haverford/swarthmore/cornell/jhu/princeton/UD/smith

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Hello! I got accepted to all 7 of these schools (Haverford, Swarthmore, Cornell, Princeton, Johns Hopkins, Smith College, and University of Delaware). I think I'm mostly leaning towards Haverford.</p>

<p>I really need a place where I feel part of the community and very safe. I also like places with a lot of trees/nature around it and not in the middle of a big city. Also I am very strange/unique sometimes so I need a place where people won't hate me because I'm different/weird/freaky sometimes. I'm not sure what I want to major in yet so I need a place that is strong and offers programs in a bunch of different areas. What do you think?</p>

2

<p>princeton admit is terrific. i also like swarthmore. good choices</p>

3

<p>did you visit Haverford and Swarthmore? Sounds like Swat is the place for you. Hands down I know of very few who pick Haverford over Swarthmore when given acceptances at both. Go to Ride the Tide and talk to current students! It is a very accepting community and you need to spend a few days on campus to get a feel for a good fit. Good luck.</p>

4

<p>Yeah, if you're going to diss Princeton go Swat.</p>

5

<p>Safe, different/weird/freaky with trees, plus occasionally strange and unique (and smart of course) spells Swarthmore or Smith to me. (And definitely NOT Princeton.)</p>

<p>Go visit - you'll feel comfortable or you won't.</p>

6

<p>Someone on the planet would actually go to Haverford over Princeton? They will feature you in their brochures! In all seriousness, I think you'll find the most iconoclasts such as you describe yourself at HY and P. The out there brilliant, I don't march to any drummer you've heard of personality. How can you pass up Princeton, it has it all for undergrad!</p>

7

<p>If you come to Pton, at least one person (among many many others) won't hate you because you're "different/weird/freaky sometimes." Trust me, I'm a lot like that, too. P really isn't the stuffy, upturned-nose stereotype that many portray it to be; we're going to have fun there, and it'd be awesome if you joined us too. The atmosphere is breathtaking: the campus is gorgeous with plenty of trees, flowers, and other foliage, and the surrounding township is small, cozy, and pretty. Plus, whenever you do feel the pull of the big city, two are just a short train ride away.</p>

<p>Princeton is freeeeeeee! Haha, sorry. I just like saying that (if anyone's heard the Princeton Nassoons sing, you know what I'm talking about...). Best of luck with your decision :)</p>

8

<p>princeton is really nice. i don't go there but i live close to it. and it has a nice nice nice campus. w/ lots of trees and grass. and it is a pretty safe community. and it has such strong programs that no matter what you decide to major in you'll be fine there. i'd say go with princeton. and going there gives you the most options after college too.</p>

9

<p>I also like to be somewhere where people are very friendly, where I can be a name instead of a number. I also like personal attention from professors because I find that I learn better that way. I know that wherever I go to college, there's going to be drinking but I don't drink and I prefer to stay away from people who are drinking. I need to find somewhere where I know that people do something else for socializing besides drinking. Also, at some schools there is sometimes tension between ethnic groups (as I've heard from some of my friends in college) and I'd prefer to go to a school where that is at a minimum, especially since I fall on the lines and technically don't fit into one particular group. </p>

<p>I'm not sure what I want to study yet, but right now I'm interested in plant biology/herbalism, music, art/photography, creative writing and foreign language.</p>

<p>So far I've heard from you Swarthmore, Princeton, Haverford, or Smith. Do these schools fit the description I posted before and the one I post right now, in your opinion.</p>

10

<p>haverford doesn't have that many trees. but then, I visited in winter. just a thought.</p>

11

<p>WOW Congrats.. I think you should go to either Princeton or Swarthmore. Princeton, well because it's Princeton (I know that's not the best answer) and Swarthmore because I think you'd feel safe, meet a diverse # of people like yourself and it's an excellent school.</p>

<p>Besides those, I love JHU (for many reasons) but I don't think you'd enjoy it. Cornell ditto. Great school but not your fit!</p>

<p>Haverford is safe but I'm not sure how diverse. :)</p>

<p>Hope this helps (a bit?)</p>

12

<p>"I'm not sure what I want to study yet, but right now I'm interested in plant biology/herbalism, music, art/photography, creative writing and foreign language."</p>

<p>You are my kids' twin. She had similar options. She spent a year studying ethnobotany and doing a botanical medicine demonstration project on the Skokomish Reservation through Evergreen State College, and brews her own medicines. (this summer is going to south India to, among other things, study traditional Tamil botanical medicine.) She is a music composition major, plays the violin, and sings opera and early music. She writes. She is studying Italian and is spending her junior year in Florence. She is an introvert, doesn't drink, values diversity (she's a Quaker, and is the chair of religious life for her house), and has made many good friends. Smith is far more economically diverse than any of the other schools on your list, with more than twice as many Pell Grant recipients (percentagewise) than any of the others.</p>

<p>She researched all the schools on your list. She chose Smith - when she put that particular list of interests above on a piece of paper, and compared, it frankly wasn't even close. It will be different for other students with different interests. (I know I originally said Swat or Smith. But then you said music and foreign languages, the two areas where Swat is likely weakest, and Smith likely the strongest. Don't believe me: check out their websites, and the faculty, and the course offerings, and compare.)</p>

<p>However, don't take my word for it. Visit, and you'll see. (You are welcome to e-mail me privately if you like, and I can put you in touch with her, if that would help.)</p>

13

<p>"I also like places with a lot of trees/nature around it and not in the middle of a big city. Also I am very strange/unique sometimes so I need a place where people won't hate me because I'm different/weird/freaky sometimes"</p>

<p>This describes Cornell perfectly - read Fool on the Hill by Matt Rush to get a feel for the freaky atmosphere that is Cornell.</p>

<p>Here's what I wrote on another thread about the social life at Cornell:</p>

<p>Cornell is a big, diverse school. You will be able to find whatever you are looking for socially and in ample supply. Variety is the rule. You will change through college. The great thing about Cornell is that your interests morph, there will be a group of people available to help you pursue your interests (music, partying, studying, etc…) no matter what they are. </p>

<p>It’s also a big enough place for you to have separate and distinct types of friends. Hence you’ll be able to try on different personas during this important developmental time. I found this one of the most valuable aspects of my experience there.</p>

<p>My spouse went to Princeton and all I can say is beware of the hype...</p>

14

<p>Thanks everyone for all the insights...it helps a lot to hear other people's opinions...I think I've narrowed it down to 5 schools now...I don't think I'm gonna go to JHU or to UD (my state school) but we'll see where I end up for sure</p>

15

<p>Are you stupid? I'd be at Princeton in a heartbeat. It's a safe, beautiful city with an unparalleled intellectual atmosphere.</p>

16

<p>And I'd be at Smith in a heartbeat. It's in a safe, beautiful, and artsy town, the dorms are AMAZING, the surrounding area is beautiful, there are other colleges nearby (that you could take classes at if they are not offered at Smith), its close (about 2 hours) to Boston, and the people are definitely "different/weird/freaky" and very intellectual.</p>

<p>I think that you should pick Haverford, though, if you are leaning towards it.</p>

17

<p>Still thinking about it...I'm going to have to visit them before I make final decisions, if I can...</p>

<p>Does anyone know how many hours of driving it is from Delaware to Smith? i'm trying to think about if it's far away or not.</p>

<p>aignam: No, I'm not stupid.</p>

18

<p>Figure 5 hours from Wilmington - depends if you speed.</p>

19

<p>Another thing, I was thinking about it today...I'm a really physical person. I've been to places where people hug and tackle each other to say hello, and then I've been to places where people are so "this is my personal space!" that it's insulting. I'm one of the people who is very physically friendly with the people I meet and the friends I make, and I was wondering which school has the least "this is my personal space!" issues with their students. Even at my school now, I feel sad when someone is repulsed by my actions. I don't want to go to a college where I'll be forced to stay in a little radius-bubble and not touch anyone.</p>

<p>And by the way, I mean the regular, friendly kind of touch like a hug, a nudge, a push, etc. Nothing nasty.</p>

<p>What college do you think is more friendly in terms of being physical with one another?</p>

20

<p>i really dont know why these other people are advocating these other schools when obviously princeton perfectly fits ur description of ur ideal school, this isnt just because i will be attending princeton next year, but the other schools on ur list can NOT touch princeton and do not fit ur desires as perfectly</p>

<p>location - princeton is not rural nor suburban, 50 minutes from NYC and 1 hour from philadelphia, princeton is in a small town and has a beautiful community, lovely campus with trees and flowers</p>

<p>safety - princeton is the safest ivy, its NJ =P</p>

<p>academics - princeton has the strongest and most well-rounded academics. it is known for its undergraduate focus and completely blows the rest of ur schools on the list out of the water</p>

<p>size - princeton is a small university with 1200 per year, u get direct attention and most of the classes are very small. </p>

<p>social life - many people at princeton do not drink, although drinking is also prevalent. there are so many activities on campus that u will have a plethora of friends that dont drink and activities to attend on a daily basis. princeton is also pretty diverse, as all ivies are, more so than that at smaller LACs. there are a myriad of diverse clubs on campus and i didnt feel any discrimination there</p>

<p>princeton has a very warm feel about it. everyone ive met there were very friendly and took the time to stop and chat for a little bit. princeton's opportunities and social activities also beat all the other schools on ur list. honestly, princeton would be the perfect fit. </p>

<p>if u have any more questions about princeton feel free to drop by the princeton board, we have the most active members and we would love to answer any specific questions u might have =P</p>

<p>p.s. i would suggest u visit princeton because everyone i have known to do so has fallen in love</p>

<p>if u chose haverford i think u will be the first to do so =P</p>