NYU is not a possibility. They are stingy when it comes to financial aid, and there’s no way I could afford going there without either going into significant debt or getting major scholarships. UPenn is one that I considered and interests me, however, I like the campuses of Columbia and UChicago much more as well as the smaller size. Northwestern is one I considered, but I prefer a highly urban campus. The Columbia curriculum core does seem daunting, but I don’t think it’d be a bad option for me. I’m someone who kind of needs some direction, especially in a completely new environment, to succeed. The core classes would ensure that, while I get acquainted with the city and school, that I wouldn’t fall behind. For Chicago, I just mean that I’m kind of off-put by a school that is so saturated with academic competition that I won’t be able to connect with others and have an enjoyable experience. I’ve heard, not actually experienced this, that Chicago may have an atmosphere like that. I do enjoy a lot of my work and am willing to put in long hours studying and researching - I just don’t want it to completely dominate and overwhelm my college experience.