I, too, would not want to raise your hopes of getting off the Wesleyan W/L (it tends to overaccept when given a ton of new applications.) However, I do want to add a couple of Cons to the RIchmond bandwagon. First of a all, none of these places are exactly Ohio State; you won’t need to join a fraternity to make friends. Secondly, Richmond, although it is a state capital, is really just a series of suburban neighbourhoods. The “fun” parts will require a car and I definitely don’t recommend driving and drinking. Thirdly, I think we can carry the “fit” thing a little too far. What you’re describing is the person you are now, not the person you’re going to be a few years from now. Don’t make the fit so tight that you have no room to grow.
Academically, I think Richmond may still have the edge; you will be surrounded by Econ and Business school majors. But, I’d like to put in a word for Bard; there is a way to cap off a fifth year with a finance degree, it’s just tough to really advocate for it over the other choices, especially for someone coming from overseas.
I won’t weigh in on the Richmond vs Bard debate, but I will say that you should scratch Wesleyan off your list. Very few students get off of waitlists at top colleges, so don’t count on it, and enroll elsewhere. If you do happen to get accepted to Wesleyan, you can weigh your options at that time, but it would be unwise to turn down somewhere you are accepted to in hopes of getting off the waitlist.
Bard and Richmond are very very different schools - North vs. South for one thing. If you’re looking for a student body that is more like that you see in American movies - Richmond will suit you better. If you stay on the waitlist at Wesleyan - you’ll have more of a mix of students - some of the intellectual unusual students from Bard, and some of the preprofessional career oriented students from Richmond. If you’re looking for a party school - Bard is not it. Not that there aren’t things to do - but it’s not organized large parties as at some other schools.
I think @circuitrider is right that we worry more than we should about ‘fit’ as everyone changes - which means you need an environment that will support you in whichever direction you may go.
Of all these schools on your list, I actually think Wesleyan would be the safest choice for you - as it has some of everything you’re looking for.
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