<p>I agree about the t-shirt test - if my D wore a school’s shirt to practice, I knew it was one she was interested in. The other shirts stayed in the drawer - now D2 and I use them for our practices and workouts…</p>
<p>T-Shirts? Sweatshirts? I always told them if they were accepted & enrolled then we would buy the T-shirt or Sweatshirt, otherwise we would go broke buying stuff after every single college visit. Actually the MVP sweatshirt type twin sized blanket was always a popular choice after mailing in the deposit check!</p>
<p>I knew my son had found his college when at the bookstore he suggested we buy the college mom t-shirt for me.</p>
<p>My S crossed Ohio State University off his list for two reasons, one, it is too big…two, it is three hours from where we live and, even tho S is pretty independent, he didn’t want to have to drive so far back & forth for a weekend visit at home. If we lived closer, he’d probably consider it, the tuition is reasonable and it’s in a big city, something I found out he is looking for in a college/university. Plus it is beautiful, feels so “alive”, and filled with wonderful traditions and history. S was very impressed when the group of upbeat tour guides entered the room. The spokesperson for the tour guides, a senior at OSU, grabbed everyone’s attention with a quick-talking, comic yet informative speech that surprised my S (thought the whole day would be some stuffy event) and he loved it.</p>
<p>S wasn’t impressed with Kent State University; for some reason I would describe it as “dusty”, and we both felt it lacked vibrancy. We live in a small town and my S is looking for a more energy-charged atmosphere, which I think is a good idea for him.</p>
<p>For some reason, S just loves the University of Pittsburgh. It seems scattered to me. Our tour guide was average. But S loves the architecture, the classes offered, and that it’s only an hour from home. Oh, at the end of the tour, after filling out a questionaire, he got a free PITT t-shirt. The only problem I have with him attending there is the cost since we are out-of-state in Ohio.</p>
<p>My daughter would never buy a t-shirt, even from schools she liked, because she felt it would “jinx” it.</p>
<p>Timing means a lot. We visited Northwestern U after a rather exhausting trip (from SoCal to east coast) visiting four other universities. We took the train (two, actually, to see what it was like) from Oak Park to Evanston, which was almost a snafu since our relative read the train schedule wrong. Between the three of us, we adapted and moved on. It was a rainy day on campus (in July.)</p>
<p>His impression compared to other places, after all of that? Meh. He wasn’t sure he’d apply but kept it on the list. He finally did apply, although he wasn’t thrilled the competitive Integrated Sciences Program (ISP) required a separate application and separate acceptance.</p>
<p>Flash foward to today: He’s a happy Northwestern Wildcat. He transitioned well and finds the work load about as expected, adjusting to the ebb and flow around testing period. ISP has a seminar for first quarter freshman to tell them all about the world of research. </p>
<p>Socially it’s working for him, too. He had a great time at a dance cruise on the lake. Nice comraderie at the fall football games. “Throwing around” the girls in his jujitsu class. He gets along well with his roomie, a guy of South Korean ancestry from Long Island. He hands some with the SoCal contingent, who he got to meet over several beach bonfire parties before the school year started.</p>
<p>Does it seem to be a good fit thus far? Heck yes! Was it near the top of his list? No, it almost fell off the list. He’s loving college life at Northwestern and especially ISP, which even has a separate building on campus where they can join study groups, just chill out, hold seminars and so forth … right across the street from the main, huge Tech Center.</p>
<p>Northwestern - boring, cold (September), too big to walk around in -20 weather, quarter system, lack of diversity
Yale - just…no. too much like a castle, too closed off.</p>
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</p>
<p>= perfect time to call home and ask about a spring break trip!</p>
<p>I still bleed purple.</p>
<p>I know Chicago is pretty cold but how could it be -20 in September?</p>
<p>Boomer - With my kids, it was the bumper sticker. When they asked to stop at the bookstore to pick up bumper stickers, the deal was done.</p>
<p>You really learn a lot about your child during this process. Sometimes you just want to say “WHAT THE…???”</p>
<p>Thoughts on schools we visited:</p>
<p>Brown - My son thought it was too artsy and hippie-ish. The depressed-looking girl in our tour group with the bright green mohawk and the numerous facial piercings - with safety pins - didn’t exactly elicit a feeling of “I’m home.” Then, while reading the campus newspaper while we were eating lunch, he saw an article about a speaker getting a pie thrown in his face by an eco-extremist group on campus who thought the speaker’s environmental politics were “offensive.” He mentioned that many people might consider throwing a pie in someone’s face “offensive” as well. He quickly realized that while he considers himself to be “liberal and open-minded,” everything is relative :)</p>
<p>Colgate - Increible campus and really friendly people, but too small and remote for him. I loved absolutely everything about the school but as I was reminded several times, I had already been to college.</p>
<p>Amherst - Beautiful campus and impressive courses, but couldn’t see himself there…too small and remote.</p>
<p>Mount St. Mary’s - Too small and remote. I love small and remote but…</p>
<p>JMU - Liked the overall atmosphere and academic buildings, but didn’t like that it’s a very popular school for kids from our area. Also thought the food and fitness center were great.</p>
<p>Dickinson - Very impressed with the academics until he was told that because Dickinson considers itself to be a “global community,” all students are required to take four years of a foreign language, no exceptions. Not his thing at all…</p>
<p>A trend began to emerge…much to my dismay, small and remote were not what he was looking for. I really had to make my peace with the fact that his desire to be in an urban setting - not my thing at all - was where his heart was leading him. He is now very happy in his urban setting and my fear of him being assaulted, run over by a taxi, or kidnapped by gypsies recedes a little bit every day. Sigh. He’s happy and doing well academically so that’s all that matters…</p>
<p>My daughter won’t even consider a school unless she thinks the name is t-shirt worthy! We’re having a real problem with Skidmore because of that. I think it’s a perfect school for her, she refuses because the name is not aesthetically pleasing on a sweatshirt or t-shirt. Hampshire is okay as is Brown and Knox. Forget about Ursinius. We’ll drag her to Skidmore anyway.</p>
<p>Speckledegg, Can you tell me why your son felt that Pitzer wasn’t for him? My daughter is looking at it. Thanks.</p>
<p>My D has a forest green t-shirt with SKIDMORE in fat white caps on the front. It’s actually really nice looking, for a t-shirt.</p>
<p>I am absolutely <em>Loving</em> this thread. So much of it makes me laugh out loud. Our first rising-college-age kid is a sophomore and half the time I feel like we have no IDEA what we are doing… this thread is a great place to just read and giggle!</p>
<p>^I totally agree. This thread is hilarious! Some of the things these kids think! The basis for their decisions. The way us parents are just along for the ride, trying so hard to find the perfect balance between being involved and staying out of the way. It’s comical! And very enjoyable reading.</p>
<p>Hey Amtc – DougBetsy gave me another idea on dealing with Skidmore t-shirt aversion – get the one they sell at Dartmouth that just says “COLLEGE” (remember Animal House?) and that can be your daughter’s Skidmore t-shirt. Worth a shot…</p>
<p>I agree this thread is a funny one.</p>
<p>I also love the “Stupidest reason child won’t look at a college” thread</p>
<p>I remember one about a student complaining that the campus was too hilly and there were too many steps. They would be attending on a track scholarship!</p>
<p>Syracuse. D thought the city was depressing and the people in her intended major seemed very unhappy.</p>
<p>^^^^That is pretty funny since looking very unhappy is a fashion statement for so many teens.</p>