UWC student. Got into both. Full-ride.
I don’t know what I want to major in, so that can’t be a factor when deciding.
I know I might want to stay in the US over the summers and thus the more internship/job options outside college are there - the better.
I’m a bit into urbex, I like going to theatre plays and I like going out for food - I have no idea which one(Chicago or Maine) would be a better option for doing that.
Also, I plan on going to Europe/Asia after my undergrad (unless I get into a HYP for grad), if that plays any role.
Anyone know anything about the housing? The safety on/off campus? Anyone going there right now/graduated from either LF or COA?
The College of the Atlantic is a niche school. It really truly only appeals to a certain type of student, and that’s typically the same type of student whose dream it is to work in the environmental field and doesn’t mind being in a completely isolated environment. For that type of student CoA is an outstanding choice. From what you posted here, you don’t sound like that type of student.
In this instance, I would recommend you pick Lake Forest.
^I totally agree with whenhen. urbex, theater, going out for food, internships => Lake Forest (it’s right by Chicago and it’s got a program right into the city). COA is a great school but it’s away from any trace of “urban”, so forget any of the options above. It is, however, very safe.
Both schools are very safe - Lake Forest is in a very upscale suburb of Chicago. I agree with the other posters here - if you don’t know what you want to major in, College of the Atlantic would not be a good choice. Moreover, if you are interested in theater, food, urban life etc., Lake Forest, with its proximity to Chicago, is the clear choice.
Hey there–
I’m a graduating senior at College of the Atlantic. Congrats on getting in!
I don’t know much about Lake Forest, but can speak to my own COA experience.
COA is in Bar Harbor, which is a hugely popular town from April to October-- and then tends to clear out for the winter. During the tourist season, there are lots of restaurants, bars, theaters, music venues…all really fun to explore (and that’s before you even get into Acadia National Park, which is (non-urban) exploration at its best.). But it’s true, we’re farther from a major city (Portland, ME is 3 hours away; Boston is 6…). Students craving urban time make the trek to these places fairly often, and classes (especially art and theater classes) go on field trips to see shows and visit museums somewhat regularly. The trickiest time might be the winter, when the town is quite empty and there are fewer restaurants and venues open. I kind of love this time; other students hate it and make sure they’re off-campus (studying abroad, doing their internship, etc) every winter term. It’s flexible. Bar Harbor feels really safe, especially in the off-season (I’ve felt completely comfortable walking home alone at 2 AM on snowy, beautiful nights…sweet memories!).
When you mention majors, and I think I should mention that COA has only one major: Human Ecology. But having one major doesn’t mean we’re all studying the same thing-- in fact, it’s the opposite. There’s a huge diversity of what people study here, including international policy, theater, graphic design, literature, sustainable agriculture, marine science, education…it’s really varied. And one of the fun (and challenging) things is figuring out how you will define that, and what you will study. All of this is supported by an emphasis on getting hands-on experience-- so, you mention internships and jobs outside of college, and every student is required to take part in that here.
Hope that helps-- congrats, again, and good luck with the decision-making process.
I agree with those recommending Lake Forrst for someone who has not yet decided on a major field. CoA is great, but only if you really know that Human Ecology is the major you want now and are unlikely to change your mind. I’ve known one student who had to transfer from CoA because of a desire to change majors into a totally different field.