<p>First of all, I'm not really sure why Vassar is "the major outlier" on your list. I would say it fits in very nicely with Swarthmore, Amherst, Bowdoin, and Middlebury as another top LAC, but that's just me. I would also argue that it has a lot of similarities with Swarthmore (and some with Tufts) in terms of its campus feel and student body. That being said, here's what I'd say about your list.</p>
<p>My first reaction to your list is that you have a lot of reaches and no real likely or safety (unless you have very impressive stats and live in either Virginia or North Carolina). All of the schools are selective to the extent that even if you've got a fantastic resume, you can't guarantee you'll get in. The one exception to this is, as I mentioned, if you're a solid applicant from Virginia or North Carolina because William & Mary and UNC-Chapel Hill are public universities. If this is not the case; however, I would recommend you consider adding a "likely" or "safety" school to this list. If you need some suggestions, post your stats (GPA, rank, SATs/ACTs, important ECs) and the characteristics you'd like your school to have (location, atmosphere, majors of interest, important ECs you want to have) and I'm sure someone will get back to you with ideas.</p>
<p>One thing you should think about in terms of your list is what sort of environment you'd like to go to school in. If a quirky, "liberal" environment appeals, I would say that Vassar and Swarthmore are your best bets. If, however, you want more of a "moderate," slightly preppy environment, Amherst, Bowdoin, Middlebury, and Dartmouth are better options. I would say that Tufts could fit into either the "liberal" or the "moderate" category. Lastly, if you're interested in schools that are "moderate gearing on conservative," I would recommend Vanderbilt and William & Mary. UNC-Chapel Hill is so large that it could fit for all three of these categories; however, I would say that it would be better for someone interested in a "moderate" or a "moderate to conservative" environment than a "liberal" one. </p>
<p>Another characteristic you should consider in your college search is the size of the environment you'd like to be in. Williams, Vassar, Amherst, Middlebury, and Bowdoin all have less than 3,000 students and little to no graduate program. They'll be more intimate environments in which you'll probably be able to recognize most of the individuals you go to school with. For some people, this is great, and for others, it feels too much like high school (particularly for those who went to and enjoyed going to large public schools). Meanwhile, Vanderbilt, Dartmouth, Tufts, and William & Mary are all schools with an undergraduate program of at least 4,000 and a graduate student body of at least 1,000. They'll offer you bigger environments in which you'll have more things to try but, at the same time, more competition for resources, research opportunities, leadership positions, play parts, instrumental chairs, and so on. Lastly, UNC-Chapel Hill is a large university with a large undergraduate body and a large graduate school population. For some, getting lost in the crowd appeals, and for others it's terrifying... what you need to do is determine which one fits your social and academic style best.</p>
<p>Consider location as another way of cutting things down. Your schools can be grouped into two halves: "cold weather schools" (Amherst, Bowdoin, Middlebury, Vassar, Tufts, Dartmouth, Swarthmore) and "warm weather schools" (Vanderbilt, UNC-Chapel Hill, William & Mary). It might seem silly to you now to eliminate a school based on its climate; however, it's actually a big thing to keep in mind. I've seen more than one thread in the "transfer student" section on College Confidential written by a student who didn't think about the weather until they got to the school and realized that it made the situation unbearable.</p>
<p>Lastly, I would recommend you think about the surrounding environments of the schools and how important having a city or other off-campus social scene available to you. If the idea of living in a city appeals, Vanderbilt University is the best option out of the schools you've listed. If you want a school right near a city (less than 30 minutes away) but in the suburbs, try Tufts, UNC-Chapel Hill, and Swarthmore. Similarly, if you want a school with city access that would be available on weekends but not "all the time" Vassar and William & Mary are good options. Interested in a more remote school, but don't want a social life limited to just your own school? Try Amherst... it belongs to a five college consortium, so you'd be able to easily attend events at other schools such as UMass-Amherst. Lastly, if you want a rural environment, Middlebury, Bowdoin, and Dartmouth fit the description.</p>