I know these are four pretty different colleges. My problem is my trouble visiting. I was really set on Brandeis because it seemed like a perfect soical fit and gave the best aid(4500 direct cost.) I was given a free trip to Sewanee and I’m on my way back. I thought it would be a fun trip but my problem is I loved the school. I though I could cross it off because I wouldn’t like the people but they were pretty great. I don’t plan to do Greek life but it seemed very inclusive like I’ve heard in the past. It also fits my original plan of going to a small rural liberal arts college. Also I love nature and it doesn’t seem like any school can match it there. I guess everything was way better than I expected and I could just see myself there. The problem is the best they could do for financial aid was a bit over 8K direct cost. Then Holy Cross is around 7k and Berea may be free but I’m not sure yet. I am pretty liberal at least in social views(might end up voting Green Party if that’s an option this election), like social justice, like diversity, don’t like to party so on paper Brandeis sounds great. It’s just feels hard to pick Brandeis or another option and hope I like it when I have confidence in Sewanee or at least a really good feeling about it. I know this is my own decision but I’d appreciate any input or advice. Thank you.
How readily can your family cope with the differences in direct cost?
What would you and your family be able to do with the approximately 4k each year that you’d save by choosing Brandeis over Sewanee?
Right now small and rural sounds good to you. Do you think that might change during the next four years?
If you have never visited Brandeis, could you try asking them about a trip to visit to help you decide?
Well it’s mainly going to be me doing the coping. My EFC is zero and it my FC will probably actually be zero. I plan to work this summer though. So if I take out 5500 loans I could hopefully cover the rest from summer. I mean a lot can change but I’ve been pretty set on a LAC. Not that living by boston would be bad and Brandeis isn’t big by any means. I haven’t talked to my Brandeis admissions officer before. I considered asking but I assumed it was pretty rare to get a free trip like this.
Sewanee has the 4-year price guarantee, which means you might actually come out ahead in the end by going there, or at least break even as opposed to the others. And it really is a unique college community.
Also, your living expenses in the NE may be more, and transportation is further, all considerations.
My D chose Sewanee because over the course of several visits it really felt right. She thoroughly enjoyed the classes she sat in on, and was impressed by everyone she met. Good luck with your decision!
@MidwesternDad3 thank you and congrats on your daughter! I think the price lock is awesome but I didn’t think it would affect me much until today. I was under the impression that all colleges reduce grant as you can borrow more subsidized loan but the financial aid person was pretty confident my aid would remain constant if my situation didn’t change(more than likely won’t). I probably don’t really understand how the partying is at Sewanee. Besides that and the diversity it seems like a great choice. I’m sure a Brandeis intro class with a hundred people wouldn’t be bad but I did really appreciate the fact that the intro chem class i sat in today at Sewanee had 30 people max. I just don’t think I can go to a school visit-less anymore. I’d be nervous all summer.
8k - 5.5k = 2.5k that you need to meet from summer earnings for direct costs at Sewanee. What about your indirect costs. Will you make enough this summer to be able to cover that too?
I’m a Brandeis grad, so I’m not objective here. But I’ll give my $0.02 anyway.
There is no comparison from an academic standpoint. Deis is head and shoulders at the top of your list. The only other one that would even be in the same conversation would be Holy Cross, but if you have any sort of progressive politics, it’s not the place for you.
@happymomof1 I am hoping work study will help with indirect costs. I will also apply for whatever outside scholarship I can now but I know it’s really late so not expecting much.
@soze I agree that it’s a great school and there are some advantages to it being a National Research University as I could get involved in some higher level research. Also the entering class has a little better stats than the other two schools. I don’t think there would be any drop in the academic quality though and all three seem very well respected and not super well known. I’ve been impressed by all the professors I met at Sewanee and they seem very dedicated. I guess they dont have a choice when they live on campus but I do really like the idea of undergrad only professors. I’m not a highly political person but I guess I am pretty progressive. I might cross off holy cross just because I won’t get to see it in time and at least on paper Brandeis seems a better choice for me. So that would leave Brandeis, Sewanee and Berea.
“I will also apply for whatever outside scholarship I can now but I know it’s really late so not expecting much.”
You need to know that most places will reduce your need-based aid by the amount of an outside scholarship. So double-check the policies at the universities that are still on your list. It may not be worth the effort to apply for any outside scholarships at this point.
Don’t discount how the location enhances the overall academic experience. The Boston area is second to none in the world for concentration of high-quality institutions. The opportunities to go to lectures and events across the region can be a huge impact on your undergrad experience. This is pretty much a non-option at a place like Sewanee who will certainly have guests stop by now and again, but this is nothing like what you will get at a place like Brandeis.
To add on to @soze post, Boston also offers far more opportunities for volunteer work in social justice than rural areas, especially if you don’t have a car.
I’m glad that you had a great visit at Sewanee. However, Sewanee is one of the most heavily Greek colleges in the country - approximately 70% of the student body is in a fraternity or sorority, and the vast majority of social life will definitely revolve around the Greek system - this may or may not be an issue for you.
In terms of progressive student body, Brandeis is definitely more left leaning than Sewanee. If you haven’t seen Brandeis, you should definitely contact the school to see if free transportation is a possibility - it can’t hurt to try.
And finally, I don’t know where you live, but you need to factor in travel costs. Will Sewanee be more more expensive or is it a wash?
@happymomof1 that was the main reason I didn’t apply for outside scholarships but the Brandeis aid brochure and the head financial lady I talked to at Sewanee both clearly stated I could use aid for any direct cost and it wouldn’t affect the grant I was receiving.
@soze I totally agree that boston would be awesome, but I loved the nature at Sewanee so it’s a trade off. I was looking forward to seeing Noam Chomsky at some point but not sure how common he gives outside lectures. Very good point though. @whenhen that’s definitely true. It seem like some of the local outreach program are fairly active at Sewanee though and according to the student panel they have funded service trips.
The fraternities and sororities at Sewanee are largely non-residential, parties are open to all, and all but one sorority are locals. So while 70% may belong, it is definitely a different Greek vibe than you find at many state schools and large privates. Students repeatedly told us that while they may belong to a Greek organization, “it doesn’t define who I am” at Sewanee.
I think it is also a misleading generalization to suggest that urban universities have far more opportunities in volunteer work and social justice than Sewanee. Sewanee has a very robust community engagement program in the area immediately surrounding campus. The Bonner Scholars initiative is one of their flaqship service programs.
As for Brandeis and Holy Cross being head and shoulders above Sewanee academically, and not even “in the same conversation,” the 26 Rhodes scholars from Sewanee may beg to differ. Academics are superb. Outside lecturers stop by more often than “now and again.” I’m not quite sure what is behind the misinformation, but I think some commenters might consider a refresher visit to campus. There are some great schools that are outside the northeast.
I am well aware of Sewanee’s local outreach and their Bonner Scholar program. However, I know that both of my friends who were Bonner Scholars at a rural, two year LAC, commented that they had far more outreach opportunities at the suburban university they continued on to. As you might be able to ascertain from my profile picture, I am well aware that great schools exist outside of the Northeast.
Forbes magazine ranks Holy Cross higher than Brandeis… #53 vs. #74, while Sewanee checks in at #98.
I don’t consider any of these differences to be of a “head and shoulders” nature. Each has its strengths, but it is hard to make a mistake with any of these colleges.
FWIW, as a Catholic, I can tell you that most seriously conservative Catholics consider Holy Cross to be liberal “train wreck” (along with Georgetown). It is a Jesuit school, and the Jesuits are generally regarded as leaning left compared with the rest of Catholicism. No matter what you political or social views are, I can assure you that those views will be given a respectful hearing at Holy Cross.
One of my biggest hesitations about Sewanee has been the Greek Life. I felt better about it after visiting though. Still probably won’t join a frat but I don’t think I would have a problem with it. Also rankings don’t mean too much to me. I feel like all three are on the same level.
@NROTCgrad I have heard that Holy Cross is fairly progressive. I actually do like the Jesuit mission and the campus seems great. I just feel like without the visit to either Brandeis wins. Still having trouble with the idea of commuting to a school without a visit though.
You are wise beyond your years. :)>-
Forbes bases a significant chunk of its rankings on the website RateMyProfessor - this is a completely valueless measurement in my opinion. An additional heavy weight is given to payscale.com. While some people might consider this a valuable measurement, I tend to discount it quite a bit since (i) engineering schools are generally the top performers, not a surprise since engineers make fairly substantial starting salaries and (ii) it tends to favor schools with heavy concentrations of students who go into banking or on Wall Street (Holy Cross has much better representation in these fields than Brandeis and HC also has an accounting major which leads to higher salaries). I’m not making a judgment about HC or Brandeis here - I’m just stating my view that the Forbes measurements are not particularly helpful if you’re trying to determine which school is better academically.
Holy Cross offers the best combination of academics and social life. HC students love Holy Cross and HC HAS ONE OF THE BEST ALUMNI NETWORKS FOR JOB PLACEMENT.,Holy Cross also has Division1 sports and plays most of the Ivies in football and basketball,