<p>MD, schools which do not use the Common App have varying apps in terms of length and detail. All of your points of surprise re UT Dallas surprised me, too. Towson might be a better option.</p>
<p>MDCISSP:
Don’t let the UT Dallas application scare you off if you think it’s a good fit for your son. Most colleges do prefer depth of activities as opposed to quantity. I still remember that an admissions officer at a highly selective school that I visited with my older daughter pointed out “If you do NOT apply, you will NOT get in.” Staying in state may be the best option for your son, but don’t eliminate options based on the application. On the other hand, it’s a waste of money and time to apply to a school he has no interest in attending.</p>
<p>Is 9 page application typical? Towson is top choice, just concerned about back up safeties.
With the stock market slide, I predict that there will be a much more competitive year for in state schools.</p>
<p>Just throwing this out there. University of Tampa. I like that it is a private school - merit money! It also appears to be a good match for a lower “b” student. Hillel. Large but not too large. Interesting first year student approach. Thoughts?</p>
<p>[The</a> University of Tampa - Tampa, Florida - First Year Experience](<a href=“http://www.ut.edu/detail.aspx?id=6460]The”>http://www.ut.edu/detail.aspx?id=6460)</p>
<p>and a Hillel!</p>
<p>[Hillels</a> of the Florida Suncoast| University of Tampa](<a href=“http://www.suncoasthillels.org/ut/]Hillels”>http://www.suncoasthillels.org/ut/)</p>
<p>re: UTampa: I think that is a new website for Hillel; it is a joint program with Univ of S Florida and did not exist a year ago…I also think that northeastmom looked at this for her son last year, but the freshman retention and/or grad rate was on the low side?..</p>
<p>we know a local Jewish boy who is there right now and is very happy but I don’t know details…I also know that alot of “B” students who applied there last year were offered merit money (about $8,000/year)…</p>
<p>on a very diff note, not for us, but I was wondering what everyone here thought of a “B” student applying to Skidmore in NY?; as I said, not for us…just curious; it was mentioned in passing…I thought it was a little reachy (maybe alot reachy but I’m trying to be kind)…</p>
<p>Tampa - I have this on and off my son’s list as a safety school. On - because it looks like a pretty easy admit for a B student - most of the kids from our hs who applied were accepted. Good selection of majors - including things that interest my son like business and sports mgmt. Price tag is pretty reasonable and merit money is a possibility. Hillel looks decent. Pictures of the campus look attractive. Off - because the freshman retention rate is about 76 - 77% and the 6-year graduation rate is about 58%. I also have the impression that because this school is a pretty easy admit - you will find lots of kids who are not terribly academically motivated. So, I don’t know if he will actually apply here or not.</p>
<p>Skidmore - might be in reach for a B+ student - particularly with ED. My reservation is that Skidmore has a rep for heavy pot use - at least according to PR and I have heard the same anecdotally as well.</p>
<p>Skidmore–I have heard reachy and druggy, too, and for the very artsy, but a solid school.
Tampa–58% graduation in 6 years would concern me a lot. And what is the attraction, other than warm weather, unless the eventual goal is to live in the area? Are there small classes? A program with a good rep? How much of the cost differential would be eaten up by airfare? It is not a big time sports school.</p>
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<p>Md,
what’s really changing your feelings about UT-D ? In so many ways your believe the school to be a good choice for your son. The fact that there is a complicated application shouldn’t impact against all the positives…just take the application in easy pieces…maybe just one page/day?</p>
<p>On the other hand, if distance is the problem–I know it is for a lot of Aspie families…then it might not be bad to drop schools you don’t want your son to consider when he weighs his choices after all his acceptances are in.</p>
<p>Your son sounds like a terrific kid and he has a terrific mom.</p>
<p>This thread ought to qualify for Adult or Parent community service credit. Thank you all for posting and keeping it going for so long. I’ve been reading and following it for almost a year now for my youngest daughter, but haven’t posted. My older daughter went to a “top” CC Liberal Arts College and my son is going to a “top” CC University so I know all about those and almost nothing about most of the schools talked about here.</p>
<p>Two points struck me about schools recently being discussed. First, though, we’re from Long Island and my kids, though pretty secular by their own choice have all gone to Solomon Schechter Schools.</p>
<p>Our school’s guidance counsellor pushed F&M to my daughter and gauging from our Naviance site, it seems like a pretty good fit for a “B” student. The average admitted GPA is a bit on the high side, but SAT & ACT are well within the range. Based on that we in fact visited during the Spring. Admittedly school was out the day we were there but, neither my D nor I liked it. Something about the school and people and its pervasive red brick buildings seemed dull and boring. The Library seemed miniscule and the main dining hall depressing. D vetoed it on the spot.</p>
<p>We also visited Syracuse (where I went to law school many years ago- boy what a change). I’m surprised that people found it “urban”, because I went there specifically go upstate and get away from urban life. It’s not idyllic, but there is enough remoteness on the hill to give a good college feel. And few schools that fit this thread have the Sports and Big Campus appeal that Syracuse does. That said, my D enjoyed the school and visit very much but has said since that she won’t go: too Jappy. Syracuse had that reputation decades ago when I was in law school and apparently still does. So, yes, it fits the “B” student and the Jewish criteria, but perhaps for many, too much so.</p>
<p>And BTW, during my 3 years there it snowed in both October and April and was grey and overcast most of the time inbetween. I don’t remember though being much bothered by it once acclimated to it.</p>
<p>UT Dallas is still on our list, but my son is the one who has to do the work to fill out the 9 page application. I was wondering if 9 page application is now the expected norm or if this is unusual. If we lived in Texas, UT Dallas would be perfect. But, I am not sure such a long distance is the best thing freshman year. I told my son to stay over night in the dorms after he gets acceptances to be sure he is truly comfortable with the housing situation of the various schools. </p>
<p>Tampa: I heard the best school in Florida is U. of Florida in Gainsville. Anyone thinking of Florida, including Rockville Mom, I sincerely recommend looking into U. of Florida which has a beautiful, newer Hillel, and I hear reasonable tuition.</p>
<p>We were in Tampa many years ago. I did not find it appealing, but maybe the U. of Tampa has a nice campus? I just find Florida too hot, humid, too many bugs, very difficult economic situation there.</p>
<p>I am wondering what all of these various out of state schools have to offer that is better than in state Towson or Salisbury. Older son is at USC in LA, and USC is fantastic. USC has so much to offer – everything from varied professional programs, small classes, fabulous study abroad programs, Hillel and Chabad, etc. </p>
<p>I sense a lot of discussion here about various schools. Can understand smaller school such as College of Charleston, etc. if Rockville Mom feels smaller school is a better fit than in state university. Otherwise, I am not sure why these other schools are that much better than in state. I think it is important to figure out why pay the extra tuition bill for out of state schools.</p>
<p>Thanks for your input, mhc! I, like you, have pretty much read this thread every few days since it’s beginning but haven’t had much input until just recently.</p>
<p>Being from LI, do you know much about SUNY Binghamton (that hasn’t already been mentioned), good Jewish population from what I hear…or any other schools for the “B” student in the New York/maybe Conn. area? Or even anywhere in New England? Or SUNY Stoneybrook? Recommend, or not really?</p>
<p>How old is your younger D?
Why did your older children pick the schools they are currently attending?
How far from home are they?</p>
<p>Again, as I said before, I’m now fully focused on my older S who is now starting his senior year and is in the middle of apps. and essays. My younger S will be a freshman, so I have PLENTY of time, however it’s good to get ideas that I may not have thought about yet. Syracuse is on my “list” for now, but lots can and will change in the next couple of years…</p>
<p>Thanks for writing and letting us hear your viewpoint!</p>
<p>U of Florida might not be as desirable with the low percentage of OOS:</p>
<p>[Looking</a> for an Out-of-State Public University? - US News and World Report](<a href=“http://www.usnews.com/articles/education/2009/11/19/looking-for-an-out-of-state-public-university.html]Looking”>http://www.usnews.com/articles/education/2009/11/19/looking-for-an-out-of-state-public-university.html)</p>
<p>I agree that the low OOS percentage at U of Florida makes it undersirable. It’s actually very similar to U of MD in terms of size, prestige, Jewish percentage and sports. Which brings us back to Mdcissp’s question about in-state vs. out-of-state. I think that in-state schools will usually present your best value. Those of us who live in MD are lucky to have some good in-state schools to consider.</p>
<p>I think UMCP’s prestige and opportunities (given its proximity to DC and Baltimore) are greater than Florida’s, except for kids who intend to live in Florida.</p>
<p>A B student at Florida would be very hard especially OOS. The GPA at U Florida for the freshmen class was like a 4.2.</p>
<p>U of F, from what I know from my cousin who lives there (with a rising HS sr), is very desirable for in-state, for all the reasons previously mentioned. One of the problems if you are OOS is travel - it is not nearly as easy to get to as UMD.</p>
<p>chocchipcookie: There’s been a lot of talk about schools for “B” students in the northeast. We could start repeating our comments, but maybe you can peruse through the thread…</p>
<p>Great suggestion, LINYMOM…I’ll go back over the thread again. Honestly, I’m not really concentrating on S2 just yet. However, suggestions are always appreciated. So much will change in the next two years that I’m sure I’ll start from square1, depending on what type of grades he gets and if he narrows down what his interests will be.</p>
<p>mdcissp - I don’t think I would be too concerned about the 9-page application. Based on my experience with S1 - it’s not the length of the application per se but the number of essays that really determines the work involved. And it has sounded like you and your son are considering 3 schools at most - so it’s not as bad as if he was applying to 8 - 10 schools!:)</p>
<p>I’m pretty much in agreement with you at this point on the in-state schools at least functioning as safety schools. So, I see Towson and maybe Salisbury filling that role. I don’t see any reason to go OOS for safety schools - so I’m not thinking so much any more about Tampa, for example. I do feel there are many great private schools OOS that are worth our consideration - and we are looking forward to our upcoming visits to Susquehanna, American and Elon.</p>
<p>chocchip - I wish there was some way to organize the thread - we need an index! But anyway, if you skim back through - there has been discussion on Quinnipiac and University of Hartford in CT, and in NY - many of the SUNYs, Syracuse, Hofstra, and Ithaca. Also some mention of Univ. of Rochester (a little reachy for a B student) and RIT (consensus was that a B student could be admitted - but it would be difficult once there). University of Rhode Island was also discussed. I don’t recall much conversation on UConn - but that would be another one to consider. I’m sure I am forgetting a few - but those are the schools I could recall off the top of my head.</p>
<p>I feel bad that I kind of brushed it off with my pot-smoking reference - I’m sure not everyone on campus inhales! 
So, I was impressed/surprised to see it is 20% Jewish - here’s more:</p>
<p>“Jewish life on the Skidmore campus surpasses that of many small liberal arts colleges of similar size. Approximately 20% of the Skidmore student population is Jewish and the Jewish Student Union is an active campus organization, hosting Shabbat dinners in Skidmore’s Intercultural Center every Friday evening, in addition to weekly club meetings and a variety of social, cultural and holiday programs. Student-led worship is offered immediately before the Shabbat dinners on Friday nights in the Intercultural Center. Jewish students, faculty and staff are served by two part-time Jewish professionals: Rabbi Linda Motzkin, Skidmore’s Jewish Chaplain, and Margo Olson, the Coordinator of Jewish Student Life and Interfaith Programming. They work with the Jewish Student Union and the other members of the Office of the Chaplain to coordinate an array of events and activities: lectures, discussions, holiday observances. High Holiday services, conducted by Rabbi Motzkin, along with Rabbi Jonathan Rubenstein (her co-rabbi at Temple Sinai in Saratoga Springs) are held on campus and, unlike most similar small colleges, Skidmore does not schedule any classes on Yom Kippur.”</p>
<p><a href=“Student Government Association”>Student Government Association;
<p><a href=“http://cms.skidmore.edu/campuslife/religious_life/jsl.cfm[/url]”>http://cms.skidmore.edu/campuslife/religious_life/jsl.cfm</a></p>
<p>I do see it as a reach for a B student. At our large public hs - no one with less than a 4.0 wgpa was accepted. SATs were 1100 and up; ACT was 28 and up. On the Skidmore website, they list the median ACT as 30. It’s an expensive school - tuition, room & board are over $52,000 for the coming year - 40% receive FA. Great retention rate of 93% and 6-year grad. rate of 80%. Seems to have a fairly wide range of majors, including business.</p>
<p>I know S2 is not interested in upstate NY - and this would be too reachy for him - but for a B+/A- student who likes cold weather - worth a look.</p>