Help Me Decide: Hamline or Beloit

College Search & Selection
1

<p>A little about myself first. I’m from Fargo, ND. I will graduate in the top 15% of my class of 600 with a 3.7 GPA. I’m planning on majoring in Anthropology with minors in Asian Studies, Japanese Language, and Women’s Studies (And Museum Studies if I go to Beloit). I do Theater as an extracurricular and would like to continue that in college as well as get involved with political and LGBT student organizations. </p>

<p>I've narrowed down my college decision to two schools; Hamline University in St. Paul, Minnesota and Beloit College in Beloit, Wisconsin. </p>

<p>Beloit
PROS:
-Fantastic school for Anthropology that is well-recognized throughout the field
-Perfect Size (1,800)
-Has one of the only undergrad Museum Studies minors and two on-campus museums
- Japanese language major/minor, Asian Studies minor, and Women’s Studies major/minor
-Good theater program
-Lots of interesting student organizations
-Good overall academics
-Teaching college, non-research based
-No grad program (so no TA’s)
-Nice dorms
-Received $60,000 Presidential Scholarship
-Minimal Greek Life and sports scene
-No set generals (Only specific requirements needed to be filled, i.e. math credit can be filled with ‘Mathematics in World Cultures’ class
-Town it’s in is 1 hour from Madison, 1 ½ hours from Milwaukee, and 2 hours from Chicago
CONS:
-In a small town (30,000)
-Far from home and any friends or relatives
-Meal plan requirement (not that there is a lot of other options)
-Only liberal arts and science majors (in case I want to switch to or double major in Marketing or business)
-Didn’t qualify for Financial Aid or Work Study (but I can still get a job there)</p>

<p>Hamline
PROS:
-Good Anthropology program
-East Asian Studies minor, Women’s Studies minor, Theater Arts minor
-Amazing Theater program
-Lots of interesting student organizations
-Good overall academics
-Lots of internship opportunities
-Major options outside of liberal arts and sciences<br>
-Nice dorms
-5 College Consortium with nearby private colleges
-Received $68,000 Presidential Scholarship and $5,000 aid with Work Study
-Less Expensive than Beloit
-In Minneapolis/St.Paul
-Closer to home
-Minimal Greek Life
CONS:
-Teaching college but more emphasis placed on research
-Grad program but with minimal TA’s
-No ‘true’ set generals but more rigid than Beloit
-Much more emphasis on Sports than Beloit
-Would have to take Japanese language courses at nearby college (Macalester)</p>

2

<p>Beloit’s site says that they have one of the best anthropology undergrad programs IN THE WORLD.</p>

<p>For me as a potential anthro major as well, that’s hard to pass up…</p>

<p>WE COULD BE ANTHROS TOGETHER!!! :)</p>

<p>I’m 99.9% sure on Beloit.</p>

3

<p>I think you need to start figuring out how important the differences are. Assuming the cost difference doesn’t matter (and it might) try working with two characteristics at a time and if they were the only difference, decide which would matter more. Or you could try what I’ve heard works for some people, pick one and then see if you start coming up with reasons to regret your decision. I think you can get a good education at either school, you just have to decide which has the more appealing, potential experience of the two. Good luck.</p>

4

<p>You can have four minors? Is that possible? And I would pick Beloit.</p>