Visit Report by balboa (Member since August 19 2006 with 22 posts) Visit Date - July 2006
Visit to Colby College in July 2006 by balboa (Parent of Student, HS Class of 2006)
Visit Activities:
Admissions Interview:
Yes - Approximately 45 minutes. DS said it was more like a conversation. Adm office seemed to be in high gear for summer visits. Information Session:
Yes - Lively, very informative for both parents and students. Campus Tour:
Yes - Led by international student who could walk backwards extremely well in wedged heels while giving animated tour facts/anecdotes.
Colby College Campus:
Friendliness/Courtesy of Students: 5 - Excellent -
Appeared to be a fun-loving, friendly group of students.
Friendliness/Courtesy of Staff: 5 - Excellent Appearance of Campus: 5 - Excellent -
Mayflower Hill is beautiful. Very well laid out campus, moved from town to hill before WWII. Very green conscious. New construction underway. The perfect LAC campus with sprawling lawns, student study nooks and crannies.
Building/Facilities Maintenance/Cleanliness: 5 - Excellent -
Everything appeared in tip top shape.
Dormitories: 4 - Very Good -
Only saw one room. Cozy. Told some rooms are huge. Old Frat Row (greek system abolished in 80s) looked like it might have the greatest need for renovations. (from exterior)
Security/Safety: 5 - Excellent -
Onsite security and blue boxes everywhere. Girl co-ed was killed by Utah convict a few years back and the college doesn't sweep this fact under rug. Takes security very seriously
Overall Campus Impression: 5 - Excellent -
Beautiful campus and top notch academics with a friendly fun-loving, intellitgen group of kids.
Off-Campus:
Area Immediately Around Campus: 4 - Very Good -
Located on Mayflower Hill above town of Waterville. Upper class residential area surrounds campus. Nothing appears to be within walking distance.
City/Town/Community: 3 - Good -
Waterville is certainly not a major metro area. Walmart seems to be major store. Quaint town with splattering of coffee cafes and shops.
Campus Visit Notes for Colby College:
Visit Description:
DS and I visited in late August probably at height of summer college tour season for class of 2011. Majority of kids checking out the campus were from NE, with a few from California/West Coast. Colby is DS's number 1 choice, so he asked many questions of tour guide who was very knowledgeable and obliging. Plenty of clubs (100-plus) for all interests. No Greek system, very inclusive learning community. Growing contingent of international students. Colby just announced that the number of ALANA (African-American, Latino/Latina, Asian-American, or Native American) students nearly double for the incoming Class of 2010 (90). College seems to celebrate how students really get the chance to explore academics and interests outside of their "major." Service-based learning is big, as is junior year abroad (70 percent). Financial aid can be applied toward junior year abroad. Approximately 40 freshmen spend 1st semester at Colby's Dijon, France, program -- a big plus in DS's book since he plans on studying French. Devoted to environmental (green) programs from recycling to new buildings using geothermal, etc. Student-faculty: 10:1. Students boast of closeness between faculty and students with plenty of office hours and extra assistance. Research opportunities are plentiful for all students who desire. Son's overall impression was that Colby is ED. My impression: it's a topnotch LAC that might appear to be on the edges of civilization but is very much in tune with global issues and learning.
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Appeared to be a fun-loving, friendly group of students.
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Only saw one room. Cozy. Told some rooms are huge. Old Frat Row (greek system abolished in 80s) looked like it might have the greatest need for renovations. (from exterior)
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Waterville is certainly not a major metro area. Walmart seems to be major store. Quaint town with splattering of coffee cafes and shops.