Sorry, I didn't know "ephemeral impression of stress" was triggering for you. Do you need a safe space? What am I to defend? OP is rationalizing one of the most important decisions of his/her life based on meaningless platitudes, and I'm merely pointing that out socratically. it's all so accusatory Accusatory? Are you projecting an insecurity complex? I'm encouraging OP to reconsider his/her cost/benefits metric, because "stress culture" is subject to interpretation. they're not trying to trash your school in any way at all Where did I imply that OP did? You can still show your pride I'm not trying to show pride. I'm trying to give OP honest advice. explain why you love the school I'm not trying to explain why I love the school. That's irrelevant, unless it's important to OP that I love the school he/she matriculates to. being so hypersensitive Are you sure I'm the hypersensitive one? You just got triggered by "ephemeral impression" lmfao. about the merest suggestion that it isn't absolutely perfect It isn't perfect. It has a lot wrong with it. However, "culture" is a hard one to prove. Also, asking contentious questions like that definitely isn't "soliciting advice". I'm not soliciting advice, OP is. Also, it remains to be demonstrated that any question I asked is actually contentious. I work in management consulting. I'm literally a professional advice giver haha. The Socratic method works best; you'll learn that when you start college.