i'm very sorry for the late response, but i would like to thank you all very much for the thoughtful replies. all of your support has really helped! after some serious thinking, i have decided to attend seattle university. all of the schools i have been accepted by are wonderful, but unfortunately i can only attend one and i've chosen su. seattle's environment as well as su's small campus seem best for me. su has also kindly offered me the largest sum of money of all the schools that offered a scholarship, which really helps. i am really looking forward to going to su. thank you all again for helping me make this decision!