Thoughts on St. Mary's College of MD?

[Anonymous]

DD graduated from SMCM 2 years ago. Loved the small beautiful campus and her time there. It's only 90 minutes to DC and plenty of shopping within driving/shuttle distance. The school’s location on the river is a major draw for the students. You have to want a small liberal arts school. Campus life centers on the docks and the river. Very nice students and easy to get to know your professors. DD had internships and got involved with research. Still in touch with professors and lots of alum return each year for alumni weekend.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I grew up down there. I got out at the first opportunity. Unless you sail I don't see why anyone would want to go. No place to intern or get a job. When I was in high school people drank because there was nothing else to do.

I see a town with some restaurants on google maps about 15 minutes away.

[Anonymous]

Aren’t a lot of the expensive private SLAC in small towns ?
I don’t see the difference.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Aren’t a lot of the expensive private SLAC in small towns ?
I don’t see the difference.

That’s because you haven’t been out there.

[Anonymous]

We spent many weekends there for swim meets. It is beautiful remote campus. You definitely would want a car. The cell service was very spotty on campus. Neither of my kids wanted to be that remote. With that said, it s a great option for a maryland resident that wants LAC college at in state price.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DD graduated from SMCM 2 years ago. Loved the small beautiful campus and her time there. It's only 90 minutes to DC and plenty of shopping within driving/shuttle distance. The school’s location on the river is a major draw for the students. You have to want a small liberal arts school. Campus life centers on the docks and the river. Very nice students and easy to get to know your professors. DD had internships and got involved with research. Still in touch with professors and lots of alum return each year for alumni weekend.

NP. I’m curious if your DD had any concerns about the remoteness prior to attending.

I suppose I’m trying to figure out how much a remote location *actually* matters to an enrolled student, vs how much they expect it will. So much of college life is centered on campus, and campuses tend to be vibrant places no matter their setting. I can imagine prospective students expecting it to matter far more than it actually turns out to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DD graduated from SMCM 2 years ago. Loved the small beautiful campus and her time there. It's only 90 minutes to DC and plenty of shopping within driving/shuttle distance. The school’s location on the river is a major draw for the students. You have to want a small liberal arts school. Campus life centers on the docks and the river. Very nice students and easy to get to know your professors. DD had internships and got involved with research. Still in touch with professors and lots of alum return each year for alumni weekend.

NP. I’m curious if your DD had any concerns about the remoteness prior to attending.

I suppose I’m trying to figure out how much a remote location *actually* matters to an enrolled student, vs how much they expect it will. So much of college life is centered on campus, and campuses tend to be vibrant places no matter their setting. I can imagine prospective students expecting it to matter far more than it actually turns out to.

I think it matters a lot. Particularly small schools like SMCM. It's only about 1/2 size of many of MCPS high schools. Imagine living with same kids for 4 years on campus. If you kid can handle/likes it, more power to your kid, but you need to be very careful before putting your kid in that environment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Aren’t a lot of the expensive private SLAC in small towns ?
I don’t see the difference.

My DD considered SMCM and only applied to LACs. She preferred the rural, small town locations. But the problem with SMCM was that it isn't in/right next to a small town. You have to drive 15 min to get to a suburban strip mall area. She preferred the schools where you could easily walk into a cute town and she ended up at a school like that. She doesn't have a car so it matters that the grocery store is a quick bike ride away, that she and friends can stroll into town to visit the thrift shops or see a movie. At SMCM you need a car, a friend with a car, or work around when a shuttle can be used.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DD graduated from SMCM 2 years ago. Loved the small beautiful campus and her time there. It's only 90 minutes to DC and plenty of shopping within driving/shuttle distance. The school’s location on the river is a major draw for the students. You have to want a small liberal arts school. Campus life centers on the docks and the river. Very nice students and easy to get to know your professors. DD had internships and got involved with research. Still in touch with professors and lots of alum return each year for alumni weekend.

NP. I’m curious if your DD had any concerns about the remoteness prior to attending.

I suppose I’m trying to figure out how much a remote location *actually* matters to an enrolled student, vs how much they expect it will. So much of college life is centered on campus, and campuses tend to be vibrant places no matter their setting. I can imagine prospective students expecting it to matter far more than it actually turns out to.

dp I also want to add if you are used to living near DC it will be a big adjustment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Aren’t a lot of the expensive private SLAC in small towns ?
I don’t see the difference.

My DD considered SMCM and only applied to LACs. She preferred the rural, small town locations. But the problem with SMCM was that it isn't in/right next to a small town. You have to drive 15 min to get to a suburban strip mall area. She preferred the schools where you could easily walk into a cute town and she ended up at a school like that. She doesn't have a car so it matters that the grocery store is a quick bike ride away, that she and friends can stroll into town to visit the thrift shops or see a movie. At SMCM you need a car, a friend with a car, or work around when a shuttle can be used.

Good point but with low instate tuition that is the compromise for students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Aren’t a lot of the expensive private SLAC in small towns ?
I don’t see the difference.

My DD considered SMCM and only applied to LACs. She preferred the rural, small town locations. But the problem with SMCM was that it isn't in/right next to a small town. You have to drive 15 min to get to a suburban strip mall area. She preferred the schools where you could easily walk into a cute town and she ended up at a school like that. She doesn't have a car so it matters that the grocery store is a quick bike ride away, that she and friends can stroll into town to visit the thrift shops or see a movie. At SMCM you need a car, a friend with a car, or work around when a shuttle can be used.

Good point but with low instate tuition that is the compromise for students.

True. We're in VA and with merit SMCM was similar in price to private LACs that gave merit. Might have been a different calculation if we were in MD. She could have gone to UMW for less than the LAC she chose but it didn't have some things that were important to her.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Terrible location.

Not everyone wants city life. I loved going to college in a rural location.
I didn't have to worry about crime on campus for once in my life, it was freeing as a young woman.

The base has more influence on the area than the College.

A few years ago I visited St. Mary's as it was part of a school field trip my then 4th grader was taking. I was excited to see it but when I got there I literally knew that if I'd had to attend, I would have slashed my wrists. It is RURAL and isolated and small. You have a 2.5 hour drive to civilization along one back-country road. No thank you.

I’ve been to the town of Saint Mary’s multiple times
That’s just not accurate.

Which part?

I’ve driven to the town of Saint Mary’s multiple times and only traveled on normal highways. The town itself is cute. Perhaps there is a one lane road between the town and college, but that can’t be more than a 15 minute drive.

[Anonymous]

The alumni we have met from there speak very highly of the school. We thought the campus was striking (in a good way). Right on the water. Kids have free access to boating, the dock, spectacular sunsets each evening. Seemed like an idyllic place to spend your college years.

My kid wanted a small LAC that was strong in science. She had attended a very large suburban high school, and felt like isolated campuses have good spirit because events don’t have to compete with nearby museums, theater, bars, etc.

She wound up going elsewhere, because at the time the school’s enrollment #’s were going down, and we feared budget cuts. Not sure if that has turned around.

[Anonymous]

I blossomed at SMCM. I really liked the location, and yes I did have a vehicle. I even lived off campus in Lexington Park and it was fine. When I wanted a change of pace, we loaded up the car and headed into DC and Baltimore. Most of us had parents in the DC burbs so we could crash there when we needed to. Some of you really need to get out more - there is more to MD than Moco.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The alumni we have met from there speak very highly of the school. We thought the campus was striking (in a good way). Right on the water. Kids have free access to boating, the dock, spectacular sunsets each evening. Seemed like an idyllic place to spend your college years.

My kid wanted a small LAC that was strong in science. She had attended a very large suburban high school, and felt like isolated campuses have good spirit because events don’t have to compete with nearby museums, theater, bars, etc.

She wound up going elsewhere, because at the time the school’s enrollment #’s were going down, and we feared budget cuts. Not sure if that has turned around.

I read on their facebook page that their incoming freshman class is the largest in over a decade. They have a number of new programs as well.