Fireflyscout, it looks like you and I are the only ones with any interst in the weekend. I was hoping to hear how it went and whether anyone is still considering Centre for the upcoming year.
Sorry, the interest is there, but not a lot of time. Some quick highlights:
Everyone we met was warm and welcoming. More "Hi's" walking around than any campus we've visited. Parents and students (with their hosts) enjoyed a dinner Friday evening in Old Carnegie. Very impressed with administration, president and associate dean in particular. Seemed genuine and open, not defensive when discussing other schools.
Major renovation of library, classrooms, and recreation building finished last fall - and it looks stunning!
Campus feels bigger than Davidson, Rhodes, etc. due to huge open area.
D liked classes a lot - Humanities intro and Brit Lit. Also enjoyed interview process - group exercise to discuss hypothetical campus controversy, and individual time with chair of English department.
Greek system downplayed somewhat - 50% participation (60% in other sources), only 8-10 (officers?) live in each of the 9 houses, doesn't dominate leadership positions on campus.
Would seem to be a serious and supportive place for serious students. Excellent record of grad and professional school placements and graduate awards. However, D had one disturbing conversation with male student who claimed people only talk about drinking and sex.
Danville definitely not a student's dream. Downtown just a couple blocks away, but still being revived. Centre relocated their bookstore downtown, with an adjoining coffee shop (a little pricey!) - seems to be the only one, and it's small, but we didn't wander farther than downtown. Lots of history, but not sure if there's much for students.
Won't speak for D, but overall we liked it and could see her having a great college experience there, especially with the strong overseas program!
We are grateful she was invited to attend this weekend. Two students will be offered Presidential Scholarships at 80% of cost, an unknown number the Deans Scholarship of $19,500. Notification will be later this week.
It sounds like a wonderful weekend. We have also found Centre to be very warm and welcoming. DD has an overnight scheduled there in a couple of weeks. I think she is more interested in another school, but we would be happy to see her at Centre, too. We were there for the opening of their new activity center last year and it is so very impressive. Danville is small, but at least Lexington is close. DD was very disappointed that she wasn't invited for the weekend. With an ACT of 33, a gpa of 4.3+ and numerous EC's, we had hoped she would be invited, but there must have been a higher caliber of students there. Good luck to your d, johnc!
I noticed that all are impressed with the opportunity to study abroad and Centre's ranking...let me stress that this is an "opportunity"...
Disappointing to us (as currently enrolled) is that Centregirl was placed on a waiting list for BOTH fall and spring study abroad programs for her Junior year. Seems that the enrollment increase at Centre has not meant an increase in students accepted into these programs. She said 80 applied for a couple of Strasbourg spots and over 50 on each spring and fall London waiting list. Basically, more students competing for fewer available spots.
For our family, the only way she's studying abroad is over a semester when it's essentially paid for by tuition. The CentreTerm programs, which are only 3 weeks long, can be as high as $3k and generally NOT covered by tuition/scholarship money.
After playing the study abroad card so hard while recruiting her I can honestly say that this has diminished the school in her eyes. Not enough to transfer but some are doing just that...
Thanks so much, Centremom, for that info. The study abroad option is a huge part of what dd loves about the two schools to which she has applied (Centre & Hendrix). I'm so sorry to hear that Centregirl is having trouble arranging hers. That is disheartening. I truly believe that Hendrix has been dd's school of choice for a while, but I can't say for sure. We'll know more after her overnight at Centre, scheduled for March 28th.
Well, I just want everyone to be aware that although 80% of students do study abroad at Centre, the opportunity is the only thing guaranteed, not the experience itself. She is thinking of applying, along with 3 other friends who were also waitlisted, to Mexico for fall of her senior year. She did not want to travel away from school her senior year but as a senior she will get a priority ranking as well as an extra stipend. It may all work out in the end but we can't help but feel a little disappointed in the way the system works.
D went to scholarship weekend and was notified that she received the Dean's Scholarship. Obviously she was thrilled! She enjoyed the weekend very much and the girl who hosted her visit was one of her favorite hosts that she has had at any school. She likes Centre very much, but is still undecided in general. She got accepted to Furman and got a good scholarship (not as good as Centre) and is still waiting to hear from Rhodes. She received the Wilkins Scholarship at Sewanee. Out of 7 schools I think she has narrowed it down to Rhodes, Sewanee, Centre and Furman. She is waiting to hear if she got any scholarship money to Rhodes. Centre is the best total $$ so far, and that is definitely persuasive! As to the drinking/sex thing -we have heard some version of this at almost every school we visited. I don't think Centre students have a corner on the drinking/sex market anymore than any other school.
I do have a question about Rhodes, though. When D visited Rhodes, her host told her that "no one eats on campus" and that the food wasn't very good and took her to eat off campus. Has anyone eaten on campus at Rhodes or heard anything about that? My D likes to eat!
Your comments are exactly right! I remember that I promised myself that I would never again eat what they called "Maryland Turkey" again after I left Auburn! :-)
Thanks for the insight!
My son is a junior at Centre right now and is not very enthusiastic about the food, and he isn't a picky eater! However, aside from the food he has had a great experience at Centre and truly appreciates the benefits of attending a small personal school. For example over spring break he recieved word that the US Supreme Court was missing a recommendation that was needed for his summer internship application. He got on the phone and within 20 minutes found someone in the appropriate office at Centre that would fax the needed forms off for him. It was great!
You need to get a definition of "no one." Students of this age are fully capable of walking into a Division I SRO sports venue and announcing, "No one is here." As someone who spends a good bit of time on Rhodes campus, I have witnessed numerous people who appear to be "someones" consuming food. Perception is everything.
