St. Mary's College of MD

[Anonymous]

SMCM’s location is the very definition of the middle of nowhere. Plus, we hated the drive - nothing interesting on the way. We were surprised how turned off we were about SMCM.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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?

As I said, somebody’s got a real boner for Juniata. It’s so weird.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:SMCM’s location is the very definition of the middle of nowhere. Plus, we hated the drive - nothing interesting on the way. We were surprised how turned off we were about SMCM.

To each their own, I totally get it. My DD is a current freshman at SMCM and when she visited last year she immediately loved it. It's only been a few months, but she is incredibly happy. Enjoys her classes, professors, has made lovely friends. It is a great fit for her, and just a friendly place and gorgeous campus. A very welcome change of pace for her from traffic central Montgomery County. It's rural, a turn-off for some, enchanting to others. If your student is looking for a great education in a summer camp setting, SMCM is worth a look.

[Anonymous]

This is OP. Thank you to everyone for their input. I really would not have expected this thread to include the word "boner," but there you have it. DCUM is an interesting place.

For those of you whose child attends or considered SMCM, would you mind providing a general sense of their GPA/test scores if they took and submitted them?

Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is OP. Thank you to everyone for their input. I really would not have expected this thread to include the word "boner," but there you have it. DCUM is an interesting place.

For those of you whose child attends or considered SMCM, would you mind providing a general sense of their GPA/test scores if they took and submitted them?

Thanks.

I am sorry but why do you need that info? Almost anybody - and i say that without snarks - can/will get accepted. Are you looking for merit aid?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is OP. Thank you to everyone for their input. I really would not have expected this thread to include the word "boner," but there you have it. DCUM is an interesting place.

For those of you whose child attends or considered SMCM, would you mind providing a general sense of their GPA/test scores if they took and submitted them?

Thanks.

I am sorry but why do you need that info? Almost anybody - and i say that without snarks - can/will get accepted. Are you looking for merit aid?

Okay. I know it's not as competitive as many other schools, but I was curious. This comment is helpful as it is - and good for me to know. I don't take your comment as snarky and in fact I'm glad to hear it. DD is a good but not great student at a W school (3.5-3.8) with a disproportionate number of 4.0+ students. I think she would benefit from a college experience where it's less of a pressure cooker environment and know this is one option, but wasn't sure it could be considered a given. Not looking for merit aid, because it would be affordable given the in-state status. Although obviously it would be more than welcome if available.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is OP. Thank you to everyone for their input. I really would not have expected this thread to include the word "boner," but there you have it. DCUM is an interesting place.

For those of you whose child attends or considered SMCM, would you mind providing a general sense of their GPA/test scores if they took and submitted them?

Thanks.

I am sorry but why do you need that info? Almost anybody - and i say that without snarks - can/will get accepted. Are you looking for merit aid?

Okay. I know it's not as competitive as many other schools, but I was curious. This comment is helpful as it is - and good for me to know. I don't take your comment as snarky and in fact I'm glad to hear it. DD is a good but not great student at a W school (3.5-3.8) with a disproportionate number of 4.0+ students. I think she would benefit from a college experience where it's less of a pressure cooker environment and know this is one option, but wasn't sure it could be considered a given. Not looking for merit aid, because it would be affordable given the in-state status. Although obviously it would be more than welcome if available.

I am sure SMCM would love to have kids like your attend. They are pretty tight w/ merit - compared to CP and BC - mainly because it's a much smaller school and, historically speaking, has not gotten fair share of funding from state.

[Anonymous]

Look in SMCM's Common Data Set for 2021-22 to see the freshmen profile, including SAT scores and GPAs. https://www.smcm.edu/ir/about-st-marys/common-data-set/

Go visit! I have enjoyed talking to professors during the open house days. My kids have enjoyed eating in the cafeteria and talking to the students. It is a nice place to get a SLAC education for in-state tuition.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is OP. Thank you to everyone for their input. I really would not have expected this thread to include the word "boner," but there you have it. DCUM is an interesting place.

For those of you whose child attends or considered SMCM, would you mind providing a general sense of their GPA/test scores if they took and submitted them?

Thanks.

I am sorry but why do you need that info? Almost anybody - and i say that without snarks - can/will get accepted. Are you looking for merit aid?

My kid got in with a 3.8 UW (4.2 weighted), but low SAT (which she probably did not submit if that was optional, can’t recall).

[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.

The above quoted post contains an inaccurate statement: The cited graduation rates are 6 year (not 4 year) graduation rates for each school. (4 year rates are lower.)

Juniata College offers a lot of merit scholarships and is a solid value for good students seeking a small school environment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

The above quoted post contains an inaccurate statement: The cited graduation rates are 6 year (not 4 year) graduation rates for each school. (4 year rates are lower.)

Juniata College offers a lot of merit scholarships and is a solid value for good students seeking a small school environment.

SMCM's latest 6 year graduation rate is 73% (as listed on their website). The MD higher education commission lists their graduation rate even higher at 79.7%, which makes it the second highest graduation rate at all public colleges in MD (second only to UMD at 87.3%).

[Anonymous]

I responded because you cited US News as the source of the schools' 4 year graduation rate. US News uses schools' 6 year graduation rate in its rating & ranking system.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

The above quoted post contains an inaccurate statement: The cited graduation rates are 6 year (not 4 year) graduation rates for each school. (4 year rates are lower.)

Juniata College offers a lot of merit scholarships and is a solid value for good students seeking a small school environment.

Take it up with US News!

[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 am originally from PA and surprised at its mentions as well. The students I knew that went there either played sports or were full pay and did not get into other $$$ places.

[Anonymous]

Sounds like a great place for my kid. She wants a small school. Does anyone know how their graphic design/animation art programs are?And is there a tuition discount for VA residents?