<p>I've narrowed down my choices to these three. I want to ED, but I'm not sure which one I'll be most happy at. Toured and loved all, even though they are quite different (obviously Holyoke is the most 'traditional'). With an interest in creative writer/literature, could someone tell me some pros and cons for each of these schools? Also, how do they line up in terms of prestige & rigor (while I don't have intentions to go to grad school, strong academics and connections/opportunities are pretty important to me).</p>
<p>Of these three, MHC has the strongest overall academic reputation, and the best need-based financial aid.</p>
<p>Sit your parents down, and find out how much they truly are ready, willing, and able to shell out for your college education. If your parents have something like $60,000 available each year for four years and are happy to spend it at any of these three institutions, then you are fine. If there is a chance that you need financial aid, do not apply anywhere ED. Apply regular admissions so that you will be able to compare the various financial aid packages.</p>
<p>Agree with happymom! If money is a concern, do not go ED, you need to be able to compare financial aid packages. MHC has a great reputation for meeting need, the other two do not.</p>
<p>“If there is a chance that you need financial aid, do not apply anywhere ED.”</p>
<p>This doesn’t follow. MHC is very well endowed, the other two are poorly endowed. If you need FA apply to MHC ED. If it isn’t enough, you can turn it down, but you won’t get more from Sarah Lawrence or Bennington.</p>
<p>Applying ED means that the student will not be able to compare aid packages. Possibly MHC would be the best overall, but there will be no way to know that. And, it will be an estimated package that may be adjusted up or down when the final CSS Profile and FAFSA are filed in January or so. </p>
<p>In some cases when a family has a very clear notion of what is and isn’t affordable, ED might be acceptable. However the student will have to also complete a bunch of back-up applications and have them sitting ready to go in case the ED aid offer isn’t good enough. Not to mention that some of the best guaranteed merit-based aid often has very early cut-off dates for those applications which means that waiting to hear from your ED institution first can mean that you miss the dates for a guaranteed free-ride somewhere else.</p>