<p>Hi! I am a senior in high school and it's coming down to the wire on which college I will be attending next year. I was hoping I could get some advice. I've been accepted into Kenyon, Haverford, Davidson, Middlebury, and Georgetown, and have narrowed down that list to Davidson, Middlebury, and Georgetown. My interests are English, Religion and Education Studies, I want to study abroad, I want to ride on an equestrian team, I'd like to potentially be in an orchestral group, I want to learn Chinese, and I care a fair bit about religious life on campus (that is, that it's accessible but not overly/widely prevalent). I'd like to study a lot of different areas.</p>
<p>Here is my biggest issue -- I have pretty severe separation anxiety. I've never let it get in my way before -- I go to summer programs and camps (5 weeks away from home is the longest I've done), and while I may feel tense and on the verge of tears the whole time, I manage to get through it and even have fun, though the homesick feeling never goes away. I live in the DC area (10 minutes from Georgetown), so that's certainly my "safe" option.</p>
<p>Other than proximity, I like Georgetown because I like the flexibility of study (being able to double major and minor and still study abroad, as well as take a wide range of classes), I like the spirituality on campus (live-in priests/ministers/rabiis/etc), I like the people there, the academics are fantastic, and, because my dad is faculty, they cover my tuition (though cost isn't a huge factor for my family). A lot of graduates join Teach for America and the Peace Corp, which I like. My biggest concern is whether or not it's a waste or a mistake to spend the next four years of my life in the same place I spent the last 18 - am I missing out if I stay close to home?</p>
<p>I like Davidson because I like the eating house system, the equestrian team, the opportunities to be in the music program, the pre-ministry program, the weather, and the dorms. I worry the academics may not be as prestigious (which may not be true or even relevant) compared to Georgetown and that the school itself is not as well known so potential employers won't have a sense of the place and what a degree from there means. I know it's an excellent school, I'm just not sure if most other people know that.</p>
<p>Middlebury is probably the best fit for me on paper -- excellent English program, great languages and study abroad opportunities, fabulous riding team, good food, beautiful setting, cool dorms, crunchy/granola-y hippy students. But I just didn't have a great time on my visit and the distance (9 hours from home) scares the crap out of me. I know if I go there it will be a horrible transition, which I think I can make it through but I'm not sure I want to put myself through that.</p>
<p>Does anyone have thoughts?</p>