<p>I've been recruited for track at all of these schools, and the coaches have all told me that they will support my app as best they can if I apply early.</p>
<p>I'll definitely be pre-med--I know that I want to pursue a top med school (Dartmouth, Brown)--but I'll probably major philosophy or psychology. I'm not religious at all, I'm pretty socially and politically liberal, and I'm into athletics.</p>
<p>UChicago: I wasn't really thinking about UChicago until the coach called me and talked to me for about 40 minutes, just getting to know me and telling me about the school. It really made a good impression. The campus looks absolutely beautiful and the school's prestige is really appealing, but I'm afraid I might not fit in socially. I love intellectual stimulation and discussion, but I also love social life, partying, girls, and a feeling of family and community. I've heard the academics are extremely difficult, and that the pre-med track is particularly cutthroat; I want to be pushed intellectually, but not to a point that it'll hold me back.</p>
<p>Swarthmore: Pretty much the same as UChicago. The vibe of intellectual stimulation and family is really appealing, but I'm afraid I might not do well socially; I really am not much of a nerd (as Swatties define themselves), and I want a thriving social life to accompany the academic excellence and rigor. I'm afraid the intense rigor will be more detrimental than beneficial, as far as overall happiness and getting into med school.</p>
<p>Bowdoin: Bowdoin seems like a very athletic and social school. The athletic program is by far the best out of the schools I've listed, and it seems like a feeling of team unity and family would be strongest here. However it would also be the most competitive, and I wouldn't be a 'star of the team' from the get-go, like I could at one of the other three. One of my concerns is that the school might be TOO athletic- I want an athletic and social vibe, but I don't want a "jock" school, or a vibe that might take away from the intellectual climate. Some more shallow concerns are that the school is a little less well-known. Med school placement is supposed to be phenomenal, and the pre med program isn't rumored to be agonizing. Brunswick is also supposed to be awesome.</p>
<p>Vassar: Vassar was my number one choice for a very long time, until I realized that athletics are important to me. The coach has been less cordial than the other three, and the athletic program isn't phenomenal (they don't even have an indoor season, so I wouldn't be involved in athletics for the first half of the year), and it doesn't seem like a feeling of team family/brotherhood wouldn't be very strong. An upside of that is that I would pretty easily have several school records after the first season. Vassar seems like it would socially be the best fit--it seems to have the best party atmosphere, and the 40:60 sex split is appealing (shallow, I know). Nonetheless an intellectual climate seems very present. Psych and philosophy are supposed to be awesome, and the pre-med track is supposed to be noncompetitive and manageable. Poughkeepsie sucks, but the campus is absolutely beautiful.</p>
<p>I'll be visiting Vassar and Bowdoin. I may or may not have a chance to visit Swat and UChicago before the ED/EA deadline. Advice is appreciated.</p>