<p>Title says it all. </p>
<p>Main considerations: </p>
<ul>
<li>Prestige</li>
<li>Academics (Top-tier grad school placements?) </li>
<li>Financial Aid </li>
<li>Drug/Alcohol Culture (Preferrably minimal.)</li>
</ul>
<p>For what purpose? Applying? In case you get in EA/ED to all?</p>
<p>Applying! I need to choose one of the four and I’m torn.</p>
<p>Why one and not all?</p>
<p>My school has a really low cap on the number of institutions we’re allowed to apply to. Silly policy, I know. I’ve tried to challenge it (but to no avail…) </p>
<p>I have to leave room for safeties and a few schools abroad. Plus, I was under the impression they were all very similar (hence this post to help me decide).</p>
<p>How low a cap? I’ve never heard of a school doing such a thing, nor am I sure it’s actually legal - not that you want to go that route.</p>
<p>To answer your question, Haverford is certainly the highest ranked and would probably top your list (or be #2) in all categories. Reed will probably rank #4 because of the pervasive substance culture there. You don’t have to participate, but it’s there more so than at the other schools, even if only by reputation. Macalester and Grinnell will be the middle two, but really depend on personal preferences - it’s doubtful someone will like both schools equally.</p>
<p>All of these should really be ranked by your personal preferences for the school environment - you’ll get a fine education at any of them and can go on anywhere and do anything. It’s quite possible for any of the four to be someone’s #1 school and them being perfectly justified in saying so.</p>
<p>I am not a student at Haverford and since I just applied ED I am quite biased, but based off of my extensive research Haverford would probably top your list. From my research I have found that Haverford is ranked very high on graduate school matriculation (although reed is famous for their grad school acceptances). Additionally, the academics are amazing from what I have seen/heard. From what I have heard Haverford is the most academically challenging of the schools you have listed. I do not know about the financial aid offered at Haverford, but considering its sizable endowment I do not think it’s bad. On the topic of prestige, I would say that Haverford is probably the best of the schools you have listed, but this is a grey area since some people may disagree. Since I am not a student I do not think I could give you a very accurate report on the drug culture; however, when I stayed over I wasn’t left with the impression that drugs were a problem.</p>
<p>It’s not the same question, and is based on surveys, but Reed and Haverford are both in this list:</p>
<p>[Students</a> That Study The Most: Princeton Review List](<a href=“HuffPost - Breaking News, U.S. and World News | HuffPost”>Students That Study The Most: Princeton Review List | HuffPost College)</p>
<p>Not sure what their methodology is… but it seems unbelievable that students at Haverford study more than students at Swarthmore, Johns Hopkins, Harvey Mudd, and a few other colleges not on the list that have very intense environments. I simply don’t believe it… I do agree that generally Haverford tops the list given your criteria.</p>
<p>Harvey Mudd is on the list.</p>