<p>Luckily I am admitted by these 3 wonderful colleges. All of them are academically strong and because I am an international student in China I am not able to visit any of them. I am have a tough time making a final decision@@ Need current students' help!</p>
<p>Here is my thougths so far:</p>
<p>Bowdoin's government and legal major is the strongest among these 3 colleges, as far as I know. Maine's long winter is a problem but also an interesting challenge of living in a totally different environment(actually how long is the winter in Maine?) The relatively quiet atmosphere is appealing to me, too. Then I thought Bowdoin is not a party school but after reading some threads it seems I was wrong. Not that I am a maverick but I prefer a college that is at least normal(kinda rare in America? Wesleyan is wild I know.. talk about it later)</p>
<p>Wesleyan: Feeling nothing particular about Wesleyan except her College of Social Studies, a multi-disciplinary program in social sciences, ideal place for me(don't know if any interdisciplinary major can do the same). But Wesleyan's social scene is...wild! Don't know if I can bear it(I like the liberal atmosphere though).</p>
<p>Haverford: Not very popular in China(few Chinese students in Haverford too). Her honor code is a new and attractive experience to me and the whole college is somehow warm and homey, I just feel it. Her academic is generally strong but no major or program I regard as exceptionally interesting.</p>
<p>Please correct me if any of my understanding is improper. Hungry for current students' reviews!</p>
<p>Congrats on three great choices.</p>
<p>I think Haverford would be a terrific choice. Certainly all of the schools have fantastic social sciences. I’m sure Bowdoin has a great government program, but I know Haverford has an amazing political science department. I know at least four Haverford political science grads: two went to Harvard Business, one Harvard Law, and one Georgetown Law.</p>
<p>Haverford’s political science department has some great and distinctive elements: (1) an emphasis on student research by requiring every student in the major to take two advanced research seminars and complete a senior thesis to be undertaken in close collaboration with a faculty member and (2) unique experiential course offerings drawing on relationships with Philadelphia-based organizations and research field trips to Guatemala and Venezuela. See [Haverford</a> College News Room : PATHS TO PEACE](<a href=“http://www.haverford.edu/news/stories/26811/41]Haverford”>http://www.haverford.edu/news/stories/26811/41) and [Poli</a> Sci/Hist 233: Guatemala](<a href=“http://news.haverford.edu/blogs/guatemala/]Poli”>http://news.haverford.edu/blogs/guatemala/) It also among the 5-6 most popular majors.</p>
<p>Despite what you may read in other threads (I’m looking at you Bowdoin), Haverford’s reputation is superb and would certainly shine in any group, especially this one. When the WSJ did its feeder school ranking (elite business, medical, and law schools) a few years back Haverford was #6 and Bowdoin #7 among LACs. See <a href=“WSJ in Higher Education | Trusted News & Real-World Insights”>WSJ in Higher Education | Trusted News & Real-World Insights. Haverford frequently bests Bowdoin in PhD productivity rankings. I mention these to say that both schools have excellent reputations, and it’s hard to say that definitively that one has a better “reputation with employers, grad schools, etc.” than the other. </p>
<p>Haverford has an outstanding academic program informed by its Quaker heritage that makes it, in my opinion, as good as any you will find anywhere in the world. Haverford has an academic atmosphere that is as rigorous, serious, and stimulating. It also has a great social environment, students are very happy, and there’s a strong sense of community because of the Honor Code. Generally, students love the College.</p>
<p>So, I think you should focus more on which you might enjoy more. Good luck.</p>
<p>The anonymous culture of CC doesn’t seem to appeal to too many busy HC students so you may not get much play from current students on this forum. Why don’t you e-mail some contacts in the International Student Organization to get some of your answers?
[Haverford</a> College: International Students](<a href=“http://www.haverford.edu/deans/internationalstudents/]Haverford”>http://www.haverford.edu/deans/internationalstudents/)</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.haverford.edu/deans/internationalstudents/files/schedule.pdf[/url]”>http://www.haverford.edu/deans/internationalstudents/files/schedule.pdf</a></p>
<p>Curious if college will be your first time in the US? If so, you may want to consider HC’s location which is 20 minutes from Philadelphia (5th largest city in the US), 2.5-3 hours to NYC and about 3-3.5 hours to Washington DC… all of which are linked by public transportation from Philly. Do you want to explore the US while you’re here as part of your education? </p>
<p>What appeals to me about HC and is a selling point is its location. Classroom academics taught by HC’s professors are complemented by the vast array of visiting speakers that come to campus and also opportunities for students to expand their education off campus too. I think getting perspectives from people other than academic faculty at one’s particular small college is critical for students to appreciate how their academic knowledge can be applied to real life problems and in other settings.</p>
<p>2010 visit to IMF
[Haverford</a> College News Room : An Inside Look at the International Monetary Fund](<a href=“http://www.haverford.edu/news/stories/34041/30]Haverford”>http://www.haverford.edu/news/stories/34041/30)
2010 visit to the Barnes Foundation
<a href=“http://www.haverford.edu/icpr/csolomon/Haverford-College-ICPRH235B-Spring-2010.pdf[/url]”>http://www.haverford.edu/icpr/csolomon/Haverford-College-ICPRH235B-Spring-2010.pdf</a></p>
<p>Yet more examples of interesting speakers…
[Haverford</a> College: Calendar: World Health Day event: Antimicrobial Resistance and its Global Spread](<a href=“http://www.haverford.edu/calendar/details/169452]Haverford”>http://www.haverford.edu/calendar/details/169452)
[Haverford</a> College: Calendar: “Microfinance as a Platform”](<a href=“http://www.haverford.edu/calendar/details/169212]Haverford”>http://www.haverford.edu/calendar/details/169212)
[Haverford</a> College: Calendar: “The Secret Life of Pronouns: What Our Words Say About Us”](<a href=“http://www.haverford.edu/calendar/details/159622]Haverford”>http://www.haverford.edu/calendar/details/159622)</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/haverford-college/1106376-visiting-speakers.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/haverford-college/1106376-visiting-speakers.html</a></p>
<p>@HC Alum</p>
<p>Care to say any more about the Barnes Foundation?</p>
<p>/\ What did you have in mind? billion dollar art collection; Matisses hanging on walls crowded already with Picassos; AND the “Joys of Life”…</p>
<p>[joys</a> of life matisse - Google Search](<a href=“http://www.google.com/search?q=joys+of+life+matisse&hl=en&prmd=ivns&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=fHOeTejODIu0vgOrh8D-BA&sqi=2&ved=0CC4QsAQ&biw=1004&bih=562]joys”>http://www.google.com/search?q=joys+of+life+matisse&hl=en&prmd=ivns&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=fHOeTejODIu0vgOrh8D-BA&sqi=2&ved=0CC4QsAQ&biw=1004&bih=562)</p>
<p>I just found that link to a HC class syllabus as one example of how HC uses off campus resources to enhance classroom learning (which is already top notch). I remember friends who took French Impressionism at BMC telling me about their field trip to the Barnes and the professor knew one of the head curators who took them behind the scenes to see some of the works in storage. Pretty frickin awesome…</p>
<p>Have you been there yet? If not, and you appreciate art, it’s a must see… especially because it will be moving to downtown Philly in a year or 2 I think. While this will expose the Barnes collection to more people, some of the quirkiness of how the collection is currently displayed will likely be lost.</p>
<p>No, I was thinking more about wills, intrigue, subterfuge, lawsuits …</p>
<p>[Court</a> to Hear More Arguments in Barnes Foundation Dispute - NYTimes.com](<a href=“http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/03/29/court-to-hear-more-arguments-in-barnes-foundation-dispute/]Court”>Court to Hear More Arguments in Barnes Foundation Dispute - The New York Times)</p>
<p>[‘Art</a> Of The Steal’: Actual Heist Or Conspiracy Theory? : NPR](<a href=“http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=124082706]'Art”>'Art Of The Steal': Actual Heist Or Conspiracy Theory? : NPR)</p>
<p>My wife was an art/philosophy major. We have mixed feelings about the move since we do believe many more people will now be able to see the collection. On the other hand, it was worth the trip to see it in the past (not now with so much of it packed away).</p>
<p>Thanks everyone. You guys are great but sorry I think I am not going to Haverford this fall.</p>
<p>doyouknow - so where are you headed?</p>