What school dropped off the list because of your visit?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:William and Mary for my daughter, that sample dorm room they show you on the tour.... ugh not homey at all. Was a shame because if they hadn't shown the dorm room it would have climbed to do the top of the list. Loved the campus and the vibe though my daughter noticed not alot of cute boys lol.

Also Georgetown, not that we were going to get in, but we went a few times just to explore and the last time we were there almost stepped on a dead rat in the middle of the walkway. That was enough to scare my son away once he read that rats and roaches are a big problem there. I'm sure that happens everywhere but it was a turnoff lol

So both you and your son applied? If you both got in, was the plan to be roommates?

Do you think that is clever?

Not particularly, but that poster takes the plural to the extreme. I mean, c'mon. It's one thing to say "we were looking at XYZ school," but ti say "we were going to get in?" Seriously? It's over the top hyperinvestment.

haha since I don't actually spend all day sitting at my computer finally getting back on to see all this hullabaloo about my choice of the word "We". You are just so witty it's overwhelming. In fact, the reason I said "we" is that I actually have twins so when WE went college touring, it was out whole family and I tend to think in the collective when responding since I'm speaking for two. I suppose in order not to offend you all I could have said "my twins" but why spend 7 letters when 2 will do the same?

You sound like Ted Cruz the way you backtrack. Sorry, it still isn't "we."

haha ok... boy i wish this board wasn't anonymous so I could avoid the people just looking to stir up trouble. You sound like an absolutely miserable human being and i pity your poor kids.

[Anonymous]

I think W&M gets a bad wrap for the dorms, people live in the dorms for too many years, and local kids see it as the place you go on a field trip to when u studied Virginia history in elementary school. Dc only applied because we required it, and had as their safety if nothing else planned out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oberlin
Emory
U of C

Why?

[Anonymous]

College Park and NC State were the two schools we visited that DC found oppressively ugly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can the people who didn’t like Oberlin elaborate please? We’re waiting to hear from them before a visit.

I didn’t go to school there but I lived in Oberlin.

It is kind a depressing area in Lorain County, Ohio. It’s not close to the lake and the cities of Elyria and Lorain are depressing. Oberlin itself is a dry town (or was when I lived there) and there are no bars or anything for nightlife. And it’s bloody cold in the winter.

I didn’t go there but I’ve been there a couple of times as an adult because my husband did attend. I thought the town was so cute and the campus was very nice. I was impressed.

[Anonymous]

My son was all about Berkley until he visited. Struck him as very serious and not at all a fun place. I liked it more than he did but there weren’t a lot of laughs. Felt like we were surrounded by grad students.

[Anonymous]

Hopkins. It just lacked the energy of happy college kids. My kids said “where fun goes to die”. Nice campus surrounded by a crappy area.

[Anonymous]

Rice (very surprised...expected to absolutely love it but didn't like it at all), UT-Austin, and UVA

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:William and Mary for my daughter, that sample dorm room they show you on the tour.... ugh not homey at all. Was a shame because if they hadn't shown the dorm room it would have climbed to do the top of the list. Loved the campus and the vibe though my daughter noticed not alot of cute boys lol.

Also Georgetown, not that we were going to get in, but we went a few times just to explore and the last time we were there almost stepped on a dead rat in the middle of the walkway. That was enough to scare my son away once he read that rats and roaches are a big problem there. I'm sure that happens everywhere but it was a turnoff lol

So both you and your son applied? If you both got in, was the plan to be roommates?

Why are you so offended by that that you need to point it out on every thread? I get it... Your kid does everything on their own and is paying on their own too....or you are paying but it's still only their experience alone...or it's your experience to an extent too, but only you know the acceptable way to talk about it.... Just stop. Parents using those words does not mean their children aren't highly independent and capable. You protest to the point it makes me think you have some regrets about your hands off strategy....

Ok, I'll tell you how it worked for us. Our kids were practical. Each knew that wherever he or she ended up would be fine, and that if not they'd just transfer or whatever. They were looking for a college, not a spouse. So, each came up with short (four or five) and reasonable lists of where they wanted to apply, knowing in advance what we were willing to pay for (no second tier overpriced private liberal arts schools, for example). Once they made their lists, we suggested a couple additions here and there of similar schools. If the kid said they weren't interested, we were fine with that (one UVA applicant wouldn't even consider WM, for example, and another thought in the reverse). Only one of our kids had any serious interest in extensive college touring before applying, so we took that kid and a couple friends interested in the same/similar schools on a road trip, dropped them off on the campuses, and went our own way and didn't take the tours ourselves. Then, when each kid chose where to apply, they did the applications completely by themselves -- including essays, with zero input from us. Then, once accepted, they made the decision where to go themselves. So, in a very real sense, "we" didn't apply and "we" certainly didn't get in or not get in. "We" offered a few suggestions, to be sure, and "we" drove them around when requested, and "we" paid the tuition. I really think this is how it's supposed to work, sorry.

Meh. You parent your kid. Let other people parents their kids. Thinking there is one way this works and that it happens to be exactly what you did is just arrogant. And yes, you’re acting like a total asshole about it now.

[Anonymous]

This thread has been helpful, but it would be really helpful if everyone could say a few words about why their kid didn't like the campus. For example, a few people have mentioned that their kids didn't like Univ of Chicago and I'd love to hear why.

Also, it seems like people put too much stock into tour guides. It's one kid at the school. Whether that tour guide is great or a dud doesn't seem to matter, but maybe I'm missing something...

[Anonymous]

I'll second Dartmouth. Tour guide kinda epitomized the petty sorority girl and was giving DD mean looks the entire time. Glad she dropped it off her list.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:William and Mary for my daughter, that sample dorm room they show you on the tour.... ugh not homey at all. Was a shame because if they hadn't shown the dorm room it would have climbed to do the top of the list. Loved the campus and the vibe though my daughter noticed not alot of cute boys lol.

Also Georgetown, not that we were going to get in, but we went a few times just to explore and the last time we were there almost stepped on a dead rat in the middle of the walkway. That was enough to scare my son away once he read that rats and roaches are a big problem there. I'm sure that happens everywhere but it was a turnoff lol

So both you and your son applied? If you both got in, was the plan to be roommates?

Do you think that is clever?

Not particularly, but that poster takes the plural to the extreme. I mean, c'mon. It's one thing to say "we were looking at XYZ school," but ti say "we were going to get in?" Seriously? It's over the top hyperinvestment.

I was thinking the same thing.


haha since I don't actually spend all day sitting at my computer finally getting back on to see all this hullabaloo about my choice of the word "We". You are just so witty it's overwhelming. In fact, the reason I said "we" is that I actually have twins so when WE went college touring, it was out whole family and I tend to think in the collective when responding since I'm speaking for two. I suppose in order not to offend you all I could have said "my twins" but why spend 7 letters when 2 will do the same?

You sound like Ted Cruz the way you backtrack. Sorry, it still isn't "we."

[Anonymous]

We visited Chicago and Northwestern on a very cold weekend, and both those schools dropped off DS’s list. DD crossed St. Lawrence off her list because it is so remote and Clark because it is in a pretty gritty part of Worcester.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Rice (very surprised...expected to absolutely love it but didn't like it at all), UT-Austin, and UVA

Why didn't you like those places after the visits?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:William and Mary for my daughter, that sample dorm room they show you on the tour.... ugh not homey at all. Was a shame because if they hadn't shown the dorm room it would have climbed to do the top of the list. Loved the campus and the vibe though my daughter noticed not alot of cute boys lol.

Also Georgetown, not that we were going to get in, but we went a few times just to explore and the last time we were there almost stepped on a dead rat in the middle of the walkway. That was enough to scare my son away once he read that rats and roaches are a big problem there. I'm sure that happens everywhere but it was a turnoff lol

So both you and your son applied? If you both got in, was the plan to be roommates?

Do you think that is clever?

Not particularly, but that poster takes the plural to the extreme. I mean, c'mon. It's one thing to say "we were looking at XYZ school," but ti say "we were going to get in?" Seriously? It's over the top hyperinvestment.

I was thinking the same thing.


haha since I don't actually spend all day sitting at my computer finally getting back on to see all this hullabaloo about my choice of the word "We". You are just so witty it's overwhelming. In fact, the reason I said "we" is that I actually have twins so when WE went college touring, it was out whole family and I tend to think in the collective when responding since I'm speaking for two. I suppose in order not to offend you all I could have said "my twins" but why spend 7 letters when 2 will do the same?[/quote]

You sound like Ted Cruz the way you backtrack. Sorry, it still isn't "we."

Instead of “we” or “twins”, you could use “DCs”.