St. Marys College of Maryland Visit Report by wendywoo

Visit Activities:

Admissions Interview: No - We attended the Open House.

Information Session: Yes - An introduction to the honors college followed by two panel discussions: professors and students. Relationships between the two groups were casual and very friendly.

Campus Tour: Yes - Felt like a lazy stroll through a summer camp! We saw the entire campus, insides of many buildings including dorms and classrooms. Crossed one road-minor traffic stopped for us.

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Campus:

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Students were accommodating and engaging. We were smiled at and greeted all over campus, even while invading the townhouse of some senior girls! Students were happy to provide directions and info.

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There were over 600 visitors at this open house, so not a lot of time for individual attention. That said, everyone evidenced an upbeat and welcoming attitude.

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Bigger than we thought it would be after viewing the website. Water everywhere. Clean, even though construction was going on. Rolling hills, trees, resort-like.

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Overall, everything on campus appeared clean and tidy. Some windows in need of repair/paint, but it is the end of the school year.

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Underclassmen live in typical dorms. Upperclassmen have VERY nice suites and townhomes to choose from.

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Nothing is going to happen to your child on this campus.

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Certainly not for everyone, but if you don't mind a very rural area and absolutely no off-campus life, this is a little paradise! How can you not like sailboats and bicycle paths?

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Off-Campus:

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I found it comforting that there was no college town, no bars, no clubs. Also, the active restoration of St. Mary's City seems like a fascinating extracurricular!

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We only drove through...everything you need appears to be within a 15 minute drive of campus.

Campus Visit Notes for St. Marys College of Maryland

Visit Description:

My daughter and I both LOVED this campus. We have visited several small, private liberal arts colleges, and after our visit, I'm thinking St. Mary's may have moved to number one on her list.

The only negatives we heard about St. Mary's while we were there: 1. Nothing to do off campus (countered by lots to do on campus). 2. The smallness of the school translates into not every class being offered every semester, or even every year. Good counseling/planning is essential in order to get every class that you want. 3. Construction (did not seem intrusive during our visit).

The students recently voted to "go green" and there was a big Earth Day event going on when we were there. St. Mary's students and faculty/staff felt like a big, happy family...professors spoke of having students to their homes for dinner, admissions reps bantered with students...My daughter even commented on how happy everybody seemed.

Hotel/Lodging Recommendations or Comments:

Stay in a local B&B if you can. This is a beautiful area!