Congratulations on receiving such wonderful college acceptances! Your daughterās hard work has clearly paid off, and she now has many great options to choose from. I understand your thoughtful and loving approach to balancing fit, rigor, cost, and culture when selecting a college. Since youāre in the final stages of your decision-making process, Iāll focus more on the āintangiblesā and student culture, particularly those that might differ from what your daughter hopes for.
Letās start with William & Mary. As a Monroe Scholar, your daughter would gain access to exclusive small seminars, research stipends, and faculty mentorshipāall significant perks, especially for a pre-med track in Physics. This school is personal to me because my daughter just enrolled through W&Mās Spring Pathway. My daughter, like yours, is also artsy, creative, but is traditionally extroverted. W&M has proven to be an excellent fit for her. She mostly thrives in bookish and intellectually stimulating environments and appreciates the opportunity to engage in quiet and meaningful leadership roles. While the student body is highly academic, there is a noticeable Southern prep culture. We are from Alabama, and she wanted a bit of this culture but not so much that she wanted to enroll at schools closer to home. Greek life appears active but not prominent, but I think legacy wealth and tradition are deeply ingrained in the schoolās ethos. Especially tradition, which we love. But I think the campus can feel a bit traditional and even insular for those seeking artistic eccentricity or radical inclusivity. However, if your daughter finds comfort and inspiration in historic and scholarly settings, W&M might be a great choice for her. The housing and dining facilities have undergone significant renovations and are now truly beautiful, although one section is still under construction. This minor disruption is worth noting. While W&M may not be traditionally sporty in a rah-rah sense, it does exude a quiet collegiate polish and modest formality that could align or not align with your daughterās āartsy/creativeā preferences. This depends on how she responds to the structure and tradition that are woven into the intellectual life of the school.
Now, letās move on to Santa Clara University.
Gorgeous campus, mild weather, and kind studentsāwhat more could you ask for? But hereās the catch: Santa Clara University leans sporty and affluent. Itās in Silicon Valley, and many students come from wealthy West Coast families. The business school is strong, and while the arts are present, they donāt dominate the campus. As a Jesuit institution, the ethos is rooted in ethics, service, and reflection, but socially, it can feel more mainstream than quirky. If your daughter loved the visit, itās worth noting that the vibe matters, and her instincts are important, but Iād caution that SCU may not challenge her intellectually or creatively as much as she hopesāunless she carves out a unique identity in the Honors Program.
Now, letās talk about St. Olaf College. This might be the school thatās quietly perfect for her. Itās not flashy, but it packs a punch in science, music, and the arts. The campus is filled with earnest, kind, and thoughtful studentsāmany of whom are deeply involved in both rigorous academics and vibrant extracurriculars. The physics program is strong, and the theater scene is rich and serious. Plus, thereās very little Greek life, and a strong Scandinavian heritage of egalitarianism and introspection. The weather can be a downside (no California sunshine here!), and the social life can be a bit wholesome and tameābut sheād likely find her tribe quickly. If she doesnāt crave constant urban energy and can embrace a cozy, collaborative setting, St. Olaf could be an unexpected gem. And hereās the best part: itās also the most budget-friendly, which gives her more freedom to cover the costs of medical school later.
Bryn Mawr, an intellectual haven known for its quirky and feminist spirit, might be the perfect fit for her. While it lacks Greek life, it boasts a thriving theater and arts scene, and the Tri-Co (with Haverford and Swarthmore) offers a comprehensive social and academic experience. Pre-med advising is top-notch, and sheāll find a cohort of driven and unconventional women who balance rigor with rebellion. The beautiful dorms and cherished traditions like Lantern Night and May Day foster a sense of intimacy and belonging. However, if she craves a mixed-gender campus or a more diverse social scene, Bryn Mawr might feel a bit confined, despite the co-ed nature of its neighboring sister school, Haverford.
On the other hand, UNC-Chapel Hill (Out-of-State) offers a grand and comprehensive experience. While the name may be intimidating, it encompasses lectures, bureaucracy, and housing. Here, being in the Honors program holds significant importance, and sheāll find brilliance in physics and pre-med. However, she might feel like a mere number in the vast student body. If she values a smaller, intimate, and interdisciplinary atmosphere, she might find it challenging to thrive here, even with the schoolās reputation. While the arts exist, sheāll need to actively seek out her community.
Ultimately, my advice is to revisit the emotional memories of her visits. If St. Olaf resonated with her, if she connected with the students, programs, and environment, trust her gut feeling. Prestige is real, but so is the potential for personal growth and fulfillment. Sheāll face challenges in physics anywhere, but what truly matters in the long run is the quality of her faculty relationships, the comfort of her campus life, and the people who bring joy and laughter into her life.
Regardless of her choice, sheās got herself in a great position. I hope she trusts her gut feelings as much as the data. Best of luck to her and you! I know how you feel, itās great to finally make a decision and move forward.
