<p>I don’t know how they have the nerve to charge that much in tuition and have buildings that were in such a horrible state of disrepair. Yeah, yeah they’re having financial troubles, but it’s just a little disappointing. </p>
<p>And it’s really unfortunate because they have THE most beautiful urban campus I’ve ever seen. This campus is a stone’s throw away from being right in the middle of downtown Greensboro, but on campus all you see is a lot of trees, a lot of open space, and some really beautiful architecture. But as soon as you step inside one of those buildings it all goes completely downhill. Especially in the dorms</p>
<p>I still really loved the theatre students and faculty, so I didn’t cross it off because of this. But it may have come into play when I was making the final decision.</p>
<p>One of the things we all loved about Grinnell was the “Where the Hell is Grinnell?” t-shirts. We didn’t really have a terrible tour or info session anywhere on the 20 campuses we visited. Some places just felt more <em>right</em> than others. The personal tour guide at Grinnell was a nice touch too, but a larger school couldn’t do that.</p>
<p>Several posts were edited to stay in compliance with Terms of Service (see FAQ). While stating your point of view, you can trust that some (but not all) readers will agree. Calling another’s viewpoint “ridiculous” or “absurd” or “having an agenda” is insulting and will not remain posted.</p>
<p>Regarding the chapel—I think people will react in different ways and it is totally personal. It goes back to the purpose of this thread that shows that what one person may like, another person may find to be a total turn off.</p>
<p>Years ago we attended a tour of Muhlenberg College. Went in knowing that Muhlenberg was a Lutheran school with a very large Jewish population (30%) and an accepting attiutude towards diversity. A portion of the tour was spent in the chapel. Guide explained the history of the chapel, the Lutherans in general, the red doors all over campus, and specifically the religious breakdown of the school and its acceptance of all.</p>
<p>He explained that the chapel was used for non-religious gatherings including concerts and welcome week speeches.</p>
<p>Everyone in my (Jewish) family felt comfortable with that. But you must take into account that my daughters and husband were used to singing in churches through their involvement in choirs and music. I myself have traveled throughout Europe a lot and have always loved visiting churches and cathedrals. Also, we were aware that the school was Lutheran before we toured.</p>
<p>This contrasts to close friends who visited Muhlenberg a week or so later. They left right after their Chapel visit, saying it was too Chrisitian and that they would not feel comfortable sending their D there. They did not realize the school was Lutheran beforehand and it was one of the first times that their daughter had been inside a church building. She felt uncomfortable and she was entitled to feel that way. There are no rights or wrongs. </p>
<p>Whereas my family was comfortable with Muhlenberg, I know I would not feel comfortable at a school like Georgetown that has many crucifixes in classrooms, etc. Again, it is a very personal feeling. There are no rights or wrongs. </p>
<p>It is true that UVA is a public institution. But given the history of the campus, I would want to see a building like this (Christian or not) preserved and used.</p>
<p>One thing I think worth checking out if your child does go to a religion connected school is how they handle graduation. I got my Masters at a catholic school. I am not catholic. My diploma was given to me by Father Ligori. I had no problem with that but it might bother someone else.</p>
<p>“I’ll bet they say, “Occasionally somebody will transfer to another school–like an Ivy League school, for example.””</p>
<p>I and other aspiring transfers at my first college would sometimes snicker that its recruiting materials ought to boast, “Our sophomores get into the finest Ivy League universities.” A lot of us did.</p>
<p>A first impression can make or break the deal for a teenager. My H and S visited Carleton after hearing how friendly and welcoming the place is, and it most likely is, usually. On this day, however, the staff in the admissions office was cranky and brusk. My son read their reception as condescending, my more mature husband thought it merely impatience, neither is good in an admissions office. They scratched Carleton off the list and drove on to Macalester, there meeting an admissions staff who welcomed them with friendly smiles.</p>
<p>We crossed off University of Delaware after attending an admitted student visit there. A disappointing “information session” was mostly all about how fun it is to be a “Blue Hen” (mascot of UD) but no real information about the academics, advising, job prospects of graduates, etc. No representative from the admissions office spoke to us, just student “ambassadors” who spoke about their personal experiences, including one very ditzy blonde who spoke about the highlights of her study abroad to Africa as seeing all the cute baby animals…</p>
<p>By the way, Muhlenberg just added a Jewish studies major. It is the most Jewish Lutheran College in the US. My brother married a Jewish woman in Muhlenberg’s chapel, and they had a nice ceremony that combined both Christian and Jewish features.</p>
<p>Crossed-Off Schools
SUNY Albany: pulled into the circle and immediately hated it. Their main selling point is the fact that they have the second largest mass of concrete in the nation to only the Pentagon. Nanoscale was really cool, but the degree is too specialized.
Villanova: Situated on a highway, Villanova eminates a vibe that says "We’re trying our hardest to make this nice. Admissions office brings unpleasant memories of funeral homes. I left right after the info session.
Tufts: The feeling described by many other CC’ers struck me as well. Just, yuck.
BU: No campus, only really great in Physical Therapy (not my thing).
Lafayette: I now know what an LAC is. Big schools FTW.
Lehigh: Kind of liked it, but the town sucks.</p>
<p>Big Winners:
UPenn: <3 that’s all I have to say. Divine.
Harvard: Right up there with Penn.
Cornell: For someone who likes big schools AND Ivies, pretty perfect.
Northeastern: Thank God I have a safety I really like. IV is really nice (and for Honors).
SUNY Binghamton: Ehhhhhh in-state tuition makes up for its deficiencies.
MIT: Love the quirkiness and tradition.</p>
<p>One of the students at Caltech made that t-shirt, and kids showed up at MIT admitting day and distributed them to the MIT accepted students. I have no idea if that was the first of those shirts or not.</p>
<p>I was at Oxy for a tour. Admissions soooo friendly. They arranged for the young man to meet with a physics prof, and gave us lunch vouchers. I guess this was before any statue to a prez was built.</p>
<p>After having backread quite a bit, I’m pretty astounded at how many prospective students (and their parents) judge a potential college on minutia like the ability of a tour guide to answer one or two questions. Why would you let that tiny event decide where you’ll be for the next (at least) 4 years of your life?</p>