I need help picking between some schools

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Ok, I'm looking at University of Chicago, Northwestern University, Illinois Wesleyan University, and Pomona College.</p>

<p>I've visited all of them except Pomona, which I'll hopefully be doing sometime this month, there's no way I could go to a college without seeing it first. As for majors, I'm think International Relations or business with maybe a minor in Spanish, but that could change. I know that Northwestern and UC don't have undergrad business programs but my major is in no way set in stone, so I don't think that's the most important aspect at this point.</p>

<p>My impressions of the schools were Ill Wesleyan was my favorite even though it's not a big name one like the others. University of Chicago is such a great school, but I kind of got a bad vibe off of it. I have a friend that goes there and he's perfectly normal, but it seems like so many of the kids there are kind of weird, socially awkward people, so I don't know. I liked Northwestern but it didn't jump out at me or anything. Are the kids nice there? I've heard they're kind of preppy and snobby from some people, but I know someone that says that's completely untrue. </p>

<p>The price of the schools comes out to about
30,000 for Illinois Wesleyan
28,000 for Northwestern
25,000 for Chicago
23,000 for Pomona</p>

<p>Those prices are on just scholarships, all of the schools are about 3-6 thousand less when you add in the loans and work-study.</p>

<p>I do find it interesting that the most expensive school would be a kind of no name school in my state, even though I loved it I'm not sure that I'd be willing to shell out that kind of money when I could go to California for 7-8 thousand less a year or two of the best schools in the country for a couple thousand less. Northwestern and Wesleyan would most likely be out of my range, but I might be able to make it work.</p>

<p>So what do you guys think? I'm open to suggestions and discussion, can anyone give me a reason why I should pick one school above the others?</p>

2

<p>i didnt really like NW too much when i went there...not because of school but more because of the students. Pomona would be awesome but I also know someone going to Illinois Weselyn and they love the school and the environment. Also could you look at my similar thread and give me some input back? Thanks</p>

3

<p>people often talk about the 'feel' of the school when trying to decide which schools to apply to. the fact that you dont particularly like the 'vibe' of chicago is telling.</p>

4

<p>Please help thanks</p>

5

<p>As a Chicagoan, I feel compelled to say that "vibes" can be misleading, but at the same time, there is a type of student who would not be happy there and it's difficult to say if that is or is not you.</p>

<p>If you're interested in Chicago, I suggest that you talk to your "perfectly normal" Chicago friend and ask him about his experiences so far meeting people from his residential house, his dorm, his clubs, and his classes. "Normal" is so relative-- I would consider a lot of students here "normal," though my definition of "normal" is probably not the same as other peoples'.</p>

<p>Otherwise, if I were you I would probably go with Pomona. It's a great school, name recognition and everything, it's your least expensive, and it's pretty "normal."</p>

6

<p>Any more opinions?</p>

7

<p>I'm really partial to the Claremont colleges. Pomona is great, intimate but has the rest of the colleges/students/resources to keep it from feeling tiny. Its very different from the other three you're considering. Good luck!</p>

8

<p>I'm hopefully visiting pomona on the 17th. The admissions office is being really helpful, I like it already.</p>