Kenyon vs. Macalester vs. Rochester

[haughty forge]

Schools: Kenyon, Macalester, Rochester
Major: Economics with a minor in public policy & music
Similarities: All selective smaller-sized schools with academically-focused, somewhat artsy student bodies.

Macalester College Pros:
-The cheapest school on my list after aid, though it might be important to know I did negotiate and I didn't try negotiating for the other schools yet.
-Excels in the social sciences
-Twin Cities seem amazinggg!
-Gorgeous campus
-Lots of grads here go on to be involved in NP work (a field Im interested in)
-Lots of resources!
-Lots of LGBT people
Macalester College Cons:
-Still pretty costly, COA of 60,000-ish, though parents are fortunately willing to cover most of that.
-Minnesota is cold
-Air-fare
-Aid could go poof after 1st year
-Weather

U of Rochester Pros:
-Strongest academic programs for my major and minors
-Most name-recognition/prestige
-Open curriculum is amazing
-ESM is one of the top music conservatories in America
-T1 Research university means incredible research opportunities.
-Undergraduate focused/small student to faculty ratio
-Nice campus
-City is very artsy and has a vibrant music scene
-My top choice out of the schools I've been accepted to
U of Rochester Cons:
-Most expensive option, but can negotiate, COA of around 70,000
-City can be rough in some places
-Difficult to get to places off-campus without car
-Weather

Kenyon College Pros:
-Merit scholarship of 15,000 per year
-Rigorous Academics
-Gorgeous campus
-Gambier, OH is a very cute town and the town next over seems like a cool place to hang out as well (Mt Vernon, OH)
-Reputation as "The Writer's College" -- Incredible English department.
-Cool people!
-Amazing facilities
-Lots of LGBT people
Kenyon College Cons:
-No aid, but, funds can't go poof (15K is guaranteed all 4 years)
-Gambier is very isolated, though I can make it work.
-Weather
-Academic programs are not very well known for my major

It's difficult because all these schools are very appealing to me. I just wish it could be easier to attend them with the affordability aspect of it. I also got into Pitt, Lafayette, and Skidmore. But these are my top 3.

[mortal sable]

im deciding between similar schools (uroch, and kenyon)! it seems like yk a good deal about all these schools but id say if you value affordability id probably go with one of the cheaper options. id say in terms of social environments and learning environments, kenyon would probably be the best on ur list. in terms of resources (research, alumni networks, etc), uroch would be ur pick. in terms of aid and well roundedness, i think macalester would be a good option (though id try negotiating aid with the other schools for sure).

something worth noting-- each of these schools are marketable and have similar rigor, so i dont think you can go wrong with any of them! i know a bunch of people that graduated from kenyon and went on to grad school at vry prestigious colleges, and im sure this applies to all of your choices.