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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Daughter wants to go out west. Visited Arizona and ASU first. She had thought she wanted ASU, but hated how spread out the campus was. She loved Arizona because it was a small and very pretty campus. I was surprised at how much I liked it, too.

In Cali, for the colleges she could get into, none made her jump for joy. So overall, we were very surprised that she left with Arizona as her favorite (and where we expect her to enroll).

Californians don't use this phrase.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:UVA was the #1 choice before starting campus visits and then we didn't even apply.

Well, your DC probably learned the statistics needed to get in from SCHEV. Why waste an application? My kid didn't care for UVA on the first tour (summer, hot and humid) but we returned for a second tour that fall and fell in love.

Why are you butthurt that someone months ago disliked UVA?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Daughter wants to go out west. Visited Arizona and ASU first. She had thought she wanted ASU, but hated how spread out the campus was. She loved Arizona because it was a small and very pretty campus. I was surprised at how much I liked it, too.

In Cali, for the colleges she could get into, none made her jump for joy. So overall, we were very surprised that she left with Arizona as her favorite (and where we expect her to enroll).

Californians don't use this phrase.

No one asked you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:UVA was the #1 choice before starting campus visits and then we didn't even apply.

Looks just like a prison.

Uh, it's an UNESCO World Heritage Site. Did you not see the rotunda or walk on the lawn? Troll.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We did a lot of tours. We liked these schools less after the tour, mostly because the vibe and campus was different than imagined:

Wisconsin-Madison
Virginia Tech
Northeastern
Washington & Lee

We liked more:
UCLA
Boston College
Northwestern
UVA
William & Mary

Oh could you expand on this, specifically for Boston College, William & Mary, and Wisconsin-Madison? Very interested in BC and W&M for my daughter. Also curious as I know so many kids headed to Wisconsin-Madison, which five years ago was not a popular school in our area at all.

DP. I also liked BC & W&M. There is something special about mid-sized “universities” that have significant, but not overwhelming, grad programs.

I’ve also spent time at U of Wisconsin. Most of the Big 10 universities dominate the neighborhood (and often the entire city) they are in. Like every nearby store, restaurant, & bar is oriented toward the university’s students & employees. It can be a sort of comforting & familial feeling (we’re all on the same team!), though I’m sure some people find it overwhelming.

Wisconsin, Minnesota, Ohio State, & Nebraska have this to some extent, but since they are in bigger cities that are also state capitals, there is plenty of non-university stuff going on too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We did a lot of tours. We liked these schools less after the tour, mostly because the vibe and campus was different than imagined:

Wisconsin-Madison
Virginia Tech
Northeastern
Washington & Lee

We liked more:
UCLA
Boston College
Northwestern
UVA
William & Mary

Oh could you expand on this, specifically for Boston College, William & Mary, and Wisconsin-Madison? Very interested in BC and W&M for my daughter. Also curious as I know so many kids headed to Wisconsin-Madison, which five years ago was not a popular school in our area at all.

Sure, Wisconsin was much larger, more spread out and more urban than expected. I admit, I was misinformed going in. That’s why I think tours are so helpful. My DC was looking for a self contained campus. It felt overwhelming with no real center. I know it’s popular so my views aren’t representative by any means. We loved William & Mary. Lovely campus, nice kids, lots of care put into everything. Boston College was my DC’s favorite. They liked the vibe best, beautiful campus, nice mix of kids. It’s all so personal and subjective!!

Thank God! Can you imagine if everyone had the same tastes?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I thought I would love Wake Forest but found it to be kind of bland and very white and found the “we do lots of community service in the local community” very white savior vibes. Also way too much Greek life influence with little to nothing else to do. Daughter liked it fine but didn’t love, I’d rather she not apply.

W-S is a small city of 250,000, with a symphony, live theater, and plenty of restaurants, bars, and places to go to hear live music. The Fray performed at an outdoor concert a week ago. Students also can go cheer on the ACC football, baseball, basketball and soccer teams, most of which have been ranked within the last five years. Or play a club sport themselves, Wake takes them seriously and many of the club sports teams advance to conference or national games.

Pilot Mountain is within half an hour drive and is a big draw for kids who love to do outdoorsy things. The Outdoor Pursuits Club sponsors trips there or students with their own cars can borrow gear. Outdoor Pursuits also sponsors spring break trips -- my student went to Joshua Tree for a climbing/yoga trip -- there are multiple options each year.

Wake's motto is "Pro Humananite," which means "For Others," and there are lots of opportunities for community service, from Hit the Bricks, an on campus run in the fall, to Wake and Shake, a 12 hour dance marathon, to raise money for the Brian Piccolo Foundation to the very popular, co-ed volunteer service "fraternity." Kind of weird that you equate community service with white savior-y.

So plenty to do outside Greek life. Sorry you had tunnel vision.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Williams was DD’s dream school but the students were incredibly pretentious. Our guide bragged about grade’s being less inflated than peer schools and said that Williams students were “just better” for anything you want to do. A lot of #1 LAC talking points, little substance.

Swat was a really bad fit. Sweat culture is real.

Haverford ended up being the perfect place with a tiny, humble student body and a great physics department tour. We adored it and it originally wast on our radar.

Our tour guide was the opposite of this PP's experience.

There were 3 colleges mentioned.

PP: my comment was re Williams. Our guide was the opposite of pretentious and braggy

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I thought I would love Wake Forest but found it to be kind of bland and very white and found the “we do lots of community service in the local community” very white savior vibes. Also way too much Greek life influence with little to nothing else to do. Daughter liked it fine but didn’t love, I’d rather she not apply.

W-S is a small city of 250,000, with a symphony, live theater, and plenty of restaurants, bars, and places to go to hear live music. The Fray performed at an outdoor concert a week ago. Students also can go cheer on the ACC football, baseball, basketball and soccer teams, most of which have been ranked within the last five years. Or play a club sport themselves, Wake takes them seriously and many of the club sports teams advance to conference or national games.

Pilot Mountain is within half an hour drive and is a big draw for kids who love to do outdoorsy things. The Outdoor Pursuits Club sponsors trips there or students with their own cars can borrow gear. Outdoor Pursuits also sponsors spring break trips -- my student went to Joshua Tree for a climbing/yoga trip -- there are multiple options each year.

Wake's motto is "Pro Humananite," which means "For Others," and there are lots of opportunities for community service, from Hit the Bricks, an on campus run in the fall, to Wake and Shake, a 12 hour dance marathon, to raise money for the Brian Piccolo Foundation to the very popular, co-ed volunteer service "fraternity." Kind of weird that you equate community service with white savior-y.

So plenty to do outside Greek life. Sorry you had tunnel vision.

Who still listens to the Fray?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I thought I would love Wake Forest but found it to be kind of bland and very white and found the “we do lots of community service in the local community” very white savior vibes. Also way too much Greek life influence with little to nothing else to do. Daughter liked it fine but didn’t love, I’d rather she not apply.

W-S is a small city of 250,000, with a symphony, live theater, and plenty of restaurants, bars, and places to go to hear live music. The Fray performed at an outdoor concert a week ago. Students also can go cheer on the ACC football, baseball, basketball and soccer teams, most of which have been ranked within the last five years. Or play a club sport themselves, Wake takes them seriously and many of the club sports teams advance to conference or national games.

Pilot Mountain is within half an hour drive and is a big draw for kids who love to do outdoorsy things. The Outdoor Pursuits Club sponsors trips there or students with their own cars can borrow gear. Outdoor Pursuits also sponsors spring break trips -- my student went to Joshua Tree for a climbing/yoga trip -- there are multiple options each year.

Wake's motto is "Pro Humananite," which means "For Others," and there are lots of opportunities for community service, from Hit the Bricks, an on campus run in the fall, to Wake and Shake, a 12 hour dance marathon, to raise money for the Brian Piccolo Foundation to the very popular, co-ed volunteer service "fraternity." Kind of weird that you equate community service with white savior-y.

So plenty to do outside Greek life. Sorry you had tunnel vision.

Who still listens to the Fray?

College kids apparently, because the concert was well attended. What did you do last weekend?