Anonymous wrote:At least half of these posts aren't really on point. They aren't from people who were pleasantly surprised when they visited a campus; they are from people touting how attractive the campus is at the school they or their kids attended.

Predictable, but it kind of moots the thread.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wake forest beautiful campus and facilities
U Chicago feels like you are in Harry Potter
Castle and gorgeous grounds
Very unexpected

+1 on u chicago

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:UC Santa Barbara shocked me because the campus is a dump. Looks like a Marriott from 1982 that hasn't been updated and is visibly crumbling. Like, stucco chunks falling off the sides of buildings

The adjoining town -- Isla Vista - is a verified $h!thole with as many homeless men as students. Actual Santa Barbara, which is lovely, is miles away and not walkable.

No question, the OCEAN and shoreline are stunning. But the campus and student commercial area are literally decrepit

DD went there and had an amazing experience.

But I agree they need to renovate student accommodation. Many of the other buildings are fine. The student rec athletics are fabulous.

I can’t believe a billionaire is inflicting a windowless student tower in a University that is surrounded by the pacific on 3 sides - truly insane.

Anonymous wrote:UC Santa Barbara shocked me because the campus is a dump. Looks like a Marriott from 1982 that hasn't been updated and is visibly crumbling. Like, stucco chunks falling off the sides of buildings

The adjoining town -- Isla Vista - is a verified $h!thole with as many homeless men as students. Actual Santa Barbara, which is lovely, is miles away and not walkable.

No question, the OCEAN and shoreline are stunning. But the campus and student commercial area are literally decrepit

Anonymous wrote:Virginia Tech - we went twice. Once in the fall when all the trees had just turned - absolutely gorgeous. Then back for admitted students' day in April when the redbuds were in bloom. Again, stunning! Tour guides were all engaged and friendly, without being over-the-top as some are. My DC loved the gothic architecture and school spirit. It's been a great fit.

Anonymous wrote:Rollins College has a strong rep as a country club like environment.

Anonymous wrote:Rollins College has a strong rep as a country club like environment.

Anonymous wrote:We have enjoyed many of our school visits, but one school I don't see mentioned often on this board is Rollins College. It is the prettiest campus I've ever been on. My husband kept asking, "Are we on a movie set?!” The campus tour was excellent. It seems like the students have good relationships with their professors. The town of Winter Park is just a few steps off campus and is so quaint. Students were happy--I mean, how could they not be on that campus? My DC ended up somewhere else, but we hope our other children will give it a look.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am curious for those who experienced visiting a school where you weren't expecting much and were very pleasantly surprised. We are just starting college visits with DS and am curious to hear about visits.

University of Kentucky. Really pretty campus, nice students, and a lot of interesting research. Unexpected.

A friend has one daughter already there and a second possible (actually going to check her page now to see if a decision has been made)

Parents are not alums

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have enjoyed many of our school visits, but one school I don't see mentioned often on this board is Rollins College. It is the prettiest campus I've ever been on. My husband kept asking, "Are we on a movie set?!” The campus tour was excellent. It seems like the students have good relationships with their professors. The town of Winter Park is just a few steps off campus and is so quaint. Students were happy--I mean, how could they not be on that campus? My DC ended up somewhere else, but we hope our other children will give it a look.

Given what is going on in Florida right now with NCoF, I don't think I'd send a kid anywhere near the state.

Rollins is private, so it's insulated from anything the state might do with regard to higher education. And NCoF was circling the drain and clearly in need of reform. But you Florida haters can keep on hating. Jesus Christ.

Anonymous wrote:We toured VT and JMU in the same week. I was surprised that DS's impression was that VT felt like a smaller school than JMU. He loved VT and is there now. I think it came down to the layout, at least what we saw on the VT tour, felt compact and well laid out -- the academic side vs the residential side. In contrast, he got the impression that JMU was huge because of how it was spread out over the highway. He still applied to JMU but definitely preferred VT.