You may choose others from a fit perspective, however, from an academic perspective, it would be Haverford by a very wide margin (it is a Top 10 LAC). The student body is statistically much stronger (look at average ACTs and SATs), and because of the relatively small student body and class sizes the relationships with professors are much closer and more encouraging. It is extremely well respected by graduate schools (far more so than your other alternatives) and sophisticated employers. The Honor Code binds the campus together in a relationship built on mutual trust. As a Quaker college, the environment is very open to, and welcoming of, diversity. And, the campus is a beautiful oasis situated in a very wealthy Philadelphia Main Line suburb.
If there is a downside to Haverford, it is the relatively small student body. You will get to know virtually everyone in your class and in many other classes over the four years there. That said, Bryn Mawr is 5 minutes away by a continuously running shuttle, Swarthmore 20 minutes away by shuttle, and UPenn 30 minutes away by train, so there are excellent opportunities to spread your wings and take classes/attend events at other elite academic institutions.
You are very blessed to have such an outstanding educational opportunity!
@am61517 Just to be factual. Haverford is not ranked In the top ten. But it could be for all that it matters with these prestigious and very selective schools. It is actually tied for #18 for small liberal arts schools tied with Hamilton. BC is ranked tied for 31 for research universities. And climbing for whatever it is worth. And national universities are a much larger cohort and more intense group with so many disciplines and student populations. And if you look at this years admitted students rankings I would disagree with your statistics. But that aside OP. They are just very different schools and both of the highest caliber and reputations as institutions of higher learning. Best of luck with your decision. It will all work out wonderfully for you at any of thee schools if you apply yourself.
Also if you want to look at rankings for LAC group the 2018 UNWR has Colgate at #12. Lots of kids don’t get into BC that get into Colgate and vice versa. I know Haverford is known to be a good school too. You have great but tough choices.
@moooop
Maybe by a small degree, BC has more asphalt, concrete, traffic… and relatively less of a park atmosphere than Haverford.
Regarding Haverford’s falling outside the top 10 according to USNews, I’m ignoring USNews on this one. To me, H is somewhere, oh, 5-10, and peers with schools like Carleton, Bowdoin, Midd, Wes, CMC, maybe Vassar. Hamilton also is too low.
Enrolled students:
Haverford 75th percentile ACT 34, SAT 1530
BC 75th percentile ACT 33, SAT 1450
Still, fit should be main criteria. Both are excellent, as are Colgate and Oxy.
The only thing you have to add into the mix is that haverford didn’t have hundreds of d 1 athletes in the mix. The average admitted non super hooked student looks a lot different. And the rankings are what they are. I think most people really would rank their college much higher. And they should. A top 150 US based university or college is world class. This is mostly much ado about nothing.
@prezbucky I think haverford is slightly better than vassar in 2018. But some of the others like bowdoin middlebury and Carnegie Mellon have moved up a notch over the years. 20 30 40 years ago. Ford was a notch higher. But all relative to greatness in this conversation. Like saying who’s the best QB of all time.
I meant Claremont McKenna (CMC), but I see your point, and agree.
I figure that when you’re looking at schools in the same hemisphere – as far as we can tell – in terms of quality, it’s all about fit and finances. These four are in the same hemisphere.
Oxy might not be quite as highly regarded as the other three, but it’s still (as far as I know…) a really good school and has a major draw: it’s Los Angeles’s LAC.
Claremont McKenna. Should have known. My wife is from Pittsburgh so I must have been unduly influenced.
I see everyone’s opinion too. And when I say “better” OP, I simply mean minutely more competive this year for your high achieving top student without any remarkable research etc. None of these schools are better. They all can be a launching pad for you to become whatever it is that your effort aptitude and tenacity can afford you.
@privatebanker, I stand corrected. I hadn’t looked at this year’s USNWR ranking. Historically Haverford has been fairly solidly ensconced at around the 10th spot. I agree with @prezbucky, that Haverford’s peers are ranked in the 5-10 range. I attended Swarthmore and certainly considered Haverford an academic peer and would not have said the same of the other institutions being considered. It is unfortunate that the USNWR methodology permits such wild swings over short periods.
I would add, while Haverford only fields D3 teams, they still need to field competitive mens and womens teams from a student body that is smaller than that of most high schools, and that has to take a toll on their SAT/ACT stats.
@am61517 no worries. It’s all so close and relative. But I do think they are peers but for really different kids and experiences
They’re all close enough in quality that it would make sense to choose any of the 4 that has a significantly lower net price than the others. However, if cost were not a factor, then for an international student experiencing the USA for the first time, I’d rule out Colgate for its relatively remote location. I’d prefer the NE to the West Coast for the history and easy inter-city rail access. So, Haverford or BC.
Catholic universities like BC (Georgetown, Villanova, etc.) boosted generations of urban immigrants into the American middle class. They tend to have big rah rah D1 sports scenes and a relatively strong pre-professional focus. BC offers degrees in education, management, and nursing (as well as arts & sciences). Its 2 most popular majors are economics and finance.
Quakers arrived early in this country and tended to be rather prosperous.They have a strong tradition of progressive activism (first against slavery, later against the Vietnam war) but nothing like the Catholic church hierarchy. The self-directed “Honor Code” is very consistent with Quaker values. Quaker colleges tend to have a quieter, more intellectual atmosphere (D3 sports; relatively high per capita PhD production; progressive political activity). Haverford only offers degrees in art & sciences. Its most popular majors are in the social sciences (but the CDS doesn’t break that down in more detail).
@tk21769 excellent breakdown.
Here’s a breakdown for Haverford by major, @tk21769. The sciences are also very popular and biology is often the most popular major.
https://www.haverford.edu/sites/default/files/Office/President/Graduating-Seniors-by-Major-Ethnicity-2017-18.pdf
Boston College produced 17 Fulbright Scholars last year. The third year in a row in the top 20 of all schools in US. Just another data point for you to consider. I don’t know about the others but they are much smaller as has been noted.
