Personally really like Purdue. Probably get a lot of votes for VT. |
Huh. We visited VCU recently and liked it. Richmond has some gritty areas but so does Philly. We didn’t feel unsafe around campus. It’s a city school so with that comes some urban factors. If VCU is in-state, the low tuition is also quite appealing. |
in order from highest to lowest out-of-pocket $
(after grants/scholarships) - Eckerd* - College of Charleston - Rollins - Florida Atlantic - Hendrix - Towson - U of Tampa * still waiting on financial aid offer Science major (pre-med?), seeking warm weather, work hard/play hard |
Hendrix! Loved that school when we visited. Really, really loved it. It’s on the NSF list for top undergrad feeders to STEM Ph.D. programs. Tons of opportunities for hands-on experiences, including design-your-own. The community is friendly and welcoming, professors are so accessible, food is good, and the parties sounded ridiculous and fun (themed, with lots of thrifted costumes, etc). It is a really special place. Eckerd has the marine science reputation, but since basically everyone (for real) wants to study that, a kid might have to fight pretty hard to get the opportunities. |
+1. I was going to suggest Hendrix too! |
Isn't Hendrix pretty heavy on the they/them? |
Compared to what? A school like Reed, Lewis and Clark, or Oberlin? No, not really. This is a school where most of the dorms are still women’s vs. men’s, after all. It’s progressive when compared to the region as a whole, and it supports LGBTQ students, but nothing about the vibe feels performative or forced (if that’s what you’re asking? Not 100% sure). Mostly it seemed like a place where all kinds of kids — football players, theater kids, science kids, D&D nerds, Christian fellowship kids, you name it — can get a good, small-school education with lots of hands-on experience at an affordable price, while generally enjoying themselves and managing to like one another. There’s a lightness and eclectic feel to Hendrix that we found refreshing. |
Narrow it down to these two choices for biology premed major. Cost wise are similar:
UIUC Pitt honor college |
I love these options! We visited CoC, Rollins, and Eckerd. Rollins was our favorite of the three but any of these would be great. Does your DC have a favorite? |
Looks like a possible underrated gem. Any idea why the grad rate and frosh retention rate are so low compared to southern LACs like Sewanee, Rhodes, Furman, Centre, etc? |
My kid is finishing up a foreign affairs/history double major at UVA and I went to Pomona. Both are amazing in these subject areas. Truly. Entirely different experiences. UVA’s strengths are in these areas, whereas Pomona is a STEM powerhouse (which most people don’t understand). UVA has a stronger party school vibe, Greek system, and a football team. lol. Pomona has a bunch of brilliant and hard-working kids in a small space. Overall, feels more intense and does not have the same preppy feel as UVA. And it’s in California with better weather. BUT UVA’s multiple centers (Center for Politics, Miller Center, and one other I’ve forgotten) are not matched at Pomona. One thing to remember about Pomona is that you also can take classes at Claremont McKenna, also known for its outstanding IR/politics courses. But UVA is way less expensive in state (not so for us OOS). |
Depends on how serious about the arts and what area. Film? USC hands down. Also benefit from location for future employment. Theater program? Yale all the way. If kid is likely to switch to something else, Yale. But also depends on what type of environment kid wants. Yale is absurdly competitive and has more mental health issues than the more laid back USC. I would not be happy if my particular kid went to Yale. Not simpatico with personality. |
Brown or Northwestern for CS/Engineering |
Are costs the same? What type of student are they? My DC got into Lafayette and Denison. Ended up at Denison and is very happy. |
Thanks. What are your kid’s post-grad plans? Job prospects? We are drawn to the year round internships at Georgetown in which many land jobs right out of college. My spouse thinks with a state school there would definitely need to be additional schooling right after graduation, less transition directly into work force in that field. While GU can do a 5-year program with job lined up. |