college - tell me about "the best kept secret" schools - anyone have one?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No football games at Mary Washington. Big hole in fall weekends. What do alumni come back for in fall? Homecoming without football? Just seems sad.

This may shock you, but some people have zero interest in football. I've never gone to a football game in my entire life. My weekends have always been plenty full. I actually have no idea if my college had a football team or not.

Also, as a college student I didn't care about talking to alumni. And as a graduate, I never went back to my college. I took my finals and left. I didn't even attend graduation because I found out it cost money to attend.

You sound like an Awful person.

The alumni that came back to our school always got drunk and broke everything. I guess our school was more of a party school back in the day, but it was really annoying stepping over all the broken glass the morning after. So I for one don't find you 100% awful. I really wasn't into graduation either, college or grad school.

[Anonymous]

College of Wooster - great outcomes, every student has a serious internship. Very much a hidden gem.

[Anonymous]

Oh and Rice? Harder to get into than Chicago and several other top schools - not a hidden gem ...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:College of Wooster - great outcomes, every student has a serious internship. Very much a hidden gem.

Yes, I would agree with College of Wooster. Have come across many impressive alum. Had to look it up as I'd never heard of it before.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a graduate of Mary Washington I have to tell you it sucks. Went there out of stupidity. If only I had given it more thought then I could have been somewhere that offered more. More of everything!

Couldn't disagree more. I loved Mary Washington - best four years of my life. Exactly the environment I had wanted; small, beautiful, fun. Sorry you didn't enjoy it, but lots of us did!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No football games at Mary Washington. Big hole in fall weekends. What do alumni come back for in fall? Homecoming without football? Just seems sad.

We never missed football games - there's a lot more to college life. We had basketball, baseball, lacrosse, soccer, rugby, etc. Plenty of sports and other activities going on.

Exactly what I was going to say. No one who goes there misses football - we all know there's no football team! But plenty of other teams, as you mentioned. Homecoming was a blast, with the rugby games, parties, etc.

[Anonymous]

Two right here in our backyard.

American University.

Catholic Univerisity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:College of Wooster - great outcomes, every student has a serious internship. Very much a hidden gem.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is Rice really a best kept secret?
Looks pretty tough to get into based on Naviance from DD's school. Looks 10 admits out of 64 applicants for Bethesda area schools last year.

It's a great choice for unhooked kids with very high stats.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous[b wrote:]If the OP is still following along[/b], I'd say Grinnell would be worth the visit. Terrific theater and classics offerings and crunchy options within the student body. Creative, smart - good reputation.

I'd also say Macalester has one major benefit too. Since most classics departments are relatively small, at Macalester you have access to reciprocal classes at any of the twin cities liberal arts schools (Augsburg, Hamline, St. Thomas, St. Catherine's) - so many options! https://www.macalester.edu/registrar/schedules/actc/

Since the OP first posted about 6 years ago, I'm guessing her kid has decided on a college

Great suggestions, though, for those following this thread whose (current) high schoolers may be looking for a lot of the same things in a school that OP's kid was!

Seven years ago, actually! Here it is October & I'm still mentally stuck in 2015

Some of the "hidden gems" of seven years ago are now highly selective, given how crazy the college lotto has become.

[Anonymous]

Barnard? Most classes are cross registered with Columbia.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oh and Rice? Harder to get into than Chicago and several other top schools - not a hidden gem ...

Rice is a great school but UChicago is harder to get into. Nearly half the acceptance rate

[Anonymous]

For smaller STEM schools STEM: WPI, RPI, Rose Hulman, I would say SUNY- Stonybrook but it is more of commuter school in that it empties out on the weekends.

For business: Miami (Ohio)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For smaller STEM schools STEM: WPI, RPI, Rose Hulman, I would say SUNY- Stonybrook but it is more of commuter school in that it empties out on the weekends.

For business: Miami (Ohio)

Most RPI students are extremely awkward and the school is in a depressed part of upstate NY. It is best kept a secret, rather than a best kept secret.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For smaller STEM schools STEM: WPI, RPI, Rose Hulman, I would say SUNY- Stonybrook but it is more of commuter school in that it empties out on the weekends.

For business: Miami (Ohio)

Most RPI students are extremely awkward and the school is in a depressed part of upstate NY. It is best kept a secret, rather than a best kept secret.

Some prefer upstate NY, some prefer middle of Indiana. Your choice.