We think Roanoke is a good match for our daughter, who has been awarded full tuition at Roanoke. She’s obviously in their top tier of accepted students (or she wouldn’t have the tuition offer!) but some of her friends think it’s not a “good enough” school for her. It is nationally ranked, has a Phi Beta Kappa chapter, and seems to be moving up. Academics seem strong and the students we heard from there were exceptionally articulate (far better than those we saw at Elon’s scholarship day). But what’s up with the bad rep among other good students - and the fact that many adults don’t even know that Roanoke exists?
Roanoke is just a really small school but it is slowly up and coming I think. Don’t listen to the friends or even the family who frown down on a school. They’re not inside your pocket. Does your daughter like the school? What is she planning on going for?
“How good,” for what?
Roanoke is a perfectly respectable college, although not necessarily one with “uber prestige” or broad national recognition. Will a few of its graduates annually be admitted to the very best professional and graduate programs? Certainly. Will representatives from the most selective and lucrative iBanks and consulting firms recruit there? Probably not. All of which – and much more – begs a two key questions:
- Are your daughter's goals likely to be achieved through a Roanoke Bachelor's, especially if the undergraduate cost avoidances thereby achieved financially enable postgraduate school? Quite simply, if the answer to this question is affirmative, why wouldn't Roanoke attendance be sensible?
- While it's true many parents and students are obsessed with the ego-satisfaction of matriculation at a most-selective undergraduate school, an equally germane question is will your daughter's objectives and her life be substantially enhanced by attendance at x or y, instead of Roanoke? If that answer is no, why would you spend so much more?
There was a recent thread in the Parents Forum that’s worth a read if you’re comparing small, less selective LACs. The closure of Sweet Briar has been unsettling for many. Randolph-Macon avoided the same fate a few years ago only by going co-ed.
Even the best liberal arts colleges have relatively little name recognition, so the fact that people in your area haven’t heard of Roanoke isn’t all that surprising. It has a good reputation on CC. Do a search – several posters (particularly Barrons) have written about the Virginia LACs in the past.
It’s a small regional LAC so yes, many people haven’t heard of it, but it’s very well-respected. I toured it and looked at applying, and if it hadn’t been so close to home/small in size, I most likely would have applied. Students all seem happy there and they make it very personal – the President of Roanoke makes a point to know the names of students, etc.
I would imagine any sort of “bad rep” comes from those who care only about the elite, constantly talked about schools. Roanoke definitely isn’t a bad school, however, if it’s the type of school your daughter likes.
My D is currently a Freshman there and it’s the best decision she made out of all her choices. She had strong HS credentials, but not outstanding, yet was able to secure a decent FA package. She talks highly of the close interaction between the professors and students, and really likes the small class size. She has made a lot of new friends (kids from different parts of the country) and says that everyone is super nice. The town (Salem, VA) is not large but it is close to Roanoke which is a much larger town and offers lots to do. There was a discussion on the forums a year or so ago which provides additional information that you may find helpful.
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/1641691-roanoke-college.html
I must say for your daughter to get a full tuition scholarship at Roanoke is quite an achievement and one for which you should be very proud. Congrats!
Feel free to PM me if you have any other questions.