Knox VS Wheaton (MA) - Page 2

BerneseMtn · 04-14-2012, 10:27 PM

EC - I married a Knox football player who graduated in 1982. He is the nicest guy in the world. Thirty years later, he is still friends with his college buddies, some football players, some not football players. They still get together about 2-3 times a year. It really is a nurturing place.

early_college · 04-14-2012, 10:32 PM

Thanks MizzBee! I've seen your posts as well. Has your DS chosen yet? I really liked Lawrence, but there was no way it could be affordable (almost 20k per year).

I agree with you that the Midwest will be less of a culture shock, but I am kind of looking for something completely opposite from Georgia because I hate it here. My whole family is from New York and I lived in South Florida for ten years (all NYers), so I have this NY persona to me. But New England is also known for being a little snobby and rude (no offense to anyone out there), while the Midwest is known for being really friendly. I really want to go somewhere ten times more liberal though because I am sick of being the only democrat. Galesburg itself is conservative, but Knox isn't at all. My really only main concern at Knox at this point is the location and the campus wasn't the best, but it seems really intellectual. I was talking to someone online and when I mentioned Wheaton, they happened to live around there, and it said a lot of rich kids from CT went there. I think more of a middle class student body goes to Knox, which I am use to.

MizzBee · 04-14-2012, 10:45 PM

Yes, early_college, my DS has chosen Wabash, where he will be one of the few liberal atheists, which is exactly what he seems to want. He seems to want to fight over the next four years. He refused to even look at East Coast colleges, so many of your choices were never on the table. Knox had too many "hippies" for him, but he really like the theater department.

I can't talk to the snobbery of the East Coast, because my DS decided not to apply to any East Coast schools due to a combination of hatred for the Bostonian accent (Car Talk scarred him) and his desire to keep away from prep school kids. If you don't mind the "bubble" Knox is a great option.

early_college · 04-14-2012, 10:59 PM

I actually passed Wabash on my way to Knox. We were actually driving for quite a bit in the middle of no where and then all of a sudden we passed a college! From Indianapolis to Peoria, it was nothing but cornfields!

I've had enough of being one of few liberals, so I just want a change if you know what I mean. I stopped by at Earlham (which was actually 1k cheaper then Knox per year, cheapest school) and boy if your son thought Knox was "hippie", I cannot imagine what he would think of Earlham. I hated it and didn't even stay for the tour the next day. It was probably too liberal for me haha. Way too hippie for my standards, Knox really felt like it had a mix of students.

I actually was looking at Southern California schools for a while, but I felt like it was too materialistic.

I think I'll get the "bubble" anywhere I go honestly. It was so sad, but out of the 6 colleges we saw, we didn't even see one college's stage!

MizzBee · 04-14-2012, 11:24 PM

He has a good friend at Earlham, so he knew it wasn't what he wanted. His friend is actually from Berkeley, so DS seemed to be rebelling from anything related to Berkeley. So Beloit, Knox, Earlham were too hippy. I think Knox was fine-just diverse and friendly.

fendrock · 04-15-2012, 07:03 AM

Just to throw a wrench in your thinking -- is Clark University completed out of your consideration?

Clark has a better academic reputation than either of these schools, and it sounds like it would not be more expensive overall.

I do feel it would have exactly the kind of feel you want (New Yorkers, liberal, no football team....)

I've visited this school myself, and I think it is a real hidden gem.

early_college · 04-15-2012, 07:41 AM

Clark was always one of my top choices, but when I visited campus something didn't click. I never got that cozy feel. I guess I didn't like the urban campus. The students looked a little out there. I really never got to speak to that many students though. Clark never reached out to me as an applicant. I never felt like they wanted me. Clark probably would be my third choice. It does have the holocaust studies program I'm interested in and the free master degree program. But when I was sitting in on a Shakespeare class at Clark, I kept on thinking about Knox for some reason (this was before I saw Wheaton). I really don't know why I was.

Knox, on the other hand, has done a great job reaching out. Wheaton hasn't done that much. The admission officer did give me a hand written note on my acceptance letter though. I never thought it would be this hard. It has been so easy picking for my friends, lol.

I keep going back and forth. If Knox was in the northeast, I would pick it no question. The rural area and the old dusty campus are the two huge cons. Wheaton has a beautiful campus, but is it worth the extra $$$? I seriously keep on going back and forth day after day. I want to make a decision this week. I think it will go to my head if I wait until May 1st.

Consolation · 04-15-2012, 07:50 AM

I were you, I'd go to Earlham, which is a) probably better academically than either Wheaton or Knox, and b) cheaper for you. But since you "know" that everyone at Earlham is a "hippie" based on your brief visit, I suggest that you follow the "sign from God" that your grandmother detected and go to Knox. Why? It sounds like it has a very good theater department. Your family supports it. You won't lose your FA if you get less than a 3.0.

fendrock · 04-15-2012, 07:52 AM

early_college, do keep in mind that the admissions office is not the college itself.

Whether or not the admissions office reaches out to you is no reflection on what it will actually be like to be a student on campus.

You will enjoy the handwritten note now, for example, but you may be unable to use a dusty library at all if you have allergies.

I also agree, given how heavily you are weighing the extra costs, that it would be better to go with the school which doesn't require that you maintain a certain GPA in order to retain your scholarship. You are putting substantially more at risk than $14,000 over four years if you could lose a merit scholarship.

As Clark's aid is not dependent on a specific GPA (which Wheaton is), but is in the Northeast (which you prefer over the Midwest), and has the atmosphere you prefer (no Greeks or football -- and a new student center adjacent to the library, as I recall), I do think you should reconsider it -- especially as you do not love, love, love Wheaton.

Any chance you could visit Clark again?

Consolation · 04-15-2012, 08:16 AM

I just reread this thread. Struggling past all of the negative stereotyping and insults from people who ought to know better I found this:

Quote:

The 3k stipend is only for the summer before my junior year. I literally just found out about my new scholarship at Wheaton late Friday, so never had time to ask them about what would happen if my GPA went below a 3.0. I will have the 30k in debt for 4 years at both schools even after my parents pay roughly 10k a year. If I would have went to Clark, I would have only been in 22k in debt for 4 years. I would have had to pay 10k, but my parents would still be paying 8k more overall.

Are you saying that Clark is actually CHEAPER than any of the other schools? Are you saying that the 3.0 requirement at Wheaton only applies to the additional stipend? I find this very confusing.

If Clark--arguably the best school you have gotten in to--is also the cheapest, with no restrictions on their FA, I STRONGLY agree that you ought to reconsider. Especially if your allergy issue at Knox is a real one.

BTW, "If I would have went"? Seriously?? Oh, but "no offense."

SteveMA · 04-15-2012, 08:28 AM

Just to throw out an additional consideration since money it tight--junior and senior year, where do most kids live--on or off campus? If off-campus, how much does that cost in each area. I am assuming that apartments around Knox are going to be significantly less than anything in the MA area--but maybe not. Can you do some research on Craigslist or maybe on the college websites about off campus choices and costs?

For what it is worth, Knox spends a LOT on advertising/recruiting material and their name it out there. From clear across the country, I've heard of Knox, never heard of Wheaton. We have actually looked into Knox and it seems like a place our kids would enjoy attending but they didn't have the programs our kids wanted.

lastminutemom196 · 04-15-2012, 08:31 AM

Early College, what concerns me is that your family's income bounces a bit and you could lose Pell in some years. This means that the cost difference would be greater.

Also, as a parent in Metro Atlanta, we have, at least at some high schools, a fair problem with grade inflation. I think As aren't as inflated but Bs are. A 3.0 at some colleges is a big achievement, at others not quite as much. Only you can assess how much of a challenge this will be for you.

I am very confused about the cost of Clark.

Which school, out of all that you visited is the most affordable for your family? (And how are they planning to pay their contribution, loans, savings?)

early_college · 04-15-2012, 08:51 AM

It wasn't just the student body I didn't like at Earlham. I didn't like the campus and the town looked like a tornado just came. I would never even consider going to Earlham.

I would be paying 8k per year at Knox and 10k per year at Clark. I would be taking out 22k in loans at Clark VS 29k in loans at Knox. So, my parents would be saving 8k if I went to Knox, but I personally would be saving 7k in loans at Clark. HOWEVER, Clark never gave me a new financial aid package. The lady said it wouldn't change too much, but at all the other colleges it did (more loans mostly). Earlham was 5k cheaper after they re-did the package. It didn't sound like Clark was going to give me a new package even after our estimate was 18k too high then what my dad actually made.

I just really didn't like the urban vibe at Clark. It wasn't in the best area of Worcester. On paper though it did look the best. I would have to keep a 2.0 GPA to keep Clark's scholarship, so not a problem lol.

My dad is getting 20k from his next placement and is putting about 10k aside for college. He will be paying it in full instead of monthly placements. My school doesn't have grade inflation. I've honestly worked very hard for my 3.4. Actually, I have a 96% average for this semester right now and should get my GPA to a 3.5 by graduation (I had a 3.389 when senior year started). I've taken the hardest classes this year, but I've done the best academically.

Honestly, I don't think I would have a problem keeping a 3.0. It just worries me with all the horror stories.

I guess at this point I'm leaning towards Knox. My mom actually rather me go there as well.

BTW, every college or geographic location may have some sort of stereotype. Yes, a lot of the times it isn't true. But it's just the way one may look at it.

lastminutemom196 · 04-15-2012, 09:04 AM

Knox is the school where the package doesn't include Pell, right? I think that is the one that you can count on not changing financially as much as the others that do include Pell. How will you borrow 8K? The maximum stafford is 5500, I think. Will your parents co-sign for the small additional amount?

absweetmarie · 04-15-2012, 09:10 AM

Friendly advice, early_college: A bit of tact goes a long way when you are sharing your reactions to colleges and college towns. To say that you were not charmed by the town of Richmond or Earlham's campus is one thing. To say that Richmond looks "like a tornado just came" is disrespectful. Also, from my experience, it doesn't make any sense. Beyond that, your statement is rather insensitive, given that there are towns around this country that suffered the ravages of tornadoes just THIS WEEKEND.