Can anyone compare the
-financial aid/cost
-admission chances
-prestige
-academics (in science)
of these two schools? Family makes 80k, 2 siblings in college, 2200 SAT, 33 ACT, commended National Merit Scholar, XC, marching band, volunteer + hospital, job at local eatery, Spanish, Math, and National Honor Societies, 7 AP classes (mostly 5s, some 4s). FA and prestige are most important facits. Thanks!
Haverford meets 100% need, but some student loans may be included in the package (change from former no-loan policy). Haverford does not give merit aid. Washington and Lee does have some merit scholarships. I’m not familiar with its need-based aid policy. These two schools are roughly equivalent in prestige and selectivity and both have very good science departments. However, they are miles apart in vibe, so that would be something you would want to research and consider as you visit the schools.
No reason you can’t apply to both of them. I wouldn’t rely on either one (or any LAC, really) as my financial safety, though.
W&L is very fratty and conservative. Haverford, very not. Prestige is about the same, though it varies geographically as you get closer or farther away from either one.
Think very hard if you want to go to Washington and Lee. Though it may have perceived prestige, if you want to learn how to conform and be an elitist then Washington and Lee is for you. It is uber conservative and diversity of thought is a rare occurance. Also, pay attention to their stats on diversity of students as well. They say they build character but don’t be fooled - if you don’t fit their mold and you lean in to liberal thinking, you will find less acceptance and more isolation. This university is about belonging to a club. I had a son who went there and he was no better for his time there. Beware of what’s behind the curtain.
Are you conservative? W&L. Are you liberal? H. Love frats? W&L. Into social justice? H.
Both are fine schools, but their student bodies and campus cultures are very, very different.
Both are prestigious. Both claim to cover 100% of demonstrated financial need.
Run the online net price calculator for each one to get estimates.
I echo Marvin’s post. Both are excellent schools but cater to different types of students.
njnorthmom
“diversity of thought is a rare occurrence” at washington and lee? have you been to haverford?if you to not subscribe to the ultra liberal party line you will be shunned. in fact the intolerant students at haverford got a little lecture about their antics at last years graduation.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/05/18/haverford-commencement-speaker-protest_n_5348966.html
at washington and lee my main concern is its heavy frat presence on campus but over all is very tolerant and students who are not conservative are not shunned or made to feel they are less of a person.
chris3499 perhaps a school like muhlenberg college maybe a place that should look at.
From what you’ve told us, you are likely to get generous need-based aid from W&L:
http://www.wlu.edu/financial-aid/types-of-aid/the-wandl-promise
You might also be a good candidate for one of W&L’s full-ride Johnson Scholarships (awarded to roughly 10% of each class).
D just graduated from W&L and has a HS friend who just graduated from Haverford. Their experiences had more in common than some of the comments above would lead you to believe. Looking at the most recent common data sets, Haverford’s student body is smaller overall and proportionally more female. Haverford admission is slightly less competitive (25% acceptance rate v. 20% at W&L), but I would not say there is a significant difference in prestige.
Apply to both and hope you will be lucky enough to be in the position of comparing offers next spring!
I agree with zobroward - Haverford had a high profile incident of intolerance. njnorthmom, the majority of top LACs are extremely liberal (75%+ liberal). The more conservative LACs tend to have a roughly a 50-50 split and would offer more “diversity of thought”.
You also condemn a more conservative culture as being elitist. But liberal granola social-justice warriors (SJWs) can be equally elitist.
Using the term “social justice warriors” unironically is…