Brag about your "lesser known" school!

Parents Forum
201

<p>I’d like to add a couple…</p>

<p>First, I’ll add my parents’ alma mater, Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, IL. A public school of about 14,000 EIU has some connections in the National Football League. Mike Shanahan of the Denver Broncos, Tony Romo of the Dallas Cowboys, and Shawn Peyton of the New Orleans Saints are most notable. EIU is traditionally an education school. They boast a quality DI-AA football program that normally is right at the top of the Ohio Valley Conference and is ranked in the DI-AA. I also have a sister who has graduated there and now works in the Housing Department as well as a sister who is a junior currently at EIU.</p>

<p>Next, I’ll add my choice. I’ll be attending Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau, MO. Another education school, SEMO offers a vast variety of majors. I have chosen Health Management: Athletic Training. The University boasts successful DI athletics. Also new this year is the River Campus located along the Mississippi River housing the Fine Arts departments. Cape Girardeau falls along I55 between St. Louis, MO and Memphis, TN. Roughly 10,000 strong, but growing the University has a record-size freshman class coming in this fall. I believe that a majority of the classes have less than 100 students. I know that my biggest is Anatomy and Physiology with 71. My smallest is 20 in Intro to Athletic Injuries. I chose Southeast because I have at least two co-workers (and not sure about a third) who have gone through the athletic training program. Also, Southeast offers many merit aid scholarships for both in and out of state students. I recieved a full-tuition scholarship for a 28 ACT and 3.5 high school GPA.</p>

202

<p>I agree with friedokra, it is all about fit and it is great to find a list offering so much diversity in choice. I would like to mention College of Santa Fe. My D was being pursued by them…not quite her style, but very interesting arts and environment programs. S is very interested, may be right up his alley. For the more free spirited learner!!</p>

203

<p>I will keep the list up as people from everywhere in this country tell us more about their localy known secret schools. Often, it appears to be more about the locality’s bravado and dear admiration for a school which has so well influenced and enriched its young minds – but somehow that school’s name is mystery to the rest of the country, world.</p>

<p>In Florida, there are big powerhouses in football. Everyone knows those schools.</p>

<p>But, in the public school system is the New College of Florida. AC style and size at state school tuition rate. Located in culturally rich Sarasota, and near the coast of western Florida, it is a neat place to study.</p>

<p>Up the coast is Eckerd College. A small, hip, and very relaxed (sandals and shorts) atmosphere, it is a growing LAC which will only receive more attention in the future. It is in St. Petersburg.</p>

<p>Another relatively unknown, but good, and nearer the opposite coast is Rollins College. Off of a beautiful lake, with gothic architecture, and under a canopy of oaks, it is not modern Florida. Within a short drive to downtown Orlando, a short hop to the Disney and other parks, and one hour from the east coast beaches. Good sports teams, some graduate students, and once ranked to have the best looking female coeds by Playboy.</p>

<p>All of these schools are academically challenging. It is very arguable that New School is most academically rigorous school in the state of Florida – public or private. Rollins is no slouch. And, Eckerd will be a name of the future. </p>

<p>And most importantly, you do not go to these schools on whim. You go there and know immediately – yea or nay. You can tell there is an unoffical mold for each campus which you would or would not “fit” with.</p>

204

<p>Super moderator:</p>

<p>Yes, it is important to stay on topic. However, its difficult to unhitch the admissions process from the “lesser known” college discussion…they are related issues. Distinct, but related.</p>

<p>The point I was trying to make is that in the process of looking for lesser known schools (or crowing about your own alma mater), the admissions factors and “fit” issues inevitably surface…in fact, it may be the reason they are lesser known. Many college presidents are trying to get rid of the Newsweek and US News rankings for that very reason.</p>

<p>What did we do? We started with geography and looked in printed sources like Barrons Directory (3,000 colleges) and then made a list of colleges we wanted to visit and some others we had an interest in.</p>

<p>But your point is well taken.</p>

<p>We went to a dog and pony show in our region for the joint presentation by the Ivies and Duke and Georgetown thrown in. It was AWFUL. So awful my D said, “I am not applying to any of those schools!” (and it wasnt just the schools…it was some of the people in attendance…just not a good fit for us.) So it really behooves people to look around.</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

205

<p>To avoid getting off topic and to avoid paying $89, I guess we post common data sets for the lesser known schools (without comments to avoid any possible deviation from the prime purpose of the thread).</p>

<p>I looked on the long time thread for common data sets and SURPRISE hardly any of the “lesser knowns” are on that list.</p>

<p>Here is the link for Colorado College. </p>

<p><a href=“http://www.coloradocollege.edu/dean/oir/secure/statpro/Section%202%20Admissions.pdf[/url]”>http://www.coloradocollege.edu/dean/oir/secure/statpro/Section%202%20Admissions.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

206

<p>Pepperdine University Common data stats:</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.pepperdine.edu/instres/dataset/[/url]”>http://www.pepperdine.edu/instres/dataset/&lt;/a&gt;
:)</p>

207

<p>I paid the $14.95 for USNWR data – good for Aug-Aug one year. I checked many of the schools, and ALL were on USNWR data.</p>

<p>If you want to join that site, go to:</p>

<p><a href=“http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/usnews/edu/college/rankings/rankindex_brief.php[/url]”>http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/usnews/edu/college/rankings/rankindex_brief.php&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>I am not earning commission or anything, I just find it to be thorough about the basics. Those basics include the common data distilled under “Admissions” for each school.</p>

208

<p>Colorado College and Pepperdine CDSs are both on the “long time thread”; if you have one that is not, you should probably contact Papa Chicken who has done a heroic job of assembling that (and other) data.</p>

209

<p>Dear Boarder Dad:</p>

<p>Not to pour water on your thoughts…but…I think the point of this discussion was to get away from the US News and Newsweek rankings, and all their problems…because people put too much emphasis on rankings…the details (as USNW compiles them with THEIR agenda), as if number 27 is better than number 35 for example. Its patently ridiculous. The point I was making about the CDS data was not to “rank” the schools, but to help people get the real facts about admissions so they can determine a better fit for their kids and likelihood of admission…PARTICULARLY the schools that are not, so called, top ranked schools. </p>

<p>Perhaps I misread your comments and intent. If so, please excuse me.</p>

<p>I do think that Pepperdine and Colorado College are superb schools. My D didnt want to go out West so they were not on her list, however. Colorado College is very unique in its curriculum and structure.</p>

210

<p>Let’s not start posting Common Data Set links here – there is already a thread with pointers to many, many of them. Just add your link to that thread and someone will surely update the larger list soon enough!</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=76444[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=76444&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Could we please keep this thread to just do as it is titled? Brag about “lesser known” schools? And start separate threads to discuss all these other issues people are bringing up.</p>

<p>This thread has a wealth of information and suggestions in it, and I’d hate to see it bogged down by a lot of discussion about stats, rankings, etc.</p>

211

<p>Thank you JEM for the suggestion! And, yes, we will (eventually) take advantage of your the Stats Eval service.</p>

212

<p>Grinnell also has one of the largest endowments in the country. It’s a great place.</p>

213

<p>friedokra</p>

<p>You were concerned that USNWR was used for ranking and that the USNWR college information was to the exclusion of other helpful information – including Common Data. Actually, subscribers of USNWR receive a lot more information than rankings of the supposed best schools. And, when I went to my USNWR account’s data base, I was able to pull up all of the Common Data of all of the schools listed in this blog – which proved to me that USNWR subsribers get a lot more than lists. You get the numbers: number admitted, 25-75 percentile ACT or SAT, GPA averages etc. Each school has about 8 different places to learn about the school – one of those places is entitled “Admissions” which includes graphics and other neat things translated from the Common Data to a format used by USNWR.</p>

<p>I know this particular thread is not necessarily USNWR friendly, but the online service provides more informative data than the well and overpublicized lists derived from USNWR-created factors.</p>

214

<p>Father of the Boarder, that is true, when I was a subscriber to the magazine, I was able to access a lot more info that the magazine or unsubscribed member would have. Since I was interested in a lot of schools not in the top 25 or so, it did help with admissions info and other factors of the lesser known schools. Sometimes you would get links to past articles on that school too which could be helpful. I don’t like the exclusivity of USNWR rankings, but if used correctly is another tool for helping narrow things down.</p>

215

<p>Thanks. I appreciate your comments, both of you. For clarification, the only problem I have with USNWR is the rankings themselves. I think schools should admit kids needs blind, that legacy should NOT play a role and that they should publish COMPLETE scores and gpa’s they require…i…e. minimum scores. That would get rid of a lot of the confusion and disappointments out there. As it is, a lot of schools solicit applications from kids who really dont have a chance of getting in based on their stats. That is weird if you ask me.</p>

<p>To say the Dartmouth is a “better school” than Tufts or Grinnell or Bucknell or whatever is sort of a fools errand. Admission standards may vary and the level of competitive atmosphere may vary…but that is not necessarily what makes it a better school, so to speak.</p>

<p>One kids heaven is another kid’s hell. In short, I am all for publishing COMPLETE stats from schools, but I am not a fan of the ranking system.</p>

<p>If your kid got into their dream school: congrats and best of luck! I just want the gamesmanship taken out of the admissions process as best we can.</p>

216

<p>miami university in ohio</p>

<p>also applied to bc, villanova, lehigh, wake forest…</p>

<p>CHECK IT OUT</p>

217

<p>mistermurph18, tell us more about Miami U in Ohio!</p>

218

<p>Another cool school: Prescott College in Prescott, Arizona. I decided to look it up after I read in the NYT’s Wedding Announcements that one of its alumni, who is now an assistant professor in social work at Yeshiva U, is getting married.</p>

<p>Prescott emphasizes a learning-by-doing approach with a special emphasis on environmental issues. Their calendar (a combination of block and quarter scheduling) allows for a lot of flexibility in terms of internships.</p>

<p>Speaking of which, another great co-op school is Northeastern. It’s popular in some circles and might already be “known,” but it’s definitely worth looking into.</p>

219

<p>Co-op schools reminds me … Kettering University for engineering, computer science, math, technically-oriented management. You can’t beat the curriculum, and the opportunity to co-op throughout the undergrad years provides great experience … as well as the chance to see what engineering, etc. in the work world is all about. Lots of top dogs in industry are Kettering grads (well … General Motors Institute grads, since that is the former name of the school) … and there are also grads who aren’t captains of industry, like ME!</p>

220

<p>Connecticut College is on the list for this thread, but I have never seen where they make the CDS availalble. The way they post their data suggests, to me, they hold the CDS so they can inflate their standardized testing scores and GPA’s.</p>

<p>Is the CDS for Conn College available with a subscription to USNWR?</p>