<p>hi all-
i've been pretty active in the transfer forum concerning a mid-year transfer for spring 2006. I applied to six schools and i just started hearing back from the schools last week.
i'm in at Oberlin, Wash U., Vassar, and Univ of Notre Dame. Have yet to hear from Middlebury but I need to make a decision soon and they only accept a handful of transfers mid-year anyway. No time to visit or anything which sucks, and i'm in the middle of finals : (
Here are my thoughts so far-
Oberlin- This school I know the least about, but it seems pretty cool being environmentally aware and focused on undergraduates. But Ohio? Someone who knows more about this school please elaborate.
Wash U.- great diverse student body, smaller university, basically I didn't think I'd get in
Vassar is full of non-preppie open-minded people, but they lean a bit more towards drama and music than most of the population, and I'm not sure how i would fit in. A friend who visited told me I may feel uncomfortable bc the school is very small and I'd have to deal with a 60-40 girl-guy ratio with many guys being gay, which I am already tired of dealing with at my current school.
Notre Dame- community atmosphere, school spirit, but too Catholic? There ARE places of worship in every dorm.
any advice from those who have personal experiences with these institutions would be very helpful.
Thanks in advance!!</p>
<p>wow, notre dame is VERY different from the others...definitely the odd one out on your list!
what are you interested in majoring in?</p>
<p>i don't think notre dame is very different from the others...it's small, in a rural location, and very strong in the liberal arts.
i am debating between an english or history major, possibly both.
any input?</p>
<p>Vassar, Oberlin, and WashU are all very liberal schools while Notre Dame is one of the most conservative in the country. Make sure you're aware just HOW liberal Oberlin is - I've read stories about really weird people going there who wear tails, all have piercings and colored hair, etc. but in general it's still an academically strong school. I think you got Vassar summed up pretty well.</p>
<p>I would pick WashU if I were you - it's IMO the best school on that list, and I took classes there this summer and I loved it. The others are all in bad locations, but if you like a rural environment then the others would work too.</p>
<p>I have been to 3 of the 4. Notre Dame IS different, full of completely different types of people. Its the only top 25 schools where republicans equal the number of democrats (by a small margin.) Not my type of school personally. </p>
<p>Oberlin is set in a BORING deadbeat town, although there is a ton happening on campus. Its extremely liberal and musically oriented. I wouldn't go there.</p>
<p>Vassar is pretty awesome. Beautiful campus, cool students, but there are many more women than men so you are right about the ratio. I think its a great school with a great atmosphere.</p>
<p>WashU is more middle of the road than the others. It has a party scene, great academics, but is bigger than the other.</p>
<p>I'd go with Vassar or WashU personally.</p>
<p>thanks so much for ur input so far guys.
i have been warned that oberlin is full of people off the beaten track, which of course isn't a bad thing but would not be the best fit for me. i guess u can say i'm boring/normal.
i'm pretty much split btw vassar and wash u. if by some miracle i got into middlebury tho, i would def go with middlebury over vassar. and then that would be a more difficult choice to make with midd vs. wash u.
sheesh...i wish i had the same conundrum when i applied to schools the first time around out of HS.
i guess no one likes notre dame...? when i was researching i really liked everything i heard about it esp in the ND forum. seems like a big happy family and they have unmatched school spirit for sure.</p>
<p>its not that i dont like notre dame (you're right about their fantastic fanatic school spirit)- its just SO different from the others- very conservative, very preppy, very white. oberlin and vassar especially are known for liberal, artsy, 'free-spirits,' so you dont really see too many cross-applicants between the former and the latters.</p>
<p>I agree choosing between Vassar and Wash U is HARD. I live in Ohio, and Oberlin is not about to excite you. It's a very boring town. Of course, it's also one of the most liberal schools out there in the midwest at least. ND is waaaay different. </p>
<p>I'd choose Wash U any day over Vassar though. I feel like it just has a lot more diverse group of people, and I prefer the city, but at this point, I guess you have to decide which you prefer</p>
<p>I think WashU sounds like the right place, Middlebury might complicate things...you might want to visit both if you get in.</p>
<p>My S is a junior at Wash U and is an easy going laid back friendly guy--who works hard and plays hard. It's said that WAsh U is a school for smart kids who like to have fun, and that's what we have seen. If you're more of a "normal" (whatever that is!) type kid, WAsh U is for you. Our son has a high school friend (girl) who's at Vassar; she loves it, but be aware that the kids are way more off beat, greater majority of girls, and a large gay scene. This is NOT a criticism--just stating facts. Good luck on your decision!</p>
<p>Notre Dame is a great school for anyone that wants a combination of academics and social life similar to Duke, Northwestern, and Stanford. The ND alumni network is perhaps the strongest and most loyal of any school in the country. The other schools Vasser, Oberlin, WashU while solid in academics are weak in school sprit and alumni networks.</p>
<p>i appreciate your help guys...now waiting for my financial aid packages to come in the mail. if they're skimpy, then my choice will be made for me. thanks everyone</p>