<p>So, May 1st is a week away, and I'm still not sure where I'll be.</p>
<p>My choices are Hampshire, Wooster, Grinnell, and New College of Florida.</p>
<p>All have offered comparable financial aid, so that doesn't help (NCF moreso, since it's in-state for me). They're liberal artsy type places that allow students to basically take whatever they like, small, academically challenging, with big final project sort of things occupying the last two years.</p>
<p>Oh, and unfortunately, I have not been able to visit any of them due to lack of time and money (except for NCF, which I will be visiting this week; I'm a horrible procrastinator, I know). </p>
<p>I know it's ultimately only me who can decided where to go, etc, etc. But I'm curious. What would your choice be, in this situation, and why?</p>
<p>i'd choose grinnell simply because i know the most about it.. they sent me a student publication of short essays about grinnell, why they chose grinnell, what they like about it, etc, from jr year until this winter (when they realized i hadn't applied, i guess) and so if you get them i guess you'd already have all the info but if you don't you could probably find it online. it sounded really nice... kinda in the middle of nowhere but with lots of creative and interesting people who have fun.</p>
<p>Wow these schools are great. If you're a girl, the ratio at NCF is a downer though. I'd be choosing between grinnel and NCF if I were you. It's a toughie alright.</p>
<p>Thanks for your input, guys. Hmm, you've all made me want to consider Grinnell more seriously. I guess I haven't really just because it's in the middle of Iowa, but I've heard it's the Oberlin of the midwest (and I love Oberlin, was waitlisted sadly).</p>
<p>Hampshire is an AMAZING place, though Grinnell seems cool, I know little about it other than it's in, like, a cornfield in Iowa.</p>
<p>So I'll tell you a little bit about Hampshire because I've taken a bunch of classes there.</p>
<p>Firstly, Hampshire students aren't graded or tested. They write a lot of papers. Classes are generally very small and intimate. All of the papers are commented on and at the end of the year you will receive a page-long evaluation by the professor instead of a letter grade. I find it to be much more fulfilling than a grade, but it differs from person to person and often makes transferring more difficult.</p>
<p>Hampshire students are able to take classes at Amherst College, UMass, Mt. Holyoke, and Smith. This brings on a huge wealth of resources that I assume are not available to the other colleges on your list.</p>
<p>The campus is extremely liberal and very friendly and intimate feeling, but it is near Northampton and in Amherst; both are incredible towns with a lot of offerings.</p>
<p>Hampshire students are divided into three Divisions and have a very unique curriculum; everyone who goes there either loves it or hates it. Personally, I love Hampshire and think it is a wonderful environment but I don't want to mislead you as you may be different.</p>
<p>I would choose between Grinnell and Hampshire if I were you.</p>
<p>Just in case any of you were curious, I visited New College today. And ew. I was put off by all the mold on the dorms. The people seemed a bit snobby. I don't know; just not the place for me. </p>
<p>So, I think I'll end up at Grinnell. Still thinking, but that's where I'm leaning.</p>
<p>For those who don't know New College is typically ranked as one of the best bargains in college education and WSJ's top "feeder schools" to elite programs. Academically it is probably at the top of stars list. The downside is an enrollment of only 600, a reputation for attracting "alternative" students (could be good or bad depending on your perspective) and not much of a campus, though it is in one of the most beautiful parts of the country.</p>
<p>I think NCF is one of the most underrated schools in the country, and with some more funding and a more equal gender ratio, they could easily step up their game even more.</p>