I’m deciding between Vanderbilt, Johns Hopkins, Emory (with a full scholarship), Haverford, and UNC Chapel Hill. Does anyone have any advice or pros/cons regarding these schools?
First of all, damn. Good for you! This all of course depends on your major, but I’m assuming from Johns Hopkins it’s more STEM or pre-med oriented? I’ve heard really good things about Vanderbilt and UNC Chapel Hill in that they are held in high esteem & the girl I know who is attending Vanderbilt is really enjoying her time there
All are excellent academically. All are outstanding universities with tip-top students and faculty. Haverford will probably have the smallest classes, if that is very important to you, although that should be fine across the board, except maybe larger at UNC. All have beautiful campuses, assuming Haverford does, since I don’t know that one as well, just researched and drove by it while in the neighborhood.
Is there one that you prefer as a place that you will be living, learning, and meeting friends, acquaintances, and colleagues? Where do you see yourself? To me, the quality of life at Chapel Hill is hard to beat–great school spirit, great area immediately adjacent to campus (Franklin Street/Carrboro), great weather. Vanderbilt is just a couple of miles up the road from downtown Nashville, which felt to me a little bit like the New Orleans French Quarter lite when we were there on a summer weekend. Campus is beautiful, though we found it kind of dark with all the spectacular trees. Emory is in the suburbs outside Atlanta. Beautiful campus, no big-time sports, school spirit seemed lighter than at UNC. Great opportunities. For free, well, hell, seems pretty nice. Hopkins is north of downtown Baltimore. Surrounding area not a match for Chapel Hill or Nashville, or downtown Atlanta. Great research opportunities, feels pretty intense to me. Again, I don’t know much about Haverford. Obviously a great school. But, really, you (and maybe your family) get the important vote. Choose what works for you–as the best place to live and learn and makes the most financial sense. Good luck!
All these schools are very good. Since Emory is free, it gets my vote, unless there is something about it that really won’t work for you.
It surprises me that someone would like Haverford and UNC. How do you feel about the sizes of each?
Run your numbers here http://www.finaid.org/calculators/awardletter.phtml then talk them through with whoever it is who is helping you pay for your education.
The words “with full scholarship” sound awfully compelling.