Sewanee . . . thoughts?

[Anonymous]

Please share any and all thoughts and experiences. It is being pushed by DC's college counselor for some reason.

[Anonymous]

Gorgeous campus - "The Domain." Great creative writing program. Not a lot of diversity.

[Anonymous]

Sewanee is on exactly the same level as Middlebury, MacAlester and schools of that ilk. However, it is much easier to get into because it is in the middle of nowhere and is not on the East Coast. Small class sizes, top notch professors, warm nurturing atmosphere, great extracurriculars. If it were only located in, say, Connecticut rather than (gasp) Tennessee, people would be beating down the doors to get in.

Regularly produces largely numbers of Fulbright scholars, has a Rhodes just about every year.
If you are even slightly diverse they will fly you out to look at it for the diversity weekend in the fall. We are Middle Eastern and they consider that diverse. Our son loves it there. We wish there were a little less alcohol and fewer girls named Whitney but other than that, he's really happy there. Probably not a great atmosphere if you are gay, however, since it's still pretty conservative. OUr son is a Democrat and he thinks it's hysterical that there are about 400 Republicans to every Democrat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sewanee is on exactly the same level as Middlebury, MacAlester and schools of that ilk. However, it is much easier to get into because it is in the middle of nowhere and is not on the East Coast. Small class sizes, top notch professors, warm nurturing atmosphere, great extracurriculars. If it were only located in, say, Connecticut rather than (gasp) Tennessee, people would be beating down the doors to get in.

Regularly produces largely numbers of Fulbright scholars, has a Rhodes just about every year.
If you are even slightly diverse they will fly you out to look at it for the diversity weekend in the fall. We are Middle Eastern and they consider that diverse. Our son loves it there. We wish there were a little less alcohol and fewer girls named Whitney but other than that, he's really happy there. Probably not a great atmosphere if you are gay, however, since it's still pretty conservative. OUr son is a Democrat and he thinks it's hysterical that there are about 400 Republicans to every Democrat.

When you say pretty conservative, would a liberal dem from the east coast feel uncomfortable there?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sewanee is on exactly the same level as Middlebury, MacAlester and schools of that ilk.

The President at Sewanee used to be the President of Middlebury.

[Anonymous]

I LOVED Sewanee and tried to sell it to both DCs but they thought it was way too remote and worried that they'd end up spending every weekend at fraternity parties on campus. How do you push back on that?! Anyway, it's an impressive school and as the other poster pointed out, better than its stats suggest. Although I'd say that of other Southern LACs like Rhodes, which someone asked about on another thread. Lots of Episcopal kids go to Sewanee, if you know any of those parents.

[Anonymous]

I'm not from DC, but ran across this thread somehow. I am an alum, although I graduated way back in the early 1980's. I loved it there, and didn't realize all I was getting out of it at the time. My sense from a recent visit is that the dorms, food, and campus have improved a lot since I was there. I liked the rural nature of it; I spent a lot of time rock climbing, biking, hiking, whitewater kayaking, etc. If your son/daughter is more interested in an urban environment, Sewanee may not be the place. There is drinking there, and a pretty solid fraternity scene, but (at least when I was there, back in the Middle Ages) only two people lived in each fraternity house for insurance reasons, and fraternity parties were generally required to be open to all, so folks got around from party to party and there was a good deal of social integration - unlike some larger schools where if you're in a fraternity, you pretty much just hang at that frat house. I have heard from other parents that a fair number of DC students are there; you should ask admissions and I'm sure they will tell you. If your son/daughter is interested in a small liberal arts school, whether liberal or conservative, I think it's definitely worth a look.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sewanee is on exactly the same level as Middlebury, MacAlester and schools of that ilk. However, it is much easier to get into because it is in the middle of nowhere and is not on the East Coast. Small class sizes, top notch professors, warm nurturing atmosphere, great extracurriculars. If it were only located in, say, Connecticut rather than (gasp) Tennessee, people would be beating down the doors to get in.

Regularly produces largely numbers of Fulbright scholars, has a Rhodes just about every year.
If you are even slightly diverse they will fly you out to look at it for the diversity weekend in the fall. We are Middle Eastern and they consider that diverse. Our son loves it there. We wish there were a little less alcohol and fewer girls named Whitney but other than that, he's really happy there. Probably not a great atmosphere if you are gay, however, since it's still pretty conservative. OUr son is a Democrat and he thinks it's hysterical that there are about 400 Republicans to every Democrat.

I have family members who have gone. This made me LOL. It seems nice, but as PPs say, not diverse at all and pretty conservative. That wouldn't make me happy, but if it works for someone I wouldn't judge.

[Anonymous]

Sewanee is not for everybody. Strongly suggest a visit to check out the beautiful campus and remoteness. Over the years, my encounters with Sewanee grads have been very positive and there is clearly a strong connection to the institution and friends made during college days. The loyalty to Sewanee is among the most impressive I have seen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sewanee is on exactly the same level as Middlebury, MacAlester and schools of that ilk. However, it is much easier to get into because it is in the middle of nowhere and is not on the East Coast. Small class sizes, top notch professors, warm nurturing atmosphere, great extracurriculars. If it were only located in, say, Connecticut rather than (gasp) Tennessee, people would be beating down the doors to get in.

Regularly produces largely numbers of Fulbright scholars, has a Rhodes just about every year.
If you are even slightly diverse they will fly you out to look at it for the diversity weekend in the fall. We are Middle Eastern and they consider that diverse. Our son loves it there. We wish there were a little less alcohol and fewer girls named Whitney but other than that, he's really happy there. Probably not a great atmosphere if you are gay, however, since it's still pretty conservative. OUr son is a Democrat and he thinks it's hysterical that there are about 400 Republicans to every Democrat.

I have family members who have gone. This made me LOL. It seems nice, but as PPs say, not diverse at all and pretty conservative. That wouldn't make me happy, but if it works for someone I wouldn't judge.

I have a cousin named Whitney that went there, so I found that just so funny!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sewanee is not for everybody. Strongly suggest a visit to check out the beautiful campus and remoteness. Over the years, my encounters with Sewanee grads have been very positive and there is clearly a strong connection to the institution and friends made during college days. The loyalty to Sewanee is among the most impressive I have seen.

I don't doubt the loyalty. But how have you seen this manifested? Donations? Job offers? Alumni events?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sewanee is not for everybody. Strongly suggest a visit to check out the beautiful campus and remoteness. Over the years, my encounters with Sewanee grads have been very positive and there is clearly a strong connection to the institution and friends made during college days. The loyalty to Sewanee is among the most impressive I have seen.

I don't doubt the loyalty. But how have you seen this manifested? Donations? Job offers? Alumni events?

All of the above. Strong and loyal alumni donors, many of whom are active in placement/recruiting of graduates. The alumni events are generally well attended and inclusive of non-alumni friends and parents. So many Sewanee alums claim that the experience was positive and that friends made there are life long. While not for everybody, those that like it seem to love the time there more than many other SLAC competitors.

[Anonymous]

Our college counselor tried to suggest it for my AA son. I had a good chuckle and told her to move along.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sewanee is on exactly the same level as Middlebury, MacAlester and schools of that ilk. However, it is much easier to get into because it is in the middle of nowhere and is not on the East Coast. Small class sizes, top notch professors, warm nurturing atmosphere, great extracurriculars. If it were only located in, say, Connecticut rather than (gasp) Tennessee, people would be beating down the doors to get in.

Regularly produces largely numbers of Fulbright scholars, has a Rhodes just about every year.
If you are even slightly diverse they will fly you out to look at it for the diversity weekend in the fall. We are Middle Eastern and they consider that diverse. Our son loves it there. We wish there were a little less alcohol and fewer girls named Whitney but other than that, he's really happy there. Probably not a great atmosphere if you are gay, however, since it's still pretty conservative. OUr son is a Democrat and he thinks it's hysterical that there are about 400 Republicans to every Democrat.

No Sewanee is not on the same level as Middlebury or Mcalester, but it is a good second tier school.

[Anonymous]

oops Macalester.