where to go...please give advice

<p>I got accepted to Haverford, but also Swarthmore, Princeton, Cornell, Johns Hopkins, University of Delaware, and Smith College. I think I'm 98% sure I want to go to Haverford...but out of the schools I got into, which do you think is better?</p>

<p>I need a place where community is very important and people are very friendly, where I can be a name instead of a number. I also like personal attention from professors because I find that I learn better that way. I also need to be in a place where people won't dislike me because I'm weird/strange/abnormal/unique and where I can be myself without the threat that people will start hating me. I know that wherever I go to college, there's going to be drinking but I don't drink and I prefer to stay away from people who are drinking. I need to find somewhere where I know that people do something else for socializing besides drinking. Also, at some schools there is sometimes tension between ethnic groups (as I've heard from some of my friends in college) and I'd prefer to go to a school where that is at a minimum, especially since I fall on the lines and technically don't fit into one particular group. I'm not sure what I want to study yet, but right now I'm interested in plant biology/herbalism, music, art/photography, creative writing and foreign language. Out of the different schools I got into, which one do you think I'd fit the best at, and do you think Haverford is a good place for me?</p>

<p>Haverford is amazing...aside from the ubiquitous drinking binges on Thursday-Saturday nights...which is one reason why I'm trying to transfer. I have found it very difficult to keep myself occupied while everyone I know gets trashed. I also do not partake in such activities and often feel alienated here. There are people here who don't drink and still have fun. As for me, I'm pretty socially inept and eccentric, so take my comments with a grain of salt.</p>

<p>I'm sure you'd be able to manage though. From your description, I really think Haverford is the school for you. No one will judge you; you'll definitely find your niche.</p>

<p>I'm going to Haverford next year, and I don't drink, so you won't be alone. But I think that you'll find drinking at any school. I know someone at Princeton this year who's trying to transfer to Columbia because of the amount of drinking at Princeton. I've heard mixed things about drinking at Haverford though, both that Haverford has relatively little drinking and that there is a fair amount that goes on. On a recent college visit, a mother of a Haverford student told my friend that if he wanted a college with little drinking she should look at Haverford. And when I visited, one of my host's roommates told me that she had only been to one party since coming to Haverford, and the only people who really partied were athletes.</p>

<p>If you're seeking a college with a strong sense of community and a place where you will have multiple opportunities to form relationships with faculty, you probably cannot do better than H'ford, my alma mater. You also will not find another campus with an honor code quite as comprehensive (and effective) as what you will live under for four years at Haverford.</p>

<p>Congrats on your many fine choices.</p>

<p>J.P.</p>

<p>Community is definitely important here, and one of the things i like most about the school is how friendly the people are. As for being just a number, it all depends on what you make of it. I'm in two of the biggest classes in school - intro psych and gen chem- and my psych prof has no idea who i am, but my gen chem professor knows me by name, and i've met with her on several occassions - she even knows i'm on the basketball team, and we had a little chat about how the season went last time i met with her. And if you're in a smaller class and you want the personal attention, you'll definitely get it. </p>

<p>As for drinking, you'll find it at haverford just like you'll find it at the other schools you're looking at. (Of course, I do hear we're known as a terrible party school, and that it's much more rampant at other schools, but anyways...) I personally drink and party, but none of my three suitemates do, and they have an awesome time here, too. However, they don't have a problem with drinking and people who do it, so if you're looking to completely avoid people who do it, that changes things a little, i think. In any case, you'll definitely find things to do that don't involve drinking - don't worry about that. And in response to the last comment: partying is definitely not limited to athletes, though i suppose now that i think about it, a lot of people who party do play sports... but 40% of our school plays varsity sports so i think that may just be a coincidence because of the huge percentage of our community that's involved in athletics of some sort.</p>

<p>well first I'd like to congratulate you on getting into all those wonderful schools! You will do well wherever you decide to go. I'd say from what you described that haverford's your best bet. you probably won't get much personal attention at cornell; it's HUGE. my friend is a current freshman there and is kind of depressed, but he still insists that he likes it. it doesn't seem to have that close sense of community that you'd find at a smaller school, and it's always raining or snowing. i have another friend who will be attending princeton next fall, but his close second choice was haverford (then MIT, then amherst). Princeton, out of all the ivies, focuses the most on the undergraduate, but I just don't think it would be quite as personal as Haverford. he decided to apply early to princeton rather than haverford because he wanted to stay close to home. And, well, Swarthmore, you've already made your judgment about haha. Johns Hopkins is fantastic, as well, but isn't it mainly geared towards pre-med/international relations students? I honestly don't know too much about it. I read about some security issues they've been having as of late; I suppose it's not in too great of an area.</p>

<p>I'd go with Princeton, which provides a great undergraduate experience.</p>

<p>you know what.. i shouldn't have even said anything.. don't listen to these message boards. you'll know what the right choice is when the time comes, and not from reading about the schools online or from other people's opinions; it has to come from inside of you! haha corny but true :*)</p>

<p>heh...thank you for all the advice...I know that once I visit all the schools and get the vibe on campus I'll be able to figure out which one I want to go to. I went to JHU and it was completely the wrong vibe for me, so I know for sure I'm not going there. </p>

<p>One down, 6 more to go?</p>

<p>hey i dont really drink/party either. it seems like pretty much everyone in my high school including about half of my friends drink, but i'm kind of used to it and it doesn't really bother me anymore. i think drinking will be around at any school and as long as you find other things to do and other people to hang out with it won't be a problem.
good luck with your decision!</p>

<p>I'd like to echo that I don't drink either, and I don't have too much of an issue with people drinking either. However, I have heard that Haverford has what's known as "The Quiet House" which is for sophomores and above- it's substance free. So, if you're looking to avoid the party scene, you might want to check out the availability of this dorm for your sophomore-senior years if you're interested. I'm in a similar situation as you are, where I've been accepted to Cornell, Wellesley, UVa, William and Mary and Michigan. I am, at this point, 98% sure I want to go to Haverford (my overnight on Saturday will determine this,) and the main appeals of Haverford are the strong sense of community and the personal attention. (Of course, there's the stellar academics, great ECs/activites and a reasonable amount of diversity. But this goes without saying ;) ) As RedBull said, it will ultimately be <em>your</em> choice! My only real advice? Visit the schools, and, as cliched as this may sound, go to the school that "speaks" to you, or gives you the best vibes!</p>

<p>How can you even consider this? You are one of the luckiest people int he world to have the chance to go to arguably the top university in America. Princeton is so much better than all of those other schools. The cmapus is gorgeous, and the student body is diverse and accepting. If you don't like where you end up, think of how much easier it would be to transfer from Princeton as opposed to smith, haverford, etc. Also, the degree from Princeton means SO MUCH more than from the others. Think about it.</p>

<p>I assume the last posting was intended for purposes of providing a daily dose of humor.</p>

<p>nah.. kgordon's just not very tactful.. a bit misinformed.. and bitter. =]</p>

<p>Turns out that I'm going to Swat. You people are all really cool...maybe I'll get to see some of you sometime? I'm gonna be at Haverford every once in a while to visit other friends...</p>

<p>But until then...farewell!</p>

<p>Congratulations, kittynolikeyou, Swat is a great school.</p>

<p>hey - so almost everyone probably decided by now where they're going...
this is my first time posting - hi all! kgordan - i'm guessing you got wait listed? and I did too... and I clicked the thing to see all your past posts, and they were almost all trying to steer people away from Haverford... even though we're wait listed, you & I both know what a great school it is...why not just wait it out...all these people got in for a reason, and if either of us does get off the wait list...they'll be our classmates... and friends :) </p>

<p>take care...and enjoy the amazing weather!
Karen</p>

<p>hey speaking of wait lists people when do they hear? i read on the webpage it said between may 15-30th. If you are not taken into the school do they still notify you?</p>

<p>i thought it was june..</p>