<p>We visited with D2, and I actually thought it was a bit of a hidden gem of a school. It is quite rural, there is really nothing right near campus in walkable distance, and even where a shuttle (i believe there is one on campus) would take you isn’t particularly charming. But the school itself has an almost summer-campy feel. The academics seemed very solid, but not overwhelmingly difficult if you are worried about that. My kid sat in on a science class and thought it was quite good. A couple things that have gone on in the past few years:</p>
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<li><p>I think they replaced their admissions office head a few years ago. The new person did NOT understand the marekt well for their school and essentially mis-aimed their marketing efforts (didn’t court close to home students enough, may have made some ill advised staffing changes, etc.). Then they missed badly on their yield estimate a year or two later as a result of this (essentially didn’t offer admission to enough students who applied and didn’t make a strong enough waitlist). They ended up with a small freshman class for a year or maybe 2 as a result of this. But I have the impression that this has been corrected.</p></li>
<li><p>They had a problem with a dorm after a large storm with water damage/mold. They brought a cruise ship into the river by the college and put the students up there for a period of time during repairs. That is over and done with, but made for an interesting story.</p></li>
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<p>St. Mary’s College of Maryland is the public honors college of Maryland. It has smart kids and is like a public LAC. If you haven’t visited, I would suggest you go visit for yourself. Ask your tour guide questions, sit in on a class and ask other students questions before and after class, read the school newspaper (best source of dirty laundry for colleges I know!), go outside a dorm and ask a student to take you in to see their room. Make your own judgement, don’t just take the word of some anonymous posters on the internet who may have sour grapes (or for all you can tell, may not even attend the school). We didn’t know about it when my older D applied to schools (we are from OOS), or I think she would have applied. D2 didn’t apply either for other reasons, but we did really like it when we visited. Check it out yourself and make your own determination by talking to people who are actually there.</p>
<p>If you have already applied, then go to accepted student days if you get in. Talk with as many current students as you can. Of course apply to other schools you would be happy to attend, you can’t have all your eggs in one basket in today’s college environment. </p>