College of Charleston

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:U South Carolina is your best bet. Social and fun but not super southern like Alabama or Auburn. More variety than Charleston.

They don't have the stats for merit at U South Carolina.

That’s my kid’s situation also. And the OOS price is high (to my purse anyway).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why does everyone feel the need to go astray? It was a simple question and it wasn't about UMW. OP said what she wanted and Mary Wash doesn't fit the bill. Mary Wash has a vibe...and it leans emo.

Now back to discussing CoC.

I think the confusion is that “emo” is NOT how most folks would describe UMW or its vibe, so we’re trying to figure out what OP’s kid actually means when she says UMW is too emo, and what she’s actually looking for in a school. “Sporty/rah-rah” helps, but as a pp notes CoC doesn’t have a football team so it depends how literal she wants that rah-rah feel to be.

OP wants to know the vibe at CoC. Like it helps to know that cost of living off campus is high. Is there no on campus housing for 4 years?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why does everyone feel the need to go astray? It was a simple question and it wasn't about UMW. OP said what she wanted and Mary Wash doesn't fit the bill. Mary Wash has a vibe...and it leans emo.

Now back to discussing CoC.

I think the confusion is that “emo” is NOT how most folks would describe UMW or its vibe, so we’re trying to figure out what OP’s kid actually means when she says UMW is too emo, and what she’s actually looking for in a school. “Sporty/rah-rah” helps, but as a pp notes CoC doesn’t have a football team so it depends how literal she wants that rah-rah feel to be.

OP wants to know the vibe at CoC. Like it helps to know that cost of living off campus is high. Is there no on campus housing for 4 years?

Its quite important b/c NO on campus housing is not guaranteed for 4 years- its a small campus. Out of state rates all in at CoC are $60,622 while at USC are $53,118. Obviously that goes up with off campus housing right in the heart of Charleston. OP is worried about cost and merit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:U South Carolina is your best bet. Social and fun but not super southern like Alabama or Auburn. More variety than Charleston.

They don't have the stats for merit at U South Carolina.

Where does a B student get merit anyhow? (truly curious)

You need to define what a B is? And some schools base merit on an UW GPA and some on weighted?

My kid got merit from a lot of schools. Iowa, WVU, Arizona, Mizzou, Kentucky, Miami of Ohio. None from South Carolina even though the net price calculator said we would get something. And the only two bargains were WVU and Iowa.

I think if you truly have a B student you need to look at schools with low OOS tuition. FAU, East Carolina,
Mississippi State and UNC Charlotte. I think Arkansas and Oklahoma would be good too.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Kid will probably end up with a weighted GPA closer to 3.5 so nothing out of the park--very much a B student. We are keeping our expectations realistic and looking at our options out of state. Kid is a 3 sport all 4 years Varsity athlete and likes the sports social atmosphere but isn't a true party goer. A friend's daughter recently announced she's going to CoC to study the same subjects DD is interested in so I am on here looking at input. Just collecting information on the vibe since we won't be touring any time soon.

Side note: DD loves WVU and that's definitely a school in consideration.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would t have described Mary Wash as emo. It might be helpful to have a better understanding of what your kid means by that?

My kid is sporty and very "run of the mill" for this area. They aren't nerdy, musical or into theater or the they/them vibe. They also didn't like UMW because it is too close to home so that school is out of the running. They want the big rah rah school but they want it a few notches below say 'Bama.

Christopher Newport U?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Kid will probably end up with a weighted GPA closer to 3.5 so nothing out of the park--very much a B student. We are keeping our expectations realistic and looking at our options out of state. Kid is a 3 sport all 4 years Varsity athlete and likes the sports social atmosphere but isn't a true party goer. A friend's daughter recently announced she's going to CoC to study the same subjects DD is interested in so I am on here looking at input. Just collecting information on the vibe since we won't be touring any time soon.

Side note: DD loves WVU and that's definitely a school in consideration.

The vibe at College of Charleston is nothing like the vibe at WVU. It’s on the smaller side and literally right in the middle of the city of Charleston, not really a campus vibe. university of South Carolina, or Clemson, is way more similar. College of Charleston also doesn’t have football so she’s not gonna get that whole vibe either. Just seems like an odd choice for how you’ve described your kid. I’d actually take a look at Penn State, huge amount of school spirit, and they accept kids on the lower side with regard to grades.

[Anonymous]

I think Old Dominion would actually be a good fit for her. They have football. It’s close to the beach and then state tuition.

[Anonymous]

I just don’t understand how OP thinks their B student is going to get enough merit at a school out of state that is somehow equal to in-state tuition in Virginia. There are so many amazing schools here. Why look out of state at those rates? Not everyone goes to VT or UVA, tons of B Students are happy at their schools in state.

[Anonymous]

I know a very mainstream Democrat Jewish girl who was very happy there - she found her people, got a good job afterwards. Might have been in some sort of honors program but not sure. Not a typical sorority girl type (don't know if she was in one or not) but very pleasant, outgoing and social.

[Anonymous]

GPA of 3.5 sounds more like a B+ student so this kid will have plenty of options!

I get what OP’s child is saying about UWM, folks should let it go and focus on the actual question posed. If a kid doesn’t like a school or think it’s the right fit, accept that fact. UMW is a fine place but definitely has a certain feel and vibe (students tend to be more bookish, introverted and artsy on the whole).

CoC is a great option for kids who want a southern school that’s less intense than some of the larger southern colleges like U of SC. Charleston is a great little city with a lot to offer. CoC definitely has a sorority, party vibe but not as much sports as say WVU.

I would go visit! It’s a quick flight from the DC area and fun weekend getaway. A family member actually went to CoC and transferred as it just wasn’t the right fit (she ended up at a school very similar to UMW).

I think CNU is a good suggestion. I might also look at Elon.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:GPA of 3.5 sounds more like a B+ student so this kid will have plenty of options!

I get what OP’s child is saying about UWM, folks should let it go and focus on the actual question posed. If a kid doesn’t like a school or think it’s the right fit, accept that fact. UMW is a fine place but definitely has a certain feel and vibe (students tend to be more bookish, introverted and artsy on the whole).

CoC is a great option for kids who want a southern school that’s less intense than some of the larger southern colleges like U of SC. Charleston is a great little city with a lot to offer. CoC definitely has a sorority, party vibe but not as much sports as say WVU.

I would go visit! It’s a quick flight from the DC area and fun weekend getaway. A family member actually went to CoC and transferred as it just wasn’t the right fit (she ended up at a school very similar to UMW).

I think CNU is a good suggestion. I might also look at Elon.

Don’t bother with Elon. Merit isn’t going to happen with a 3.5.

[Anonymous]

JMU might be a good one to look at too

[Anonymous]

If WVU is in the mix, has the student looked at App State?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If WVU is in the mix, has the student looked at App State?

I like that suggestion for this student!