Haverford vs. Wesleyan (international, humanities, lgbtq+)

College Search & Selection
1

Hi!
I’m right now on the verge of enrolling, and still torn between Haverford and Wesleyan.
(my other options included Davidson, Hamilton, and Vanderbilt, but it came down to these two)

I am an international humanity lgbt student, interested in pursuing political philosophy or gender studies.
More of an introvert than outgoing, and not really into athletics either. I wanted to avoid too much of a party/greek scene, which both schools satisfy I think. From what I’ve heard, both schools are welcoming to diverse cultural backgrounds and lgbtq+ as well.

I know that Haverford and Wesleyan are both outstanding lacs with great academics, but then again with two different atmospheres. I love Haverford’s location as well as the inclusive/openness, and how everyone respects each other with a strong honor code. (Basically, Haverford came to me as a rather safe, comfortable environment.) But then again, I think Wesleyan is more dynamic and diverse, giving more edge and new experiences than Haverford would. Not to mention the class/campus size - Haverford is small and more laid-back(maybe not?), while Wesleyan is relatively a big size lac with possibly more resources.

Right now, I’m leaning toward Haverford for its inclusive vibe and great locale(20 min from Philly), but I can’t resist the feeling that I’m missing out on a great opportunity in Wesleyan. The alumni are more ‘well-known’(owing to recent successes), and I think maybe it has a bit more prestige/reputation? (not sure though from the outside)
I know that reputation/ranking should never be important factors, but without firsthand knowledge on these colleges, I constantly go back to those numbers. Haverford is doing so well on many ranks(usnw, niche etc.), while Wes is top on Forbes. Would there be a distinct difference when I’m applying for grad school/jobs with a degree from either of two schools?

I’m also kinda curious about the lgbtq+ presence as well as activism on both campuses. I’m a fervent lgbtq activist & feminist, so I really want a both open and liberal atmosphere in which students can express themselves with no concerns. Would both schools satisfy this need? or would there be any differences?

As an outsider with less than a week to decide, some firsthand insights/advices would really help.
Thanks in advance!!

2

Ordinarily, as a lgbtq and an international, you’d want to go for the bigger school. But, in this case, you also have the nearby presence of an all-women’s college (Bryn Mawr) to add to the mix. Don’t worry about grad school. If it’s in your future, you’ll get there from either school. Don’t worry about USNews. A higher ranking isn’t going to make one college a better fit than the other. Sounds to me like your gut is telling you, Haverford.

3

Both of these schools are great and similarly liberal and LGBTQ friendly. So consider different outside factors. e.g. Depending on where you’re coming from, consider weather. Haverford is going to be warmer and less snowy than Wesleyan.

Wes has a cool little city right near it, but no big city. Haverford is really suburban, but does have Philly. Wes has no nearby partner schools, while Haverford has Bryn Mawr and Swarthmore. Is that important at all to you?

Good luck!