Elon

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid went there and transferred out. She found it was “easier than high school.” There are smart kids there, but a lot of kids who just want to party. She felt the social life/student body was one dimensional (UMC white kids who want to party). Greek was popular but everyone does not get in (well, for girls anyway) so there is social life outside of Greek life.

That said, a lot of kids love it. You just have to be a certain kind of kid. It seems they are trying to change the school a bit to make it more serious (and there is great student interaction with professors and the professors love when students take an interest).

It was a bad fit for my student (and interestingly, almost very one of her friends who also transferred out), but many kids love it and I think you can have a great experience if you are a fit and you want to.

NP

Great post. Exactly what I have heard about Elon over the past several years.

Willing to share any of the transfer school names ?

I don’t want to put my DD because she is the only one to transfer to her particular school. I will say she got into about 10/13 (the ones she did not get into were Ivy). She got into T20 and “public Ivy.” Quite frankly, her 4.0 at Elon and involvement in ECs got her into schools she would not have gotten into directly out of school.

I will add that she loves her new school and finds the classes much more interesting and challenging. She doesn’t necessarily regret Elon but strongly feels it was a bad fit.

Thank you for your responses to my question.

Elon seems similar to a couple of colleges in Florida (Rollins College & Eckerd College) and fairly similar to Flagler College--although Flagler is much cheaper re: tuition / COA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid went there and transferred out. She found it was “easier than high school.” There are smart kids there, but a lot of kids who just want to party. She felt the social life/student body was one dimensional (UMC white kids who want to party). Greek was popular but everyone does not get in (well, for girls anyway) so there is social life outside of Greek life.

That said, a lot of kids love it. You just have to be a certain kind of kid. It seems they are trying to change the school a bit to make it more serious (and there is great student interaction with professors and the professors love when students take an interest).

It was a bad fit for my student (and interestingly, almost very one of her friends who also transferred out), but many kids love it and I think you can have a great experience if you are a fit and you want to.

NP

Great post. Exactly what I have heard about Elon over the past several years.

Willing to share any of the transfer school names ?

I don’t want to put my DD because she is the only one to transfer to her particular school. I will say she got into about 10/13 (the ones she did not get into were Ivy). She got into T20 and “public Ivy.” Quite frankly, her 4.0 at Elon and involvement in ECs got her into schools she would not have gotten into directly out of school.

I will add that she loves her new school and finds the classes much more interesting and challenging. She doesn’t necessarily regret Elon but strongly feels it was a bad fit.

Thank you for your responses to my question.

Elon seems similar to a couple of colleges in Florida (Rollins College & Eckerd College) and fairly similar to Flagler College--although Flagler is much cheaper re: tuition / COA.

Elon isn't the rising star that many on this board make it out to be, but it's better than those schools, especially Eckerd and Flagler.

[Anonymous]

We thought Elon was similar to CNU.

[Anonymous]

My niece is there and loves it. She got into “better” schools but felt strongly that this is where she wanted to go. She is one of the learning communities, not Greek, made many friends, and is doing well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid went there and transferred out. She found it was “easier than high school.” There are smart kids there, but a lot of kids who just want to party. She felt the social life/student body was one dimensional (UMC white kids who want to party). Greek was popular but everyone does not get in (well, for girls anyway) so there is social life outside of Greek life.

That said, a lot of kids love it. You just have to be a certain kind of kid. It seems they are trying to change the school a bit to make it more serious (and there is great student interaction with professors and the professors love when students take an interest).

It was a bad fit for my student (and interestingly, almost very one of her friends who also transferred out), but many kids love it and I think you can have a great experience if you are a fit and you want to.

NP

Great post. Exactly what I have heard about Elon over the past several years.

Willing to share any of the transfer school names ?

I don’t want to put my DD because she is the only one to transfer to her particular school. I will say she got into about 10/13 (the ones she did not get into were Ivy). She got into T20 and “public Ivy.” Quite frankly, her 4.0 at Elon and involvement in ECs got her into schools she would not have gotten into directly out of school.

I will add that she loves her new school and finds the classes much more interesting and challenging. She doesn’t necessarily regret Elon but strongly feels it was a bad fit.

Thank you for your responses to my question.

Elon seems similar to a couple of colleges in Florida (Rollins College & Eckerd College) and fairly similar to Flagler College--although Flagler is much cheaper re: tuition / COA.

Elon isn't the rising star that many on this board make it out to be, but it's better than those schools, especially Eckerd and Flagler.

Agree. My DC also applied to and got into Rollins but thought Elon was better than Rollins. It seemed to have more to offer and there was less coddling. Seemed like a fairly similar student body, although Rollins seemed a little less “preppy.” (As the kids use that term)

[Anonymous]

My son is a freshman there and has been having a great first semester. He is also a fellow. Freshman are not allowed to rush until spring semester, and he's had no problems finding social opportunities. It's only the first semester, but he's said that two of his classes are more difficult and two are average (it's a 4-1-4 schedule) and then have an intro class every freshman must take Elon 1010 - his fellows cohort takes it together and that incredibly easy according to him. He got into more challenging schools, but there was something about Elon that felt right when he visited the campus. Once he was accepted to fellows program that sealed the deal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My son is a freshman there and has been having a great first semester. He is also a fellow. Freshman are not allowed to rush until spring semester, and he's had no problems finding social opportunities. It's only the first semester, but he's said that two of his classes are more difficult and two are average (it's a 4-1-4 schedule) and then have an intro class every freshman must take Elon 1010 - his fellows cohort takes it together and that incredibly easy according to him. He got into more challenging schools, but there was something about Elon that felt right when he visited the campus. Once he was accepted to fellows program that sealed the deal.

May I ask major and whether their high school was rigorous, lots of honors and AP classes etc.? It’s a top 2 for mine and read a lot of variety on workload feedback. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Genuine question: Why is Elon so much cheaper than other private schools? Is there some secret - or is literally every other private school a giant rip-off?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know a current senior year there who def could have gone to a better school. She’s among the smartest and likes the opportunities it’s provided her because she’s a top student. That said she is Greek and she’s
said that is all there is to the social life. As a PS she drinks and drugs a whole lot more than she ever did in HS.

I think a kid who is in Greek life will obviously say "that's all there is" because that's all they do themselves. My kid is not in Greek at a school with Greek, and zero part of his very social/non-drinker life involves Greek.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My son is a freshman there and has been having a great first semester. He is also a fellow. Freshman are not allowed to rush until spring semester, and he's had no problems finding social opportunities. It's only the first semester, but he's said that two of his classes are more difficult and two are average (it's a 4-1-4 schedule) and then have an intro class every freshman must take Elon 1010 - his fellows cohort takes it together and that incredibly easy according to him. He got into more challenging schools, but there was something about Elon that felt right when he visited the campus. Once he was accepted to fellows program that sealed the deal.

This is what we hear about Elon too and I think it’s why everyone elevates it. It just feels like a special place.
And those people who think it’s overhyped probably haven’t been there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid went there and transferred out. She found it was “easier than high school.” There are smart kids there, but a lot of kids who just want to party. She felt the social life/student body was one dimensional (UMC white kids who want to party). Greek was popular but everyone does not get in (well, for girls anyway) so there is social life outside of Greek life.

That said, a lot of kids love it. You just have to be a certain kind of kid. It seems they are trying to change the school a bit to make it more serious (and there is great student interaction with professors and the professors love when students take an interest).

It was a bad fit for my student (and interestingly, almost very one of her friends who also transferred out), but many kids love it and I think you can have a great experience if you are a fit and you want to.

I’ve heard similar from students seeking to transfer out to a more rigorous institution.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Genuine question: Why is Elon so much cheaper than other private schools? Is there some secret - or is literally every other private school a giant rip-off?

Outside of the top-25 maybe 35, most other private schools offer significant amounts of merit awards to all incoming students. A lot of mid-level publics do too for out of state students. It may look like your student is special and really being recruited as part of their admission, but they all get it. They just hype the sticker price so it looks like it's as valuable an education as Princeton or Harvard. The true price is much lower.

Elon just dispenses with a lot of the sticker price/discount price aspect and just starts lower. They still give merit awards, but it's to a much lower percentage of the incoming class (top 15% get Presidential award of $10k; fellows get $13,500, they can be stacked). It totals about 25% of the incoming class instead of 80% at most schools. The net price is very similar when all is said and done.

[Anonymous]

Being totally honest it isn’t a very academically serious school and the brand is weak. I know a few alum who have corroborated this. Apply as a safety, sure, but wouldn’t use ED on it, especially compared to the others mentioned. (No shade intended!)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Genuine question: Why is Elon so much cheaper than other private schools? Is there some secret - or is literally every other private school a giant rip-off?

Outside of the top-25 maybe 35, most other private schools offer significant amounts of merit awards to all incoming students. A lot of mid-level publics do too for out of state students. It may look like your student is special and really being recruited as part of their admission, but they all get it. They just hype the sticker price so it looks like it's as valuable an education as Princeton or Harvard. The true price is much lower.

Elon just dispenses with a lot of the sticker price/discount price aspect and just starts lower. They still give merit awards, but it's to a much lower percentage of the incoming class (top 15% get Presidential award of $10k; fellows get $13,500, they can be stacked). It totals about 25% of the incoming class instead of 80% at most schools. The net price is very similar when all is said and done.

Well, it's an interesting strategy, but I can see how it doesn't lead to the strongest peer group.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We thought Elon was similar to CNU.

Same. My daughter chose CNU over Elon due to the lack of diversity and party culture at Elon (great if you want it, she's more introverted). I thought Elon had a lot to offer in terms of professor access but she's found that at CNU too.