Haverford - gorgeous campus (despite being a rainy day) and warm school.

Swarthmore was also very pretty - our tour guide was amazing but, honestly, the complete opposite of everything I have heard about Swatties since. I think he must be a superstar anomaly!

Even still, DC liked Haverford better but I really couldn't tell you why. (has stats for either)

Anonymous wrote:Towson and UMBC - DD has been set on UMD forever, but we were both impressed by our tours of Towson and UMBC. Both campuses are nicer than UMD (which is always under construction and the purple line work seems really disruptive).

I said this on a post here once (that I thought the campuses were nicer) and got jumped on.

Anonymous wrote:Wake Forest. Did not realize how beautiful it was.

I have said several times here that stepping on that campus was what sold me on the place I had a great 4 years and being able to spend it on that beautiful campus was a big perk.

It didn't suck that my tour was on a lovely 60 degree morning after a March Madness win while it snowed at home (that was a particularly craptastic winter)

They posted a pic this morning on their SM feeds of the rolled quad after the win last night. It brings me back immediately to see it.

Anonymous wrote:In the reverse:

UCLA---I thought the angels would sing. I'm brand new to tours but we visited a few over winter break. It reminded me a lot of UMBC (where I took night classes in my 30s). I'm not sure why but it just felt like a totally generic state school.

So interesting - I went in not wanting to like it and was totally surprised at how nice it was and understood how someone might like it there, despite the huge size.

We went on a Philly trip and saw Villanova, Penn (just for fun; kid wouldn't have gotten in), Drexel, Temple, and St. Joe's. We loved Villanova and St. Joe's.

Wake Forest. Did not realize how beautiful it was.

I was impressed by DS’ tour of the University of Mary Washington. It fit my idea of what a college should look like.

Went to VT with low expectations. We were pleasantly surprised.

UVA tour was meh. I was not impressed. Turns out my kid will attend in the fall!

Anonymous wrote:Agree with Pitt - terrific tour, got a much more spirited and cohesive vibe than we expected. My kid added it to their list immediately.

A lot of colleges seemed very quiet on the tours - I just did not get it. Kept wondering where all the students were on lovely Saturday afternoons.

FWIW (former tour guide), I’d recommend weekday tours, if you can swing it, to get a much better sense.

On the weekends, people are sleeping in, doing a Target run, watching a game—not the same vibe.

Anonymous wrote:St John's College in Annapolis.

We visited because it was close, but honestly it was a safety and we didn't care, until we got to the campus. It was cute and tiny, and we were received with open arms. It's perfect for bookish kids who are looking for a small college where they'll get to know everyone.

They also have a campus in Santa Fe but we did not go to that one.

This was us exactly! My DD came to really like the concept of a classical education after the tour and thought that she would definitely go there if she hadn’t gotten into her reaches.

Surprised how much we like UMD. Also liked Villanova more than expected.

Towson and UMBC - DD has been set on UMD forever, but we were both impressed by our tours of Towson and UMBC. Both campuses are nicer than UMD (which is always under construction and the purple line work seems really disruptive).

We toured both Lewis & Clark and Reed in Portland. Reed is okay, but Lewis & Clark is gorgeous. It's on the grounds of an old estate, surrounded by woods, and it's really, really beautiful.

USC gave a terrific tour. I think their admissions department and the way they communicate with visitors are top notch.

Agree with Pitt - terrific tour, got a much more spirited and cohesive vibe than we expected. My kid added it to their list immediately.

A lot of colleges seemed very quiet on the tours - I just did not get it. Kept wondering where all the students were on lovely Saturday afternoons.