We “think” D25 has narrowed down her selection to these 3. She also liked Shenandoah but the financial aid packet was more than the others we have received. She is still waiting on acceptance/financial aid packet from Juniata (last minute application) and we need to visit Muhlenberg and Juniata yet. I’ve seen lots of comparisons between Juniata and Washington regarding science majors. Right now she is leaning towards studying Public Health. Any input on that major at any of these schools? Things your family/kid liked/disliked about each? Vibe of campus for each? We’ve visited so many schools and for most she has just not connected to the campus or students she met here. She is really liking Juniata on paper, but we’ll see how our March visit goes.
The first step is to get all the financial information in and visits (to affordable options) completed. One may stand out as the best fit.
I would talk to students. Both schools are financially strained and may be strained in support.
Just to make sure you are comfortable in an environment that might be tight.
I don’t think either will fail in the next 10 years but cut back, I’m sure. Washington already has.
Just saying go in eyes wide open.
Muhlenberg was recently downgraded by Moody’s with a negative outlook but their bond rating is much stronger than the first two.
I’d check enrollments in the major. If they are large, they likely won’t get cut. If just a few, you never know.
There’s a parent who raves about WC on here but haven’t seen them post in a while. If you search, you’ll find their commentary.
Good luck.
My D goes to Muhlenberg and we really like it. She is a theatre/dance/creative writing student so I don’t know a lot about their Public Health programs. I do know that all of the health programs are well regarded. Happy to try to answer any questions you have about the school.
Glad to hear some good feedback! We are scheduled for the Admitted Student Day later this month as she hasn’t had a campus visit yet. Do a lot of kids stick around on campus on weekends and are there activities to keep them busy on weekends? It is only about 90 minutes away from home but I don’t want her to be tempted to come home frequently.
We had the same question when we were trying to decide on a school. We live 5-6 hours away from Muhlenberg so it was important to us that there was a lot to do on the weekends as my D only comes home a few times each semester.
We’ve found that Muhlenberg has tons of great things happening on the weekends. Most students do stick around and my D has had a great time at the events that they run. She’s in the pep band so has been to a lot of the on campus sporting events. She was never a sports kid but has loved going to these and supporting the student athletes. We went to a football game for Parents weekend and it was a really fun atmosphere. There are also theatre productions most weekends and they sell out! Tons of campus support for those. My D has also gone to trivia nights, silent disco, tea parties, stuff-a-plush, and a bunch of other similar events put on by the student activities council. The Allentown fairgrounds is also right next door to campus and she’s walked there for the huge farmers market that they have there. There is also a beautiful park and rose garden on the edge of campus that she likes to walk to and many students use for going for runs. She’s also taken the local bus to go to the movies, out to eat, and shopping with friends. She has never complained about being bored 
I work in higher Ed myself and I’m often surprised at the quantity and quality of the free food offered at the campus events! They have hot chocolate bars and cupcake decorating and full spreads for watching the Super Bowl, etc…. It’s a lot! I have no idea how they have the budget for all that food 
If you or your D are on Instagram, follow muhlenbergactivities- they post about many of the student organized events that are happening.
My D also joined a sorority this semester (she’s a sophomore). That definitely wasn’t on her radar as something that would interest her when we looked at schools but it has been a really positive experience for her so far. Happy to say more about Greek life there if that is of interest.
Hope you have a great time at Admitted Students Day!
My daughter goes to Juniata and also considered Washington. A friend’s daughter goes to Muhlenberg. I think they are all great schools. Of the three, I think Juniata has a particularly strong background in health sciences. And, they are expanding on that by adding a nursing program and had recently added a master’s in public health.
Juniata is the most rural/isolated of the three so she’d have to be ok with that. But, as part of that, it can be an interesting place to study, in particular, the public health challenges to rural places. There is a big emphasis on community engaged learning and you can do a secondary emphasis (aka minor) in Rural Experience.
It seems to be a friendly campus with a lot of support for students. There are a lot of clubs and campus activities but no Greek life. I also liked their “Inbound” orientation program as a way to help students get to know others at the start of the first year.
Thank you for the feedback! She is still waiting on an acceptance and final cost to see how it compares to other schools, then we will need to fit in a visit. I’d love for her to do Accepted Student Day in April, but it is the same weekend as Washington’s, and she often works weekends and does not want to take off work as she has a school trip later in April she will need to miss a full weekend of work for. I think at least 3 of the schools she got accepted to are all that same weekend! Hard to fit everything in!
I’d worry less about these days. Get to campus for a tour worst case, stop kids and others on campus and talk to them, have admissions set you up with a prof or head of a club, eat in the dining hall, walk the surrounds.
The days are fine but what’s important is that you are there to validate your decision. It needn’t be an admitted student day.
Given that these are very small colleges, two located in very conservative Appalachian communities (I have seen the areas around Juniata and Washington college and been to Mulhenburg’s campus). I think visiting each is extremely important. She may love them all, dislike some of them or all. Feeling happy on her college campus for the next four years is MUCH more important in the scheme of things than a weekend job. These are charming schools for the right student but not for everyone! Physical and social environments can have a huge impact your student’s well-being and motivation. Please don’t let her commit to any of these without visiting! I don’t know where you live exactly, but could you stop at each of the others (or at least make a side trip to Juniata on the way back…same day or next day, assuming that would be a Sunday) even if there’s no time for an official tour, just walking for an hour around the Campus, speaking to a few students and viewing the surrounding community can give her an idea.
My D was looking at colleges during the height of the pandemic and many campuses were closed to visitors. We were allowed to walk around the outside and talk with a few students (while distancing) without going into buildings …and that is how my D chose her school (she still loves the school and has never regretted it!)
If she can’t get to Juniata’s admitted student day, you could set up an “Eagle for a Day” visit. My daughter did that – she sat in on a biology class, met with a professor in her major, had lunch with a couple students in the major + the usual campus tour. After that she felt really at home there.
Yes, that is what we are looking at, as she has a day off school later this month. We will definitely be visiting or re-visiting the schools at the top of her list before sending in a deposit!
We (D25) are visiting on the 25th, eagle for a day. It’s part of a trip to decide between Juniata and UVM. Interested to hear how you both like it!
How did your visit to Juniata go? DD decided against Muhlenberg after Accepted Student Day. She felt the freshman dorms were run down and there was a lot more focus on theater and dance than she is wanting (not her interest area at all and many of the students we interacted with were very artsy and just a different vibe than what she was looking for). Juniata is now top of the list. She enjoyed her visit with the admissions counselor and also met with the head of the Public Health program. She felt the campus was easy to navigate and had a classic but updated feel. Just waiting on financials now!
Curious where everyone stand now! (My DC went to Juniata and had a great experience. As people have commented, a school can be a great fit for one kids, but not another.)
I’m sure you have chosen, but haven’t been on the site for a few months. My child had a great experience at Washington college. I don’t think you can do wrong with the choices you have!
Thanks for the input! Washington was her second pick but she ended up committing to Juniata because she is interested in studying Public Health and had the opportunity to meet with the director of the program. Washington didn’t have a direct major for Public Health, so she felt more comfortable with Juniata. I would have loved visiting her at Washington though, loved the small town and it is actually only about an hour south of where I first lived and worked out of college.
Congrats! My DC had a great experience at Juniata.
Like every kid/school, a lot of the experience is what they make of it - tell her to get involved, be open to trying new things, and meeting lots of people.
Sorry I took so long to reply!!
Juniata was great. We visited UVM then drove to Juniata for a day and a half visit and we both loved it. She really keyed in on the tight knit community, non-competitive atmosphere and the field station (environmental science major). Food was also quite good with a lot of variety.
Juniata feels like a bit of a hidden gem that would have more exposure if not for the location. More than any other visit got the sense that people genuinely cared and were interested in bringing the best out of everyone. She was decided the same day on the way to the airport (both schools were within $1500 COA of each other so not a factor).
Is UVM University of Vermont?