Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP-My kid is finishing up 4 years there.

The prison has ZERO impact on students. Most activities are on campus. In fact, when you go into town, you don't see or pass it at all (downtown is in the opposite direction). Same when I drive there from this area.

I think I have seen it twice in her four years, when we had to go to Walmart (you drive by it).

Baltimore has 20 jails and prisons. You pass one (where executions take place) every time you take the shuttle from the Homewood Campus to the Medical Campus. It does not prevent too many people from considering Johns Hopkins.

Baltimore does not have 20 jails and prisons. And you most definitely don't pass one where executions take place because Maryland abolished the death penalty in 2013.

Anonymous wrote:NP-My kid is finishing up 4 years there.

The prison has ZERO impact on students. Most activities are on campus. In fact, when you go into town, you don't see or pass it at all (downtown is in the opposite direction). Same when I drive there from this area.

I think I have seen it twice in her four years, when we had to go to Walmart (you drive by it).

Baltimore has 20 jails and prisons. You pass one (where executions take place) every time you take the shuttle from the Homewood Campus to the Medical Campus. It does not prevent too many people from considering Johns Hopkins.

Anonymous wrote:I grew up a few blocks from Muhlenberg. It was always regarded as a top school. My parents dreamed of me going there. But I wanted independence so I went west, Univ. of Utah. Poli Sci+ skiing!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:KU must be the most underrated flagship. Any decent student can get in, get at least a solid education, and have a fantastic experience in a first-rate college town--all without paying through the nose for it.

Love University of Kansas and Lawrence.

Anonymous wrote:

If I was the next Governor of MD, I'd focus on trying to make St Mary's College tuition-free in order to lure the state's top students. It's already an honors college, but I think the location does a big disservice to its desirability. Not a lot of 18 year-olds want to go to school at a state university in the middle of rural farmland on the Chesapeake. If the school was free, I think the school would get a lot of looks from students and families.

That school should be similar in caliber and prestige to William & Mary. It's has the capability to get there.

My DD is a freshman there. I don’t think you need to make tuition free to lure top students. Being generous with merit aid should be enough, and is one reason DD is there.

The location is a plus for her. She didn’t want a big city but it’s not as rural as you think. Pax River Naval Air Station is about 10 minutes away and there are some shopping centers and places to eat within a 10 mile radius. Freshmen can have cars on campus, so that makes getting around easier. Also, it’s on the St. Mary’s River, not the Chesapeake.

Our DD likes it and describes it as a “small STEM school”, and less of a classical liberal arts college, which is fine for her since she’s a biochem major.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:St. Mary's College of Maryland

Great campus, right on the water. It's gorgeous. Plus, it's an honors college and attracts studious types. If your kid is into sailing or rowing, it must be on their list. Cheap in-state tuition, plus a high acceptance rate (70s).

The only downside is that it's remote. It's near nothing. Like, not even a pharmacy or grocery store. The nearest pharmacy is 7-8 miles away. There is no town around the school, nor restaurants or even a bar.

I think the location is what dissuades so many from applying.

I went there. That's actually part of the draw for a lot of people I think.

If I was the next Governor of MD, I'd focus on trying to make St Mary's College tuition-free in order to lure the state's top students. It's already an honors college, but I think the location does a big disservice to its desirability. Not a lot of 18 year-olds want to go to school at a state university in the middle of rural farmland on the Chesapeake. If the school was free, I think the school would get a lot of looks from students and families.

That school should be similar in caliber and prestige to William & Mary. It's has the capability to get there.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In PA, Washington & Jefferson College (est. 1787, with phenomenal placement for its pre-med and pre-law programs) and Allegheny College. Both SLACs, but with strong alumni networks of leaders in law, medicine, and in the corporate world.

My dad went to W&J in the 60s. I think I have met one person who has heard of it. Pretty sure it almost closed a few years back.
You must be from Pittsburgh.

Np. I live in a Pittsburgh suburb. One of our administrators is an alum of our school district and he always talks about how well prepared he felt as a freshman in college bc of the great education he received (blah blah blah). His point being that he was more prepared than other students who didn’t go to as wonderful a district as ours (he really drinks the kook-aid). In any event, I eventually found out he went to W&J. I’m sure it’s a fine school but I wouldn’t put it in the category of a hidden gem. It is basically in a suburb and the buildings don’t look that impressive. Unless it was the most affordable option (with a lot of merit), I would look elsewhere. In the Pittsburgh area, I think Pitt or Duquesne are better options (neither a hidden gem).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Juniata College

+1 We were impressed by their open house this Fall and it's definitely on DD's list for next year. Ticks all her boxes re a small school with strong environmental science programs. And she liked the food and they were very allergy friendly which is important for her.

Does the massive prison right near the campus raise any concerns for you?

Not at all. I went to Cal Poly SLO that also has a big prison just down the road. Never have it any thought, never an issue.