tell me about colleges that didn't make your kid's list

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have to say Georgetown was on the list and we love the area but almost stepping on a dead rat on the sidewalk led to some more google research and finding out about the widespread rat and cockroach problem. That was enough for my DS to take it off his list haha

Georgetown is one of those schools that looks great from the air but looks really dingy and, dare I say, ugly from the ground. There are only one or two beautiful buildings on campus and the rest are quite shoddily built.

Story is too funny because my sister went to Georgetown and woke up one night the first month of school to a rat licking her neck. According to her as big as a cat. She stayed and graduated but was spooked for years…,

This really needed to come with a warning - nearly had a heart attack.

[Anonymous]

According to my son, students at University of Rhode Island are too tall.

I kid you not.

[Anonymous]

Virginia Tech. Most impressive building, that made the biggest impression, was the Administration Building. Not for student use. It felt bullying

[Anonymous]

The overall military vibe felt bullying

[Anonymous]

VT- way too much gray. Gray buildings, gray sidewalk, just a concrete jungle. And way they called everything Hokie-this and Hokie-that was just so cheesy that we laughed about it all the way home. Add i the fact that only freshmen are on campus and everyone else lives off campus and has to drive or take a bus to campus every day…it’s hardly different than a community college. Off campus housing is fine and expected at most colleges, but it should be walkable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The overall military vibe felt bullying

Yes! Why so much military? The cadets, all the ROTC groups, everyone in uniform everywhere you turn. It feels like VMI.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Harvard: not impressed.

I realize this is aiming really high but student adores boston and wanted to look at many bostan area schools. At harvard, we had really pompous tour guides which was a shame because it just fed into concerns that are the biggest turn off about the place. The location and reputation are so outstanding.

MIT. So impressive and so intimidating. Excellent tour.

Tufts. Parent and student loved it.

Wellesley. Parent adored it...student left unconvinced but the campus is very beautiful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At harvard, we had really pompous tour guides which was a shame because it just fed into concerns that are the biggest turn off about the place. The location and reputation are so outstanding.

I don't know if I'd use the word "pompous" but I agree with the general sentiment. I think it's in their culture to self-promote. In April and beyond, their parent FB had many posts "introducing" their kids and their wonderful achievements. Nothing wrong with that, there's much to be proud of, but I did not see this to the same extent in other FB groups of peer institutions.

Harvard is still Harvard. If accepted, it is hard to turn down. There are probably only 2 other schools in the world that a cross-admit might otherwise choose to go to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At harvard, we had really pompous tour guides which was a shame because it just fed into concerns that are the biggest turn off about the place. The location and reputation are so outstanding.

I don't know if I'd use the word "pompous" but I agree with the general sentiment. I think it's in their culture to self-promote. In April and beyond, their parent FB had many posts "introducing" their kids and their wonderful achievements. Nothing wrong with that, there's much to be proud of, but I did not see this to the same extent in other FB groups of peer institutions.

Harvard is still Harvard. If accepted, it is hard to turn down. There are probably only 2 other schools in the world that a cross-admit might otherwise choose to go to.

If you are thinking about applying to schools at that level, only HYPSM have EA instead of ED and it is only single choice. If you are not ready for ED, applicant can only choose one of those and that tour knocked H out for mine.

[Anonymous]

Yes! Why so much military? The cadets, all the ROTC groups, everyone in uniform everywhere you turn

It's a school strong in engineering not that far from NoVa/DC serving the needs of the military

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Syracuse (with merit aid) was way too expensive

Alum here- understood, but it is a great school.

The surrounding area is so depressing though.

Alum here- Yes, surrounding area (city of Syracuse) is depressing. Syracuse University revolves around the amazing, self-contained campus. In large part, the campus greatly contributes to the school spirit, and close-knit environment (especially for a large school.)

And, Syracuse has had a consistent problem with racial incidents and lately a big protest about an alleged rape on campus. We passed on it too because of the high tuition in spite of merit aid. I kept saying to myself with all the great schools, which are more reasonably priced, who would waste $80K for this school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At harvard, we had really pompous tour guides which was a shame because it just fed into concerns that are the biggest turn off about the place. The location and reputation are so outstanding.

I don't know if I'd use the word "pompous" but I agree with the general sentiment. I think it's in their culture to self-promote. In April and beyond, their parent FB had many posts "introducing" their kids and their wonderful achievements. Nothing wrong with that, there's much to be proud of, but I did not see this to the same extent in other FB groups of peer institutions.

Harvard is still Harvard. If accepted, it is hard to turn down. There are probably only 2 other schools in the world that a cross-admit might otherwise choose to go to.

Know two in Class of '25

[Anonymous]

VTech. Did not like campus,it felt too big and spread out, no variety in the buildings, too far out in the middle of nowhere. And DC likes camping and being in the mountains and countryside, but for college really wants a great college town or city.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Syracuse (with merit aid) was way too expensive

Alum here- understood, but it is a great school.

The surrounding area is so depressing though.

Alum here- Yes, surrounding area (city of Syracuse) is depressing. Syracuse University revolves around the amazing, self-contained campus. In large part, the campus greatly contributes to the school spirit, and close-knit environment (especially for a large school.)

And, Syracuse has had a consistent problem with racial incidents and lately a big protest about an alleged rape on campus. We passed on it too because of the high tuition in spite of merit aid. I kept saying to myself with all the great schools, which are more reasonably priced, who would waste $80K for this school?

The towns in which some of these schools are located are not as depressing as the attitudes of parents in the DMV who are unable to suppress their constant need to unleash on schools they consider below them (or in some cases turned down their kids).

These threads are best when they are parents laughing about their own kids’ arbitrary, snap judgments, but get tiring when they are lengthy put-downs crafted by adults.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If I had to do it again I would pass on so much emphasis on student tours and especially student overnights.

Do wonder about the impression specific student tour leaders leave on prospective students; not clear it is always reflective of the school...

Feel like I would put more emphasis on walking around the campus to get a sense of the place/location/size, talking to students if possible and then looking at specific programs to see if there are things that are specifically appealing or problematic.

I have a junior starting to look at schools and we're finding that a single tour can be really insufficient since she has a very specific academic interest. So, we've started making time to attend open house events instead. Can talk with a wider range of students, faculty in the program she wants are often available, and have been able to tour the specific facilities of interest, which would not necessarily be included in a regular daily tour.