<p>Just wanted to add that in addition to Christopher Newport, PR is adding Champlain College in Vermont and Roanoke College in VA to their 2012 Best Colleges guidebook. Also Suffolk University, Portland State University and the University of Houston. I think these all meet “B” student classification - not sure about Jewish life.</p>
<p>Champlain College is a private school in VT with about 3000 students. Looks like rolling admissions with a high acceptance rate.</p>
<p>From national naviance:</p>
<p>Freshman Applicants
Received: 3077
Accepted: 2604
Percent Accepted: 84.63%
Enrolled: 662</p>
<p>Test Score Ranges (Mid 50%)
Test Name High Low Avg.
ACT Combined: 26 21 23
ACT English: 25 20 22
ACT Math: 25 19 22</p>
<p>Can’t find much of anything regarding religious life on their website - no listing for Hillel or any other Jewish organization.</p>
<p>kathiep’s son is starting at Champlain in the fall…</p>
<p>Also, fwiw, Tulane thread just posted that they are overenrolled for the fall…that’s what happens when you send out free apps and no ED…very difficult to estimate yield…</p>
<p>RVM, where did you find a list of the new additions to be included in the 2012 book?</p>
<p>Roanoke has attracted several kids from our HS, who like it. It seems to be for kids who want a school like James Madison, but smaller (Of course, JMU is often chosen by kids who want a school like Va Tech, only smaller, so this is similar to those Russian dolls which fit inside each other). I do not believe it has a significant percentage of Jewish kids, so those seeking that may prefer othr options.</p>
<p>Something that worried me about Roanoke was the average GPA, which was last recorded here in 2006:</p>
<p>[National</a> Trends in Grade Inflation, American Colleges and Universities](<a href=“http://www.gradeinflation.com/]National”>http://www.gradeinflation.com/)</p>
<p>This might be something to consider if GPA is important to you or your student. 2.77 is not low, but compared with average GPA at other private schools I thought it was low and I don’t know how this might effect grad school admissions or future employment.</p>
<p>BTW, we visited Roanoke and Champlain and loved both schools. I cannot comment on Jewish population/Hillel though.</p>
<p>All this talk about Virginia Tech has me thinking. Can those in the know comment on their impressions of VT for a mostly secular Jewish kid from NY?</p>
<p>Vitrac - I think such a student would be fine at VT. Hillel and AEPi are there if you are interested - if not - no worries. I think the issue with VT is more the size and the mostly rural location. If you are ok on those 2 issues - it’s a great place. A majority of the students are, of course, from Virginia. I happened to like the fact that it has a down-to-earth, somewhat blue collar vibe to it. This is not a school with a parking lot full of Mercedes and BMWs. When we attended a presentation from the Pamplin Business School - this fact was commented on - stating that employers recruit heavily at VT because they like the students’ work ethic - that these are not spoiled rich kids.</p>
<p>So - a Jewish kid from NY - could be just fine - unless lack of city life is going to be an issue or unless this is someone who loves shopping and designer clothes and so forth - don’t see that fitting too well.</p>
<p>Rockville, has your son crossed off F&M?</p>
<p>Thanks RVM. That helped!</p>
<p>northeastmom - I just googled the book - I know it comes out every August and I know they typically add a few schools every year - so that people like me continue to buy it. Schools that have been added typically do a press release.</p>
<p>cherryhill - I am truly not sure at this point what is on his list or off his list. When I know - I’ll let you know!</p>
<p>RVM, thank you. That was smart!</p>
<p>Nemom, interesting point about GPA. I think many of the lesser known small schools have workloads harder than their difficulty of admission. In addition, when merit aid is dependent on a certain GPA, a lower average GPA may signal greater difficulty in keeping merit aid.</p>
<p>I know a bunch of VT parents and agree with RVM–a secular kid who is down to earth will have no trouble making friends. He should, however, understand in advance that some of the large number of kids from rural VA may never have met a Jewish person before, just as a kid from the NY suburbs is less likely to have met a farmer or have a friend in the military. Usually, the result will be a pleasant, broadening experience for both kids, but there may be some bumps in the road.</p>
<p>In all fairness to Roanoke, my son was awarded merit aid there. The GPA required to keep it was as low as they can go. I am pretty sure it was a 2.0 and even slightly lower for the first semester. </p>
<p>There are other small schools on that chart, and many have higher GPA averages than that at Roanoke.</p>
<p>While I think this might work for a “B” student - I don’t see it making sense for a Jewish “B” student. It’s a fairly small school - about 2100 students. The average accepted ACT is 23 - SAT is 1080/1600. COA is about $42,000 and about 70% of students live on campus.</p>
<p>There is a link to a Hillel website posted on the religious activities webpage - but the site has not been updated since the fall of 2009. National Hillel estimates the Jewish population at 45 students.</p>
<p>But this article is what really alarmed me:</p>
<p>[A</a> College Recovers Its Christian Identity](<a href=“http://www.religion-online.org/showarticle.asp?title=2095]A”>http://www.religion-online.org/showarticle.asp?title=2095)</p>
<p>It dates back to 2001 - but really says a lot about religious attitudes at this Lutheran school.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>I can’t imagine sending a Jewish student to Roanoke.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>I’m not officially “in the know” but I know one happy Jewish VT student to report:</p>
<p>The son of a good friend just finished freshman year at VT (ME major). Jewish, secular, from one of the towns on Long Island known for being pretty Jewish (but family never belonged to a temple).</p>
<p>He LOVES VT. Loves all the outdoor adventures. Was recruited by the Jewish fraternity (he has a very Jewish name - so no doubt about it, even if he didn’t self report!). This boy applied all over the map - rural, urban, large, medium, small. Picked VT because of all it has to offer for ME. Very, very happy there.</p>
<p>I’m going to see the mom tomorrow night, so send me any questions (PM or here) and I will ask her!</p>
<p>LINYMOM - is ME = mechanical engineering?</p>
<p>I also know a Jewish boy that loves VT. He is from Northern Virginia. I’m not sure how involved he got in Jewish life, but he had a great experience there.</p>
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</p>
<p>Yes.</p>
<p>I’ve been on CC too long. I think in CC abbreviations.</p>