<p>First of all, thanks for all the opinions you will post on this thread - they will be of great help, I'm sure, as I cannot visit the United States prior to matriculation.
So, I've been admitted to all three - Early Write to Amherst. I've got about the same FA package from all three, except that it quality is worse at Vassar (I have to take about $3500 in loans, whereas elsewhere I need to take $500 the most). At the moment I am leaning towards Amherst but I do want to be sure about my decision.
My factors are:
- close contact with my professors, supportive learning environment;
- good (paid) internship opportunities in finance, strong alumni network;
- good opportunities to get into Business School (on FA for intels, which I know is a lot more competitive);
- study abroad opportunities;
- good PolSci, Econ, Languages and History departments;
- strong debate club/the opportunity to start one with adequate funding;
- political and economical diversity on campus - I would not like to feel "embarassed" for being on FA at my school;
- strong community feeling, cooperation between students;
- easy access to a metropolis;
- college town, town-gown relationship;</p>
<p>Any opinion on any of these factors is wellcome. Thanks.</p>
<p>Amherst is is the prestige school here, while all are very good. All will be good on the social front. Business ops, I don't know. Not very many LAC students are intent on going to business school, I don't think--could be wrong. However, you will be very well qualified for any. I wonder why you are picking small LAC's, which focus on a complete quality education and not on applied or vocational skills?</p>
<p>Oh, bettina, that's exactly what I want - complete education, as I have many interests in diverse fields of knowledge. I only applied to two universities - Harvard an P-ton, and, ad absurdum, if they accepted me, it would have been a tough decision. I like small schools, and I like being surrounded by people who are cooperative. Yes, I do want to go to business school, but that does not necessarily mean (I think) I need an uber-competitive environment to succeed for now - correct me if I'm wrong! And another thing - I am not 100% sure about business school - my other options are MAs in PolSci, Linguistics or History!</p>
<p>I think you are wrong if you don't understand that small quality LAC's are still uber competitive. Amherst will have the very top quality students with amazing EC's. You have nowhere to hide and everyone may know you strengths and weaknesses, but you will have a great opportunity for strong faculty relationships. Let's hope they give such a great education, they may change your major (that's UChicago's motto.)</p>
<p>Well, let me tell you what I understood about LACs, researching them from afar. I understand there is a degree of healthy competition in every LAC - on the other hand I don't expect people to be tearing each others textbooks - as I heard could happen at a large University. I don't want to hide anywhere, really - in fact I want to develop my passions further, working with other people towards these goals. My passions include linguistics, debate and history. Don't get me wrong, I am by no means obsessed by money, but I want a political career in my country and this could be a starting point. I really fell in love with the LAC environment the first time I got my hands on a viewbook.</p>
<p>Your inclination is correct: Go with Amherst! It's one of the best colleges in America. Oberlin and Vassar are also good, but not as rigorous and respected as Amherst. Amherst provides all your requirements -- and then some.</p>
<p>Many Amherst grads go on to get MBA's (and to law and medical school). My guess is many more than from Vassar and Oberlin; I'm sure someone could supply statistics. Amherst is well known on Wall Street.</p>
<p>Amherst is a great choice for you. Congratulations.</p>
<p>I vote for Amherst too. There is also the 5 College Consortium, although I've heard different opinions about it (some lukewarm). But Amherst is first class and will give you a well-rounded liberal arts education.</p>
<p>I think Amherst is a great school, as others have said above. However, if you are really interested in easy access to a metropolis, you ought to pick Vassar. Amherst is much further from Boston or NYC than Vassar is from NYC.</p>
<p>I believe a higher proportion of Amherst students, and alumni, are likely to share your interests in a career in business/ finance.</p>
<p>Amherst is, to me, among the most prestigious colleges in the country, but the other two are also fine schools. I , for one, have no basis to say which of the three is the most rigorous. If your stated interests were different I might suggest one of the other two.</p>
<p>You might check to see which school has the most offerings in linguistics, if it's important to you to pursue your stated interests in this field. I think you'll find some differences; not every school offers this.</p>
<p>Amherst is clearly the best college here. The only thing is it's not that near a big city and internships in finance won't be guaranteed, but with the Amherst name will be there if you are aggressive.</p>
<p>I vote for Amherst too; it's a fantastic school that offers an unbeatable education. Yes, it's farther away from a metropolis, but the college experience--if it works right--is more absorbing than many people expect; there's a lot to be said for focusing your attention on the campus and the incredible students and faculty you'll find there.</p>
<p>I vote for Amherst as well. It is the strongest one out of the three, and I am sure you will have no problem at all getting into a top business school (or any grad school) from there.</p>
<p>Amherst here, too. Though be sure it has the language offerings you want. Language departments at Amherst are good, but very small, and there aren't many of them (Vassar would have significantly more.)</p>
<p>The flagship program at Amherst - Law, Jurisprudence, and Social Thought - headed by their superstar prof Austin Sarat, is reputed to be the best in the country, better than at any of the Ivies. Students flock from all over the 5 Colleges to get a glimpse of him. (My d. decided to go to Smith instead, but even as a music composition major, when she went to visit Amherst, she sat in on Sarat.)</p>
<p>Wow, thanks so much mini, I guess I never knew about Sarat - I thought he taught at Williams :D. I am trying to fight the "Ivy Demons" at this moment - feeling miserable for no acceptance at the Ivies, though I only applied to 3 and it seems things really do end up fine.
When I posted this thread, I made it obvious that I am inclined to Amherst and this process is supposed to give the other colleges a chance as well.
Thank you so much for pointing out the language thing - though I plan on taking classes of Arabic at Mt Holyoke which I understood has a good programme and German at Amherst.</p>
<p>bogororo, it really does not matter in the end, your rejection from an ivy. You should read Evil Robot's post this year about Vandy (Vanderbilt). Challenging yourself, getting the most out of your experience in college is what matters. Amherst will give you that - a quality education.</p>
<p>I LOVE Vassar-- the NYC internship connection is very very good there; excellent quality of life on that campus, & very happy kids. Gorgeous campus. Vassar is not as "old boys network" though, a plus for B school.</p>
<p>Another big plus at Amherst is 5 colleges-- where you can get virtually ANY class, even if not offered at Amherst.</p>
<p>Since the advice you've been getting has been so nearly unanimous, here's a contrary opinion: years ago I chose Oberlin over Amherst, Brown, and Harvard, and I've never regretted it. It's a very special place which provides a superb education. I would not be so presumptuous as to urge you to choose one of these schools over another. But I would urge you to think for yourself, and to trust your own instincts.</p>