Help me decide where to ED

College Search & Selection
1

I’m a current senior trying to decide where to ED. My top schools are Colgate, University of Richmond, Bowdoin, and BC. Since all of these schools have good academics, I am more concerned about the student life/social aspects for all of them. I think I want to be in a sorority, but it’s not a dealbreaker if I can’t. I would rather go to a school where there is no Greek life at all than one where Greek life is super competitive and overpowering.

Colgate: I was able to tour here and loved the campus. I really liked the small community feel of the school, although the tiny town size is a bit of a bummer. I know that since they’re D1 there are a lot of athletes and I just wonder if the social scene tends to be divided between athletes and non-athletes.

University of Richmond: I haven’t visited here yet, but I plan to in 2 weeks. I’ve heard that it’s a gorgeous campus but that Richmond as a city tends to be a bit rougher. I also worry a little bit about the Southern culture, although I’ve heard it’s mostly east coasters.

Bowdoin: I don’t think I have the grades of the extracurricular wow to get into this school on my own, but I have a relatively significant legacy so that may help a bit. Overall this is the highest ranked school academically, so I almost feel like I would be wasting my leg up not to ED. The main thing holding me back is that I’ve heard the social life is completely dead. I love Maine, but I’m not sure I would be happy there in the dead of winter with nothing to do on the weekends.

BC: I visited the campus and wasn’t totally in love with it, but I had also just heard a bunch of bad things about the school (that I’m not even sure are true) that may have impacted the way I saw it. I loved the close proximity to a city, but, being from the Midwest, I felt a little bit overwhelmed by the fast paced atmosphere of the city. On paper, this school is everything I want, so I worry that I didn’t give it a full chance when I visited.

I know that was a lot so thank you for even reading this far and any small advice really helps!!

2

I would not ED anywhere since you do not have a clear cut first choice.

3

I agree.

4

Tagging some CC experts who may be able to shed light on these schools: Bowdoin @homerdog Colgate @kpopmomrunner BC @privatebanker and @xyz123a Richmond @havenoidea

5

Even though you’re confident these schools offer the strong general academics you seek, you may want to state your intended major, if known, to enhance potential responses.

6

Generally agree.

This seems to be a frequently asked question.