanced political views, but conservative? Duke is also not a jock school by any means, it’s just more jocky than the Ivy League schools.</p>
<p>I’m still not entirely sure what you’re looking for outside of prestige and great academics for your reaches, to be honest. Your academic interests can be served at most top schools, so it has to be your social preferences that would limit your list. So what do you prefer socially?</p>
I’m well aware of all of the things weather affects. But there’s no reason why weather should even be an important determinant of one’s college list unless one really cares. The bottom line is that most top colleges will have a diverse and ample selection of activities regardless of the weather.</p>
<p>I wasn’t focusing on weather. It’s just one of the glaring things that I saw. Repeat: I was not focusing on weather. There’s a lot of other major differences between the selected schools outside of prestige. There is no denying that. Prestige is most definitely the archetype for each of the aforementioned schools.</p>
<p>Anyone with an interest in technology and business should probably look at these kinds of programs:
[Commerce</a>, Organizations, and Entrepreneurship](<a href=“http://coe.brown.edu/]Commerce”>http://coe.brown.edu/)</p>
<p>Brown has been doing it on a graduate level for sometime (with P.R.I.M.E), and this newer concentration has been blossoming. </p>
<p>The Entrepreneurship and Technology Management Track sounds like something you’d like.</p>
<p>I’m interested in what your current reason is for not wanting to be at Brown, however, considering you like Amherst.</p>