I can’t believe it’s finally time for me to startmaking my final decision on where I’m going to college! It has been quite the journey, and though it isn’t over just yet, I’m ready for it to be. For those who don’t know, I applied to 10 schools but have narrowed it down to my 3 top choices. It’s such a neck-and-neck race that I’m having trouble making a decision on my own, so I’ve decided to seek out the advice of you fine CC folk.
(I have decided to take Beloit College, Loyola University Chicago, Michigan State University, Purdue University, Denison University, Grand Valley State University, and University of Rochester* out of the running. If you read the descriptions of the colleges below and believe that one or more of these is actually a good fit for me, please don’t be shy to point it out!)
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- I was waitlisted at Denison and did not accept a spot. I only included the name so any interested parties could see where I applied.
** - I have not yet heard back from Rochester, but I will most likely be denied/waitlisted and will once again not accept a spot. If I do somehow get accepted, I will let everyone know.
- I was waitlisted at Denison and did not accept a spot. I only included the name so any interested parties could see where I applied.
Things are about to get long-winded because it’s time for my top 3 colleges! In no particular order…
Kalamazoo College
Imagine my surprise when a likely letter came from K in the mail a few days ago! It’s a solid school academically and for them to really want me was definitely an eye-opened. K is a great fit for me politically as it is very left-wing and liberal. K students make sure that their voice is heard, and that’s something I personally look for in a school. The academics are rigorous and grad schools/employers view K in high regard. It’s also great for economics/business, which would be my major. I haven’t heard from FA yet, but they told me in my LL that I received a nice merit scholarship (probably between 17-24k since that’s the range I’ve gotten from other schools), so I’m not worried about it being affordable. There aren’t any frats/sororities either, and as someone who is very much not a fan of Greek life, I appreciate that. It’s also located close to home in a pretty nice city, so that’s a plus. My only problem with it is that (from what I’ve heard) it’s a pretty big party school, especially since Western Michigan is so close by. Western is one of the premier “party colleges” in the U.S., and I’m just not about that life. I know that I don’t have to be involved if I don’t want to, but it’s an issue that is genuinely bothering me. I’ve also heard that the Wi-Fi can get quite slow at times, and as someone who spends all of their time on the internet, this is a concern. (I realize how trivial these drawbacks are and that’s why K is one of my top choices! I still have yet to visit, but plan on it very soon. I can’t imagine not liking it - there’s yet to be a college that I haven’t seen some redeemable qualities in.)
Case Western Reserve University
Opening my application portal to find an acceptance letter waiting for me was one of the most shocking experiences I’ve ever had in my life. Never in a million years did I think I would get accepted. Even though I now know that I was accepted largely in part to my major (economics instead of the many, many engineering applications they receive), I still feel humbled and honored to have been accepted. The prestige is the biggest draw here; Case Western is one of the best schools in the United States for not only engineering, but just about any major. The research opportunities here are unparalleled and will really make me stand out from the crowd when applying for jobs. I absolutely love the campus. I find it quirky and fascinating. Call it ugly, call it mis-matchy, I don’t care. I also think that, socially, Case is the best school for me. As an LGBT applicant, finding a place where I will be accepted and be able to freely express my sexuality (as weird as that sounds lol) is something that’s very important to me. Case is notable for being LGBT-friendly. They judge a person by their character and not by anything else, and that’s something I’m looking for in a student body. Diversity is important to me as well, and Case takes the cake for being the most diverse of the bunch. I’ve gone to private, preppy “rich white kid” schools my entire life and am ready for something new. Case doesn’t come without its drawbacks, however. The most notable downside to Case is the price. My family is expected to pay 41k a year for me to go to Case. This is doable with loans (it would only be 27k total over 4 years. I know exactly what I’d be getting myself into, so please don’t freak out about it), but definitely not optimal. Case also isn’t exactly known for being a great school for economics. Though it’s a great school, there isn’t a whole lot of emphasis put on business majors. Additionally, since Case was a reach for me from the start, I would be at the bottom 25% of my class. Even if I put in 110% into everything I do, I’d still never reach the top. Not that you have to be at the top of your class to succeed, but I would still like to go somewhere I can shine and stand out as a student. I absolutely love this place regardless, and am looking forward to your thoughts on Case!
College of Wooster
Wooster. When I visited, my dad and I literally cried because the city and campus was so beautiful. It might have been the bitter cold getting to us, but I guess we’ll never know. In terms of location, Wooster takes the cake for me. Everything I could ever want is right there in the city. The sense of community is overwhelming, and I know that I would make lifelong friendships with the locals. I also love Wooster’s ISP program, providing me with a chance to do research and make my resume pop to future employers. The professors at Wooster are all so full of life and willing to help. They genuinely want you to succeed, and that’s a vibe that goes directly against the “professors don’t care” stereotype given to colleges these days. I was also given a huge 96k scholarship (24k a year) that makes Wooster very affordable for our family.This is kind of where the positives end, however. Academically, Wooster is probably the weakest of my top 3. Don’t get me wrong, it’s still a solid school in my opinion, but K and Case are simply better. Since I’m majoring in economics, I think that prestige of my school may play a part in the job that I land. If that’s the case, I’m better of at K or Case. Also, Wooster is a HUGE drinking school (the house I stayed in when I visited was literally littered with alcohol bottles) and the frats/sororities are located in the dorms, meaning that there’s no escaping the noise and culture of parties. I realize that this is actually quite conservative of me, especially for someone who considers themself to be a liberal, but this is how I feel and I’m not going to censor it. Obviously I’m not going to yell at people for partying or not talk to someone because they party, I just really don’t want to be a part of it. To each their own. Even with these downsides, I think that Wooster is a great school and I really, really like it! The positives definitely outweight the negatives in this situation.
I leave this in your hands now. Any insight on what college I should choose? If you need any further information from me, don’t be afraid to ask!
Do you mind sharing how you made your choice!?