<p>My daughter is currently a freshman at HC and extremely happy. Her experiences with other students and with faculty have all been positive. We visited HC in spring of her Jr yr in HS but at that time she had seen so many schools that they all began to mesh together. We then went back in fall of Sr yr and came home knowing that HC was the school she wanted to attend without a doubt. The second time around we noticed things we had originally missed; the genuine friendiness of the staff, faculty, other students; the size of the dorm rooms; the quality of the first year program - which is not to be missed by the way! Also, as a classics major my d was happy to hear she could spend a semester each in two different countries if she chose to. The academics are hard, I won’t lie. She studies a lot. But she has fun too on weekends, occasionally going to Boston or Providence for the day. When my d came home for XMas she raved about her school to her high school friends and was surprised to find that many of her friends who went elsewhere did not have the same positive experience and were already thinking of transferring. My d visited the same two schools you mentioned, both of which are great schools,she just didn’t get that same feeling of belonging. Hope this helps. I don’t think your child will be disappointed with Holy Cross</p>