[PhoenixAzul]

Your ex is wrong. Oberlin has great recognition in my neck of the woods, and Wash U does as well (also highly regarded in the museum field, for what its worth...very good art history programs).

I think that You and Halo are on the right track. It's no good to go to a place with "name recognition" or do a major "for a job" if you're just going to be miserable for four years and your entire working career.

When I decided on Otterbein, I had been accepted to "better" (read: bigger and more name rec) colleges...but they all felt alien and sad, not like a community. I wouldn't have had half the opportunities (to be greek, to be involved, to grow) at some of the others. When you're home, you know it...not to make this sound even more like Greek recruitment.