Stonehill Business

Debruns · 10-18-2009, 09:08 AM

We visited Stonehill yesterday and although it was a drab day, enjoyed our tour. The guide wasn't a business major and I wondered if anyone had any thoughts on that major or insight on the college?
My girls were impressed with the study abroad options and how happy so many students looked. Our guide was going to Ireland and another just came back from Oxford. They also traveled sophomore year with their "cornerstone project" class.
Any students care to comment about any aspects of the school they like/don't like?

Sandman62 · 10-18-2009, 03:10 PM

We too visited Stonehill yesterday.

Our guides were two girls who both seemed extremely involved in school activities, to the point where we wondered what they did for just plain fun? I mean, even when asked about what people do for fun, their answers were about guest speakers, etc.. Is this REALLY what most kids there are like, or does Admissions just carefully choose their most active students? In some ways, it might be better for them (and us) if they used students who were more representative of the average student there, IMO.

School grounds were nice, a bit unnecessarily spread out tho (350+ acres for just 2400 students). That might seem nice to have so much open space, but then again, it might make for a lot of long walks between classes.

We'd also like to hear from some students, as we didn't really approach any random ones yesterday.

Debruns · 10-18-2009, 04:03 PM

We had a solo young woman who had too many parents/students but did the best she could. She was very honest, said she was homesick and wanted to transfer first year, but now she likes it a lot (junior) and will miss it. She mentioned, in good weather, liking frisbee, talking walks, grabbing the shuttle to go shopping, etc. She wasn't overly involved but said clubs can give you the fun/downtime you need. Some are social, some are volunteering, things like that.
I liked all the trees, pond, etc. and our guide said she's up at 9:50 and at class in 10 minutes. They are all fairly close to the dorms.
I know what you mean by having more "average" students, but then parents complain that the guide seemed "aimless" or boring. (you can't win)
My daughter wished we had gone with Kaylee since she would love to go to England abroad, as she did, but if we visit again, maybe she can talk to more students one on one.They have an accepted student day in the Spring, which hopefully they can attend. Have you looked at any other Catholic colleges in the area?

Sandman62 · 10-30-2009, 08:48 AM

No, Stonehill was the only Catholic school on her list, despite us being 20 mins. from PC (which doesn't offer a Communications major). She has always attended public schools, so Catholic wasn't a necessary criterion.

julieweb · 10-30-2009, 04:02 PM

Debruns, funny your daughter(s) mentioned how "happy the students looked," as my daughter remarked on that too. We were there in September for a Saturday morning tour and we were both impressed with the campus scene—students going to brunch, playing soccer, taking group photos on a dorm roof, etc.

We had a girl and a guy as tour guides and they did a nice job. (Though the parents all chuckled at the site of them walking backward in unison—it looked a little ridiculous.) Toward the end of the tour a car full of male students drove by and they shouted out "Don't go here!" but we took that with a grain of salt. Overall, a place I could see my daughter very happy with.

Debruns · 10-30-2009, 06:37 PM

Students do that a lot at schools, mainly guys. I don't give it much thought.

I didn't realize until I remarked on the happy students, that they were on Princeton Reviews many lists as "one of the happiest students" and their study abroad options were on it too.
For their size, I think US News was right in making it an "up and coming" school, but I think they are also fine now. They seem to have internships, good grad school acceptance and close contact with professors, etc.
One of my daughters said to me, sometimes you just know, despite checkmarks in a negative column, that you'd like it somewhere. At Marist, she just couldn't see hersefl walking around, fitting in, but on a much more drab, rainly day at Stonehill, she did. Now if they would just give us enough aid...

Sandman62 · 10-31-2009, 08:07 PM

Our D applied EA yesterday. Does anyone know their scholarship practices? What kind of stats are required to receive what kind of money?

Our D:

GPA - Unweighted: 3.50
GPA - Weighted: 4.88
Class Rank: 14th, top 5%
Class Size: 264

May/October (superscored):
SAT I Math: 700
SAT I Critical Reading: 600
SAT I Writing: 800
SAT II Italian: 630 (soph. yr.)
Taking both SAT Math tests next week

All-honors or AP courses all 4 yrs of HS (only 2 AP courses in total, and both this year)

Extracurriculars: student senate, executive committee, Italian club
Sports: 4 years each of tennis (captain, 2 varsity, 2 JV, 1st Team All-Division this yr) and outdoor track (3 JV, 1 varsity)
Volunteer/Service Work: altar server and some others
Honors and Awards: national honor society officer, italian national honor society, PC book award

Thank you.

Debruns · 10-31-2009, 08:17 PM

They have a long list of different awards on thier web site. Some are just for MA, some for catholic school grads, come for the honors college, some merit, some for siblings, etc.
It seemed you couldn't get need-based and merit, although that didn't seem fair to me. You could have very little need by their figures but still be in the merit catagory.
Another poster told me their child got merit and money from honors, but I think that he didn't have need-based aid.
To be honest, I was a little confused, but also hope to see enough aid to have Stonehill a viable choice if they are admitted.
My daughter's stats are similar, but Math was lower and writing. They had 3 AP's this year, 2 last.
I think they told us top 5% in their class were offered the honors scholarship. No amounts were given.

Would your D want to play sports in college? They have athletic scholarships she could be in line for.

ny mom · 10-31-2009, 09:36 PM

My d also applied for EA yesterday. She has somewhat similar stats. Definately hoping for some kind of merit aid. We thought the school was really nice- but we didn't see a lot of kids- and it was about 3:00 on a Sat. (this was about a month ago).

D also likes Marist & Providence...and of course, a few SUNYs.

Debruns · 10-31-2009, 09:50 PM

We also looked at those colleges NY mom. Marist was fine, just didn't "click" for one daughter, although she didn't take it off her list. Providence she liked more, but we heard from a student that merit goes primarily to honor students and the AO seemed to say that in so many words during our session. We will have to see. They have UConn but would prefer something smaller.

ny mom · 10-31-2009, 10:06 PM

We also have Roger Williams, SUNY Gen. SUny Bing on the list...Also Northeastern! Yikes! Each is nice in its own way. Roger WIlliams campus looks nice, and its a safety so hopefully some $.

I have heard that Stonehill gives good $. My DD LOVED Marist, but I think because she can still go to her dance classes relatively near by.

It is also a good value, as is Stonehill.

skyhawk12 · 12-14-2009, 07:06 PM

Well I'm a little late, but...

I have a lot of friends in the business program and they've all been happy with the quality of classes and professors. Some classes are a lot of work and a lot of the classes have group projects. I took some a couple business classes this semester and really enjoyed Marketing Principles (the intro marketing course) - had a great professor, we had a group project where we invented our own product and created a marketing plan for it and such and that was really fun. I'm definitely going to continue to take business classes - debating whether or not to transfer to the business school as a major, minor in business, or combine business with some of my other interests in a MultiDisciplinary Studies major.

Study abroad is definitely pretty big here. Lots and lots of people do it and there are loads of options, whether you want to study abroad or do an internship abroad and there's internship programs in NYC and D.C., too. A bunch of the sophomore learning communities have travel components - this semester there's a business one that goes to Malta and Tunisia, there's an english/sociology one going to Romania (I think? That one sounded pretty cool), and a literature/politics one going to Ireland. Last year there was a religion/history one that went to Italy...fall semester there's an environmental studies one that goes to the Everglades to do fieldwork stuff during winter break.

Stonehill students are definitely known for being happy. Though to be honest I hated it here last year (I'm a sophomore)...I like it a lot better this year. There are many students that love, love, love Stonehill but there are also students that really aren't happy here...but you'll find that at any school.

Debruns · 12-14-2009, 07:57 PM

That is true Skyhawk, and it can be something big or little. Sometimes it is just "fit" other times friends or lack of them, sometimes they thought more things would be offered. I knew one girl who hated her school, but then she made a very good friend and it seemed overnight, many things that she hated, were more tolerable and now she barely remembers it.
My daughter would love to go abroad or do the learning communties, but since most of the money for the learning communites is from the student, I don't think we could. It sounds very nice though. Have you done any?

skyhawk12 · 12-14-2009, 09:45 PM

You can get financial aid for the travel learning communities, if you have a financial aid package already if you go talk to financial aid they might increase it, or even if you don't have any aid you still might be able to get something (or so my professors have said). I'm in one of the travel LC's for this coming semester, I'm really excited about it.

Stonehill14 · 12-16-2009, 06:54 PM

Has anyone else not heard back from Stonehill who applied EA?