D is trying to decide upon her ED2 school.
Currently she is thinking about Vassar and Hamilton, both great schools. While the decisions is hers to make, I am trying get some input from the wisdom pool here on CC…
About D:
Downtown NYC girl, kinda hipster but not hardcore so. Strongest character trait is her emotional intelligence, a true ‘people person’, a ‘nice’ girl. Leaning towards psychology and perhaps becoming a child psychologist, maybe Sociology, maybe French minor - but is not so set on that path that it will be the defining factor of her choice of school. Creative and visual but not an artist. Might choose to work in the Fashion/cosmetics/style industries.
Hamilton Pros/Cons:
- Loved the physical qualities of the school on the one tour she recently did: the dark side/ light side contrast of a traditional campus and a utopian retro campus, the size.
- Liked the location. She is looking for a school that is a ‘bubble’, where people want to be at the school and form close knit community. However she owns zero polarfleece garments, does not hike or ski, and does no sports.
- Liked the warmth and openness of the people, that they seemed honest and unpretentious without being too crunchy. Liked how SO many people said Hi to her tour guide when walking around campus.
- Slight concern that shes very urban and most everyone she met seems to be from that stereotype of “just outside of Boston” or other suburbs. She’s very into style and she saw a few people she related to but a lot of prepsters too.
- Liked the emphasis on sports as a campus school spirit activity. At the outside of her college search when asked what she was looking for in a school she said “Hipsters and Football”. (Her dad is from Alabama where college football is a religion; I worry that all schools she likes will not have as much of that as her fantasy.)
- Not into huge parties. Yes thats at every college certainly but it felt more like that at Hamilton than Vassar.
- Based on Naviance has a better chance of acceptance.
Vassar Pros/Cons:
- Gorgeous campus, really she was blown away by it. Liked how refined it felt, there is a feminine vibe that she loved. Loved the library, food hall, and other common/study spaces. One of the few schools where the interiors were as nice as the exteriors.
- Neutral about the location. Easy train back home to NYC. Does not care about the town either way. Really wants a bubble. Did not feel as much like she is going “away” to school, liked the isolation of Hamilton more as it felt more unique.
- Overall felt less warm and optimistic than Hamilton; there’s a sense of protest and anger?
- Misses watching sports being a social unifier. Not interested in being in plays or dance performances or a stagehand etc and that seems to be a big thing socially.
- Felt that there are more people “like her” - visual, creative.
- Seemed like there was less integration across the wide socioeconomic band socially, seemed to group more into have/have nots.
- Less cute straight guys; didn’t feel like the dating had much potential.
- Loved the academic quirkiness of the course offering, the outspoken nature of the students - felt more like her progressive high school.
- Feels that if she decides to go into a ‘style’ based career there will be a better alumni network.
- Based on Naviance it’s more of a reach, feels she needs the bump of ED if she is going to get in.
Any and all feedback appreciated!
