<p>I think of the 3 as very different from one another, so a visit should help clarify. We live in the NE, and the students I know who are at Marist are parochial in outlook - very nice kids, but I think of it as very northeast and I wonder if your Cal D would take to it. It’s also the least selective, which I think does affect things like classroom discussion (go ahead - throw rotten tomatoes at me, it’s my opinion). Certainly there are tippy top students at Marist but many are mid range students. </p>
<p>The students I’ve known who were accepted to Trinity (and the one that attended) were at the top of their classes. The place has a preppy vibe but offers a solid LAC experience with plenty of opportunities. I worked many years ago near the campus, and Hartford
does have it’s problems as do many cities. It’s just not that kind of thing that would keep me away. </p>
<p>The people I’ve known who went to Smith were multiple generation legacies and devoted
to their school (and yes, the youngest one is now in her 60s, so my info is a bit dated) Historically it was an intellectual powerhouse, very strong in the sciences. Don’t know what it’s like today, but you can’t find a more quintessential college town than Amherst. </p>
<p>I think you’ll find your answer when you visit, unless finances are controlling.</p>
<p>I agree with paradocs. I think Smith has an amazing amount to offer an engineering student. I think it is the only engineering program offered at a Women’s college. </p>
<p>I think the Cali school is excellent.</p>
<p>Marist does not have much of a reputation on the east coast. It is not of the caliber of the other schools.</p>
<p>Trinity is one of the old New England schools like Williams, Wesleyan and Amherst but it has fallen on somewhat hard times.</p>
<p>The campus is lovely, and I wouldn’t be afraid of Hartford, as others have said. There are a lot of service (and business) opportunities in a city. However, for me it wouldn’t justify the price tag over the state public which is an excellent school.</p>
<p>So, Smith or left coast would be my advice.</p>
<p>I know it’s not a very standard CC view but I have a very difficult time believing ANY school is $120,000 out of pocket better than any other school…I also think there is a definite east coast superiority here that lends itself to a natural biased for east coast schools and any other school outside of that isn’t worth a dime. Somehow students from these non-east coast schools land lucrative careers, even in this tough job market. Then, add in travel costs to and from and that is a healthy down payment on a house some day. I have to say that my spouse has an Econ degree from a school most people here probably have never heard of. Other friends from high school have gone to “CC approved” schools and I can tell you that my H has advanced much farther in his career then other friends, and being 30 years out of college, has a more expansive alumni network than our friends do. So, the point of this ramble, don’t assume that because the school isn’t popular here that she is doomed to flip burgers…</p>
<p>The OP said D was looking for an east coast school experience; I think that’s the only reason anyone is discussing the east coast schools. Most, like you, seem to think she has a fine in state choice.</p>
<p>I agree (and live not too very far from Marist):
Nothing wrong with Marist, depends on where she wants to spend her days. Smith is a great school located in Northampton, a cool/hip/safe college town. (Disclosure- My D’s school is a part of the 5 College Consortium with Smith and she looked long and hard at it so I have a fair bit of familiarity.) So IF the extra $120K is not an issue and IF your D likes Smith as much or better than Marist- then it is a great choice. If she wants a less competitive placement (and nothing wrong with that) Marist is a perfectly fine school too. If your D does well at Marist, can’t imagine grad school admission would be a problem- unless you are aiming for the highest level of selectivity? If so, then Smith if she has the academic chops to keep up.</p>
<p>A Trinity College student is currently fighting for his life after being brutally beaten one Friday night recently right on the edge of campus in what has been deemed a random attack. The surrounding area really is awful. Is your D an overachiever, very motivated, always seeks intellectuals as friends? Very openminded, etc.? Smith would be the most challenging intellectual environment. Probably also the most diverse and open in terms of sexual orientation of students, etc. Old college with many, many famous women alums who have done amazing things.</p>
<p>It;s nice to have a safe neighborhood, but let’s remember that the most unsafe place around colleges is usually the campus itself.</p>
<p>At my alma mater, in about as safe a neighborhood as you could get (unless eaten by a bear), the President of the College says publicly that they had hundreds of sexual assaults on campus last year, and four students (out of a very small student body) were expelled for rape or sexual assault:</p>
<p>So while it is more difficult to go to school where the neighborhood is less than safe, let’s remember where the largest aggregation of criminals is.</p>
<p>(I only singled out W. because it is my alma mater - it might be better or worse on other campuses.)</p>
<p>Well, the kid at Trinity was jumped by people not from the campus - that has been established. Trinity is a great school, it’s just the location that is horrible. When you have a choice, why knowingly choose a very unsafe location when you have safer alternatives? Williams is out in the boonies, with very little around it, (I live pretty close and am very familiar with the area) so it is understandable that your biggest threat there in terms of safety would come from other students, since there isn’t a large population of residents living right near the campus. Complete opposite of Trinity.</p>
Actually that has not been established. In fact, since the victim was not robbed (contrary to earlier reports) there is sentiment that he may have been specifically targeted and the police have not ruled out the possibility that even other students could be the assailants.</p>
<p>That said, Trinity College straddles some very poor and also more working-class neighborhoods. There is crime in Hartford and students need to be smart and aware of their surroundings, much like in any urban area. I would not characterize the surrounding area as horrible.</p>
<p>Still think Smith might be the best choice, given the OP’s description of her D if cost is not an issue.</p>
<p>I doubt it. I’m pretty sure the biggest threat would be from other Trinity students, in rape, attempted rape, sexual assault, assault, theft, and destruction of property.</p>
<p>(and no, I don’t like the location much either.)</p>
<p>in reading your reply’s I feel comforted in knowing that the reason’s I feel that this is a complicated decision for us are real. My husband went to a state school like SteveMA’s h, and did very well in his career. Many people that work under him have superior academic credentials than he and unfortunately they do not always perform up to his standards. He believes that Smith would be worth the cost due to the quality of education and networking. In fact, dd was accepted to other school’s that we are not willing to pay for, including one with a large scholarship that would end up costing less than our in state public school.</p>
<p>The reason that we’re fine with passing our state school is that the culture doesn’t fit for our dd. She really wants to be on the east coast and since my husband is from CT and has all of his family still there we feel comfortable knowing that she has family nearby.</p>
<p>As far as cost, it is a lot for us. Besides books, travel and pocket money, Are there other expenses I should consider? </p>
<p>Thank you all for your opinions and insights!</p>
<p>kinderny–that health insurance fee isn’t mandatory at any schools we have looked at as long as the student has coverage elsewhere. What schools require that even if you have coverage elsewhere?</p>
<p>It has to do with whether your coverage can be used locally, I think. So right, if someone has health insurance that can be used locally (near the school) the family may not have to pay. We still have to pay a health center fee ($200 I think) but not the health insurance. The tricky part is that our health insurance is accepted as a substitute, but the doctors local to the school are “out of network” so it is actually cheaper for D to go to the ER instead of an urgent care clinic or local dr for tests, consults, etc. or just come home (90 minutes away).</p>
<p>SteveMA: while that is technically true, parents need to confirm that their current insurance provides coverage in the college location. For instance, my older son attended college in Arizona and my MA based BCBS HMO-type coverage would not cover him in AZ. We bought the school-mandated insurance for him. But my younger son is covered in Pennsylvania (and he’s also close enough to get home if he needs to see his regular drs) and so we opted out of the school’s insurance.</p>
<p>And for the OP…travel may be a big issue outside of the cost. The closest airport to Marist would likely be Westchester, and you should check on the local transportation options (maybe school shuttle?). Trinity would use Bradley International in South Windsor CT, as would Smith. Again, what are the options to get to and from the airport? And how long will the travel between home and school take? How often does your D plan on coming home?</p>
<p>I haven’t read the entire thread, but if I had a choice between a CA state school and Marist, I would go to the CA school. I really do not think that Marist is worth flying across the country for, especially for a student who is good enough to get into Smith. Of the three privates, I’d say it is Smith hands down, based on education and location.</p>
<p>krsmom–my Dh went to a private school, at a very low cost after merit aid-and paid nothing for the last 2 years of his schooling. He was able to graduate with very little loan debt (paid for all the costs himself, parents were not able to help). The alumni network is HUGE, especially for how big the school is, under 2000 students. I still can’t imagine that any school is worth $120K more than another.</p>
<p>I know this is going to sound strange but…At Marist she would basically have the credits of a sophomore going in, so she could potentially be there for only a year and a half if she studied abroad for a year and took part in their summer trip to asia (it counts as a semester)for school of management students. She would most likely have a better gpa to qualify for some of the same programs that would be more competitive to get into from a more rigorous school. Also, because you pay the same amount of tuition that you would to your home school it sounds like a good value. A friend of mine whose daughter is considering a school in Texas would be able to go to the same program from her home school and be charged $10K more. </p>
<p>She does know that her education wouldn’t be comparable to Smith/Trinity if she chooses Marist. But she also knows that funds for grad school would be available to her.</p>
<p>I’m not sure Marist would grant the degree under those circumstances. Most schools have residency requirements. And there is no guarantee that all her college credits would be accepted. And if they were, what would be the point of coming at all. Further, are you sure she’d be adequately prepared for grad school? My Swent to a school with a lot of grade deflation, but he learned five times the amount per class than he did when he got A’s in the classes he took at our well respected local UNO. There is a point to a good college education.</p>