Experienced Parents: Where did your children have EXCELLENT college experiences (this decade)?

[Anonymous]

Sorry, last post should have read Western MASS, not MD.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Macalester.

Can you expand? My kid is very interested in MaC. Also St. Olaf.

Both schools are ok for the kids who don't get into Carleton.

I’m a Carleton grad and this just isn’t true, not to mention rude. They each appeal to very different kids - is there that much overlap in the applicants? I rarely hear of kids interested in more than one of them.

yeah, they are pretty different schools and while kids may tour all three if in the area, I would think they'd appeal to pretty different profiles (once you've decided you want a SLAC). Macalester is in the city and more of a city feel, with int'l students from a wide range of countries. St. Olaf and Carleton are within 2 miles of each other 45 minutes outside of the city. Carleton has very brainy, professor in training type feel and St. Olaf is more low-key, probably more conservative.

[Anonymous]

Princeton University. DD loved it and it really set her on a great path. DH and I went to Dummy State U. so the idea that kid got into Princeton was really something as we are not "connected" type people.

[Anonymous]

I graduated from Columbia university 5 years ago. I would NOT recommend it. It’s fantastic for the education, quality of professors, and job opportunities post graduation (only if you want to stay in NYC though) but social life and quality of life is terrible. I saw so much depression, eating disorders, drugs and mental illness. Also a ton of snobbery, probably because everyone feels very insecure all the time.

Barnard College across the street is definitely better, but still a tough place socially. It is not the kind of place where you can relax in sweatpants with your friends. Everyone feels pressure to look good and act like they’re at the height of success at all times.

I’ve done well since and don’t regret going, but I wouldn’t go back if I had to do it again. I’d go to a school not in a big city so I could get more campus life and fun.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Elon has been great for our junior daughter.

My DC child also had a great experience at Elon. Graduated in May (bio major) and is a first year medical student.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Macalester.

Can you expand? My kid is very interested in MaC. Also St. Olaf.

Both schools are ok for the kids who don't get into Carleton.

Be nice.

MaC is urban. Tons to do, easy access to either down town.

Carleton is a great school without a doubt, but not everyone wants to be in a small town.

Not everyone can pay full freight for a school with no merit aid. PP is a snot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Macalester.

Can you expand? My kid is very interested in MaC. Also St. Olaf.

Both schools are ok for the kids who don't get into Carleton.

I’m a Carleton grad and this just isn’t true, not to mention rude. They each appeal to very different kids - is there that much overlap in the applicants? I rarely hear of kids interested in more than one of them.

yeah, they are pretty different schools and while kids may tour all three if in the area, I would think they'd appeal to pretty different profiles (once you've decided you want a SLAC). Macalester is in the city and more of a city feel, with int'l students from a wide range of countries. St. Olaf and Carleton are within 2 miles of each other 45 minutes outside of the city. Carleton has very brainy, professor in training type feel and St. Olaf is more low-key, probably more conservative.

I’m not sure I’d say St. Olaf is more conservative. It affiliated with the Lutheran church, but it has a huge and well respected fine arts program and gets a lot of art and music and dance and theater kids, many of whom are not in the conservative mold. It is very big on community— one big dining hall and a daily non-mandatory daily chapel when nothing else is that is a community coming together time for music or to hear a student talk about being overseas or a professor talk. So they build in times each day when the school comes together. When I’m on campus the word “peaceful” comes to mind. The kids are busy and engaged, but it still feels ... peaceful. IDK. Special place. Gorgeous campus with the Norwegian architecture, wooden buildings, high ceilings, light filled spots.

[Anonymous]

My DD had an excellent experience at Kalamazoo - great professors, made lifelong friends, and she was able to study abroad and get into a good grad school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wake Forest

I went to Wake. It was fantastic in some many ways, if it’s what you want. It’s Southern, wealthy, pretty conservative (Bush Republican, not Trump) and Greek. UVA Type vibe, but less diversity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DD had an excellent experience at Kalamazoo - great professors, made lifelong friends, and she was able to study abroad and get into a good grad school.

Yep another vote for KZoo. Amazing study abroad emphasis.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Macalester.

Can you expand? My kid is very interested in MaC. Also St. Olaf.

Both schools are ok for the kids who don't get into Carleton.

I’m a Carleton grad and this just isn’t true, not to mention rude. They each appeal to very different kids - is there that much overlap in the applicants? I rarely hear of kids interested in more than one of them.

yeah, they are pretty different schools and while kids may tour all three if in the area, I would think they'd appeal to pretty different profiles (once you've decided you want a SLAC). Macalester is in the city and more of a city feel, with int'l students from a wide range of countries. St. Olaf and Carleton are within 2 miles of each other 45 minutes outside of the city. Carleton has very brainy, professor in training type feel and St. Olaf is more low-key, probably more conservative.

I’m not sure I’d say St. Olaf is more conservative. It affiliated with the Lutheran church, but it has a huge and well respected fine arts program and gets a lot of art and music and dance and theater kids, many of whom are not in the conservative mold. It is very big on community— one big dining hall and a daily non-mandatory daily chapel when nothing else is that is a community coming together time for music or to hear a student talk about being overseas or a professor talk. So they build in times each day when the school comes together. When I’m on campus the word “peaceful” comes to mind. The kids are busy and engaged, but it still feels ... peaceful. IDK. Special place. Gorgeous campus with the Norwegian architecture, wooden buildings, high ceilings, light filled spots.

I would just like to point this out:
https://www.google.com/amp/s/thefourthcrown.com/2014/07/26/st-olaf-college-recognized-as-second-best-college-in-northfield-mn/amp/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:UVA, daughter in humanities, no greek affiliations, LOVEs IT. And she hated in the first time we toured. Worked out very well.

I want to ask this PP--"she hated it the first time we toured."
1) How did you get her to tour again, and
2) What changed her mind?

[Anonymous]

I told my child that she would have total power to make the final decision BUT I did insist that she go to admitted students day at all the schools that had accepted her (mind you, she had made the original list of where she applied). I did this because I could tell she was starting to rule schools out just because she was tired of the process.

Anyway, one that she did not want to visit one more time turned out to be the school she selected. Again, I was not pushing it (I honestly did not know which school would be best for her), but after doing an overnight and seeing the campus that Admitted Students weekend, she appreciated its many strengths. She has been happy there and done well.

[Anonymous]

Vanderbilt.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Vanderbilt.

2nd