<p>I am really struggling to pick between the two and was hoping for some advice. I am an intended neuroscience major, studio art minor (or possibly as a double major, I haven't quite figured that part out). The schools are drastically different which I am aware of and each have pros and cons for me. I am politically liberal, don't intend to go Greek, prefer co-ed (but am not opposed to women's colleges), plan to pursue a masters/med school after college, self-identify as a "nerd" and am vegetarian (not sure how much this matters, but I want a school where I have options besides salads for the next four years). Cost does matter a lot, W&L is giving me enough money in work study/grant aid to cover tuition/room/board while I would need to take out $6,000 a year in loans at Smith.</p>
<p>Sorry this turned into a mini rant, advice would be much appreciated!</p>
<p>W&L is as conservative as most colleges get. That might be a problem for you or you might really like the debate. Having the full ride there is really enticing. Why don’t you mention your situation to someone in Financial Aid at Smith and see if something can be done. You’re obviously a very attractive candidate to W&L. Maybe Smith can do something to reduce those loans. Don’t expect a reduction to zero, but just ask them if there’s anything they can do. BTW, you yourself are limited to 5500 in loans the first year, so someone would have to either co-sign loans to you for more than that or you’d need to find the 500 some other way. I’d also check out the arts at W&L and see if they breathe there; I simply don’t know about the arts there. </p>
<p>@jkeil911 I formally appealed my financial aid with Smith (it was originally $4,000 in loans and a $4,000 EFC which my family can’t afford/I would need to take out loans to cover). They came back saying they can give me an extra $2,000 a year in loans but that was all they could do. I have $2,000 in outside aid which reduces the new loans to $4,000. I would then take out an extra $2,000 a year to cover my EFC (my mom would probably be the one to co-sign). Do you think it would be worth it try appealing one more time?</p>
<p>No, I think you’re probably done. What you want to know, tho, is if that aid applies to all four years. Ask them that if the paper offer isn’t clear. Is it possible that you could make up some of that loan money by applying for state and local scholarships and by work. You might find a summer job this year that could provide 2K in savings if you’re careful. Might a summer internship in neuroscience provide a couple thousand and free housing at Smith or W&L. There’s money at both schools. How can you find and use it?</p>
<p>Don’t know anything about W&L, but Smith is a great place for a vegetarian. There’s a vegetarian dining hall, but many vegetarians don’t bother going there much of the time because there are so many vegetarian options in their own dining hall. There are a lot of restaurants in Northampton and most of them have vegetarian options. Smith has a lot of nerdy students and there are many nerdy activities/clubs. </p>
<p>Have you visited both? Smith certainly sounds like a better fit for you, but I don’t know much about art at W&L either. Although I’d rather not see anyone incur debt for undergrad, the figures you mention sound manageable.</p>
<p>Smith sounds like a good fit and W&L… really doesn’t. I can’t think of two schools that are more opposite than this (except ASU/BYU :D). The numbers you gave make Smith financially doable and based on what you said about yourself, I think you’d have trouble fitting in at W&L (have you visited?)</p>
<p>I have visited both schools (W&L was generous enough to fly me out earlier this year and I went to Smith last week). With W&L I met some great people that I would love to spend my time with, but it was clear that I don’t fit in with the general population (it would very much be that I find my small group and stick with them). With Smith it was overall a much better social fit, but I am still not sure if I want an all-girls school.</p>
<p>Look, you can find your people almost anywhere, OP, but when my D found out they buried the entire Lee family under the chapel on campus, presumably to avoid the desecration of their tombs, wild horses couldn’t drag her to W&L. Just saying that when D found this out W&L was not the college for my liberal, northern child. It’s her loss, really, since W&L is a very good school.</p>