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@Dustyfeathers I love your descriptions! Thanks for sharing! This is my favorite discussion thread given the variety of personal opinions.
We had the exact opposite opinions of Smith and Mount Holyoke. We were flying in, and really wanted to see Mount Holyoke and called and emailed prior to our trip. There were no tours available, there would be no one to give us a tour, there was no way to let them know we were visiting (should they be tracking demonstrated interest) and they seemed somewhat confused that we really wanted to see the school. Now I will say that a student saw us walking around lost and gave us a tour, including her dorms, and was so friendly! I really wanted my D to love the school, but she didn't... at all.
Smith on the other hand arranged a tour for us, everyone in admissions was very warm and friendly and inviting. I do see what your saying about the grounds being very well groomed and country-club like, and I must confess, that is part of the appeal for me.
Dustyfeathers, I started this thread exactly one year ago, and the main reason was how unaccommodating Bowdoin was, and how friendly Mount Holyoke was. After visits all over New England she has chosen the first school we visited, Mount Holyoke, she found the perfect school for her.
Looking back at her rejections, wait list, and acceptances, we felt some schools were much more transparent with chances of acceptance and financial aid than others. At the time we visited Hamilton, they explained the amount of athletes, URM, geographical diversity, first generation to attend college, among others, and we felt she had an uphill battle on getting in. At Skidmore they explained they meet 100% financial need unless you were at the margins, and then they would consider your need. She was waitlisted at both schools, but I felt she was treated very fair from Hamilton and Skidmore was pretty sketchy. ( her scores were above top 25% Skidmore, so please no lectures )
So my word of advise, some schools, such as Colby are in the business of trying to get the most people to apply, while others give you a realistic picture of your chances. We found the schools who represented themselves well now that all is said and done: Middlebury, Hamilton, Vassar, Smith, Mount Holyoke, and Wellesley. My daughter still has fond thoughts of Vassar even though they rejected her, thats when you know you missed out on a good school.
Tufts — Too bland
Union — Too Greek, and Schenectedy does them no favors either
Bard — Too remote
Moved Up
WELLESLEY
As we drove into Wellesley, my D said, "This is Hogwarts!" and it was. Gorgeous, huge campus. (Although perhaps too huge, as the buildings were spread out really far apart and made the campus feel a little deader than it probably should have.) Impressive stone buildings and gothic architecture. This one is for Women With A Purpose. It was super empowering for D to see buildings with women's names on them, and rows of pictures of amazing alumnae. It's overall location was kind of meh in the suburbs. All fun off campus seems to be in Boston, 40 minutes away. But after not knowing whether a women's college would be her thing, it moved from a Maybe to a Will Apply.
SMITH
Unlike Wellesley, Smith is in vibrant Northampton, a five minute walk into town with cafes and restaurants and bookstores. Smith is bigger and quirkier than Wellesley, and benefits from the surrounding Five Colleges program (e.g. access to guys). Everyone we met at Smith was amazingly kind and helpful. Staff and faculty went out of their way to show us around, urging us to go see the engineering labs (we got a personal tour from a faculty member who just saw us wandering the hallways) and even go backstage at the theatre. The housing system, where the students live in "rival" houses is pretty interesting too. ("I live in the house that Julia Child did.") Campus is pretty, yes, perhaps country club, but not in a snotty way. This moved way up the list.
doschicosRegistered UserPosts: 11,905Senior Member
@odannyboySF Has your daughter looked at Bryn Mawr? Tons of gothic, prettier than Wellesley IMO. Consortium with other strong colleges, stuff to walk to, and easier city access than Wellesley.
DustyfeathersRegistered UserPosts: 2,018Senior Member
edited April 17
@odannyboySF Or Mount Holyoke. We were surprised at how gorgeous the campus was, the wonderful woods and buildings, the charming people we met there, and how gracious everyone seemed. Loved it! Plus it's part of the consortium. It was much more relaxed and peaceful than Smith IMO and retained the gorgeous woodsie areas to relax in -- and had plenty of athletics. Running paths etc.
Up:
--Tufts: No infosession or tour because it was the weekend, so we just walked around. Friendly students were willing to talk to my kid about their school. They were great ambassadors: happy, composed and supportive of each other, which made a lasting impression on my son. Son liked the campus and Medford/Somerville (with clear view of Boston for a reminder of countless cultural opportunities). This was the last school we visited over the course of months and he was tired that day, but he became more attentive and energized as we went along -- a favorable sign.
Stayed the same:
--Northeastern: attractive, diverse campus in livable Northeast city. A confident environment. Funny tour guide with a worldweary but warm shtick. At the rec center, the guide waved indifferently, saying And here is where you can work out, if you're into that sort of thing. :) Solid infosession led by a responsive admissions officer. You just feel the momentum and vision there.
However, the antiquated warrens of humanities offices, compared to the stunning ISEC building, made us contemplate the blunt message of valuation and attendant allocation of resources for a liberal arts student.
--Michigan: It's Michigan; you can't really go wrong in any department -- the whole family felt that throughout our stay. The dorm rooms are tiny. Didn't bother my son but it felt like a simulation for a stint in a deepwater submersible. The tour guide won me over when he graciously handled an obnoxious parent who insisted we start with the dorm visit (normally end of tour) because she and her son didn't have time for the whole tour.
The infosession was a vacuous infomercial starring their solar car. Captive audience, packed room full of desperation. Son still thinks Michigan is great but OOS and their lousy FA package means the big house = the poor house.
--Dartmouth: Laid-back presentation, but in a crowded room, enlivened by a family with three wired boys and their wired father, all wearing brand-new, matching electric blue sneakers. BBQ during summer on a Faculty Friday; son met interesting prospective students. Friendly admissions officers willing to chat over lunch.
Flustered tour guide seemed to be having a bad day, and offered an apologia for joining a sorority -- she gave the impression that if you want friends, you have to go Greek. A few jokes about drinking, the cold and, well, drinking in the cold.
--Bates: Pretty campus and nice dorms on a seductive summer day in Maine. Friendly students who clearly felt that the campus belonged to them. Useful infosession by a capable admissions officer. Affable interviewer. Intellectual and nurturing vibe. He wondered, however, if it was just too cold, small and isolated. He said he already went to summer camp.
Moved off:
--Bowdoin: After visit, he never mentioned it again except to say that the taxidermied polar bear made him sad. Tidy place, the students seemed poised and keen, but the other people on the tour (parents and kids) were wound tight. Saw a mother from the zippy Northeastern tour and we agreed about the strained, cold vibe at B. No one was accommodating or welcoming. Yes, the food was good but we ate alone, whereas at other campuses we were invited to join others. Aloof, inexperienced interviewer.
The admissions officer running the infosession wasn't ready for prime time. All sorts of neuroses on display. She was presenting with a brilliant rising sophomore and all I could think was Let the kid run the show! The AO kept pointing and saying the phrase "That right there" whenever her co-presenter mentioned something that apparently exemplified Bowdoin. I felt like I was at an auction.
--WashU: Nice, encouraging AO interviewer, great course catalogue, but nothing could make up for the fact that it's in an undesirable city. My son thought the campus was okay but I didn't; for one thing, there is a huge parking lot in the middle of campus where a quad ought to be. The pale faux Gothic, complete with drippy turrets was, well, faux. One of the AO knew nothing about internships, handed me a pamphlet for career services. The tour guide seemed bored by her own voice. None of the students smiled or interacted with each other. And sooo hot and unbearably humid.
--Emerson: Actually fled down an alley with my son in the midst of tour. Indifferent student greeters (e.g. asked where I might find some water and they begrudgingly said there was a CVS on the corner. I turned around and directly behind me was a water cooler and cups meant for visitors). A cut rate infosession in a dark basement with an uninspired presenter.
We proceeded en masse to the staircase, where a good part of the tour was held. A grouchy doorman chastised us for blocking said staircase, but there was nowhere else to go in this euphemistically described "vertical campus." Son gave me the look and we shuffled to the end of the line. As the tour walked to the other campus building, we hanged a tight right into the alley and ghosted.
But a bad visit is as useful as a good one; it helps clarify fit.
We had an enlightening visit to our our in-state flagship, Rutgers University! My DS14 never wanted to visit and honestly neither had I but DD18's professor really thought she should take a look being a leading national research university with lots of opportunities and an incredible,highly ranked business school (which she is looking for) and he was right! We were both VERY impressed!
Yes, Rutgers is a huge place (2,600 acres) and that was our fear...however, the school is separated into four residential campuses each with it's own library, student center/gym and dining hall (in addition to 30+ food courts/cafes...we LOVE food!). The campus has lots of well maintained green space, D-1 sports with a 52K+ seat stadium, many housing options and a one hour direct train into NYC. Our outstanding, enthusiastic tour guide really sold her...and with a price tag of 30K all in...what's not to love?! Many may say the bus between campuses is a drag...I've commuted into NYC for 20+ years from NJ...a 10 minute bus ride is a preview for life in the tri-state post graduation and a great time to call mom ;)
^^^ 10 minute bus ride is pretty optimistic. Try 30 minutes at the wrong times... (And I commute every day to NYC from NJ too -- 1 hr, 45 min each way on average.) To each their own. If your kids don't mind busing between classes and like the sports and STEM and business programs, it sounds like a good fit. As is often noted on this topic, it's amazing how important these tour guides are for student and parent impressions. Our Rutgers tour guide remains the worst of all 20 or so tours we have done and is still the occasional topic of conversation he was so bad. Of course if you had been into sports or frats (which no one on our bus was) he might have seemed great, so its both the luck of the draw and one's perspective.
All schools visited great so far
Baruch and adelphi both in new york are top. adelphi accepted (private) awesome open house very informational happy students great waiting on baruch (public) great students the vibe was awesome that day we went a school that acts more high top private
accepted to york ( cuny ny) not liking it
Skidmore -- Looked like the perfect school on paper-- found it depressing and the tour guide was not well informed
University of Rochester -- Dull, tour guide got lost
Union - worst tour ever, no zing
Tufts -- very snooty admissions; were enjoying turning prospective students away for tours and info sessions who had flown in but for some reason were not signed up; bad vibes
Good surprises: Brandeis - incredible, close-knit community; great tour guide; right level of quirkiness; Dickinson - cute campus; Colgate - beautiful and friendly
Replies to: Colleges your child crossed off the list after visiting, schools that moved up on the list. Why?
We had the exact opposite opinions of Smith and Mount Holyoke. We were flying in, and really wanted to see Mount Holyoke and called and emailed prior to our trip. There were no tours available, there would be no one to give us a tour, there was no way to let them know we were visiting (should they be tracking demonstrated interest) and they seemed somewhat confused that we really wanted to see the school. Now I will say that a student saw us walking around lost and gave us a tour, including her dorms, and was so friendly! I really wanted my D to love the school, but she didn't... at all.
Smith on the other hand arranged a tour for us, everyone in admissions was very warm and friendly and inviting. I do see what your saying about the grounds being very well groomed and country-club like, and I must confess, that is part of the appeal for me.
Looking back at her rejections, wait list, and acceptances, we felt some schools were much more transparent with chances of acceptance and financial aid than others. At the time we visited Hamilton, they explained the amount of athletes, URM, geographical diversity, first generation to attend college, among others, and we felt she had an uphill battle on getting in. At Skidmore they explained they meet 100% financial need unless you were at the margins, and then they would consider your need. She was waitlisted at both schools, but I felt she was treated very fair from Hamilton and Skidmore was pretty sketchy. ( her scores were above top 25% Skidmore, so please no lectures )
So my word of advise, some schools, such as Colby are in the business of trying to get the most people to apply, while others give you a realistic picture of your chances. We found the schools who represented themselves well now that all is said and done: Middlebury, Hamilton, Vassar, Smith, Mount Holyoke, and Wellesley. My daughter still has fond thoughts of Vassar even though they rejected her, thats when you know you missed out on a good school.
Tufts — Too bland
Union — Too Greek, and Schenectedy does them no favors either
Bard — Too remote
Moved Up
WELLESLEY
As we drove into Wellesley, my D said, "This is Hogwarts!" and it was. Gorgeous, huge campus. (Although perhaps too huge, as the buildings were spread out really far apart and made the campus feel a little deader than it probably should have.) Impressive stone buildings and gothic architecture. This one is for Women With A Purpose. It was super empowering for D to see buildings with women's names on them, and rows of pictures of amazing alumnae. It's overall location was kind of meh in the suburbs. All fun off campus seems to be in Boston, 40 minutes away. But after not knowing whether a women's college would be her thing, it moved from a Maybe to a Will Apply.
SMITH
Unlike Wellesley, Smith is in vibrant Northampton, a five minute walk into town with cafes and restaurants and bookstores. Smith is bigger and quirkier than Wellesley, and benefits from the surrounding Five Colleges program (e.g. access to guys). Everyone we met at Smith was amazingly kind and helpful. Staff and faculty went out of their way to show us around, urging us to go see the engineering labs (we got a personal tour from a faculty member who just saw us wandering the hallways) and even go backstage at the theatre. The housing system, where the students live in "rival" houses is pretty interesting too. ("I live in the house that Julia Child did.") Campus is pretty, yes, perhaps country club, but not in a snotty way. This moved way up the list.
@Dustyfeathers We haven't given it its due, mostly because it also doesn't have the majors my D is looking for. Heard it's beautiful though!
--Tufts: No infosession or tour because it was the weekend, so we just walked around. Friendly students were willing to talk to my kid about their school. They were great ambassadors: happy, composed and supportive of each other, which made a lasting impression on my son. Son liked the campus and Medford/Somerville (with clear view of Boston for a reminder of countless cultural opportunities). This was the last school we visited over the course of months and he was tired that day, but he became more attentive and energized as we went along -- a favorable sign.
Stayed the same:
--Northeastern: attractive, diverse campus in livable Northeast city. A confident environment. Funny tour guide with a worldweary but warm shtick. At the rec center, the guide waved indifferently, saying And here is where you can work out, if you're into that sort of thing. :) Solid infosession led by a responsive admissions officer. You just feel the momentum and vision there.
However, the antiquated warrens of humanities offices, compared to the stunning ISEC building, made us contemplate the blunt message of valuation and attendant allocation of resources for a liberal arts student.
--Michigan: It's Michigan; you can't really go wrong in any department -- the whole family felt that throughout our stay. The dorm rooms are tiny. Didn't bother my son but it felt like a simulation for a stint in a deepwater submersible. The tour guide won me over when he graciously handled an obnoxious parent who insisted we start with the dorm visit (normally end of tour) because she and her son didn't have time for the whole tour.
The infosession was a vacuous infomercial starring their solar car. Captive audience, packed room full of desperation. Son still thinks Michigan is great but OOS and their lousy FA package means the big house = the poor house.
--Dartmouth: Laid-back presentation, but in a crowded room, enlivened by a family with three wired boys and their wired father, all wearing brand-new, matching electric blue sneakers. BBQ during summer on a Faculty Friday; son met interesting prospective students. Friendly admissions officers willing to chat over lunch.
Flustered tour guide seemed to be having a bad day, and offered an apologia for joining a sorority -- she gave the impression that if you want friends, you have to go Greek. A few jokes about drinking, the cold and, well, drinking in the cold.
--Bates: Pretty campus and nice dorms on a seductive summer day in Maine. Friendly students who clearly felt that the campus belonged to them. Useful infosession by a capable admissions officer. Affable interviewer. Intellectual and nurturing vibe. He wondered, however, if it was just too cold, small and isolated. He said he already went to summer camp.
Moved off:
--Bowdoin: After visit, he never mentioned it again except to say that the taxidermied polar bear made him sad. Tidy place, the students seemed poised and keen, but the other people on the tour (parents and kids) were wound tight. Saw a mother from the zippy Northeastern tour and we agreed about the strained, cold vibe at B. No one was accommodating or welcoming. Yes, the food was good but we ate alone, whereas at other campuses we were invited to join others. Aloof, inexperienced interviewer.
The admissions officer running the infosession wasn't ready for prime time. All sorts of neuroses on display. She was presenting with a brilliant rising sophomore and all I could think was Let the kid run the show! The AO kept pointing and saying the phrase "That right there" whenever her co-presenter mentioned something that apparently exemplified Bowdoin. I felt like I was at an auction.
--WashU: Nice, encouraging AO interviewer, great course catalogue, but nothing could make up for the fact that it's in an undesirable city. My son thought the campus was okay but I didn't; for one thing, there is a huge parking lot in the middle of campus where a quad ought to be. The pale faux Gothic, complete with drippy turrets was, well, faux. One of the AO knew nothing about internships, handed me a pamphlet for career services. The tour guide seemed bored by her own voice. None of the students smiled or interacted with each other. And sooo hot and unbearably humid.
--Emerson: Actually fled down an alley with my son in the midst of tour. Indifferent student greeters (e.g. asked where I might find some water and they begrudgingly said there was a CVS on the corner. I turned around and directly behind me was a water cooler and cups meant for visitors). A cut rate infosession in a dark basement with an uninspired presenter.
We proceeded en masse to the staircase, where a good part of the tour was held. A grouchy doorman chastised us for blocking said staircase, but there was nowhere else to go in this euphemistically described "vertical campus." Son gave me the look and we shuffled to the end of the line. As the tour walked to the other campus building, we hanged a tight right into the alley and ghosted.
But a bad visit is as useful as a good one; it helps clarify fit.
Yes, Rutgers is a huge place (2,600 acres) and that was our fear...however, the school is separated into four residential campuses each with it's own library, student center/gym and dining hall (in addition to 30+ food courts/cafes...we LOVE food!). The campus has lots of well maintained green space, D-1 sports with a 52K+ seat stadium, many housing options and a one hour direct train into NYC. Our outstanding, enthusiastic tour guide really sold her...and with a price tag of 30K all in...what's not to love?! Many may say the bus between campuses is a drag...I've commuted into NYC for 20+ years from NJ...a 10 minute bus ride is a preview for life in the tri-state post graduation and a great time to call mom ;)
Baruch and adelphi both in new york are top. adelphi accepted (private) awesome open house very informational happy students great waiting on baruch (public) great students the vibe was awesome that day we went a school that acts more high top private
accepted to york ( cuny ny) not liking it
University of Rochester -- Dull, tour guide got lost
Union - worst tour ever, no zing
Tufts -- very snooty admissions; were enjoying turning prospective students away for tours and info sessions who had flown in but for some reason were not signed up; bad vibes
Good surprises: Brandeis - incredible, close-knit community; great tour guide; right level of quirkiness; Dickinson - cute campus; Colgate - beautiful and friendly