St. Mary's College of MD

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not OP. An acquaintance mentioned to us that there is a (preppy?) sailing culture and if you aren't into the water activities, you'll be out of place. Can anyone speak to that?

I'm the parent with a DD there and this is not true.

[Anonymous]

Aside from the science majors already mentioned, what are the other popular majors there?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Aside from the science majors already mentioned, what are the other popular majors there?

Most common majors are psychology, biological sciences, English
https://datausa.io/profile/university/st-marys-college-of-maryland

[Anonymous]

My kid very seriously considered it. She was looking for a small LAC, that is strong in science (specifically, my DC was interested in marine biology/marine sciences). They location is great: right on the water. Pretty, relaxing, free water sports (such as supping, kayaking).

Negatives included the fact that they seemed to have declining applicants, which we feared might lower their standards/reputation and budget. This, perhaps, has turned around?? I have not stayed up on its current enrollment stats and budget.

On a minor note, most schools were willing to set up an overnight visit (at least for accepted students). My kid learned a lot from these unscripted visits (vs the canned Admissions tour). SMCM, however, did not entertain this option. This story also broke at the time, which did not warm my heart:

https://smnewsnet.com/archives/430229/update-student-takes-plea-deal-for-his-role-in-armed-robbery-at-college-dorm-room-in-st-marys-city/

But I will say that every alum we have ever met raves about that school.

PS-My kid also considered Juniata, Dickenson, Franklin & Marshall and Mt Holyoke.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid very seriously considered it. She was looking for a small LAC, that is strong in science (specifically, my DC was interested in marine biology/marine sciences). They location is great: right on the water. Pretty, relaxing, free water sports (such as supping, kayaking).

Negatives included the fact that they seemed to have declining applicants, which we feared might lower their standards/reputation and budget. This, perhaps, has turned around?? I have not stayed up on its current enrollment stats and budget.

On a minor note, most schools were willing to set up an overnight visit (at least for accepted students). My kid learned a lot from these unscripted visits (vs the canned Admissions tour). SMCM, however, did not entertain this option. This story also broke at the time, which did not warm my heart:

https://smnewsnet.com/archives/430229/update-student-takes-plea-deal-for-his-role-in-armed-robbery-at-college-dorm-room-in-st-marys-city/

But I will say that every alum we have ever met raves about that school.

PS-My kid also considered Juniata, Dickenson, Franklin & Marshall and Mt Holyoke.

Applications are definitely up and SMCM's 2022 incoming class is the largest in over a decade:
https://www.somdnews.com/enterprise/news/local/st-mary-s-college-welcomes-students-back-largest-incoming-class-in-a-decade/article_418fce7f-25ed-592d-9368-12b1745b4c09.html

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid very seriously considered it. She was looking for a small LAC, that is strong in science (specifically, my DC was interested in marine biology/marine sciences). They location is great: right on the water. Pretty, relaxing, free water sports (such as supping, kayaking).

Negatives included the fact that they seemed to have declining applicants, which we feared might lower their standards/reputation and budget. This, perhaps, has turned around?? I have not stayed up on its current enrollment stats and budget.

On a minor note, most schools were willing to set up an overnight visit (at least for accepted students). My kid learned a lot from these unscripted visits (vs the canned Admissions tour). SMCM, however, did not entertain this option. This story also broke at the time, which did not warm my heart:

https://smnewsnet.com/archives/430229/update-student-takes-plea-deal-for-his-role-in-armed-robbery-at-college-dorm-room-in-st-marys-city/

But I will say that every alum we have ever met raves about that school.

PS-My kid also considered Juniata, Dickenson, Franklin & Marshall and Mt Holyoke.

I wonder where yours ended up? Mine has a very similar list.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid very seriously considered it. She was looking for a small LAC, that is strong in science (specifically, my DC was interested in marine biology/marine sciences). They location is great: right on the water. Pretty, relaxing, free water sports (such as supping, kayaking).

Negatives included the fact that they seemed to have declining applicants, which we feared might lower their standards/reputation and budget. This, perhaps, has turned around?? I have not stayed up on its current enrollment stats and budget.

On a minor note, most schools were willing to set up an overnight visit (at least for accepted students). My kid learned a lot from these unscripted visits (vs the canned Admissions tour). SMCM, however, did not entertain this option. This story also broke at the time, which did not warm my heart:

https://smnewsnet.com/archives/430229/update-student-takes-plea-deal-for-his-role-in-armed-robbery-at-college-dorm-room-in-st-marys-city/

But I will say that every alum we have ever met raves about that school.

PS-My kid also considered Juniata, Dickenson, Franklin & Marshall and Mt Holyoke.

Juniata (and she got into 7 schools, most more highly ranked). She was just drawn to the community. Fast forward ahead to now (she is a graduate), it turned out to be a great choice for her.

I wonder where yours ended up? Mine has a very similar list.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid very seriously considered it. She was looking for a small LAC, that is strong in science (specifically, my DC was interested in marine biology/marine sciences). They location is great: right on the water. Pretty, relaxing, free water sports (such as supping, kayaking).

Negatives included the fact that they seemed to have declining applicants, which we feared might lower their standards/reputation and budget. This, perhaps, has turned around?? I have not stayed up on its current enrollment stats and budget.

On a minor note, most schools were willing to set up an overnight visit (at least for accepted students). My kid learned a lot from these unscripted visits (vs the canned Admissions tour). SMCM, however, did not entertain this option. This story also broke at the time, which did not warm my heart:

https://smnewsnet.com/archives/430229/update-student-takes-plea-deal-for-his-role-in-armed-robbery-at-college-dorm-room-in-st-marys-city/

But I will say that every alum we have ever met raves about that school.

PS-My kid also considered Juniata, Dickenson, Franklin & Marshall and Mt Holyoke.

Juniata (and she got into 7 schools, most more highly ranked). She was just drawn to the community. Fast forward ahead to now (she is a graduate), it turned out to be a great choice for her.

I wonder where yours ended up? Mine has a very similar list.

Nice to hear that. Juniata is currently her favorite on list, also because she has a good feeling about the community.

[Anonymous]

Juniata is good for sweet (maybe not not slick) kids, who are fine with very rural. It offers strong support from faculty, good science curriculum, lots of traditions, where everyone lives on campus in a small community.

[Anonymous]

Somebody on this board has a real boner for Juniata. Somehow it gets mentioned on every thread. There’s no way in hell I’d even consider Juniata over SMCM, especially if I were in state. It’s a average school at best but with a low graduation rate and a high price. Not surprising, I guess, since it’s a CTCL school.

[Anonymous]

My kid isn't old enough for college but we live pretty close to St. Mary's and the campus is beautiful. The students are welcoming, as are the professors. We've been there on days when students were excavating old St. Mary's City and they let my elem age kid jump right in and help them.

I wouldn't say it's remote, but I think the closest shopping is in Leonardtown or down by Pax River (they've got everything there you would need, grocery, target, walmart, ulta, belk, etc.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Somebody on this board has a real boner for Juniata. Somehow it gets mentioned on every thread. There’s no way in hell I’d even consider Juniata over SMCM, especially if I were in state. It’s a average school at best but with a low graduation rate and a high price. Not surprising, I guess, since it’s a CTCL school.

New poster here, but Juniata seems to have some elements of quality not typical for its tier. For instance, the average SAT and GPA for Juniata is similar to that for SMCM. Both are rural schools, 90-150 miles from where I live. Juniata has a 4-year graduation rate of 73% (according to US News), while that of SMCM is 64%.

In biology, a field my kid is interested in, Juniata ranks 20th in grads per capita who go on to earn a Ph.D. (Coming right behind it are U of Chicago, Williams, Scripps, Princeton, Stanford, Bowdoin, Brown, and Yale.) SMCM ranks 40th per capita in bio grads. Still strong! But Juniata seems to have biology as an area of strength. So if my kid were in that range (or looking for a safety school for higher SAT and GPA), I think Juniata might be appealing to her. I'd definitely support her application, and then we could see how the cost (including potential merit aid) would compare to our instate options.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid very seriously considered it. She was looking for a small LAC, that is strong in science (specifically, my DC was interested in marine biology/marine sciences). They location is great: right on the water. Pretty, relaxing, free water sports (such as supping, kayaking).

Negatives included the fact that they seemed to have declining applicants, which we feared might lower their standards/reputation and budget. This, perhaps, has turned around?? I have not stayed up on its current enrollment stats and budget.

On a minor note, most schools were willing to set up an overnight visit (at least for accepted students). My kid learned a lot from these unscripted visits (vs the canned Admissions tour). SMCM, however, did not entertain this option. This story also broke at the time, which did not warm my heart:

https://smnewsnet.com/archives/430229/update-student-takes-plea-deal-for-his-role-in-armed-robbery-at-college-dorm-room-in-st-marys-city/

But I will say that every alum we have ever met raves about that school.

PS-My kid also considered Juniata, Dickenson, Franklin & Marshall and Mt Holyoke.

They also give generous merit aid.

Juniata (and she got into 7 schools, most more highly ranked). She was just drawn to the community. Fast forward ahead to now (she is a graduate), it turned out to be a great choice for her.

I wonder where yours ended up? Mine has a very similar list.

Nice to hear that. Juniata is currently her favorite on list, also because she has a good feeling about the community.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Somebody on this board has a real boner for Juniata. Somehow it gets mentioned on every thread. There’s no way in hell I’d even consider Juniata over SMCM, especially if I were in state. It’s a average school at best but with a low graduation rate and a high price. Not surprising, I guess, since it’s a CTCL school.

I'm the PP from 12:30 who had a DD graduate from SMCM recently. She also considered Juniata because it is very similar to SMCM: no Greek life, small with a close-knit and friendly community, and very strong for biological sciences. With merit aid, the total cost made it not horribly expensive (but more than SMCM in-state and with merit aid as well). But...Juniata is so isolated that it felt depressing in comparison. At SMCM she went to NYC, DC, and Baltimore with class trips and had internships during the school year near campus.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Somebody on this board has a real boner for Juniata. Somehow it gets mentioned on every thread. There’s no way in hell I’d even consider Juniata over SMCM, especially if I were in state. It’s a average school at best but with a low graduation rate and a high price. Not surprising, I guess, since it’s a CTCL school.

New poster here, but Juniata seems to have some elements of quality not typical for its tier. For instance, the average SAT and GPA for Juniata is similar to that for SMCM. Both are rural schools, 90-150 miles from where I live. Juniata has a 4-year graduation rate of 73% (according to US News), while that of SMCM is 64%.

In biology, a field my kid is interested in, Juniata ranks 20th in grads per capita who go on to earn a Ph.D. (Coming right behind it are U of Chicago, Williams, Scripps, Princeton, Stanford, Bowdoin, Brown, and Yale.) SMCM ranks 40th per capita in bio grads. Still strong! But Juniata seems to have biology as an area of strength. So if my kid were in that range (or looking for a safety school for higher SAT and GPA), I think Juniata might be appealing to her. I'd definitely support her application, and then we could see how the cost (including potential merit aid) would compare to our instate options.

So refreshing to read objective facts about a CTCL instead of biased impressions from someone with no actual knowledge or experience.

I mean, how seriously can you actually take a post from someone who characterizes as other parents as having “boners” about schools?