Update from Boston

[jedusor]

Well, not exactly Boston. About twenty minutes out of Boston.

Yesterday we set off on our New England excursion. The schedule has changed a lot since I posted that tentative version. First we went to Wesleyan. I couldn't time it to hit a tour there, but we ran into a student who kindly showed us around a bit. It looks like an okay school, but I don't think I'll apply unless I hear a lot more in its favor. That's a problem with just walking around a campus- you can't really get the feel of a school by looking at its buildings.

Then came Amherst. It was love at first sight. We stopped at a farmers' market and bought a tomato (which we ate in sandwiches today- yummy!) before the tour. The tour guide was smart, likable and knew the answers to almost all of the questions. Amherst is apparently mortal enemies with Williams, which I also wanted to see but ended up not being able to due to scheduling issues. Anyway, the college was absolutely awesome, right up there with Reed, and with a better financial aid policy. I'm definitely applying.

We stopped by Hampshire and picked up a self-tour booklet and other info about the college. There was an organic farming fair going on, and we walked over to check it out. I left with five new buttons for my purse. I'm not sure I like the Hampshire campus very much- it's a bit too rural for me, even right near Amherst- but I really like the descriptions of its academic programs that I read about in the guide. I'd like to talk to a Hampshire graduate before I decide whether or not to apply there. I wish I could have gone on a tour.

I got three phone calls from people today, which made me feel loved: palecur, draughanten, and Ann (who wanted to know whether I was coming to church today). It was a dead day for colleges, so we drove to Salem and did the touristy witch-hunt things. That place is insane. As we were driving out, I noticed a pirate museum, so we went back and stuck our heads in. We didn't have time to do the tour, which sucked, but we looked around the gift shop. I really wanted to get the "What's Your Poison" shot glass with the Jolly Roger on it.

After briefly getting lost due to Mapquest directions, we met up with some puzzler people for dinner in Cambridge: hahathor, her boyfriend Ed, cramerica, and Cram's friends Matt and Natasha. It was awesome. I always have a blast with NPL people. Aunt Amanda was very wary at first, claiming to be intimidated by all the intelligence, but I think she ended up having a good time. Cram went to Harvard, so he might be able to come with us on the tour tomorrow.

Speaking of which, I'm visiting three colleges tomorrow: Brandeis, Tufts and Harvard. I have to get up before eight, so I should probably get to bed. Goodnight, all!

Comments

[jacoborlove.livejournal.com]

Hi, this is Hannah Orlove's older brother. I just graduated from Brandeis this spring. Hannah pointed me to your LJ, and I'd be happy to answer any random (or not-so-random) questions you have about the school. The short version is that I loved it, but I wouldn't recommend it to everyone (I know, duh, but it's true).

[jedusor.livejournal.com]

Hi!

At this point, I'm just trying to gather as much information as possible about different schools. I think I've already decided that I want to apply to Brandeis, but I'd still like to hear anything you have to say about your experience as a student there. What was your major? What did and didn't you like about it? What kind of person do you think would do well there?

Thanks!

[devils-reject.livejournal.com]

i went to salem on choir tour :is nerdy: sophomore year when we were in boston and had completely forgotten about the pirate museum. i think i took more pictures of hte mural on it than of any of my friends in that city. fantastic place.

have fun at tufts: they have one of the best a cappella groups i've ever heard, the amalgamates. and if you havent heard any recordings of htem before, i have to get you some because they are incredible. probably not quite the input on colleges that you're looking for, but hey...at least i get to have my say.

so uh...ucsc is really awesome...and has beach.....and me.... :)

[jedusor.livejournal.com]

I wish I'd gotten to actually go inside it, but I didn't even realize it was there until we were leaving the city.

You know, almost all the colleges I've visited so far have made it a point to mention the a cappella groups (though Cram warned me to stay away from Harvard's a cappella- it's apparently pretty bad). I don't know why it's so big at all the colleges I've picked. Or maybe it's just big at colleges in general? *shrug* Not sure.

As for UCSC: this fall, darling :)

[mamagotcha.livejournal.com]

you ARE loved!

tell aunt amanda she's plenty smart enough to hold her own in that crowd. not sure where she got the idea she isn't, but just remind her that she's the one who discovered the "In-Land-Ers"!

hope you're having a blast, and distribute hugs from me wherever indicated.

xoxo

: )

[1firefly.livejournal.com]

THANKS XXOO