University of Dayton
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Anonymous
| DC has submitted all early action applications including one to Dayton. Her list is mostly big state schools (Michigan state, penn state etc) but I am a bit concerned about the sizes of those schools. She wants a school with good teams and lots of school spirit. I know UD seems to be spirited especially with their basketball team but the lack of D1 football is making her less enthused about Udayton. I heard they give great merit aid and seems to be a supportive campus with smaller class sizes, tutoring etc. Coming from tri state area, it seems to be a lot of Chicago suburb and Ohio students there. Would she feel out of place? It seems very insular with kids coming from the same backgrounds. Anyone can provide any insight or experience with the school? Haven’t gotten to visit in person yet so looking for a feel. |
Anonymous
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It's a nice school. It's Catholic -- not everyone is aware. Lots of nice, kind, midwestern Catholic kids. I don't think kids have trouble fitting in, though. (Just basing this off neighbors whose kids have gone there and LOVED it.)
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Anonymous
| My niece is there, from MCPS, first year. Loving it, has a great group of friends who came to visit her outside her window when she was banished to the Covid dorm. Likes her advisor, already changed majors but got to keep advisor because she stayed in the same school. Lots of social stuff going on--concerts, inner tube water polo, intramurals...flew home from Dayton for fall break but will likely try getting rides to one of the bigger airports farther away in the future. |
Anonymous
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My DS is a freshman at UD. So far, so good!
He chose it for the size (not too big and not too small) and when we visited on accepted students day, he enjoyed the "vibe" on campus. You're right about the sports, basketball is huge, and football is eh. We went to a football game on parents weekend and enjoyed it, but it's certainly not like a Big 10 or ACC game. But my DS has still found plenty to do on the weekends, he joined some intramural sports, loves the RecPlex, and has ventured into the "Neighborhood" where seniors live in houses. He got very good merit aid, most of his classes this first semester have about 30 students, and instructors are very accessible. He's working closely now with his advisor on his spring schedule. Most of the students are from Ohio, and the surrounding states. My kid from Maryland has made a lot of friends though. He's an outgoing personality to start so that helps, and he's gotten out there with intramural sports and going to different activities. It is Catholic, but we aren't Catholic and while there are church-related activities there, being non-Catholic isn't a problem at all. If you can visit while school is in session, so your DC can see it "in action", that would be great. I also had no feel for the school either, and my DS also applied early not having seen the school. When we visited last spring we got to see the campus, and the surrounding Dayton area. Dayton itself isn't the most exciting city for most young people, but my DS isn't a "big city" kid. My DD (still in HS) on the other hand wouldn't be excited to go there. It's a bit of a distance from the DMV, but it's an easy pretty straight-forward drive. And he's flown home for a mid-term break, the Dayton airport is just about 20-30 minutes away, it was easy for him to catch an Uber, and to navigate the airport. |
Anonymous
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Anonymous
It seems to be mostly in the Neighborhood, so if a student wants to avoid it, they can. I think he has plenty of “good” fun in the dorms or on campus. But that said, I’m not sure how that applies to upper classmen. Would they have as much fun? Hopefully someone with an upper classman or recent grad can share! |
Anonymous
| Safety school for the not so bright private school kids. Heavy drinking culture. Pretty campus, decent merit. |
Anonymous
| Look at Villanova instead. |
Anonymous
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I’m an “old” UD grad. So I can’t speak to the current experience there. However, I am able to tell you that UD grads LOVE their school. If I see someone else in Flyer gear, I’ll approach them and ask if they went/go to UD. It doesn’t matter if they are 82 years old or 22 years old, I have never met another alum who isn’t super friendly and will immediately ask me where I lived on campus and what year I graduated.
One of my friends that I graduated with now has a DS there. They were recently on campus for parents weekend and said their DS is loving it. And the students were super welcoming to the parents in the ghetto (oh, sorry - neighborhood.) Yes back in my day there was a heavy party scene and I don’t think that’s changed. I was not much of a drinker, but I did enjoy going to the parties. And I still managed to have fun. Two of my roommates/housemates were very involved in campus ministry, and they weren’t big into the party scene. UD is big enough that I would imagine you will find all different groups of people. Go Flyers! |
Anonymous
OP here, it’s too hard to get into |
Anonymous
Villanova is much more expensive; does not have a generous merit aid program. |
Anonymous
| I found it very unattractive. Have you seen Miami of Ohio? Wonderful school if you can get in. Is big but doesn’t feel that way. |
Anonymous
This is it. My kid is applying because he wants to go to a laid back school that parties hard. (so of course, I have my fingers crosssed for his ED application elsewhere) |
Anonymous
s No comparison between these two schools. Villanova is much harder to get into and attracts higher stats kids. |
Anonymous
| Bump |