<p>If I am interested in IR, Middle East Studies, archaelogy/anthropology, which would be a better place to attend:</p>
<p>Swarthmore ($29,000 a year)
Tufts (32,000 a year)
Washu (8,000 a year)</p>
<p>I am also recieving a lot of money to go to washu, which is a good thing for my parents, but may detract from my learning experience (because I am not in a big city or on the coast..)</p>
<p>I have a friend who is currently coming back to Wash U for anthro. She majored in anthropology, and I'm not exactly sure what she's doing, but she's been really excited about WUstl's program. I can't say anything about Tufts or Swarthmore from personal experience, but I can definitely tell you that if Wash U is giving you so much money that you can get away with only $8000, I would go for Wash U. Not very many kids get that much money to go there, and I, personally, am very jealous!! I don't understand how the big grant would "detract from your learning experience", however. Wash U isn't really located in a "big city area". It's relatively isolated from the actual city of St.Louis. I think your learning experience should be great, whatever you choose to do at WU. The people there are pretty motivated and have one the best learning experiences in the nation.</p>
<p>haha...well, I only got one 2000 merit based grant. THe rest comes from my mom (who works there). Washu pays full tuition for me to go to their school</p>