Experienced Parents: Where did your children have EXCELLENT college experiences (this decade)?

[Anonymous]

UChicago. Thought it would be an excellent education but no fun. Extroverted, sporty kid. Had a great time from the start and exceptional outcome in terms of happiness and post college plans. A+ unexpected experience. It did just work out.

[Anonymous]

Berry College

The college talks about educating the head, heart, and hands. While similar sentiments might be taken for granted at other schools, the Berry community really embraces it and there's a big emphasis on service.

Although the enrollment is relatively small (about 2100), the campus is huge, which my nature loving DC adores.

https://www.berry.edu/about/

The work study program is specially designed so that students assume greater responsibility during their time at Berry and many will get management experience. While not required, almost everyone participates.

https://www.berry.edu/stuwork/employment/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Stanford and Berkeley. The one who went to Stanford got into Yale, we looked at it, and he said, "I worry I'd want to kill myself if I went here."

You sound like a very arrogant family.

[Anonymous]

My daughter is a junior and having an amazing experience at Oberlin. She couldn’t be happier with the community, her classes/profs and the opportunities like Exco. She also really loves having so much great music everywhere even though she’s not a musician.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Berry College

The college talks about educating the head, heart, and hands. While similar sentiments might be taken for granted at other schools, the Berry community really embraces it and there's a big emphasis on service.

Although the enrollment is relatively small (about 2100), the campus is huge, which my nature loving DC adores.

https://www.berry.edu/about/

The work study program is specially designed so that students assume greater responsibility during their time at Berry and many will get management experience. While not required, almost everyone participates.

https://www.berry.edu/stuwork/employment/

Thank you! Not OP here. We're looking for "hidden gems" like this. (I know about CTCL but some of that is marketing).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My daughter is a junior and having an amazing experience at Oberlin. She couldn’t be happier with the community, her classes/profs and the opportunities like Exco. She also really loves having so much great music everywhere even though she’s not a musician.

Good to hear. We have one headed that way tomorrow for a two day visit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Berry College

The college talks about educating the head, heart, and hands. While similar sentiments might be taken for granted at other schools, the Berry community really embraces it and there's a big emphasis on service.

Although the enrollment is relatively small (about 2100), the campus is huge, which my nature loving DC adores.

https://www.berry.edu/about/

The work study program is specially designed so that students assume greater responsibility during their time at Berry and many will get management experience. While not required, almost everyone participates.

https://www.berry.edu/stuwork/employment/

Thank you! Not OP here. We're looking for "hidden gems" like this. (I know about CTCL but some of that is marketing).

DH grew up near very near Berry. He has great things to say about the school. Less great things to say about that area of GA. There is a reason the campus is huge— the land is cheap. It’s an hour outside of Atlanta, but seems very rural and somewhat depressed. Definitely vissit before letting your kid attend.

[Anonymous]

^^ Thanks, that's a good point. Rural areas have their issues, plus now with the meth epidemic, things are just out of hand in so many places.

[Anonymous]

That is why we ruled out Allegheny College (way up in in Meadville PA, near Ohio).

[Anonymous]

University of Florida. Loved the academic choices, the beautiful campus, the sports, the Greek life, the town and the weather.

And because we did the Florida prepaid program, no debt! Walked right into a job in her field.

[Anonymous]

NYU. Way better academically than I expected it to be--both in terms of teaching and peer group (yes, I know that probably sounds snobbish, but trying to be honest) And she's having a blast.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^^ Thanks, that's a good point. Rural areas have their issues, plus now with the meth epidemic, things are just out of hand in so many places.

Thank goodness urban areas have no issues.

[Anonymous]

Why does everything have to turn into a debate?

Snarkiness really does not win you anything. It simply demonstrates that something inside you is bitter or sad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DC is a senior at Wesleyan and has an amazing experience.....just a perfect fit

Might be helpful to specify what about the school makes it a perfect fit (even more important than what traits your kids has). That way we can all learn something about these schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^ Thanks, that's a good point. Rural areas have their issues, plus now with the meth epidemic, things are just out of hand in so many places.

Thank goodness urban areas have no issues.

Of course they do. But a kid who has grown up in the DMV is in for a culture shock. That’s big time Trump territory and is all about God and Guns. There is not much diversity (or culture, of thought, or skin color of sexuality, etc). It’s economically depressed and it’s insular. And there is nothing there. My DH and SIL got out as soon as they could. My ILs love rural living, owning land, having animals, etc and hate cities, so it works for them. They are among the few liberals, and we still had to put down our foot about the kids not visiting until they got a gun safe. Last time O was downtown, many storefronts were empty. I have spent up to a week at a time there. I’m not making generalizations about the rural South. I’m talking about the specific town of a Rome GA that I regularly visit. Your kid needs to spend the night and drive the surrounding area, not just campus (which is nice from what I have seen of it) so they know what they are signing up for.

Similarly, a kid from a rural area may hate GW or NYU or Chicago. It’s like the weather thread. A very rural campus isn’t for everyone. A very urban campus isn’t for everyone. And despite being not too far from Atlanta, Berry is very rural.