lydia08

I didn't say they averaged 20, I said that around 20 is usually the maximum. 10 is the minimum. Out of 24 trips, when around 11 or so of them have the maximum every year (7 UK trips except for art, DC, Geneva, 2 Australia trips), and the rest have somewhere between 10 and 19 people on them, 15 seems a reasonable guess at an average. I don't think there are very many trips that alternate (China is one for sure, but Australia, Australia II, Dijon, Geneva, Japan, the 5 London trips, Manchester, NIH, San Francisco, Sante Fe, Scotland, Venice, Wales, and DC are not, I believe. Don't know about Dominican Republic, Freiburg, India, Madrid, or West Indies for sure, but of those India is the only one that I think alternates), and if they are alternating trips, they aren't the same years, so there's at max probably 25-30 students less each year in that case (the trips that are every other year are not the most popular). So then 15 students on 22 trips instead of 24 to account for alternating programs would be 330, or around 47% of the class (68% of students going abroad). So 22% of the class go on non Colgate programs. Still not most, I would say.

Yes, around 150 or so students don't go through Colgate programs. Your son apparently knew a disproportionate number of them. I knew I think... 2 people that went on non-Colgate study abroad, and probably 40+ people (off the top of my head) that went on Colgate programs. Just because my experience implies only 5% of students that study abroad went with non-Colgate programs doesn't meant that's the case.

funkygroove, pre-med students usually go on Australia or Wales trips - those are more science/math oriented, though it's certainly possible to go on many other trips. If you're pre-med and majoring in chem or bio, it's not too difficult to minor in a language and go to Japan or something.

I didn't do any pre-orientation as a first-year, though I was involved in leading WRCU's pre-orientation program in 2007 and 2008. It can be nice to start out knowing people before everyone else shows up, as well as get a foot in the door at a student organization if you chose one of those. Some of the kids on the camping trips got back on move-in day and were a bit embarrassed to meet their new roommate after not showering for a week, but if you do the first session that wouldn't be a problem.

My fsem was cryptology, which I really didn't want, but it was a great class. I ended up taking more computer science because of it (I was a Japanese major, so it really had nothing to do with what I was intending to study). I didn't really end up friends with many people in my fsem, more through other activities on campus. It helped ease the transition into college life and academics, and the link and advisor system was good.

I don't know anything about running club, but was involved in the equestrian team, which is a club sport. It's a good half-way point between varsity and intramural - you compete against other schools, but it doesn't dominate your life.

morrismm

"he won't be able to run track due to Div-1 level" With all due respect, IS THAT WHY YOU ARE PAYING TO GO TO A HIGHLY PRESTIGIOUS SCHOOL? Athletics is second, academics is first!!

jrpar

Lydia, I will find out the #'s and post them here. Yes, my son knew a disproportionate number of students who went on non-Colgate programs (off the top of my head - and obviously I would only know a fraction of his Colgate friends - I know of 25 of his friends abroad last spring on non-Colgate programs). While I think the Colgate programs are very good, I also think they are sometimes somewhat narrow in academic focus and attract a small # of students. In any event, I'll ask at Colgate, and post what I learn. It's not really all that relevant to prospective students - one way or the other there are many excellent study abroad programs. (Cadence is right though that it can be an issue if you are on financial aid since your FA will not follow you abroad on a non-Colgate program - this is not the case at all colleges, as some colleges have study abroad payments go through the home school).

My son had a wonderful experience abroad. While he has loved Colgate he also enjoyed being on a program with students from other schools and academically it was right up his alley - one of his professors abroad continued to advise him this year on his honors thesis on a topic directly related to his study abroad experience.

funkygroove

Morrism-

yes, I agree academics first...but in selecting a school you are also looking at what you will call home for 4 years. You can't just select a school by just picking the most highly ranked option. Where will you be comfortable and where will you thrive and push yourself? College is also about creating happy well rounded human beings and hopefully creative problem solvers. I feel extracurriculars and opportunities for fitness are important in building this foundation as well.

If you have been involved in varsity sports all year, every day in high school ; its a hard thing to drop this completely. In his case, running isn't really a well developed club sport at Colgate. He does not fit the description of a "jock" but is more of an academic student athlete.

Every school he applied to except for Colgate was Division 3 sports and would have allowed him to study at great schools plus compete in running. Now that he has narrowed down to 2 choices- that is his struggle with Colgate: should he give up a passion (and one that keeps him healthy and well rounded) for a "higher ranked" academic environment (according to US New and World Report). That is what I am trying to understand- is a Colgate education really that much better than a Kenyon education? I went to a school few people are familiar with and have been very successful.

cadence76

I think he's got the opportunity for a terrific education at either school--Kenyon is by no means "inferior" to Colgate--it's a truly excellent school with committed, motivated and engaged students and professors. Maybe it would be helpful to look at some of the bios of the profs in departments that interest him, and see what they're doing for research/publication/etc. My D picked Colby over Colgate, Vassar, and Wellesley, though all three are "ranked" more highly, because she saw Colby as the school that "fit" her overall college ambitions, both academically and extra-curricularly. (And there was that study abroad/financial aid issue!)