How Important is Atmosphere?

sammielue21
Sat, 12 Apr 2008 23:25:03 +0000

I visited Hampshire last week – I really, really should have before I applied – and basically hated it. The campus is ugly, I didn’t like the idea of 75% of the student body having single rooms, the student body seemed so far off from what I’m like… It just all-around turned me off. I really dont’ know if I can see myself there for the next four years of my life. But they gave me a great financial package – I will have no loans when I get out and head off to grad school. But I don’t know if I can rationalize going somewhere that I dislike so much.

Then there’s Wells – they gave me a scholarship as well, but not as much as Hampshire. The atmosphere is more me, but it’s still not ideal. And yes, I realize that no college will be ideal but Wells seems to be an extension of high school. It’s tiny – like, it gives a new name to small liberal arts. Everyone knows everyone, but it also has the extension program with Cornell and Ithica…

And Bard. Their financial package is ridiculous. I don’t know how they think that we can pay that. $90,000 in loans?!! We asked for another review, but I doubt anything is going to change. But Bard is the school that I can see myself fitting in the best at. Academically, it may not have the same opportunities – Hampshire with the five college consortium and Wells with Cornell and Ithica – but it’s the best fit.

So. How much does atmostphere matter? Is it worth going into grad school with sky-high loans? Probably not. But is it so insignificant as to overlook it completetly? I don’t know.