Anonymous wrote:I have never heard of any of them. What was the top choice that isn't giving any aid?

Oh c’mon, that says more about you than about the schools. All three have a national profile. Elon gained its reputation most recently, so if you’re old and don’t know many young people I guess I can see not having heard of it, but St Joe’s is a well known Catholic school and kids went to Furman from my Pennsylvania HS way back when. It’s a well known SLAC with a preppy southern reputation.

I have known people who have been happy at each of them. I think Elon might have a cushier feel for students compared to St Joe’s, which is in a slightly odd location, straddling the Philly city line, divided by a major road, and not really walkable to much off campus (although shopping and culture is a short drive away). I think St Joe’s has typically had a fair amount of business majors and a preprofessional vibe. I also think, but don’t have stats to back this up, that St Joe’s draws a more PA/NJ crowd compared to Elon (though there must be plenty there too), and certainly Furman. My colleague’s kids at Elon have done a crazy amount of travel/study abroad, so that might be something to compare. I think they are schools with good reputations and can set a student up well for whatever they want to do. A HS friend who went to St Joe’s then went to Harvard Law and graduated there summa cum laude. Good luck!

I have never heard of any of them. What was the top choice that isn't giving any aid?

Elon. I was sold after an on campus visit. My son is a rising senior at Elon and loves going to school at Elon.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: furman May have changed recently but in late 80s and the early 90s it was very popular with Christians and preacher kids and budding ministers. I think they had a seminary or were affiliated with one.

— grew up in SC and many classmates and preacher kids attended

You’re old

Yes. I am.... 46 1/2 years old. Thought I would chime in to answer OPs question since I’m frequently hanging out On this board because my oldest starts college this fall.

Anonymous wrote:never even heard of any of those, sorry

Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experience. Your input has been so valuable.

Anonymous wrote:Elon is a rising star. It’s currently trying to do the Tulane/Northeastern thing with the rankings. Tbh 10 years from now it will carry more cache so if you care about that stuff, go there. Also, they are trying to ramp up their stuff.

Elon is a clown college and if it’s trying to emulate third tier schools that game the rankings then it’s beyond hope.

I know great kids who are very happy at both St. Joe's and Elon. I don't happen to know anyone at Furman.

Elon. A secret gem.

We know kids at Elon who are very happy. Not familiar with the other two.

Anonymous wrote:Furman parted ways with the Baptist convention back in 1992 and has since recruited heavily from the Mid Atlantic states. They needed lacrosse players.

The evangelicals are a diluted bunch nowadays.

https://www.furman.edu/admissions-aid/student-profile-2023/
Still mostly southern tho.

(I am NOT saying there is anything wrong with that. It’s just a point of data.)

Anonymous wrote: furman May have changed recently but in late 80s and the early 90s it was very popular with Christians and preacher kids and budding ministers. I think they had a seminary or were affiliated with one.

— grew up in SC and many classmates and preacher kids attended

You’re old

Anonymous wrote:Elon then St. Joe's. Furman is too Southern for my tastes

At least we know that the word is “taste,” not “tastes”

Furman parted ways with the Baptist convention back in 1992 and has since recruited heavily from the Mid Atlantic states. They needed lacrosse players.

The evangelicals are a diluted bunch nowadays.

I know nothing about the relative academic quality, but St. Joe's location near Philly should make volunteering and shadowing at major hospitals quite easy. I would look into this.

Anonymous wrote: furman May have changed recently but in late 80s and the early 90s it was very popular with Christians and preacher kids and budding ministers. I think they had a seminary or were affiliated with one.

— grew up in SC and many classmates and preacher kids attended

Furman ended their formal affiliation with the Southern Baptist Church in 1992. It is still fairly conservative and draws many Christians due to its location.