<p>We visited the Harrisburg PSU campus to find out the answer to that question. The Harrisburg campus is very nice, classes are small and the rooms are much nicer then main campus. We talked to the Professor in my son’s intended IST major and felt that he was great. If that was all there was to it, son would have happily applied. My son has two friends that attend the PSU Harrisburg campus (I think one is a sophomore and the other is a junior) and neither has made many friends and like most students they often go home on weekends. That was all my son needed to hear. I’m guessing that for outgoing students, and on the large campuses they really do get involved and it’s all good. Son, so far, is not interested in visiting the PSU and Pitt campuses where he’s been accepted and is most likely going to attend a private college.</p>
<p>Fully 60% of the students start at one of the satellite campuses for PSU and then go to the main campus so there must be something to like about that experience.</p>
<p>I like the Univ of Phoenix answer! In response to how to brace kids for the possibility of deferral/rejection, I really talked up the safety and reminded him of his many achievements. I stressed that the college didn’t validate who he is.</p>
<p>just my thoughts on the whole preparing for ED bad news – one of my kids applied ED and got in (letter came just as i was insisting that all the other applications had to be finished already! ). but prior to that, it was very difficult to strike to proper balance – i wanted to prepare my kid in the event of bad news – we all want to shield our kid from pain. but it was really really hard to do that without getting the “don’t you think i should get in there?” hurt look response. </p>
<p>the college applications process is brutal enough. we can’t shield our kids from disappointment. i think sometimes what they need is simply to know that we are in their corner – that yes WE think they are wonderful enough to get into where they applied (hopefully, the choice was made realistically with our help if necessary), but that WE will be there to pick them up if those stupid admissions people think otherwise (because no matter how thorough the application, those admissions people just will never know how wonderful they in fact are.) they have a right to be sad and hurt if its bad news – and then we try to help them move on. </p>
<p>a lot of my kid’s friends didn’t get in to their ED schools – for many it was a reality check – an appreciation for the real nature of the admissions process that they naively hadn’t been able to fully grasp before that – not only when they saw their own results, but those of others --“can you believe so and so didn’t get into XYZ ED?”</p>
<p>Thank you all for welcoming me to your thread even though my son is not Jewish. Many of his friends are Jewish and he wants the same environment in college. </p>
<p>Moltobene - I like your son’s answers! When others ask where my son is applying to…I can sense that they are wondering why he isn’t applying to the very “top” tier schools. (my Korean mother especially!) But the reality is that he is a B/B+ student with average test scores. For us, it is definitely about “fit” and I definitely don’t think he would be very happy at a school where it is so academically intense. UNC/Chapel Hill is his top reach but chances are he will not get in even as a legacy. He’s alway been a Tarheel fan ever since he was a little boy, but he still dreams about it but is realistic that it probably won’t happen! College4three- I really like your advice that the college doesn’t validate who he is. It’s very hard in our area where “prestige” and going to a top 20 school is the goal for many.</p>
<p>I too am glad to welcome those who are technically not “members of the tribe”. I’m reminded of the scene in Blazing Saddles where a small black family are heading West by themselves when suddenly a band of Sioux Indians come swooping down on them. In a close-up, the Sioux Chief turns out to be none other than Mel Brooks in full war bonnet and war paint. He takes one look at the family in the wagon and intones (all in Yiddish) “Let them go!” and to them, " Just be healthy". As their wagon trundles off he turns to the nearest warrior and says, Hus du gezen in deine leiben “They’re darker than us! Woof!”. </p>
<p>All of which is to say we’re all in our College Conestogas, headed out to find the best future for our “average” kids (by CC standards). We’re all conscious of some minority status or maybe feel a bit different that gives us concern for them. Whatever help or direction we can give to others who pass through our hunting grounds, is great.</p>
<p>If I could hazard my own guess as to why there are so many non-Jewish people on this thread (including myself) it’s because the 2011 B students thread can’t stay current. It’s confusing enough posting on this one and the parents of 2011 grads and then to go try and find something different to say on a third thread too is just a little too much work. Most of the B parents were also posting on the same threads anyway.</p>
<p>This is in no way reflective of IU’s receptivity to Jews - we know many Jewish kids at IU who love it. It sounds like the recent spate of anti-Semitic vandalism at IU was the work of one disturbed person. That’s a relief.</p>
<p>^^it was an administrator of a scholarship program?? Wow, that does not make me feel warm and fuzzy…at all…</p>
<p>change of subject: for parents of next year keeping track of stats:</p>
<p>daughter was deferred to Univ of Vermont No VIP application though (we didn’t visit or ask for it)…definitely as predicted…so far, predictions have been right 3 for 3…</p>
<p>now if only the withdrawal letters would stop the notifications!!..but it gives us info for the thread…</p>
<p>We are done!
My daughter is a Jewish “B” student with a 3.4 to 3.5 average and a “C” last year in math, but her SAT scores were 2200. Her ECs are so unusual that to identify them would break the anonymity of the forum. This just made the college selection process way more confusing, as it gave a picture of academic achievement not matching potential. The truth is - she is in school with a bunch of geniuses, she does work very hard - and just about everyone with a higher GPA than hers also has higher SAT scores! She is right at the 25-26% of her class, and the school does rank. Making it even more confusing.</p>
<p>She just learned that she was accepted ED to Johns Hopkins, which we considered a real reach!
Looking forward to more good news, or ready to support those with less than good news, from others on the thread!</p>
<p>levirm - congratulations! ED to JHU - very impressive. And I think you touched on a potential mini-hook for “B” students - an unusual EC. I wish I had thought of it sooner - who knows what S2 could be doing!</p>
<p>Is it just me or does Zacharias sound like a Jewish name? Just asking!</p>
<p>Levrim: Yay for your D on JHU!! If my S did not get into Tufts ED, JHU was also on his list. What does your D want to study there? Mazel Tov on a job well done! I gotta work on sending out those notices to the colleges to rescind our other apps. How does everyone else do it? By email or by typed letter? Thanks.</p>
). but prior to that, it was very difficult to strike to proper balance – i wanted to prepare my kid in the event of bad news – we all want to shield our kid from pain. but it was really really hard to do that without getting the “don’t you think i should get in there?” hurt look response. </p>