<p>Okay, so I'm actually really nervous that there's only a week left until final decisions need to be made, as I'm sure more than a few of us are!</p>
<p>The choice that I'm facing is a difficult one because each school is unique and I like them for unique reasons.</p>
<p>I want your input in addition to what I already think.</p>
<p>Sarah Lawrence College:</p>
<ul>
<li> I love their academic system as well as their model of Oxford's system of donning. I'm kind of intimidated by thirty page conference papers, however.</li>
<li> New York City is an amazing resource.</li>
<li> I plan on studying philosophy, one of their many strengths.</li>
<li> I would exit Sarah Lawrence well-prepared for either grad school or the work force, with skills in writing and critical thinking, as well as experience with internships.</li>
</ul>
<p>Mount Holyoke College:</p>
<ul>
<li> Their distribution requirements would make me really well rounded, although I'm afraid that they would be too restricting in comparison to SLC's system.</li>
<li> The consortium (MHC, Smith, Hampshire, UMass, Amherst)!</li>
<li> Soo much tradition on the campus! It's amazing.</li>
</ul>
<p>I'd like to study philosophy with education and educational policy mixed in. I don't mind the all-girls (or mostly girls) environment, because that will pretty much be the case at either school. Distance / weather isn't an issue, because they are practically the same. The financial aid offers of the schools are within $1000 of each other.</p>
<p>Any thoughts? I need a way to separate these schools in order to make a decision!</p>
<p>I DO plan on continuing on to grad school and I’m not POSITIVE as to the major, although I have a fairly good idea that philosophy will be the one.</p>
<p>I think MH has by far a stronger academic reputation and culture these days–also wider social as well as academic opportunities because if the consortium. Seems to me you’d have a lot more options for the future with a degree from MH as well.</p>
<p>I agree with mattmom–Mount Holyoke. But you have to go with whichever one feels best to you. A wonderfully wise mom on another thread suggested putting the names of both schools into a hat and randomly “picking” the one you’ll go to. If you feel an instinctive jab of disappointment in the one you “pick,” that’s your heart speaking to you. Worth a try, eh?</p>
<p>I too think MH is the better choice. The consortium will offer lots of extra social and academic opportunities, and the distribution requirements will encourage you to study subjects you might otherwise forgo. You never know where a chance class might lead your interests!</p>
<p>Socially, I think that Mount Holyoke is an easier place. From what I hear, SLC can be a little difficult, cold. MHC is much more isolated geographically though, so if you think that will bother you, take that in to account. They are both really good schools though, with many strengths, and you are lucky to have such a great choice. I really think you can’t go wrong, and that once you decide you should just not look back, or second guess yourself. Most people end up happy with the schools they choose. You can be happy almost anywhere if you decide to be.</p>
<p>I really like alot about sarah lawrence and plan on applying (if rejected this fall from all of my choices). they do seem to have a really great program going on but then again, I have never looked into Mt Holyoke because I am a guy.</p>
<p>I think you’ve all affirmed what I’ve been thinking - I’d been tending towards MHC for the reasons you’ve listed, I just didn’t want to feel that I was missing out on something wonderful at SLC. But since I know either school could make me happy if that’s what I want (and who wouldn’t), it’s tough deciding one way or the other.</p>
<p>I DO love both schools and am extremely pleased to be in this happy problem right now. :)</p>
<p>If anyone else says SLC, what do you think that I could gain there that I couldn’t at MHC?</p>