Any tours you went on that totally surprised you in a positive way?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We toured VT and JMU in the same week. I was surprised that DS's impression was that VT felt like a smaller school than JMU. He loved VT and is there now. I think it came down to the layout, at least what we saw on the VT tour, felt compact and well laid out -- the academic side vs the residential side. In contrast, he got the impression that JMU was huge because of how it was spread out over the highway. He still applied to JMU but definitely preferred VT.

I have kids at both schools. I do like the way VT is laid out (residential on one side, academic on the other). But I'm also a fan of JMU's layout. If you're not a STEM major, you rarely have to go to East campus anyway. My kids who went there said that other than a few required classes as freshmen, they were almost always on West campus. At any rate, my kids are all happy with both JMU and VT.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have enjoyed many of our school visits, but one school I don't see mentioned often on this board is Rollins College. It is the prettiest campus I've ever been on. My husband kept asking, "Are we on a movie set?!” The campus tour was excellent. It seems like the students have good relationships with their professors. The town of Winter Park is just a few steps off campus and is so quaint. Students were happy--I mean, how could they not be on that campus? My DC ended up somewhere else, but we hope our other children will give it a look.

Given what is going on in Florida right now with NCoF, I don't think I'd send a kid anywhere near the state.

Rollins is private, so it's insulated from anything the state might do with regard to higher education. And NCoF was circling the drain and clearly in need of reform. But you Florida haters can keep on hating. Jesus Christ.

THIS ^^.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am curious for those who experienced visiting a school where you weren't expecting much and were very pleasantly surprised. We are just starting college visits with DS and am curious to hear about visits.

University of Kentucky. Really pretty campus, nice students, and a lot of interesting research. Unexpected.

A friend has one daughter already there and a second possible (actually going to check her page now to see if a decision has been made)

Parents are not alums

Kentucky is a very pretty campus and surrounding horse farms are stunning. Many of the facilities are very modern. I suspect a nice place to spend 4 years. Not sure anyone would stay afterwards.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have enjoyed many of our school visits, but one school I don't see mentioned often on this board is Rollins College. It is the prettiest campus I've ever been on. My husband kept asking, "Are we on a movie set?!” The campus tour was excellent. It seems like the students have good relationships with their professors. The town of Winter Park is just a few steps off campus and is so quaint. Students were happy--I mean, how could they not be on that campus? My DC ended up somewhere else, but we hope our other children will give it a look.

Agree. Very pretty. Seemed like a great place. My DD is in there with good merit, but leaning against for some reason.

[Anonymous]

Rollins College has a strong rep as a country club like environment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Rollins College has a strong rep as a country club like environment.

Very beautiful campus, lots of good-looking girls.

[Anonymous]

For DD, Bryn Mawr was a stunning campus, and the close relationship with Haverford was a plus, also a very beautiful campus with a great college feel.

[Anonymous]

Virginia Tech - we went twice. Once in the fall when all the trees had just turned - absolutely gorgeous. Then back for admitted students' day in April when the redbuds were in bloom. Again, stunning! Tour guides were all engaged and friendly, without being over-the-top as some are. My DC loved the gothic architecture and school spirit. It's been a great fit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Rollins College has a strong rep as a country club like environment.

I can see why it has a reputation like that--it's gorgeous! https://www.rollins.edu/college-of-liberal-arts/news/the-lakeside-life/

That doesn't mean it's not a good school. https://www.rollins.edu/about-rollins/awards-and-rankings/

We were impressed with the tour and the students we met. We also spoke with an alum who described very close relationships and mentoring with her professors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Virginia Tech - we went twice. Once in the fall when all the trees had just turned - absolutely gorgeous. Then back for admitted students' day in April when the redbuds were in bloom. Again, stunning! Tour guides were all engaged and friendly, without being over-the-top as some are. My DC loved the gothic architecture and school spirit. It's been a great fit.

We’re touring VT during blah early March. I hope that doesn’t backfire on us.

[Anonymous]

At least half of these posts aren't really on point. They aren't from people who were pleasantly surprised when they visited a campus; they are from people touting how attractive the campus is at the school they or their kids attended.

Predictable, but it kind of moots the thread.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:UC Santa Barbara shocked me because the campus is a dump. Looks like a Marriott from 1982 that hasn't been updated and is visibly crumbling. Like, stucco chunks falling off the sides of buildings

The adjoining town -- Isla Vista - is a verified $h!thole with as many homeless men as students. Actual Santa Barbara, which is lovely, is miles away and not walkable.

No question, the OCEAN and shoreline are stunning. But the campus and student commercial area are literally decrepit

DD went there and had an amazing experience.

But I agree they need to renovate student accommodation. Many of the other buildings are fine. The student rec athletics are fabulous.

I can’t believe a billionaire is inflicting a windowless student tower in a University that is surrounded by the pacific on 3 sides - truly insane.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:UC Santa Barbara shocked me because the campus is a dump. Looks like a Marriott from 1982 that hasn't been updated and is visibly crumbling. Like, stucco chunks falling off the sides of buildings

The adjoining town -- Isla Vista - is a verified $h!thole with as many homeless men as students. Actual Santa Barbara, which is lovely, is miles away and not walkable.

No question, the OCEAN and shoreline are stunning. But the campus and student commercial area are literally decrepit

DD went there and had an amazing experience.

But I agree they need to renovate student accommodation. Many of the other buildings are fine. The student rec athletics are fabulous.

I can’t believe a billionaire is inflicting a windowless student tower in a University that is surrounded by the pacific on 3 sides - truly insane.

We were pleasantly surprised on the tour by many qualities of UCSB - the student health center, the student learning center, the beaches in walking distance, the bike paths everywhere … we liked the rustic center for creative studies although I can imagine many don’t … the pros all outweighed the cons .

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wake forest beautiful campus and facilities
U Chicago feels like you are in Harry Potter
Castle and gorgeous grounds
Very unexpected

+1 on u chicago

+2. Not sure what exactly I was expecting from U Chicago but it wasn't that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At least half of these posts aren't really on point. They aren't from people who were pleasantly surprised when they visited a campus; they are from people touting how attractive the campus is at the school they or their kids attended.

Predictable, but it kind of moots the thread.

And your post contributes to the thread topic ????