I’ve narrowed down my schools to 5 choices: Vassar, Villanova, Colgate, Binghamton, & Boston College. All are great schools and most of the pros are similar (good academics, beautiful campuses, etc.) Binghamton obviously has that cheap tuition pro. I know Colgate, Villanova, & BC have reputations for being snobby and not diverse (I am a minority). Also, BC & Villanova have religious affiliations (religions I don’t follow). Villanova seems too sporty for me, but I am in the honors program. Colgate is kind of small. Vassar is very drama/artsy, and also has the highest tuition and is not as well-known outside of NY as the others. What do you think???
Have you visited them?
Yes
Is this acceptance question for May 1st or applications next year?
May 1st
OP, what majors interest you?
You’re right. You’ve got some good choices! I’ll let others point out the pluses for their faves since I can only speak for S’s experience. Vassar’s artsy reputation indeed attracted him when he thought he might be an art major (when he was a HS sophomore). He really enjoyed his first visit there, so when he later became more focused on bio, he was very pleasantly surprised when he started to hear about Vassar’s reputation in life/physical sciences, which turns out to be its second largest discipline group (behind Social Sciences, actually). And, as you probably know, Vassar just completed a massive new science facility. Which isn’t to say Vassar doesn’t have an artsy side - even as a bio major, he’s very involved with music and film as extracurricular activities. S enjoyed going to a very diverse public high school (in California), and he was looking for a similar experience in college. Vassar came out ahead of his other choices (including one that’s on your list), and last year was also recognized as the most economically diverse of “America’s Top Colleges.” Vassar is indeed not as well known as colleges with DI sports programs, but it is known among people for whom it will matter (grad schools, etc.). Vassar has a very large California contingent, and only about 20% of its students come from New York.Like I said, I’m sure others will have positive things to say about your other options. Congratulations on having some good ones!
Colgate first or Vassar. Unless massive loans required.
I would consider location and how good your major is at each of those schools
Are there differences for you in the costs? Will any require taking on more debt than the Stafford Loans?
Run the numbers here: http://www.finaid.org/calculators/awardletteradvanced.phtml
If any of your aid is merit-based, what do you need to do to keep those scholarships?
“I know Colgate, Villanova, & BC have reputations for being snobby and not diverse…” I’ve not heard that they are snobby. These and Vassar are excellent schools. They are more expensive than a generic state institution but that does not mean that the students are wealthy or snobby. A good percent at each are likely to be on grants/scholarships. In fact, generic public institutions can be more cliquey (and therefore snobby) because students from the same high school often glom onto each other whereas in national schools there are rarely many students from any one school so everyone is trying to get to know new people.
Colgate offers an excellent opportunity to spend time in a beautiful region that may not be available to you during other points in life (and its associated village is one of Forbes’ “America’s [15] Friendliest Towns”). Depending on whether you are male or female, this was either your toughest or second toughest admit. (Vassar would be the other.)