<p>After tonight, I'm down to UChicago, WUStL, U of Rochester, and Northeastern. Money matters aside, I'm having some trouble ranking them in terms of some more specific academic criteria, as well as both specific and general social criteria. So if people could help me out by listing the four schools in order of best to worst for each criteria, that would be great.</p>
<p>1A.) Prestige in the west/southwest?
1B.) ...outside of the region the school resides in?
2.) Least number of odd looks if wearing a Jedi bathrobe around the dorm?*
3.) Largest population of Trekkers?
4.) Largest LGBT population? (Emphasis on L.)
5.) Most multicultural?
6.) General quality of humanities programs?
7A.) Ease of double majoring?
7B.) ...of exploring subjects to see what you want to do?
8A.) Most geeks?
8B.) ...lazy, procrastinating geeks?
9A.) Opportunities to play video games?
9B.) ...make them? (NOT asking about majors. Just general opportunities.)
10.) Least murderous workload?
11.) Best creative writing opportunities? (Not asking for a major, just opportunity/quality.)
12.) Ease of job finding after graduation?
13.) Students more inclined to get into serious relationships?</p>
<ul>
<li>Over my clothes. I do this with my (normal) bathrobe at home to keep warm.</li>
</ul>
<p>Note: I'm probably best as a social fit for U of Chicago, but am iffy at best about the core curriculum, and know I'm a LOT less energetic/intellectual than all the people on the FB group. On the other hand, I like the idea of WUStL being more laid back and a lot easier to double-major in, but because it's not as mindbendingly good at academics as Chicago, my mom isn't as keen on paying for it. Rochester and Northeastern I'm uncertain about fit, but they're more comfortable financially speaking.</p>
<p>“Money matters aside”</p>
<p>Nope, sorry. You can’t put the money matters aside. Especially if the difference between these institutions will be made up by you taking on student loans, or your parents taking on parent loans.</p>
<p>Get out a calculator and a sharp pencil. Sit down and really compare the numbers. Then listen to what your mom has to say about what those numbers mean.</p>
<p>I think you’ve taken me wrong. I REALIZE money matters. Money is probably the top thing on my mind at the moment. But money is definitely not an appropriate thing to be talking to random people on the internet about. My family finances are my family finances, and are staying within the family. It’s not like I’m deciding on a school completely on money- fit and academics are very important too (and it’s not just me that’s saying that, it’s also both my parents). I wanted information on the things that I didn’t have much of anything on but that others would- as opposed to money, which me and my parents have a handle on, and the internet does not.</p>
<p>[FinAid</a> | Calculators | Advanced Award Letter Comparison Tool](<a href=“Your Guide for College Financial Aid - Finaid”>Your Guide for College Financial Aid - Finaid)</p>
<p>This might help. It is refreshing to learn that you and your parents are talking about the money. Usually when a student writes that money doesn’t matter, it really means that he/she doesn’t want it to matter and is trying to ignore reality.</p>
<p>You have a much more interesting list of research questions than the average poster here as well. You might try asking them at the various sub-forums for those colleges, or running searches on the colleges’ websites.</p>
<p>The one kid I know who went to U of Chicago spent all his free time running light and sound systems for local theatrical groups and playing in bands. I think he ended up with a Physics major. I do know he’s back in school now completing an MAT and headed into a career teaching high school math and science. He is definitely not as horrifyingly brilliant as the facebookers that you describe!</p>
<p>Do you have time to squeeze in a visit to any of these places between now and May 1? That might help too.</p>
<p>You pose some very important questions. To my knowledge…</p>
<p>2.) Least number of odd looks if wearing a Jedi bathrobe around the dorm? Chicago
3.) Largest population of Trekkers? Chicago
6.) General quality of humanities programs? Chicago
7A.) Ease of double majoring? WUSTL
9A.) Opportunities to play video games? WUSTL ([The</a> Fun Room](<a href=“Danforth University Center (DUC) - Students”>Danforth University Center (DUC) - Students))
10.) Least murderous workload? WUSTL (unless you are BME or pre-med)
13.) Students more inclined to get into serious relationships? Neither. But I might give the edge to WUSTL after the recent launch of UChicagoHookups.com:)</p>
<p>Congrats!</p>