<p>This thread is great- thank you so much for discussing the schools that have a decent Jewish population and are also affordable and in academic reach.</p>
<p>URI is beautiful, I think-- old granite buildings around a quad. (yes, except the poor music/theatre bldg, though, those programs are good) Not a suitcase school, yes, a kind of safety for UCONN, UMASS as is UNH…though the pharmacy, nursing, marine bio programs are well thought of and it’s a caring place. Sailing team is big, sports in general…Amtrak station to NYC, Providence, Boston right there, an area of shops, restaurants close by (nothing fancy). Students we met were bright and engaging, profs in D’s field took lots of time for her…</p>
<p>URI-We visited and thought it was a nice campus. Chemusic’s description is spot on. I’ve been told that there isn’t much to do there, especially without a car, and as such, the drinking culture dominates. I know 3 students who all got good jobs when they graduated.</p>
<p>Congrats Names.</p>
<p>For those who have a child already decided, ■■■■■■■■.com went live today. this site is a great way for your child to find a roommate.</p>
<p>URI–my D’s close friend, and several other kids in her class, started at URI last fall. From what I hear and the friend has told me, the only kids who are happy there are those in the pharmacy program. D’s friend is planning to transfer. The biggest complaint is that there is nothing to do on weekends. The school is isolated and if you don’t have a car you can’t get anywhere. The weekend social life is dominated by off campus frat/sorority parties, so if you’re not into the party scene there is not much to do. The pharm kids seem to be more close knit and plan activities together, so do not seem to have this problem. D’s friend was coming home almost every weekend (we are about 3 hours away). D’s friend also had roommate issues, but that can happen anywhere.</p>
<p>THANKS! For all of your fantastic input. It really helps!! My sonis a freshman at IUB and loves it. There is a huige jewish population and even a chabbad for those that feel that hillel is too reform. My D got in there as well but I hate to have to send her to somewhere where I need a plane to visit. CofC she was accepted too. But again she’ll need to take planes which is all costly. I’ve heard mixed reviews about the jewish population there. I really need her to visit all three. But I was excited URI was closer to nyc.</p>
<p>Also I have heard about the car being an issue over and over again from sites like student review. It is good to get confirmation whether is positive or negative. As long as its truthful!</p>
<p>Names1: Congrats on your D’s acceptances.</p>
<p>Samtalya’s suggestion of having your kids check out ■■■■■■■■.com to find a roomate is a good one. I used to think that it was better to just take a random roommate, but I’ve changed my mind after seeing my D’s experiences. I think that the chances for a good match are much better if the students have a chance to “talk” and check each other out online first. It’s even better if you S or D has an aquaintance or friend of a friend that they can room with. My D2’s roommate is a friend that she made during a 2 week summer program. They are now best friends and get along beautifully. Most of D1’s friends had random roommates freshman year, and I only know of one case where the girls really clicked.</p>
<p>URI - The biggest complaint is that there is nothing to do on weekends. The school is isolated</p>
<p>Study? Do homework? Go to the library? Attend an athletic event? Play an instrument? Learn to play an instrument? Read a book? Play sports? Go swimming? Go out to eat? Go to a party? Join a club? </p>
<p>I’m sorry. I went to a college that was absolutely in the middle of nowhere. (The joke was that is was “inaccessible to all points.”) This was before video games, before computers, before DVDs, before the Internet. Somehow we managed to stay busy.</p>
<p>names- I hear you on the plane ride to Indiana, but since your son is already there I would think there would be some things that would be simplified…move in and move out both kids at the same time, same winter and spring breaks, only one trip needed for parents weekend, etc etc.</p>
<p>Although they may not be deal breakers for your D, the concerns pointed out about URI’s social scene and leaving on weekends raise a red flag so make sure this aspect is carefully checked out. A friend of my D’s is in her first year at Fairleigh Dickinson, and she did not realize there was a big commuter culture there and lack of campus life on weekends. For her, that was a big disappointment. This may matter more or less to a prospective student depending on what their expectations are of the college social scene.</p>
<p>as far as those student review sites go, of course you have to take them with a grain of salt, but I do like to look at the pie chart that says what percentage of students would choose the college if they had to do it all over again. If that pie chart is mostly green, its a good sign (check out Indiana)</p>
<p>My son is a freshman at Chapman this year so I can also answer questions too. He loves it, we love it- small class sizes (largest class size was 40, smallest 15), easy to get classes- they open up a new section if it looks like a need, FREE interterm classes and boarding, very accessible faculty, beautiful campus, great kids (although not at all diverse so if you are looking for that…), my son is convinced it is 30% Jewish (it’s not!) but he is a founding father of AEPI! From a community standpoint this school has a tremendous amount of community financial support ($$$), and it seems that the Jewish community in particular is very supportive. Red Flag- it has gotten very popular and much harder to get into than in years past so I think you might need a high B avg. to get in now. It’s reputation out of SoCal I can’t comment on (probably nonexistent??) but within our area it is very highly regarded.</p>
<p>Rockvillemom- I am right with you. The previous book by the same author is “Blessing of a Skinned Knee”. Some of the more prestigious schools are simply also a financial reach for us- any merit aid helps a lot. We want our kids to do their very best, attend the best school they can, and not subject them to perfectionism and “bloodbath”
The kids on this thread will do just fine.</p>
<p>Names1 - Congrats on URI! My S2 just got in as well, and also got a nice scholarship. However, at this point, he’s crossed it off his list. We visited the school with S1 a few years ago. From what we heard, most freshmen are put in triples in the dorms, and these were some of the smallest dorm rooms I have seen! S1 said it wouldn’t bother him, but I swear I thought it would be a health hazard living so on top of one another! I assume it’s because of the housing shortage, but most kids move off campus after freshman year. As someone mentioned before, the student “ghetto” area is ~ 20 minutes away from campus! Apparently there is a bus, but most kids probably depend on cars. I realize these are not academic issues, but they do reflect the overall environment of the campus. I had S1 apply as a safety.</p>
<p>Glad to hear that your S likes Indiana. S2 was accepted and I think we are going to try to plan a visit.</p>
<p>“The Blessing of a B-” - thanks for that, just “ordered” a copy from interlibrary loan. Looks like a useful read.</p>
<p>My DD applied to URI as a safety school also. It was her first acceptance and came with $10K/year. That was a nice confidence booster. We never actually visited the school but we know the area. My brother has a house in RI that they use in the summer and rent to URI students from Labor Day to Memorial Day. It’s a walk to the Narragansett Beach from his house. I’ve passed the signs to URI, but never took time out from the beach to check it out.</p>
<p>My DD did know someone who went there - she left after one semester (she told me they don’t like New Yorkers, not much of a generalization) and is now at SUNY Buffalo. DD does know other girls (also Jewish) who are there and seem to be happy.</p>
<p>Sounds like the concerns noted on this thread should be checked out before enrolling. I too was happy with the pretty close location - we were thinking she would just have to find a way to New London, CT, and jump on the ferry. Then’ I’d only have to drive to Orient Point.</p>
<p>Blessing of a B- is a great book!</p>
<p>spectrum & college4three: thanks for the suggestions. Will check them out. Daughter hadn’t considered California - not sure why. But those schools have been in the back of my mind. Same with Muhlenberg. That school has come up quite a bit in my research. Will also check out Lafayette and CT colleges. BTW, she’s a canoer/kyaker. Doesn’t have to have access at college, but it would certainly be a bonus. One reason she’s attracted to the TN/NC/SC/VA region is proximity to familiar white water.</p>
<p>Is anyone here familiar with the John Prine folk song “Muhlenberg County”? It’s about a coal mining town in Kentucky. Always think of it when I hear about Muhlenberg College.</p>
<p>@nbc: If she’s willing to look north, there is nice kayaking in New England, too. Maybe, Bates?</p>
<p>nbc, I believe the song is called Paradise. Yes, I know it. Daddy, won’t you you take me back to Muhlenberg County, down by the Green River where Paradise lay…</p>
<p>I stand corrected! :)</p>
<p>Will check out Bates too. Thanks!</p>