<p>Yeah. But there's a big difference between seeing 10,000 people on campus and seeing 30,000 people on campus.</p>
<p>Well I know that. Obviously I wouldnt group them next to UCS, but in the grand scheme of things, they're bigger schools compared to LACs.</p>
<p>people who thrive in large school environments tend to be more outgoing, aggressive/proactive, and comfortable with/skilled at navigating bureaucracy, with high enough self-esteem to accept that it's okay if the person signing off on your study abroad authorization form doesn't know you on a first-name basis...</p>
<p>And what on earth defines "acceptably pretty campus"</p>
<p>I think Columbia has the most singularly beautiful campus on earth</p>
<p>loslobos, Harvard and Duke have between 1400-1600 students, the average size of any top 15 private University. The actual environment at both Harvard and Duke is pretty strong in terms of undergrad focus - both have residential college systems, solid faculty:student ratios, and so on. </p>
<p>I'm pointing this out because UC Berkeley has 6,000 a class, 4X the size, and BU has 4000 a class, so I don't think its accurate to group Harvard and Duke with them when talking about having too much of a big school environment.</p>
<p>I said I was aware of that...</p>
<p>thanks u guys for all the advice...:) they really help alot!!!</p>
<p>Having strong willed Asian parents defines your choices. Rather than looking for a fit you would be comfortable with, you are being asked to attend those institutions that have brand names.</p>
<p>Thus: Brown, Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard, Northwestern, Princeton, Stanford, U of C (Berkeley, LA, San Diego), Yale.</p>
<p>I have seen many an unhappy Asian student. </p>
<p>You should look to schools that will allow you to be the best that you can be and where you can develop a personality that will enhance your character. With all the choices that the United States offers, there must certainly be a school that would define your person while offering an outstanding educational opportunity.</p>
<p>I'm guessing that since "acceptably pretty campus" ruled out Columbia (which does have a pretty but urban campus), you want a more suburban or rural school, maybe near but not in a city. Also, since you are international and in need of aid, that rules out public universities because your odds at them are much lower--or even non-existent. That makes it easy to pare down your list:</p>
<p>Amherst
Dartmouth
Duke
Northwestern
Pomona
Princeton
Stanford
Wesleyan</p>
<p>Given your stats, Princeton and Stanford are extreme reaches. The others are all reaches. I suggest picking three or so of the above after you've researched each more thoroughly. (You might want to also look at Colgate, Williams, Middlebury, and Haverford.)</p>
<p>Next, you want to come up with a list of five or six matches. Look into:</p>
<p>Bates
Bucknell
Davidson
Hamilton
Kenyon
Lafayette
Gettysburg</p>
<p>Last, likelies. Because you're an international student in need of aid, a "likely" does not really mean "safety." You'll need to research which schools give aid for internationals.</p>
<p>Dickinson
Drew
Wheaton (MA)</p>