<p>Currently I'm choosing between Amherst, Grinnell, Colby, Carleton, Whitman, and the University of Chicago.</p>
<p>I CAN'T CHOOSE!! (As you can see because I have to choose in about two weeks and I've only narrowed it down to six.)</p>
<p>I've visited, or am visiting in the next week, all of them, and I've liked the ones I've visited so far. Does anyone have any insight into how these schools compare academically, socially, etc.?</p>
<p>Any and all help would be appreciated.</p>
<p>Racheljs, surely you have some feeling about what you’re looking for, the schools you’ve listed are very different and not just in location. If you’re visiting them all, then things will become clearer. Whitman is friendly, relaxed, rigorous academically, in a small town, and has a top notch outdoor program with access to some of the most breathtaking scenery in the country. You’ve got a list of incredible choices, maybe that’s why you’re having trouble. Congratulations and good luck.</p>
<p>Whitman, Amherst and UChicago group together for me. Carleton, Grinnell and Colby are another different group. If I was going to college again I’d prefer them in this order:
Whitman
UChicago (great school but totally different because of it’s urban setting)
Amherst
Grinnell
Carleton
Colby
But that is just me</p>
<p>Colby and Grinnell in the same category?! No way - Colby is the epitome of preppy and very isolated. Some significant town/gown issues too, when we looked at it several years ago. Grinnell isn’t at all preppy (more quirky, understated, unpretentious, individualistic and has a very strong work ethic). Grinnell is two blocks from the downtown area of the college town it sits in and an hour from two cities (Des Moines and Iowa City) and has excellent town/gown relations because the school spends a lot of it’s huge endowment to make it that way.</p>
<p>Carleton and Grinnell are where you see at the cross-applications.</p>
<p>I agree that Grinnell and Colby are way different…I like a lot of things about Grinnell but on my visit there was definitely some town/gown hostility and a slightly “holier than thou” attitude in the admissions presentation that disappointed me…so among these schools I’d put Amherst and UC in between just because there are things about those 2 schools that do delight me…but for small liberal arts…Whitman and Grinnell are definitely far more alike than either Amherst or UC and Colby.</p>