Parents of the HS Class of 2013 - 3.0 to 3.3 GPA - Page 62

GolfFather · 09-23-2012, 05:37 PM

Quote:

they are doing college essays in the AP English class at school

Which AP English? Language and Composition or Literature and Composition?

mamaduck · 09-23-2012, 05:51 PM

^
I think it's Literature and Composition, but I'm not positive. I don't know if it's a standard thing, or just what this teacher does. Anyway, I like it! Each student wrote a rough draft, met with a student group and evaluated each other's work, revised their work, and now they're meeting with the teacher individually for feedback and polishing. It's supposed to be done by October 1.

GolfFather · 09-23-2012, 09:05 PM

^^^^ Very cool, thanks.
My D is taking AP Lit and Comp.
I'll have her ask her teacher.

anniezz · 09-23-2012, 09:33 PM

HL, how was Clark?

HeavyLidded · 09-24-2012, 12:51 AM

Annie- Clark was okay. DD did not "love" it but liked it enough that she will apply. The campus is very compact, buildings are nice, clean and close to each other. They have strong programs in some areas that DD has interest in. I think she would get a good education there.

I am from the Boston area, so knew what to expect in terms of the city of Worcester. I was a bit unhappy with the neighborood through which one travels to get to the downtown area, though.

We spent a good period of time people watching. DD liked what she saw. This school has a good amount (compared to the majority of LAC's we've visited) of racial diversity, which DD was happy about. Students were all chatting with each other, waving at people across the paths and just generally seemed happy as a whole.

Info session was longer than it needed to be, though we both liked the student panel a lot. Tour was fine, but brief since campus is so compact.

Still have some questions about the graduate school 5th year free offer (GPA must be 3.4 or higher to qualify). Emphasis is on undergraduate research opportunities. It sounds as though research is deemed very valuable and is encouraged no matter the major.

anniezz · 09-24-2012, 09:29 AM

Thanks! I think D would like the students and campus feel, but would probably have similar overall reactions.

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GolfFather · 09-24-2012, 10:28 AM

HL, also thanks from me.
There are things about Clark that interest us also.
But I am also pretty sure my D, too, will not "love" it.
And it is a very long drive to visit.

Joisymom · 09-24-2012, 02:56 PM

Visited Loyola Maryland and Goucher over the weekend. I won't post details unless someone is interested - know most of you are pretty far along in your process already and I also know there has been a fair amount of discussion on Goucher already. Let me know!

umich8790 · 09-24-2012, 05:48 PM

We visited Goucher and McDaniel at the end of August. It was before classes started and freshman were moving in the next day (in the case of Goucher) and that day (for McDaniel). Goucher had an information session and tour, but McDaniel didn't have any admission reps on hand, so we did a walking tour on our own w/ a map.

As soon as my S heard that Goucher requires study abroad, he turned to me and said that he would never go there. Didn't even want to stay for the tour, but I made him. He said there was good and bad about the school, but because of the study abroad requirement, he pretty much tuned it out.

He like the look and feel of McDaniel, and met w/ an admissions person at the CTCL fair the next week. He walked away from that quick meeting saying "I really like that school"...basically, he liked the guy. He will probably apply there.

Visiting Grand Valley State U later next month.

His grades are going to be low for any of the schools that he'll want to apply to, but his practice ACTs give me hope (they're disproportionately high, which doesn't look great, but at least should counterbalance the grades to a degree...if he's able to perform as well when it counts). Taking it in Dec for the first time.

anniezz · 09-24-2012, 06:14 PM

I've been trying to get D interested in Goucher, I think she'd like it, and it's closer to home than most of her choices. We were going to look this summer, but she got sick that week and we didnt make it. Now she is busy with school and sick of visits.

McDaniel: My sister (who lives near the school) tells me great things about it and her D's GC loves the school and directs many bright kids there.

The study abroad at Goucher can be fulfilled with a 3 week program over winter break, or a 3-6 week summer program if you dont want a whole semester away.

mamaduck · 09-24-2012, 06:32 PM

My daughter wouldn't look at Goucher because she hates the name. We toured Loyola Maryland early in her junior year, and she disliked it, but she couldn't verbalize why. I would have liked to look at McDaniel, but I gave up on Maryland schools after she nixed two!

ConfusedMominMA · 09-24-2012, 07:07 PM

Joisymom - I'd like to hear what you thought of Loyola, if you don't mind.

umich8790 · 09-24-2012, 07:17 PM

Re Goucher, I explained that he could do 3 weeks over the summer and it would be like a vacation, but he wasn't buying it.

I like the idea of McDaniel a lot, but it's expensive and a little further than I'd like (requires a plane ride). Also, the town is very small and somewhat limited, and I've read that transportation to leave the area is not readily available. If you've been to the CTCL College Fair, the woman who speaks at the beginning was an admissions director at McDaniel for 16 years. She really was a good speaker.

HeavyLidded · 09-24-2012, 10:35 PM

Goucher: DD really liked this school in , in part because of the mandatory study abroad. She felt as though it would create a culture where it was the norm to pop in an out of campus instead of going away feeling as though you were the only one missing something back on campus.

Sadly, just this evening, it has come off of her list. She decided that the male/female ratio was just not something she could live with. I knew that she had some qualms about it but she has been letting it simmer. Tonight she declared it is a no go. I ma struggling with this decision because in so mnay ways I think it is a great fit for her!

Mamaduck- I love the discriminating reasons they can find find to reject a school...

MyLB · 09-25-2012, 07:51 AM

Just my $0.02 on McDaniel and Goucher. DS#1 looked at both. The kids at Goucher didn't really look like a crowd my S would fit in with (very politically active but not his scene), and it was one of the few campuses I've seen that I actually found unattractive. McDaniel was a better looking school and seemed like it might have been a better fit, but the surrounding area was pretty empty/depressing. S ended up not applying to either (although did attend a different CTCL school).