Help decide. Oxy, ucsb, whitman and a few others

College Search & Selection
1

Only a week to make a big decision. D accepted at at 7 places. any help in decision appreciated.

Occidental
Pro: liberal arts college. Good size. Liberal. Diversity. Near urban area.
Con: wanted a change (lwe live in LA County). School has divisive issues and problems.
Did get some aid, but still expensive as not as much aid as some other places and start price is very high.

On her visit it rained, the class she was supposed to go to was cancelled, and student protestors took over the admissions presentation blasting the place. She actually liked the protesting students. But the place seems like it may have issues.

Whitman
Pro: liberal arts college. Pretty area. Different from LA. Gave us good aid
Con: isolated. Too white and to her anyway, on her visit, bland. Not her vibe. Greek system

UCSB
Pro: diversity of people because it is bigger. pretty campus. Beach . Ok vibe
Con: party school rep in Isla Vista, not a LAC, huge classes, uc budget crisis
Did not make it into honors program so probably no extra money but we are CA residents.
Still in LA area, but at least not super LA and a two hour drive from home

She also got into Reed, but due to a glitch, we still do not know if she got any aid and wont know til after the may 1 commit date. And without aid it is unaffodable. Have not actually visited. She likes what she heard about the vibe. Likes no greeks and quirky people. But we must commit elsewhere by May 1

Macalester: got in but unfortunately no aid. Also freezing.

Trinity: got in and got aid, but she felt the vibe was not right on visit. Too conservative.

UCSC. Liked it when we visited last spring. Had a great tour guide. But hoping for a LAC and if had to pick a UC maybe UCSB is better. Also a bit concerned about reviews saying weed is all over the place.

She applied to 20 schools. She got waitlisted at a few others.

Any thoughts about any of these schools, esp the top three, appreciated. Does Oxy have it together? Are all the classes for freshman huge at UCSB? etc. what is the vibe? Are the professors good? Can you get a job after graduating? Thank u!

She is liberal, politically active, artsy/creative, outgoing. Smart. Writer. Likes to go hear music. Independent. Outgoing and likes to have fun.

2

Planned major? Plans after college?
Also, I’m considering Oxy and Reed. What were her stats?

3

Did your daughter apply to Brandeis? I think that might have been a fit given your D’s faves here.

Personally, I think she should give Whitman another look. Talk to some grads or other students. That is a great school, if she could warm up to the idea.

If she figures out the Reed financials, at the very least visit before deciding there.

4

“She is liberal, politically active, artsy/creative, outgoing. Smart. Writer. Likes to go hear music. Independent. Outgoing and likes to have fun.”

She actually sounds perfect for Whitman. My son graduated from Whitman a couple years ago and LOVED his time there. The town is friendly and cozy, the campus has a million things going on. The Greeks are laid back, parties are open to all, but they are easily avoidable if you want. They don’t dominate the social scene and there are plenty of ways to have fun without beer pong. My son joined a fraternity, but had lots of friends who didn’t. Yes, it’s mostly white, I think you’ll find most LACs are, however, Whitman really is trying to bring more diversity to campus, racially and economically. Most of the students don’t feel isolated, the town has everything a student needs within walking distance, and the campus has so much going on all the time there are hardly enough hours in the day. I got the impression that the students are quite happy. The classes and professors are excellent.

Has she done an overnight there? Time is short but she may want to check it out one last time, she could connect with current students by Skype or phone.

5

I would also be hesitant to commit to Reed without a visit. I know you said that you wouldn’t have financial information in time, so this is probably a needless warning. Reed is fantastic for a certain type of student, the kind who is innately and unswervingly intellectual. My Whitman loving son wanted a rigorous education, but wanted to have fun too.

edit: I know intellectual pursuits are fun, but I mean fun like doing other things.

6

I forgot to mention that Whitman’s new president used to be dean of faculty at Macalester and is a lesbian. Whitman is very LGBT friendly and the theater department is top notch!

7

UCSB all the way, just your fit :wink: