About me:
Major: Neuroscience (Premed)
Things that are important to me: Connections, Research (sciences), Reputation, Community, Inclusivity and Faculty Student relationship, pre-professional preparation.
Options (Note that aid is displayed in how much I am required to pay per year to the school, and what I’d take in Loans)
Colgate University (Paying 1.7k a year w/ 1.5k sub loan per year)
Wesleyan University (paying 2.4k a year w/ 2.25k loan per year)
Bates College (paying 1.75k a year with a 2k loan per year)
Emory University (Paying 2.3k a year with a 3.5k loan per year)
I like Emory the most since I felt a good gut feeling when on campus. I also really like Wesleyan. Colgate has excellent research with their new science building, and the campus is stunning. Bates has early assurance for tufts med school.
overall I like them all. I just don’t know what to choose. All suggestions are welcome.
I don’t see any losers here. Weather?
I am from Massachusetts so weather isn’t of concern
These are all good choices.
The LACs will give you smaller classes and easier access to profs for at least your gen-eds, while the research opportunities at Emory will probably be more plentiful and cutting-edge.
The cost seems fairly close among the four, so look at other areas of fit:
- Academic: Read up on the classes available at each school to figure out which provides the best academic fit. Also, which schools have the best alternative majors to suit other interests, just in case you change your mind? As stated, check out class sizes and research opportunities. Finally, look at degree requirements and figure out which you prefer.
- Social: Research the social
scene/vibe at each school. For instance, do you prefer the "work hard/play hard" party approach at Colgate or perhaps a more laid-back social scene elsewhere? What about the sports scene and school spirit?
- Dorms/food: You have to live and eat there for four years. This is important.
- Environment/ culture: Do you prefer the rural settings of the LACs or the city of Atlanta? What music, art, pro sports, restaurants and other opportunities are available? How easy is it to get around campus and into the city or nearest town?
You mentioned having a positive gut feeling from Emory. Definitely factor that in (as well as the feelings from any other visits) too. Sometimes the gut feeling is the most important thing.
These are pretty much academic peers, I think, and the cost is in the same ball park at all four, so choose based on the fit factors mentioned above.
Colgate does not stack up well against Wesleyan in terms of research; new science buildings are often an indication of where the college would like to be in ten or fifteen years, not necessarily where it is now:
http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/college_guide/rankings-2015/liberal-arts-colleges-research.php
I thought I had heard it all before, But this quote takes the cake:
“new science buildings are often an indication of where the college would like to be in ten or fifteen years, not necessarily where it is now:”
Select Colgate if you are inspired by its faculty, programs, curricula and science buildings, currently Olin c 1970, Wynn c 1984, and Ho c 2007, and you prefer your financial aid package.
Go 'gate!
Politically, Wesleyan is the outlier along those colleges (very liberal).
Bates and Emory are a bit more moderate but still liberal.
Colgate is a bit more conservative moderate (but probably leans more liberal than usual in the current election due to the front-runners.)
Emory is larger, with the traditional pluses and minuses linked to that.
Emory has better weather.
Emory is in a big city, bates and Wes are close enough to cities, Colgate is further away from cities.
You may want to look at general ed requirements, study abroad options, requirements for your major.
Frankly you can’t choose wrong, all four are terrific and at a great cost.
Emory and Colgate have a frat culture. As an Emory graduate with a kid at Wesleyan, Emory is much more pre-professional and has a somewhat competitive environment. Wesleyan has far more “normal” kids than its reputation belies and is probably more similar to Bates than the other two.
Don’t forget to let us know what you decided, and why 