Colleges That Change Lives - What Has Your Experience Been?

[Anonymous]

The creator of this idea made so much money that he commissioned a Wright House. https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/26/AR2008092603547.html.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid is at St. Olaf and loves it. It's been an excellent fit. They have been doing research in two different labs this past year. Had a choice of two prestigious internships for summer. Get a lot of support from mentors. There's a special office that helps out applying for fellowships when the time comes. Price was right, too, lots of merit.

No doubt my kid could have thrived at other schools too. But they are very happy. Tight group of friends from freshman year on. I went to a large public flagship, so had my doubts, but I'm convinced. I think the CTCL label works well as a marketing tool, to increase awareness of schools. But it's not why my kid applied. It really is all about fit

This is great to hear! St. Olaf is high on my DS's list!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The creator of this idea made so much money that he commissioned a Wright House. https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/26/AR2008092603547.html.

Ok, I've figured it out. CTCL hater is Loren Pope's ex wife. Or Loren Pope's son's ex wife. Or someone who has been badly burned by Loren Pope.

From Wikipedia:
Pope was also known for commissioning the Pope-Leighey House in 1939, designed and constructed originally in Falls Church, Virginia, by Frank Lloyd Wright.[3] Pope, who was working as a $50-a-week copy editor at the Washington Evening Star (his employer financed the construction), convinced Wright to build the small house by writing him a famously flattering letter. Pope opened, "There are certain things a man wants during life, and, of life. Material things and things of the spirit. The writer has one fervent wish that includes both. It is for a house created by you." He closed with the plea, "Will you create a house for us? Will you?" The architect's reply was brief: "Dear Loren Pope: Of course I am ready to give you a house."[4]

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The creator of this idea made so much money that he commissioned a Wright House. https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/26/AR2008092603547.html.

AND he went back in time over 50 years with the money from CTCL (published in 1996) to fund his 1939 house. Amazing.

[Anonymous]

I grew up right around the corner from Rhodes College, and I have several family members and many friends who went there. I think it's a great option for a student looking for a small school in an urban setting. Great school, beautiful campus. However, anyone going there needs to be aware of how much crime there is in Memphis and even in the neighborhoods (like the one I grew up in) right around Rhodes. I looked at the CTCL list and noticed a lot of the colleges are in less than desirable locations. The college itself may be great but a lot of students don't want to be confined to campus.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not my kid, but I attended Kalamazoo and enjoyed my experience. Made lifelong friends and prepared me well for graduate school. DS wanted a large school, so didn’t apply, but I still donate.

+1 Another Kalamazoo College grad here. It was cheaper for me than my in-state flagship with merit aid. I went to med school at UofM after. During my time at K I studied abroad for 6 months and got to work on a global public health initiative, interned at the local hospital most quarters that I was on campus, did an internship in Philadelphia connected to public health, and did a senior thesis project doing research with a pharmaceutical company. I wasn't a particularly unusual self-starter either--these were all supported by the school's typical educational process.
None of my med school colleagues had as wide-ranging experiences.

Kalamazoo is uniquely situated for someone interested in med/health careers as well as being based in a good college town.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I grew up right around the corner from Rhodes College, and I have several family members and many friends who went there. I think it's a great option for a student looking for a small school in an urban setting. Great school, beautiful campus. However, anyone going there needs to be aware of how much crime there is in Memphis and even in the neighborhoods (like the one I grew up in) right around Rhodes. I looked at the CTCL list and noticed a lot of the colleges are in less than desirable locations. The college itself may be great but a lot of students don't want to be confined to campus.

Everyone needs to do due diligence when looking at schools - no one is compelled to apply.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I went to Reed College and while I'm not sure I'd recommend it now, mainly because iits progressive politics and the city of Portland are eating themselves, I can't deny that the alumni network and friends I made there were very formative and still continue to be important thirty years later.

They're not so great at getting me jobs or a book deal, but I have a fantastic friend cohort to grow old with.

I'm looking at Reed for my DC. Besides the lack of networking, how was job placement in general? Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I grew up right around the corner from Rhodes College, and I have several family members and many friends who went there. I think it's a great option for a student looking for a small school in an urban setting. Great school, beautiful campus. However, anyone going there needs to be aware of how much crime there is in Memphis and even in the neighborhoods (like the one I grew up in) right around Rhodes. I looked at the CTCL list and noticed a lot of the colleges are in less than desirable locations. The college itself may be great but a lot of students don't want to be confined to campus.

Everyone needs to do due diligence when looking at schools - no one is compelled to apply.

Obviously. I’m just sharing my info about one of the colleges on the list as well as an observation that a lot of the colleges are not in areas I’d want to go to college in.

[Anonymous]

Not sure why the one poster thinks we're all too stupid to recognize a marketing campaign when we see one. For some students, these schools fill the bill. If that's not you, MYOB.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The creator of this idea made so much money that he commissioned a Wright House. https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/26/AR2008092603547.html.

AND he went back in time over 50 years with the money from CTCL (published in 1996) to fund his 1939 house. Amazing.

In some ways I adore the CTCL crazy hater. Her conspiracy theories are super entertaining. CTCL is such a strange thing to have an over-the-top bunny boiler obsession about, but on the other hand I just learned that koumpounophobia is a thing, so I guess the human mind can come up with all sorts of strange fixations.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The creator of this idea made so much money that he commissioned a Wright House. https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/26/AR2008092603547.html.

AND he went back in time over 50 years with the money from CTCL (published in 1996) to fund his 1939 house. Amazing.

In some ways I adore the CTCL crazy hater. Her conspiracy theories are super entertaining. CTCL is such a strange thing to have an over-the-top bunny boiler obsession about, but on the other hand I just learned that koumpounophobia is a thing, so I guess the human mind can come up with all sorts of strange fixations.

It's funny--I always assumed the CTCL hater was a guy. Something about feeling obligated to save all these poor oblivious fools from marketing gave off strong mansplaining vibes, but statistically on DCUM I imagine you're right that it's a woman.