S/O - any disappointing tours?

[Anonymous]

This has nothing to do with the tour guides, but when we toured Princeton, DC was completely turned off by how much construction seemed to be going on. Every route we tried to take had a detour for construction. It seemed like a quarter of the buildings were being worked on. And it's great that they are renovating the campus ... but since DC attends a high school that has been in renovation for his entire 4 years, he's just done with it. He'd rather attend a school with slightly aging buildings than one that has sounds of construction trucks going on all over the place.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote: My DS couldn’t wait to get in the car and leave W & M. The tour guide seemed kind of blah about selling it and overall looked bored and miserable. The school was a lot smaller than we thought but I would say of all the tours we had in VA , this one was the worst.

I was just about to write exactly the same thing! W&M seemed utterly miserable. My DC didn't even want to stay for the information session, even though I insisted. DC couldn't get out of there fast enough.

Why/how?

The entire vibe - the students we encountered - the incredibly dull presentation - the types of kids who were in attendance - I could go on and on. There was honestly not one appealing thing to list. I kept all of that to myself at the time, but when it was clear DC was totally turned off and wanted to leave, I had to agree.

What about the kids who were in attendance was not pleasing?

I think people have gotten so used to the over the top, rah-rah instagram style presentation of big sports schools that when they visit a public school that projects a more low-key, studious and artsy vibe they get turned off.

It’s like people need a cheesy sports-focused hype video at every info session or else they think the school is weird.

I'm the poster the PP was asking the question of, but thanks for answering for me.

We weren't at all looking for a "rah-rah" presentation or anything over the top. None of what you said had anything to do with our impression of this school. I'm sure the rabid boosters will flame me for being honest, but the students in attendance were like the worst combination of Tracy Flicks and theatre kids. Obviously not everyone there was like that, but enough so that it was very evident what kind of kid would enjoy a school like this. No one seemed laid back and relaxed - there was a very tightly wound vibe that's hard to explain, but evident to most. I've talked to so many other people who came away with the same impression. Either you love it or you hate it and we were definitely in the latter camp.

You're the one doing the flaming.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote: My DS couldn’t wait to get in the car and leave W & M. The tour guide seemed kind of blah about selling it and overall looked bored and miserable. The school was a lot smaller than we thought but I would say of all the tours we had in VA , this one was the worst.

I was just about to write exactly the same thing! W&M seemed utterly miserable. My DC didn't even want to stay for the information session, even though I insisted. DC couldn't get out of there fast enough.

Why/how?

The entire vibe - the students we encountered - the incredibly dull presentation - the types of kids who were in attendance - I could go on and on. There was honestly not one appealing thing to list. I kept all of that to myself at the time, but when it was clear DC was totally turned off and wanted to leave, I had to agree.

What about the kids who were in attendance was not pleasing?

I think people have gotten so used to the over the top, rah-rah instagram style presentation of big sports schools that when they visit a public school that projects a more low-key, studious and artsy vibe they get turned off.

It’s like people need a cheesy sports-focused hype video at every info session or else they think the school is weird.

I'm the poster the PP was asking the question of, but thanks for answering for me.

We weren't at all looking for a "rah-rah" presentation or anything over the top. None of what you said had anything to do with our impression of this school. I'm sure the rabid boosters will flame me for being honest, but the students in attendance were like the worst combination of Tracy Flicks and theatre kids. Obviously not everyone there was like that, but enough so that it was very evident what kind of kid would enjoy a school like this. No one seemed laid back and relaxed - there was a very tightly wound vibe that's hard to explain, but evident to most. I've talked to so many other people who came away with the same impression. Either you love it or you hate it and we were definitely in the latter camp.

NP I actually wouldn’t describe this as a disappointing tour. It’s more than your child realized the vibe/fit wasn’t for her, and that’s totally ok.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can we just stop with the threads that drag tour guides. Students are allowed to have a bad day. They sign up for tour duty and then life sometimes happens in the meantime.

Show some grace. Maybe we can just cut this thread?

Amen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We visited multiple northeast colleges last summer and while most were perfectly decent, we were disappointed by two:

1. Vassar. Beautiful trees in the central part of campus but the buildings there were quite poorly maintained. Window-sills had flaking paint, and it gave the impression they were barely making ends meet.
2. Bard. We knew it had a quirky reputation, but the campus was downright ugly, both buildings as well as the "art" on the lawns. Nothing attractive about any of it.

Vassar is where they film Sex lives of college girls and that campus looks gorgeous!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: My DS couldn’t wait to get in the car and leave W & M. The tour guide seemed kind of blah about selling it and overall looked bored and miserable. The school was a lot smaller than we thought but I would say of all the tours we had in VA , this one was the worst.

I was just about to write exactly the same thing! W&M seemed utterly miserable. My DC didn't even want to stay for the information session, even though I insisted. DC couldn't get out of there fast enough.

Why/how?

The entire vibe - the students we encountered - the incredibly dull presentation - the types of kids who were in attendance - I could go on and on. There was honestly not one appealing thing to list. I kept all of that to myself at the time, but when it was clear DC was totally turned off and wanted to leave, I had to agree.

What about the kids who were in attendance was not pleasing?

I think people have gotten so used to the over the top, rah-rah instagram style presentation of big sports schools that when they visit a public school that projects a more low-key, studious and artsy vibe they get turned off.

It’s like people need a cheesy sports-focused hype video at every info session or else they think the school is weird.

I'm the poster the PP was asking the question of, but thanks for answering for me.

We weren't at all looking for a "rah-rah" presentation or anything over the top. None of what you said had anything to do with our impression of this school. I'm sure the rabid boosters will flame me for being honest, but the students in attendance were like the worst combination of Tracy Flicks and theatre kids. Obviously not everyone there was like that, but enough so that it was very evident what kind of kid would enjoy a school like this. No one seemed laid back and relaxed - there was a very tightly wound vibe that's hard to explain, but evident to most. I've talked to so many other people who came away with the same impression. Either you love it or you hate it and we were definitely in the latter camp.

NP I actually wouldn’t describe this as a disappointing tour. It’s more than your child realized the vibe/fit wasn’t for her, and that’s totally ok.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I knew Notre Dame was Catholic, but didn’t realize how Catholic. It was like driving up to Vatican. The architecture, icons, priests, 80% students are Catholic, etc..

Nothing wrong with it, but it’s not a good cultural fit for someone who is not Catholic.

This is why I loved it!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: My DS couldn’t wait to get in the car and leave W & M. The tour guide seemed kind of blah about selling it and overall looked bored and miserable. The school was a lot smaller than we thought but I would say of all the tours we had in VA , this one was the worst.

I was just about to write exactly the same thing! W&M seemed utterly miserable. My DC didn't even want to stay for the information session, even though I insisted. DC couldn't get out of there fast enough.

Why/how?

The entire vibe - the students we encountered - the incredibly dull presentation - the types of kids who were in attendance - I could go on and on. There was honestly not one appealing thing to list. I kept all of that to myself at the time, but when it was clear DC was totally turned off and wanted to leave, I had to agree.

What about the kids who were in attendance was not pleasing?

I think people have gotten so used to the over the top, rah-rah instagram style presentation of big sports schools that when they visit a public school that projects a more low-key, studious and artsy vibe they get turned off.

It’s like people need a cheesy sports-focused hype video at every info session or else they think the school is weird.

I'm the poster the PP was asking the question of, but thanks for answering for me.

We weren't at all looking for a "rah-rah" presentation or anything over the top. None of what you said had anything to do with our impression of this school. I'm sure the rabid boosters will flame me for being honest, but the students in attendance were like the worst combination of Tracy Flicks and theatre kids. Obviously not everyone there was like that, but enough so that it was very evident what kind of kid would enjoy a school like this. No one seemed laid back and relaxed - there was a very tightly wound vibe that's hard to explain, but evident to most. I've talked to so many other people who came away with the same impression. Either you love it or you hate it and we were definitely in the latter camp.

You're the one doing the flaming.

By giving an honest account of our impressions? I didn't flame anyone, but nice try.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It was in 2019, but I was very disappointed in the Georgetown tour. Buildings and dorms were in bad condition and they spoke alot about famous alumni (yes I know Bill Clinton went there).

I felt the same. Kid LOVES the school, but the tour was ginormous. I couldn't hear most of it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Man, these parents would’ve hated my college where we’d write “Do not Come” signs and stick them in our windows. Luckily, their kids also wont be getting into Princeton anytime soon.

Last spring we visited 10 schools and students driving/walking by two of our tours yelled “don’t come here!” And we laughed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: My DS couldn’t wait to get in the car and leave W & M. The tour guide seemed kind of blah about selling it and overall looked bored and miserable. The school was a lot smaller than we thought but I would say of all the tours we had in VA , this one was the worst.

I was just about to write exactly the same thing! W&M seemed utterly miserable. My DC didn't even want to stay for the information session, even though I insisted. DC couldn't get out of there fast enough.

Why/how?

The entire vibe - the students we encountered - the incredibly dull presentation - the types of kids who were in attendance - I could go on and on. There was honestly not one appealing thing to list. I kept all of that to myself at the time, but when it was clear DC was totally turned off and wanted to leave, I had to agree.

What about the kids who were in attendance was not pleasing?

I think people have gotten so used to the over the top, rah-rah instagram style presentation of big sports schools that when they visit a public school that projects a more low-key, studious and artsy vibe they get turned off.

It’s like people need a cheesy sports-focused hype video at every info session or else they think the school is weird.

I'm the poster the PP was asking the question of, but thanks for answering for me.

We weren't at all looking for a "rah-rah" presentation or anything over the top. None of what you said had anything to do with our impression of this school. I'm sure the rabid boosters will flame me for being honest, but the students in attendance were like the worst combination of Tracy Flicks and theatre kids. Obviously not everyone there was like that, but enough so that it was very evident what kind of kid would enjoy a school like this. No one seemed laid back and relaxed - there was a very tightly wound vibe that's hard to explain, but evident to most. I've talked to so many other people who came away with the same impression. Either you love it or you hate it and we were definitely in the latter camp.

This is interesting because the W&M tour we went on was fantastic and the students on the tour were all very different. The school definitely has an intellectual vibe which isn’t for everyone.

[Anonymous]

Princeton. The tour guide was fine. It was the other parents. It only took 2-3 minutes for the ultra wealthy from the DCUM area to identify each other using smoke signals. Then they clung together during the entire walk.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Princeton. The tour guide was fine. It was the other parents. It only took 2-3 minutes for the ultra wealthy from the DCUM area to identify each other using smoke signals. Then they clung together during the entire walk.

Experienced the same at the Yale tour! Loved the school though.

[Anonymous]

Mason. Someone on the tour asked who George Mason was and the guy hemmed and hawed and said something like "He did something with the Bill of Rights or something?" The rest of the tour was similar.

As a former Mason tour guide in the 90s, I was appalled. I could have given a better tour and I hadn't been on campus in 20y.

That being said, the campus was beautiful, and I was disappointed my student didn't want to even consider it (we are OOS - DH and I met there.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: My DS couldn’t wait to get in the car and leave W & M. The tour guide seemed kind of blah about selling it and overall looked bored and miserable. The school was a lot smaller than we thought but I would say of all the tours we had in VA , this one was the worst.

I was just about to write exactly the same thing! W&M seemed utterly miserable. My DC didn't even want to stay for the information session, even though I insisted. DC couldn't get out of there fast enough.

Why/how?

The entire vibe - the students we encountered - the incredibly dull presentation - the types of kids who were in attendance - I could go on and on. There was honestly not one appealing thing to list. I kept all of that to myself at the time, but when it was clear DC was totally turned off and wanted to leave, I had to agree.

What about the kids who were in attendance was not pleasing?

I think people have gotten so used to the over the top, rah-rah instagram style presentation of big sports schools that when they visit a public school that projects a more low-key, studious and artsy vibe they get turned off.

It’s like people need a cheesy sports-focused hype video at every info session or else they think the school is weird.

I'm the poster the PP was asking the question of, but thanks for answering for me.

We weren't at all looking for a "rah-rah" presentation or anything over the top. None of what you said had anything to do with our impression of this school. I'm sure the rabid boosters will flame me for being honest, but the students in attendance were like the worst combination of Tracy Flicks and theatre kids. Obviously not everyone there was like that, but enough so that it was very evident what kind of kid would enjoy a school like this. No one seemed laid back and relaxed - there was a very tightly wound vibe that's hard to explain, but evident to most. I've talked to so many other people who came away with the same impression. Either you love it or you hate it and we were definitely in the latter camp.

DP. This is the most spot-on review of W&M I have ever read. We also were in the latter camp and agree with your assessments!