Dickinson College Visit Report by kmdaia

Visit Activities:

Information Session: Yes - Geared very much to what make Dickinson unique.

Campus Tour: Yes

Classroom Visit: Yes - My son attended two classes and enjoyed both.

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Campus:

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My son really liked both the current and prospective students he met.

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Great experience from start to finish.

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Impressive new science building. Lovely old buildings as well.

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Well maintained and clean.

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Seemed very safe.

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Both old, historical buildings and modern facilities.

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Off-Campus:

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A mix of residential and business.

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Heard good things in the media about Carlisle but didn't have a chance to see much because we had to catch a plane right after our visit.

Campus Visit Notes for Dickinson College

Visit Description:

We visited on a Jr. preview day, not by intent but just the way our schedule worked out. My son was a Jr. so we mixed a traditional campus visit (info session/tour/classes) with the Jr. preview events. The staff went out of its way to accommodate us.

The most memorable aspects for both of us were the friendliness of the staff and students as well as the accessibility of the College President. Re: the latter -- in reading the campus newspaper, I noted that the Prez was holding "office hours" in the local campus eatery over lunch. I decided to go observe that while my son lunched with students. Basically, the prez sat at a table and students were welcome to join him. He was engrossed in conversation with a couple of students the entire time I was there. We were pleased to learn that following lunch, he would join in the Preview Day activities. He milled around with prospective students before the session begin and then welcomed/addressed the gathering of students and parents. The part of his talk which most impressed us was the story he told of recently visiting an Ivy League school on College business and then taking the time to meet with the appropriate Ivy League administrators to advocate for several Dickinson students who were applying to grad school there. He seemed to really want the best for his students and was willing to go to bat for them. We have visited a dozen, similar LA schools. Dickinson, DePauw, and Washington & Lee all stood out in this regard -- the President seems most connected with the students at these institutions. Very impressive!