<p>MaryAnnC - maybe a place that has a good program in both in case he changes his mind?</p>
<p>I am glad that my S did not pick a college that is not just basically an engineering school. While I hope he stays with engineering, he will have a chance to explore some of his other interests. And if he changes his mind, he won’t have to transfer to another school.</p>
<p>Maryann, Congrats on 4 fine choices. I think it comes down to where he feel the most comfortable and where the $work out for you.</p>
<p>I had business/Bio twins and they liked Marist for both, although business was talked about more on their visit. I think it would be “fit” also, how nice to have 4 to pick from in April!</p>
<p>MaryAnn,</p>
<p>Have a great visit to Scranton tomorrow! They claim to have very good biology & business.</p>
<p>Let us know how it goes.</p>
<p>MaryAnn Try to talk him into thinking of total experience rather than major since his major/interests are likely to change. If he focuses on where he will feel happiest he will absolutely be making the right choice between 4 great choices.</p>
<p>My D thought she wanted bio, then chem kicked her butt (not the concepts, the stinking math) anyway she is now doing well as a second semester frosh who decided Creative Writing was more her thing. There are cases like this all over CC but I know, getting a senior in high school to believe what mom says is a toughie. 
best wishes!</p>
<p>Hi historymom! We enjoyed our St. Many’s tour, and son went back yesterday for soccer games against UCD. We also enjoyed Sonoma State and CSU Monterrey tours. I thought the Monterey campus was especially nice, but H preferred the Sonoma dorms. We were not shown dorm rooms at St. Mary’s.</p>
<p>Hi Shrinkrap,</p>
<p>S has decided on Saint Mary’s! (I already PM’d Historymom about this news). It is such a relief to have the decision made–I’m still trying to absorb it and the fact that he will be leaving our “nest” in just a few short months. </p>
<p>The Saint Mary’s dorms we saw during Open House in Jan. were very typical. S did say the SSU dorm he stayed in last summer during soccer camp was very nice–had his own room too.</p>
<p>Just spoke to a mom today who recently toured CSU Monterey Bay with her accepted D but neither of them cared for it. Just goes to show how individual this whole college search process is, and how what appeals to one student doesn’t work for another.</p>
<p>Good luck to your S in his search and all others trying to make the college decision in the next few weeks! It is an exciting time.</p>
<p>Shrinkwrap: Was it women’s club soccer you were watching v. UCD? If so you saw my girls. (Oh and they won 1-0 if anyone is curious ;))</p>
<p>Campbellmom is right, Sonoma and Monterey both have nicer frosh dorms than SMC. Sophomores live in suite style housing some with living areas and some w/o. Then Jrs and Srs have really nice town houses. </p>
<p>CSUMB was one of my older daughters’ safeties. I like it very much but agree that the central coast landscape is an acquired taste ;). DS would like to be able to dive and he can do that there. They also focus on experiential learning which for him, like lots of boys, is key. Am taking S and a buddy to see it this summer just to have a look around.</p>
<p>Historymom and Shrinkrap, if your S’s end up seriously considering CSU Monterey Bay, they will need to be very comfortable with cool weather and grey skies. Don’t know if climate is a consideration, but surprisingly enough, it was for my S who wouldn’t consider SoCal because it is “too hot.” He got this impression from playing summer soccer tourneys there. Younger child is very interested in a college search in SoCal so my kids have different opinions–for some weather/climate might not even be a consideration.</p>
<p>H doesn’t like CSUMB in general (proximity to Seaside) but says some programs there are very strong, like remote sensing.</p>
<p>“they will need to be very comfortable with cool weather and grey skies”</p>
<p>Good to know! He is used to hot, valley weather.The weather had been awful up until a few hours before the tour, then it turned to clear, sunny skies. My son LOVES the ocean though, and says he could see himself there. BTW, I didn’t go to the soccer game, but son says it was varsity boys, and they tied…</p>
<p>Your ocean-loving boys may want to also consider UCSC and UCSB (my alma mater), although I’m really surprised to learn this year that classmates of S’s with 3.6 or so GPAs were not accepted into mid-tier UC’s (UCSB/UCI).</p>
<p>My son would DIE to get into UCSB, especially if he could play soccer there, but I don’t think UC’s are in the cards. He MIGHT squeak by a 3.0 UC GPA, but I don’t think he’s prepared for the subject tests. He’s going to try, though. To bad he has to take them; class of '12 won’t have to.</p>
<p>I could be wrong about my S since he is just a freshman but I seriously doubt that he will be willing to take subject tests. On our tip this summer we are going to the city of Monterey to play, probably catching something to eat @CSUMB then spending a couple of days in Santa Cruz. I am an alum of UCSC and my brother and SIL both work on campus so we will spend some time on that campus too. However I seriously doubt the boy will want to apply. In addition to a desire to avoid additional tests, he wants basketball and or football that has a lot of school support and UCSC, while wonderful, doesn’t meat that criteria. UCSB does, but like shrinkwrap’s S mine may fall short in the stats dept. </p>
<p>The kid thinks he would like to be able to board,dive, and be a part of spirited student body that loves their basketball and football. I think he may need to settle for two out of four. Though U of Montana offers 3 of the 4. </p>
<p>I don’t know about school spirit on the CSUMB campus but do know that they beat Cal Poly Pomona this year and CPP had a nice showing in the D2 tourney. It’s a young school and loyal alumni tend to make a big difference in school spirit. CSUMB just hasn’t been around long enough to have built up a huge alumni support system re athletics but as long as there is student support I think he will could happy.</p>
<p>Whew, lots of cart before the horse talk from me here. Time to rein myself in. ;)</p>
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</p>
<p>Fang Jr used to have tournaments at CSU Monterey Bay, so I’ve been there many times. Often the ocean fog is just barely onshore. CSUMB can still be in the sunshine when the actual beach and actual dunes are in the fog.</p>
<p>on edit: The same is true for UCSC, right historymom?</p>
<p>historymom; I’m pretty sure starting with class of '12, you don’t have to take subjects tests for UC’s.</p>
<p>Shirnkrap, I think you are right about Subject Tests going away for the Class of '12 (my daughter’s class). Yay!! </p>
<p>H and I lived in Aptos, 1/2 hour north of Monterey, BC (before children) and got tired of the grey skies/cool weather when the sun wouldn’t peek out till 3:00 p.m. This is typical Monterey weather too but maybe CSUMB is in a sunnier area like CF says. We know no one who attends CSUMB even though we’re relatively close. It hasn’t caught on with our kids’ high school. Maybe soon, as the doors to more UCs and CSUs become harder to enter.</p>
<p>I <em>think</em> CSUMB is a bit sunnier than Aptos.</p>
<p>Anybody have any more decisions to share?? After all this hard work, it would be great to hear from folks about their decisions and perhaps new sweatshirts?? My son is still undecided…so, we’re still going crazy. Two more weeks!!!</p>
<p>CF yep, there are many mornings on the UCSC campus when you look down on the fog below.</p>
<p>Oh and you all made my day with the no subject tests starting in 2012! WhoooHoooo. </p>
<p>Bring on the decisions I want to know who is wearing what sweatshirt!</p>
<p>Undecided here, but down to Goucher, Juniata, Susquehanna and Hiram, plus maybe Hobart, although that seems to be off the table.</p>