Schools you toured that you were surprised you liked or didn’t like?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Shocked that DC didn't like Duke and took it off the list after the tour.

Surprised that DC loved UMD after the tour.

Maybe it's the students they saw on campus. UMD is way more diverse and has a mix SES compared to Duke.

[Anonymous]

I'm a Georgetown professor and have to agree with those that say the Georgetown tour is a complete turn-off. I've been on campus for my kid's whole life and just went on a tour for the first time as part of the college search process. It was really lackluster compared to tours at other schools, and it didn't help there is construction in the central part of campus to fix utilities at the moment as it made it loud and crowded.

I think the problem stems from the tour guide process - it is super competitive to join so I think it attracts students who value achievement and resume-building over those who are genuinely enthusiastic about campus life. There was so much emphasis on how special it in terms of getting in and what you can do after rather than what the experience is like while you are there. For my next kid who is headed to college I am going to call in a favor from one of the many students I know who immersed and engaged in campus life and have them give an informal tour instead of going on the official one.

And while I have a different view of campus, I agree that what schools choose to use to present themselves says a lot about the school. Georgetown isn't doing a good job here.

P.S. to the poster complaining about Chik-Fil-A on campus, it is an enormous improvement over food that was there before. We've had some tremendously bad food options there in the past.

[Anonymous]

Someone said they got an apartment because they wanted to do the "adulting" thing.

The thing I loved about college was living among a community. My friends and I would get together for movie nights and TV shows. I remember walking across campus in my PJs to go watch South Park (first season in the dorm where my friend was the lead RA. We also had a meet up time in the dining hall. We would then go out for meals and movies off campus from time to time. Just such a fun time in life before we all had to go out in the real world. We have stayed in contact and I would happily live in the same place as all of them and raise our kids together, share meals together, etc, etc. I see all of them as family to me. Almost 30 years later and we still all look back fondly at our times together. And I promise, this wasn't a fraternity/sorority house thing (although I was in a sorority as well as a service fraternity) - this was just a group of friends that came together over time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a Georgetown professor and have to agree with those that say the Georgetown tour is a complete turn-off. I've been on campus for my kid's whole life and just went on a tour for the first time as part of the college search process. It was really lackluster compared to tours at other schools, and it didn't help there is construction in the central part of campus to fix utilities at the moment as it made it loud and crowded.

I think the problem stems from the tour guide process - it is super competitive to join so I think it attracts students who value achievement and resume-building over those who are genuinely enthusiastic about campus life. There was so much emphasis on how special it in terms of getting in and what you can do after rather than what the experience is like while you are there. For my next kid who is headed to college I am going to call in a favor from one of the many students I know who immersed and engaged in campus life and have them give an informal tour instead of going on the official one.

And while I have a different view of campus, I agree that what schools choose to use to present themselves says a lot about the school. Georgetown isn't doing a good job here.

P.S. to the poster complaining about Chik-Fil-A on campus, it is an enormous improvement over food that was there before. We've had some tremendously bad food options there in the past.

oh, we ate in two dining halls and they were both pretty bad - bad food and also bad vibes (design, light, kids sitting on their own looking at their phones)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Someone said they got an apartment because they wanted to do the "adulting" thing.

The thing I loved about college was living among a community. My friends and I would get together for movie nights and TV shows. I remember walking across campus in my PJs to go watch South Park (first season in the dorm where my friend was the lead RA. We also had a meet up time in the dining hall. We would then go out for meals and movies off campus from time to time. Just such a fun time in life before we all had to go out in the real world. We have stayed in contact and I would happily live in the same place as all of them and raise our kids together, share meals together, etc, etc. I see all of them as family to me. Almost 30 years later and we still all look back fondly at our times together. And I promise, this wasn't a fraternity/sorority house thing (although I was in a sorority as well as a service fraternity) - this was just a group of friends that came together over time.

That was me - the adulting. We had a happy hour every week (even teachers came) and had lots of parties etc. But also had a job, etc. I was way more into adulting, which probably came from trauma tbh.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have visited Notre Dame a number if times. Two things are most memorable:

I visited in the summer, & everywhere I looked I could see workmen touching up the paint, trimming bushes, washing windows, and doing every other conceivable thing to make the place look perfect. That place doesn’t look like it does by accident.

I visited early on a Sunday morning the day after a home football game, & on the grass outside a dorm slept a male student. Apparently he didn’t make it all the way back to his room after celebrating the night before. So close and yet so far.

I noticed this as well. Notre Dame had maintenance staff everywhere. It was like Disney in a way. Every staffer must be trained to provide friendly (but cool) customer service. It’s an extremely controlled campus. Definitely not live and let live. I visited a public flagship after, and it was warm with kids everywhere (yes in summer).

[Anonymous]

ND job outcomes among best in the country. Public flagships roll of the dice. Notre Dame has a $20 billion endowment not due to the luck of the Irish.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Someone said they got an apartment because they wanted to do the "adulting" thing.

The thing I loved about college was living among a community. My friends and I would get together for movie nights and TV shows. I remember walking across campus in my PJs to go watch South Park (first season in the dorm where my friend was the lead RA. We also had a meet up time in the dining hall. We would then go out for meals and movies off campus from time to time. Just such a fun time in life before we all had to go out in the real world. We have stayed in contact and I would happily live in the same place as all of them and raise our kids together, share meals together, etc, etc. I see all of them as family to me. Almost 30 years later and we still all look back fondly at our times together. And I promise, this wasn't a fraternity/sorority house thing (although I was in a sorority as well as a service fraternity) - this was just a group of friends that came together over time.

+100. My kids were used to taking metro to HS in DC, had jobs, etc before college. I specifically looked at schools that required 3 years (at least 2) on campus. My kid is at one that requires 3 and is currently abroad sophomore year in his own apartment cooking his own meals (getting more elaborate), managing an internship, classes and a local sports team (via 3 forms of transportation).

It’s not necessary to move off campus sophomore year to be a ln adult. Good lord

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Someone said they got an apartment because they wanted to do the "adulting" thing.

The thing I loved about college was living among a community. My friends and I would get together for movie nights and TV shows. I remember walking across campus in my PJs to go watch South Park (first season in the dorm where my friend was the lead RA. We also had a meet up time in the dining hall. We would then go out for meals and movies off campus from time to time. Just such a fun time in life before we all had to go out in the real world. We have stayed in contact and I would happily live in the same place as all of them and raise our kids together, share meals together, etc, etc. I see all of them as family to me. Almost 30 years later and we still all look back fondly at our times together. And I promise, this wasn't a fraternity/sorority house thing (although I was in a sorority as well as a service fraternity) - this was just a group of friends that came together over time.

+100. My kids were used to taking metro to HS in DC, had jobs, etc before college. I specifically looked at schools that required 3 years (at least 2) on campus. My kid is at one that requires 3 and is currently abroad sophomore year in his own apartment cooking his own meals (getting more elaborate), managing an internship, classes and a local sports team (via 3 forms of transportation).

It’s not necessary to move off campus sophomore year to be a ln adult. Good lord

+1 We are only looking at schools where kids stay on campus all or most years. We want the college experience for our kids. They have their whole lives to live off campus, no need to rush that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a Georgetown professor and have to agree with those that say the Georgetown tour is a complete turn-off. I've been on campus for my kid's whole life and just went on a tour for the first time as part of the college search process. It was really lackluster compared to tours at other schools, and it didn't help there is construction in the central part of campus to fix utilities at the moment as it made it loud and crowded.

I think the problem stems from the tour guide process - it is super competitive to join so I think it attracts students who value achievement and resume-building over those who are genuinely enthusiastic about campus life. There was so much emphasis on how special it in terms of getting in and what you can do after rather than what the experience is like while you are there. For my next kid who is headed to college I am going to call in a favor from one of the many students I know who immersed and engaged in campus life and have them give an informal tour instead of going on the official one.

And while I have a different view of campus, I agree that what schools choose to use to present themselves says a lot about the school. Georgetown isn't doing a good job here.

P.S. to the poster complaining about Chik-Fil-A on campus, it is an enormous improvement over food that was there before. We've had some tremendously bad food options there in the past.

It would be great if you gave GU feedback about their crappy tour. They are not doing themselves any favors. We went in expecting to love it but in the end my kid didn't even apply.

And the Chik Fil A is a positive in my kid's book - IDK why anyone would complain about that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a Georgetown professor and have to agree with those that say the Georgetown tour is a complete turn-off. I've been on campus for my kid's whole life and just went on a tour for the first time as part of the college search process. It was really lackluster compared to tours at other schools, and it didn't help there is construction in the central part of campus to fix utilities at the moment as it made it loud and crowded.

I think the problem stems from the tour guide process - it is super competitive to join so I think it attracts students who value achievement and resume-building over those who are genuinely enthusiastic about campus life. There was so much emphasis on how special it in terms of getting in and what you can do after rather than what the experience is like while you are there. For my next kid who is headed to college I am going to call in a favor from one of the many students I know who immersed and engaged in campus life and have them give an informal tour instead of going on the official one.

And while I have a different view of campus, I agree that what schools choose to use to present themselves says a lot about the school. Georgetown isn't doing a good job here.

P.S. to the poster complaining about Chik-Fil-A on campus, it is an enormous improvement over food that was there before. We've had some tremendously bad food options there in the past.

It would be great if you gave GU feedback about their crappy tour. They are not doing themselves any favors. We went in expecting to love it but in the end my kid didn't even apply.

And the Chik Fil A is a positive in my kid's book - IDK why anyone would complain about that.

Different poster here. Please also give them feedback on their crappy admitted student day. (Sorry to bash GU -- I'm an alum!)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a Georgetown professor and have to agree with those that say the Georgetown tour is a complete turn-off. I've been on campus for my kid's whole life and just went on a tour for the first time as part of the college search process. It was really lackluster compared to tours at other schools, and it didn't help there is construction in the central part of campus to fix utilities at the moment as it made it loud and crowded.

I think the problem stems from the tour guide process - it is super competitive to join so I think it attracts students who value achievement and resume-building over those who are genuinely enthusiastic about campus life. There was so much emphasis on how special it in terms of getting in and what you can do after rather than what the experience is like while you are there. For my next kid who is headed to college I am going to call in a favor from one of the many students I know who immersed and engaged in campus life and have them give an informal tour instead of going on the official one.

And while I have a different view of campus, I agree that what schools choose to use to present themselves says a lot about the school. Georgetown isn't doing a good job here.

P.S. to the poster complaining about Chik-Fil-A on campus, it is an enormous improvement over food that was there before. We've had some tremendously bad food options there in the past.

oh, we ate in two dining halls and they were both pretty bad - bad food and also bad vibes (design, light, kids sitting on their own looking at their phones)

Funny, my kid went to a summer program at Georgetown. We expected that he would hate the food based on all the bad reviews, so we sent him with a huge box of snacks. Surprise - he liked the dining food! He barely touched the box of snacks. But he also did hear bad things about food safety violations at the dining hall (not while he was there but in the past).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:ND job outcomes among best in the country. Public flagships roll of the dice. Notre Dame has a $20 billion endowment not due to the luck of the Irish.

I am not doubting you, but where do you see their job outcome data?

[Anonymous]

Holy Cross-DD liked the campus and kids probably a good match.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a Georgetown professor and have to agree with those that say the Georgetown tour is a complete turn-off. I've been on campus for my kid's whole life and just went on a tour for the first time as part of the college search process. It was really lackluster compared to tours at other schools, and it didn't help there is construction in the central part of campus to fix utilities at the moment as it made it loud and crowded.

I think the problem stems from the tour guide process - it is super competitive to join so I think it attracts students who value achievement and resume-building over those who are genuinely enthusiastic about campus life. There was so much emphasis on how special it in terms of getting in and what you can do after rather than what the experience is like while you are there. For my next kid who is headed to college I am going to call in a favor from one of the many students I know who immersed and engaged in campus life and have them give an informal tour instead of going on the official one.

And while I have a different view of campus, I agree that what schools choose to use to present themselves says a lot about the school. Georgetown isn't doing a good job here.

P.S. to the poster complaining about Chik-Fil-A on campus, it is an enormous improvement over food that was there before. We've had some tremendously bad food options there in the past.

oh, we ate in two dining halls and they were both pretty bad - bad food and also bad vibes (design, light, kids sitting on their own looking at their phones)

Funny, my kid went to a summer program at Georgetown. We expected that he would hate the food based on all the bad reviews, so we sent him with a huge box of snacks. Surprise - he liked the dining food! He barely touched the box of snacks. But he also did hear bad things about food safety violations at the dining hall (not while he was there but in the past).

I think Summer may have played a part in your positive experience. Part of the reason that my freshman (not at Georgetown) son dislikes his food options is that they sometimes run out of food or the lines are too long when he has to eat in a hurry.