<p>So, I'm trying to finalize my college list, and so far CC has been a great place to bounce ideas off of people. As i try to fill my last spot on my college list, i thought i'd use it once again for advice.</p>
<p>I'm a rising senior, and i only want to apply to six schools. Absolutely no more. I have the first five figured out, but i just can't decide on the sixth? Any help would be awesome.</p>
<p>Currently, my college list is
Pomona(reach)
Smith(reach)
Pitzer(match)
Union(match)
UAlabama(safety)</p>
<p>I cannot decide between Wellesley, F&M, Hampshire, or Mount Holyoke. I like them all very much, but for very different reasons. I can elaborate if you'd like, but i would rather just get your unbiased opinion. Remember, i have to choose just one</p>
<p>My Stats are alright, I got a 34 on my ACT, 5's on all my AP Tests, Rank in the top 1% of my class, work part time, have decent EC's and have volunteered over 1000 hours if that helps you give the advice..</p>
<p>I would not use your last application for Hampshire, because I don’t think that it’s on a par academically with the other schools on your list. Mt. Holyoke and F&M are matches and Wellesley is a slight reach, but you have an excellent chance of getting in. I would probably go for Mt. Holyoke (because you seem to be interested in the consortium) or Wellesley (because it’s a reasonable reach).</p>
<p>Are you kidding me? While Hampshire may not be as “selective” as the others, it is no breeze academically. It is known for a very intellectual, learning for learning’s sake environment. I would say it is definitely tougher then F&M and probably tougher academically then Wellesley. Do not follow prestige and selectivity blindly.</p>
<p>I’m sorry if I upset you smallcolleges, but from an objective standpoint (nothing to do with prestige or selectivity), Hampshire has lower stats than the other schools being considered for the 6th spot by the OP. For example, the 25-75 percentile SAT scores at Hampshire are 1150-1370, while at Wellesley they are 1300-1480, at F&M they are 1210-1380 and at Mt. Holyoke, they are 1230-1420. The six year graduation rate at Hampshire is 67.3%, while the rate at Mt. Holyoke is 81%. The percentage of students at Hampshire who were in the top 10% of their high school classes is 20%, while at F & M, it was 57%. And I could go on.</p>
<p>That doesn’t mean that the academic environment at Hampshire isn’t very good. I just personally feel that the other schools provide excellent academic experiences and get higher performing students who graduate in higher percentages (which I think is important to maintain a sense of community at a school). However, that is only my opinion and yours is equally valid.</p>
<p>If Smith is a reach for you, I think Pitzer should also be a reach or a high match. Its acceptance rate has dropped precipitously. With your profile, though, I’d consider Smith and Pitzer low matches and Union a high safety(?). Wellesley is a high match, F&M safety, Hampshire high safety, Holyoke low match.</p>
<p>Also, you really need to elaborate on why you like each of the four schools. Other people’s opinions are irrelevant when their priorities differ from yours.</p>
<p>You haven’t mentioned FA–will you qualify for sufficient need-based aid? If you need merit aid, Pomona and Wellesley should be out of the question.</p>
<p>midatlmom - The statistics you cite re: Hampshire are absolutely reason for concern. They don’t necessarily indicate, however, that Hampshire isn’t “on a par academically.” Fit and interest is important at Hampshire; thus, I wouldn’t consider it a true safety for anyone, just like the Seven Sisters.</p>
<p>As far as FA is concerned, i will qualify for need based aid, although merit is always nice. However, with Pomona’s and Wellesley’s FA programs, i shouldn’t have an issue affording their level of loans.</p>
<p>As for the schools, i’ll give a quick run down:</p>
<p>Hampshire: I gotta admit, i like the hippie vibe i get from this school. I also really like the fairly open curriculum. That is important to me, but not essential. I do not like the 6 year grad rate. that does concern me</p>
<p>F&M: I absolutely love the guy who runs their theatre, and i plan on being very involved with theatre, so this matters to me. I also really just like the feel of F&M. I don’t like that it’s in Lancaster cuz it’s kinda no man’s land. </p>
<p>Wellesley: I want another women-only option should Smith not work out. Wellesley has great FA and i like the fact you can cross register at MIT or Olin. I also like how many women go on to get PhD’s from here. I love all the cutesy traditions. I don’t like how intense it seems(i don’t mind intense, it just seems very much so)</p>
<p>Mount Holyoke: For a while, Scripps was on my list, but i eventually dropped it because of it’s core. Mount Holyoke reminds me a lot of Scripps in its more laid back women’s college vibe. I like that it’s in Massachusetts, love their library, and also like their cutesy traditions. However, I don’t know if i would choose to attend here over Smith…</p>
<p>If you like Wellesley for the PHD production rate, is there any reason why you aren’t considering Bryn Mawr? BMC is generally better-known for the ivory-tower-academic than Wellesley, which is more grounded (and also, some would say, more overtly competitive). Cut F&M; one person isn’t really a good reason for liking a school (what if the awesome theatre guy leaves next year or the year after?). Are you okay with Hampshire’s project-based curriculum? It’s open, yes, but different from Smith’s open curriculum–Hamp is very independent-study-based. Wellesley is probably your best bet for FA (other than Pomona, a reach), but would you choose it over Smith? What if Wellesley was significantly cheaper than Smith?</p>
<p>I don’t see Smith being a reach given your stats. More like a low match, possibly even a safety. It’s got the highest acceptance rate (51.9%) and lowest middle 50% SAT scores (1150-1380 CR + M) of any LAC in the US News top 25. Your 34 ACT translates to about 1510 SAT CR + M, or 130 points above Smith’s 75th percentile, and your class rank is obviously stellar. Unless you write perfectly lousy essays or get negative recommondations, it’s hard to see how you’re not admitted.</p>
<p>I second keilexandra in suggesting you seriously consider Bryn Mawr if you want another women’s college on the list. It’s as intellectual as Smith, if not more so. On our visit, my D experienced Wellesley as intensely competitive and pre-professional; not her cup of tea. I do think Wellesley is clearly the best school of the four you suggest, and given that you’ve already got Alabama as a safety and Smith as a low match/safety, it wouldn’t hurt to add another reach-y college, which Wellesley would be. But Bryn Mawr might be more to your liking. I also endorse the suggestion that you consider Wesleyan. Definitely a reach, but a terrific school and your stats are well within the range of those they’d consider seriously.</p>
<p>I definitely don’t think Pitzer is a match, it might be if there is a drop in applicants this upcoming year. Its low acceptance rate, and on top of being one of the few schools that makes sats scores optional, there is more to just stats that will be taken into consideration especially for a school whose acceptance rate is currently the lowests its ever been.</p>
<p>I just think Wesleyan sounds like a great choice for this student based on the (rather limited) information provided in this thread, a better choice, in fact, than all of the other schools being tossed around for the last spot.</p>
<p>Just take a look at their website, I think you’ll find that the school suits you well.</p>
<p>^ You make a good point, bigp. “Hippie vibe”? High Ph.D. production? Vibrant theater scene? More chill than Wellesley? Open curriculum/no “core”? Rich curricular options? Sounds like Wesleyan all the way.</p>