Brag about your "lesser known" school!

Parents Forum
121

<p>Ok, cornell isn’t exactly “lesser known” (lol!) but many people don’t know about it’s medical college and the oppertunities it offers.</p>

<p>Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar (WCMCQ) offers a 2 year Premed Program followed by a 4 year MD program. Admission to the premed program is according to cornell (ithica) standards. Facilities are absolutely top notch and the faculty is recruited from the united states. Housing is absolutely luxurious. Qatar is also pretty secular with lots of skyscrappers, malls etc. The 2 year premed program does not lead to a cornell degree but is rather a collection of cornell university’s credits that can be transferred to many colleges in the us, including cornell’s ithica campus and the university of florida’s program. So yeah, its worth checking out :D</p>

122

<p>HSC is a hidden gem nestled in the beautiful rolling land of south central Virginia.It’s very old having been founded in 1776.A small school of only about one thousand students it remains one of only two all men’s schools left in America.
The liberal arts,honor,brotherhood,athletics,tradition,and social life define HSC.Obviously,the classes are small.An honors program caters to the cream of the crop.A generous financial aid office is a pleasure to deal with.
A Presbyterian school,the largest denominations on campus are Roman Catholics,Episcopalians,and Presbyterians,in that order.
The school’s website is <a href=“http://www.hsc.edu%5B/url%5D”>www.hsc.edu</a>
Most of the student body comes from the South and many families have sent their sons to HSC for generations.The admissions office perfectly reflects the centuries old famed Southern charm,friendliness,and hospitality.</p>

123

<p>Previous poster said,
because going to a name-school is modern-day America is very important.</p>

<p>One of the exact reasons I started this thread! Because I disagree! Both can be the right decision! To me it’s more about FIT, lifestyle, etc. A winning,personal interview beats any school name at a company/job that I would want to have.</p>

124

<p>jazzymom
U of Delaware is a very well known choice here on the East Coast in the NY/NJ area for students not satisfied with the choices in their home states who would like to be in a 3-4 hour travelling timeframe.Everyone seems to love it there.
My S chose his school, U of S Carolina ,for the high ranking of his intended major (Sports Management) and falling in love with the place once he visited.Its not a lesser known school as many are discussing on this EXCELLENT thread but he caught grief from his GC and Principal for choosing a less well respected academic “name”(no joke…they like how that scattergram looks with Ivy’s,well known LAC’s,etc)even though he was given the top scholarship,special perks,etc.They didnt like a top 20 grad having a lesser name placement,and called us in to discuss it.
Abasket is right…its about fit,opportunityand many other considerations.</p>

125

<p>^^^ Yeah, a kid who was probably top 10-20% in my class is going to SCar for journalism. He probably took some heat for that.</p>

126

<p>My d was top 10% and chose SC as well - they definitely win you over when you visit! She loves it and does not regret ignoring the “prestige” factor at all. It just serves to remind all of us that there are bright kids at every school
and there are so many factors to consider beyond rankings.
Great thread - I love reading about all of these schools and so many success stories. Keep them coming!</p>

127

<p>I second Colorado College. That’s where I’ll be going in the fall :)! Whenever I tell people where I’m going I either get a) a blank stare b) something along the lines of “oh the one in boulder, right?” or c) That’s really far. Lol. This school is DEFINITELY worth checking out if you want a small liberal arts college without the attitude of the New England LACs, are into the outdoors, want to have close relationships with professors, etc. I personally think the block plan is the perfect style of learning for some, but not for all, so check it out and see if it seems right for you. </p>

<p><a href=“http://www.coloradocollege.edu%5B/url%5D”>http://www.coloradocollege.edu</a> </p>

<p>Oh and by the way, Princeton Review ranks it as #20 for “best overall academic experience for undergrads” :D</p>

128

<p>Yep…its a great thread. I fully agree there is too much emphasis and NEUROSIS about attending a “prestige name school” as if the parents feel themselves a failure and the kids brandished for life as losers if they dont get in. While it is silly to knock ANY school, the prestige schools are indeed mostly worthy of their praise. But they are NOT the only game in town. A majority of CEO’s and Senior Executives in business and government indeed come from state schools and some smaller liberal arts colleges.</p>

<p>I have posted many times its all about fit and there is no such thing as One Size Fits All. Each person/student/parent/family has a different set of criteria and often enough money is at the top of the list.</p>

<p>There are over 3,000 colleges in the United States, many with remarkable faculty and programs, beautiful campuses and often recognized sports programs. For some, sports is key. For others its campus beauty or proximity to home. For others its a particular program.</p>

<p>Its also folly to presume that all the kids who score 650 or higher on their SAT I sections (critical reading, math, writing) automatically apply and attend only prestigious name schools. Wrong. </p>

<p>Some schools off the beaten path can claim numerous students in their admitted classes who have very high scores and gpa’s, and often get very good scholarships. Moreover, they are extremely happy.</p>

<p>Yes, some kids make mistakes and transfer. Or some kids still long for that prestigious parchment at the end of the road and transfer. Great! </p>

<p>But there are literally thousands of great schools out there for students to pick from.</p>

<p>In the south, including NCState, there is Randolph Macon Women’s College (now coed and called Randolph College as of 2007). Roanoke, Hollins College, Sweetbriar, Mary Washington, James Madison, USC-Columbia, Furman University (a SUPERB school…a stunning campus, which my D was admitted to, but graciously declined…did not want to go to school with a bunch of her high school buddies…wanted a new environment), Elon University (a rapidly renowned school gaining notoriety everyday…also a beautiful campus), UNC-Wilmington (with a very rigorous and prestigious marine bio program), Belmont College, Centre College of Kentucky, Rhodes College in Memphis, Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech, Georgia, George Mason, Clemson, Auburn, Tulane (truly a tragic situation there…a stunningly beautiful campus, a superb faculty, outstanding programs but sadly in Katrina torn New Orleans with all its problems…), I could go on for pages and pages…(no intent to insult anyone if I didnt mention “your college”.)</p>

<p>If your kid wants to go to Davidson, Duke, Vanderbilt, WashU, Chapel Hill, UVa, Harvard, Princeton, Yale or any of the Ivies…I tip my hat and wish you all the luck in the world. If your kid prefers a different school with a different program or “feel” to it, go for it.</p>

<p>As a final word, I would recommend ANY Jesuit college in the United States. A superb education, values driven, and those kids go onto great things in graduate and professional schools.</p>

<p>Where did my daughter end up after last years STRESS LADEN year of applications, ups and downs, and pleasant surprises?</p>

<p>Fordham University in New York. A superb school with many famous faculty (over 70% of whom are Ivy credentialed), a beautiful gothic campus surrounded by the New York Botanical Gardens and gorgeous Bronx Zoo. Many famous alumnae as well, including Vince Lombardi, Denzel Washington, numerous wall street CEO’s. An exceptional depth in programs, both business, media communications, liberal arts, languages, preprofessional, and theatre.</p>

<p>Its not where we thought we would end up at the beginning of the process, but at the end of the day, it is where she felt the most challenged, with the best opportunities for the future, with a very unique campus and location, a special Jesuit aura and ethos, and just the right size for her (about 7,000 undergrads on the main campus at Rose Hill, 15,000 total including Lincoln Center and the professional and graduate schools). We recognize its a special place for special people looking for something special. Its not for everyone. Nor is Harvard, Princeton and Yale.</p>

<p>We had our hearts broken at another un-named school. Very frustrating and frankly shocking considering her credentials and other factors. But we moved on quickly…partly out of cathartic necessity and partly out of time pressures (she was an ED applicant there). We know that Admissions Officers have a tough job picking from THOUSANDS…often TENS OF THOUSANDS of highly qualified applicants at many schools. So we dont begrudge the school for an admissions “mistake” as we see it. We move on and look what happened? Like a gift from Almighty God, Fordham appeared on our screens…and after a visit, some DEEP research and comparisons…she made that choice…out of several excellent schools that had admitted her (cf. the one that gave us the big R that shocked us so badly).</p>

<p>Best of luck to you all, and remember…there is a school (or two or three out there) that loves you and wants you and you would be VERY happy attending. Be not afraid…</p>

<p>be proud.</p>

<p>We are.</p>

129

<p>DS spent a week at Colorado College recently and really enjoyed it. Pikes Peak and the mountains from the dorm windows, VERY nice dorms, friendly people.</p>

130

<p>This afternoon we picked up DS who just returned from a 6wk+ field study course in Tibet through Humboldt State. Compared to other study abroad programs, this was a complete field studies course, a small group of 8 students and an instructor and guides. Other couses he has taken at HSU have been nothing short of inspirational and even with the increase in fees imposed this year, the school, as part of the California State school system, continues to be a bargain. DD attends Willamette, another school with a beautiful setting and inspiring teachers. Other “off the radar schools” are University of Redlands with the Johnston school of Integrated Studies and Occidental. I also second the Clark Honors college at University of Oregon.</p>

131

<p>One of the most intelligent and successful people I know got his undergraduate degree in math from Colorado College. Went on to get a PhD in computer science from Cornell. Has patents, and a REALLY NICE HOUSE now:).</p>

132

<p>Wells College</p>

<p>A small college on one of the fingerlakes in NY. Excellent academics, personal attention, beautiful campus and you can take classes at Cornell University. Recently turned coed, so boys can benefit as well as women.
Check it out.</p>

133

<p>Colorado College is a prep school fave. It’s tough to get in.</p>

134

<p>We were quite impressed with Stonehill College in Easton Mass. About 2000 students, strong in business, education & liberal arts. They strongly encourage internships & study abroad. My son was offered a very generous merit scholarship there. He eventually decided to go elsewhere, but remained impressed with Stonehill. At first he didn’t even want to look there, as it is only 1/2 hour from our home. I dragged him on a tour, and at the end he said, “I didn’t want to like this place, but I liked everything they said!” Seems to be a very student-oriented school. It’s fairly young (opened in the 1940’s) and growing, and they seem to go out of their way to get student input when planning programs and buildings. Definitely worth a look.</p>

135

<p>Abasket, thank you so much for this thread. It really helped me to be proud of the school that I’m going to attend this fall–Wayne State University. Wayne State is located in Detroit, Michigan. I graduated the top 5% in my class, so when I finally told everyone that I was going there I saw some shocked faces and “What are you thinking?” Even though I could have attended a more “prestigious” school such as the University of Michigan, I decided Wayne because it was a better fit for me. I felt like I would be more comfortable and happier there. And besides, Wayne State isn’t a rinky-dink school.</p>

<p>It’s a great fit if someone was interested in the medical field because there are hospitals right near the university. There’s a cancer institution, a children’s hospital, the possiblities are endless. For someone studying art, there’s an arts museum here as well. Wayne State also has an excellent law school and the second largest law library in the state of Michigan. Even though someone on another thread stated that the university was an ugly campus, I would beg to differ. And despite the fact that it’s located in Detroit, Michigan it’s a very safe campus.</p>

<p>Once again, abasket, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for this thread. You helped me gain confidence and pride in my school. It goes to show you that there are many great schools in America, and you don’t have to go to Harvard or Yale to receive a prestigious education.</p>

136

<p>My D attends Connecticut College in New London, Conn. No one around here had ever heard of it, and I’m pretty sure most people think she is at UConn! lol. It’s around 1800 students, and she has absolutely thrived there. She holds an executive level position in Student Gov and is involved in lots of other great things. The education she is in the process of getting (rising senior) is second to none, and it was THE perfect fit for her. She could have probably gone anywhere, but became fixated on this school at the end of her soph yr in HS and has never looked back. She has made many wonderful friends, studied abroad in Africa and is now in the middle of a paid (by the college) internship. She is living in the dorms for the summer since her internship is in the area. She actually called in tears recently because she does not want to graduate. She loves it that much. The profs have had the kids to their homes, they have hilarious as well as meaningful traditions, such as Festivus and Lobster Night, and Breakfast for Dinner to name a very few, and a close knit student body. Every time we have had contact with anyone at the college they have been wonderful. Conn Coll has served her and our family well. I wish I could have convinced D2 to go there, but no, she will be on the OPPOSITE coast! The one downside is that they don’t award merit money, financial aid only. But I’d pay it again in a heartbeat. It was in that book “Colleges that Change Lives” as well, and she aleady is more well rounded, better educated and globally aware than I could have ever asked for. But I will still have to explain to people where exactly she is (we are in Ohio) but I don’t mind a bit. Hopefully more kids from this area will apply there and to other small, lesser known schools. Great thread!</p>

137

<p>Bookworm, I am only about an hour from Wayne State,just over the line in Ohio and work at a medical college - Wayne State puts out many FINE trained students! </p>

<p>Prestige is different for everyone - it can come in many forms. Go to Wayne State and give it everything you’re got - your attitude will take you a LONG way!</p>

138

<p>My son is very excited about attending Drew U in Madison NJ this fall. It was the ideal balance for his academic interests, as well as great theater program and internship opportunities.</p>

139

<p>I’m proud to say that I will start attending Yeshiva University in the fall. They have a beautiful campus in Manhattan, New York which they keep renovating and expanding. What I liked about it is the fact that it has a fairly small student population = small classes= more professor attention and its alumni group has done fairly well (top medical schools, law schools, etc.; some of which they have an agreement with).</p>

<p>As to rankings, #44 on the USNews!</p>

140

<p>I’m very proud of my oldest daughter who will begin college next month at Wichita State University in Wichita, KS. </p>

<p>My daughter wanted to stay local for college, and WSU has a great deal to offer for her. It’s a nice sized school (just over 14,000 students) with excellent departments for aeronautical engineering (Wichita is the aircraft capital of the world with such companies as Boeing, Cessna, Raytheon, and Learjet having companies here), business, entrepreneurship, music, and musical threatre. </p>

<p>Among the notable WSU grads are Frank Carney, co-founder of Pizza Hut, Bill Parcells, two-time winning Superbowl head coach, Karla Burns, Tony Award-nominated actress and performer, and my son’s mentor, nationally known AIDS researcher, Dr. Donna Sweet (who is also chair of the Board of Regents of the American College of Physicians).</p>

<p>The campus is pretty and easy to maneuver, and the dorm rooms are at least twice as big as my son’s at Duke!</p>

<p>WSU offers the three largest undergrad scholarships in the state of Kansas, and its student body is the most diverse in the state.</p>

<p>My son’s friend, who is a rising junior at WSU will be starting a study abroad program in Spain shortly!</p>

<p>All in all, a great educational value and a nice little unknown college tucked away in Wichita, KS.</p>

<p>For sports fans, the basketball program has seen vast improvement lately as the team made the Sweet Sixteen a year ago! :D</p>

<p>Another lesser known school I’m fond of, particularly for those who are interested in musical theatre is Oklahoma State Univeristy. The amount of talent that consistently comes out of that school is quite remarkable.</p>

<p>~berurah</p>