For Admitted Students...what's YOUR decision?

<p>hehe. thanks for the support! at least i know someone's gonna be welcoming there. its really a tough choice though cuz rice and berkeley are very big names academically. ah well, there's still hope for me becoming Asian International Student #23 as Wes! lol.</p>

<p>yaya!!! that'd be lovvvveeely hahaha</p>

<p>All of you deciding between Wes and Brown; I am in a similar situation - any thoughts? Anything tipping you either way?</p>

<p>I have more finaid from Wes, so that's one factor...</p>

<p>I'm decidiing between Wes and Brown (and sometimes Vassar; changing my mind constantly). I'm leaning towards Wes because</p>

<p>1) I'm interested in studying film; better program, more successful film alums from Wes, better facilities;</p>

<p>2) I like Wes' size (half that of Brown);</p>

<p>3) Wes has distribution expectations; major requirements seem more rigorous than at Brown; and you have to take more courses to graduate. I like flexibility in the curriculum, but I do think some structure is a good thing. I've also heard from students, alums, etc. that Wes is writing intensive. I'll like that.</p>

<p>4) Wes' student body is a little "artsy-er"; just an observation/feeling I get. And I like that.</p>

<p>Wow, after writing that, I think I'm back to "Wes vs Vassar". Hmmm. I loved Brown, but I think that, at this point, if I choose to go there, it would be for the wrong reason: prestige.</p>

<p>Oh, and did I mention I'm getting more aid from Wes than from Brown? Not the deciding factor, but an interesting difference between the two schools. My parents and I thought we'd get similar aid packages from the schools but the difference is significant.</p>

<p>It was the same for me. I got way more from Wes than any other school. I wanted to go to Wesleyan out of the schools I got into anyway, but the money thing made it much easier to "decide". (This was two years ago)</p>

<p>It's between Brown, Wesleyan, and Vassar for me. Not sure which one I'll choose.</p>

<p>I was accepted to wesleyan,vassar,haverford,tufts and wellesley.It's such a hard choice. I was so convinced Vassar was right for me but after spending a night there I think I'm going to go to Wesleyan. Or maybe Tufts!!! Good luck with your decision!!</p>

<p>To allsn017: what didn't you like? I had a very positive experience during my Vassar overnight.</p>

<p>Most of the people I was talking to didnt seem very excited about the academics. They spent to much time warning me what classes not to take or professors not to get. Wes was the exact opposite!! Everyone seems to love the academics at Wesleyan! It was also my first overnight in a dorm and I think I was a little wierded out about the co-ed bathroom think. I gues I just never had a guy try talking to me before when I was brushing my teeth in my pajama's. Good luck with your choice!! Hope to meet you at Wesleyan next year!</p>

<p>just to respond (as a soph. at wes):</p>

<p>wes does indeed have some tryle amazing profs who have the potential to change the way you think. Sure, there are definitely the ones that people will warn you against, but predominantly, the professors are amazing and passionate and engaging, and definitely dedicated. I have had opportunities at wes that I never would have had at a larger school (for instance, right now i'm taking an independant tutorial and helping develop a course I would TA my senior year in theories of power--or at least that's what it is right now ;)</p>

<p>and, as a soc-english major, i can say that wes is indeed VERY writing and reading intensive. I would never have imagined the amount of work i'm doing now in high school (but it will by no means kill you, it's just on a totally diff level)</p>

<p>i just came back from my overnight visit at Wesleyan. When i stepped onto campus, i absolutely loved it, everythin was perfect-the weather nice n sunny, the students there were tremendously friendly and open and i loved the campus/architextural feel of Wesleyan. I attended 2 classes, "neurobiology" and "asian diaspora in America" and both were pretty cool classes...small and intensive. The food was pretty good and the dorms were good size. The only thing that i didn't like about Wesleyan though was how much widely used and available pot/marijuana and alcohol was. The nude/clothing optional dorm i stayed in wasn't at all a big deal, but it seemed like a LOT of ppl smoked/drank and depended on that to have fun. I was a little disappointed, but maybe i was hanging out with the wrong people. i definitely learned more about myself and wat's best for me by going there. although i loved almost everything about it there, i don't think it's the right fit for me to be spend the next 4 years at, and so, i don't think i will be attending....:o) smith, here i go!</p>

<p>I'm curious - did you do an overnight at Smith too? If so, how was that?</p>

<p>It really depends on which group of people you're with. Westco (btw, the "naked dorm" thing was an elaborate hoax played on NYTimes reporters in 1999 that refuses to die) tends to attract the drug-using crowd moreso than, say, the Butts. Also today is Zonker Harris Day which is when the hippie crowd has its big outdoor music festival and smokes on the hill. It's one day out of the year. People drink and smoke at every school, you just learn to ignore it if you're not into it, and it's fine. Oh well though. Good luck at Smith.</p>

<p>Why does Zonker Harris Day coincide with Wesfest?</p>

<p>ive been goin to a girl school for 7 yrs n i must say ive had enough... i checked out the smith forum n read how straight girls have to take a whole lota classes at other colleges so as to meet some guys... ummmm so gd luck with smith.</p>

<p>haha, smith is really not that bad. the "guys" situation is not realli an issue for me, but in case of any testosterone emergencies, UMASS and Amherst college is a 20 minute free bus shuttle away. For danielm, yea, i did an overnight at Smith (i live 45 mins away from there and my older sister goes there). Besides the fact that my sister goes there (hehe) i absolutely love Smith. i went to a few classes, a religion and and anthropology class, and the students there were very engaged in the discussions and brought up a lot of unique views...the campus of Smith is also beautiful w/ a lake running through (the campus center is awesome-retro 70's style) and everyone was very friendly and down to earth. (...which are pretty much similar to my exp. @ wesleyan) the surrounding city of noHo is one of the top artsy towns in the country....great resturaunts and theater (altho there could be a few more places to shop)....overall...i loved the feel of Smith and felt comfortable there. AND, a BIG BIG PLUS factor was that they gave me a full boat to go theres, so basicalli...they got me:o)</p>

<p>but i recommend visiting every school first be4 u make any decisions. danielm, have u decided which school yet?</p>

<p>mydzungC, it sounds like you're very happy and have made a good, thoughtful decision for yourself. Congratulations, that's great!</p>

<p>I'm related to a person going thru this process, and have enormous sympathy for all of you who are experiencing the emotional swings inherent in applying for admission to strong colleges. The rules of the game certainly have changed over the years, and I get the sense they're very much a work in progress. </p>

<p>I think it's important to remember that your life span is probably 80+ years, that college is just on average only 4 of them, and that life presents a series of decision points and course corrections. So while it's important to do the best you can to find the best place for yourself in your college years, it's not life or death. You just have to find the best available place for yourself at this point in time, and make the most of wherever you are while at the same time keeping your eye on your future. A positive, forward thinking outlook is critical.</p>

<p>I wish the best to you all, and am confident you'll all find your own personal success wherever you wind up. GOOD LUCK!</p>

<p>danielm - you raise a very good question: why does the most hedonistic student-run holiday of the year occur annually during Wesfest? Zonker Harris day not only commemorates the memory of a cartoon character, but, it also commemorates the biggest drug bust in Wesleyan's history, about fifteen years ago when Middletown police, with full cooperation from the administration, swarmed over the campus and arrested about half a dozen kids for pot possession. The arrests served notice on Wesleyan's venerable counterculture that they would have to obey the same rules as everyone else, something that no one had ever said to them before. The result is that Wesfest has evolved into their one opportunity of the year to show that they can still thumb their collective, mucous deprived, noses at the administration, an effort which apparently includes streaking, sidewalk chalking, and pot, coined-- "Ultra-Wesleyan".</p>

<p>haha, that's one thing that can be "admirable" about wesleyan</p>