<p>TVHeadMom,
My D thought about a lot of the schools already mentioned (Temple, Pitt, etc.) and applied to a few of them. One I do not think was mentioned yet, that she was admitted to, visited, and really liked was DePaul. It is in a great location in Chicago (two campuses, one for business downtown, one for liberal arts in Lincoln Park), strong business program, seems like a good fit based on grades/scores you mentioned.
Good Luck!</p>
<p>I’m an alum of Albright College and I think it’s a great fit for this thread. I graduated from high school in 2000, so take this info for what it’s worth… My stats were roughly 3.4GPA, 1200/1800SAT, and top 30% from a small catholic high school. I received VERY nice aid from Albright, (the other schools I applied to were Ursinus and Juniata - all 3 schools gave me very similar aid packages.) I ended up paying about 6K a year between what my parents paid while I was attending and federal loans, there were no private loans or parent loans. I am 27 and have paid off my students loans.</p>
<p>Albright changed my perspective on academics, (and many other things.) I barely attended class when I was in high school; I hardly missed a class in college. My professors were all very engaging, and every class I took became interesting to me. I went from being a student who didn’t really apply herself in high school, to graduating magna cum laude in 3 years. I only graduated early for family reasons - I’d have loved to stay at Albright longer. </p>
<p>Looking back probably the best thing about Albright is the personalization. I think they really understand and allow for each student to have the college experience they want. A large number of students have self-designed majors, and almost everyone I know did a double or triple major. There’s not a whole lot of red tape to accomplish this either; actually I don’t think there was a whole lot of red tape anywhere on campus, (maybe the exception being res life.)</p>
<p>The other thing that I’d say ranks up there with making college a personal experience is the professors. EVERY one of my professors was very encouraging, I can only think of two of my professors(both adjuncts) who didn’t take a personal interest in me as a student and my plans. Even in my core courses, the professors got to know me as an individual, and I was a bit shy - not the type to reach out to them. Maybe they even understood me better than I did at the time, because I had 2 different profs for 2 different subjects ask me to consider adding their major, (one of those I regret not having listened.) </p>
<p>Oh and of course there’s the job question, after Albright I did AmeriCorps for 2 years, (I didn’t even attempt to find a job immediately after graduating,) so my experience may be a bit different. But my first real job, I graduated with my boss’ son from Albright. Albright opened the door to this position. I make decent money and have a job I enjoy. I knew I wanted to go back to school and I really like my personal time, so I’ve passed on multiple opportunities for more money/responsibility.</p>
<p>I’ve already typed quite a bit here unprompted, so I’ll wrap this up, but if anyone has other questions about my Albright experience, I will be happy to answer.</p>
<p>ACsinGA: I spent a year at SFSU as an undeclared graduate student. I agree with your assessment of the teaching staff. One of the best professors I had was at SFSU.</p>
<p>ca1vin: Thanks, I really only know what I know because DDs graduated from high school in 09 and they imposed very specific and arbitrary geographic limitations on their college search. Nothing in WA. OR was OK as were Montana and Texas so I focused research in those states.</p>
<p>futureactuary: thanks for putting in your 2cents re. Albright!</p>
<p>FutureActuary-- I’ve never heard of Albright, but based on your recommendation I’ll be looking it up. You’ve described EXACTLY what I’m looking for in a college for my D or for anyone: 1. faculty who are passionate about their subjects and take a true interest in the students. 2. the flexibility of an administration who want above all to see each student challenged and supported in his/her work. This is the kind of recommendation I’m always looking for on CC and have rarely found! THANK YOU!</p>
<p>Does anyone have the inside scoop on Whittier in southern California?
…or UMass (Amherst, I think, but feedback about any of their campuses would be welcome.) It looks like our 3.0-3.3 kids would probably be accepted to these colleges.</p>
<p>Re: Umass. My S is starting at UMass Amherst this fall. He is excited about it - he wanted a large campus, it has kind of a city feel, but is in a rural setting. They have a good engineering program, which is what S is enrolled in. Not sure how other majors stack up against the other options.</p>
<p>For us it is instate, and finances were a factor in the choice. Some of the buildings are nice, some are dated. The school has a reputation as a party school, but then again many do. I think it’s there if your want it but it’s not the majority. Their admissions has gotten more competitive, so I think that weeds some of it out.</p>
<p>The UMass forum on CC is not very active, I have heard positive things from people IRL.</p>
<p>S also applied to UMass Lowell, they have a good engineering program also. There is really not a central campus, it is split between 2 or more areas of Lowell on different sides of the Merrimack. I’ve taken classes there, I think it may be more of a commuter school. Not as much of a great campus feel.</p>
<p>Gwen Fairfax - I am glad I could be of assistance. Let me know if you have an Albright questions, I’ll be happy to answer! I hope your D finds a school that fits her, wherever that is! </p>
<p>In regards to my previous post, it was really late when I posted, so I apologize for all the grammar mistakes. I do want to specifically correct my SAT score, I intended to list it as 1200 on the old 1600 point scale. There was no writing section when I took the SAT.</p>
<p>Martina,
We visited UMAss Amherst as part of our big/small tour. I was impressed by the outward appearance, must more impressive than our state flagship- UCONN. It is the cows at UConn he just can’t deal with. Plus Amherst is such a nice college town.</p>
<p>Not to knock Albright, but I think the caring prof’s and small classes are pretty much the norm at any small LAC. The con of Albright is that it’s in Reading. Reading, like many of our small city’s in PA, is not doing very well and there is a crime problem. My daughter had a good friend that graduated from Albright three years ago and loved it. She got a teaching job right out of college and is still employed.</p>
<p>That is very true about Reading being a struggling city with a crime problem. Albright is barely within the city limits though; it’s very much a suburban campus. When I was at Albright, the most common crime near campus was car stereo theft. I used to jog out Rockland to Alsace/Lorraine and Back on Exeter or Bern Sts in the mornings, and my impression of the area is that it was very solidly middle class and safe. Most of the places we went were suburban as well - for example, many stores we went to were in Muhlenburg and the mall/theater was in Wyomissing. We did go into the city for things like Reading Royals/Phillies games and 9th Street Outlets (ROC.) I never had issues with going there, but some of the areas on our drive back to campus did have that seedy feel. </p>
<p>As someone who grew up in a sheltered rural area, Albright was not overwhelmingly “urban” or scary for me. I’d prefer the location of Albright’s campus to Penn, Temple or Drexel any day. It’s location is more like St Joe’s is to Philadelphia - it has an address in the city, but is located in a suburban area just on the edge of the city, that doesn’t even feel like the same city.</p>
<p>Warning on UMass - it’s getting a lot more selective. Their average weighted GPA is heading north of 3.5 (UMass weighting system = add .5 for honors and 1.0 for AP). D knows a couple of “decent” students who got rejected from UMass Amherst, in-state, this year. Not saying that a 3.0 - 3.3 kid couldn’t get in (especially if the 3.3 is unweighted) but it’s not the “gimme” that a lot of people remember and would expect.</p>
<p>ldinct, that’s an interesting observation. We toured both UMass and UConn and liked UConn’s campus better - the buildings appeared to be much newer/more recently renovated. Not to say that UMass’s was not nice, we just preferred UConn. I guess to each his own!</p>
<p>re post #3628…don’t those cows at UCONN make really good ice cream? A relative who went to UCONN many years ago said it was the best ice cream she’s ever had…</p>
<p>My S is what is catagorized as underacheiver in this thread. (Higher SAT score low GPA). He was accepted by U Conn and Penn State Erie(2+2). Both are OOS. There are a few (Saint Louis Univ., UI etc.) accepted him but we are passing. I would really appreciate some help on how to choose betweenthese two. Thanks.</p>
<p>^^are you instate for either?
if OOS, it would depend on your son’s feeling about 4yrs at the same school v the 2+2 option…depends on the kid; mine would prefer the 4 yr option regardless…</p>
<p>RE Penn State 2+2. I have heard that the satellite Penn State campuses have mostly in-state students that leave on the weekends. You should definitely investigate that further. Also, having to switch after two years may be less desirable. What are the advantages of Penn State over UConn?</p>
<p>Penn State is higher ranking. #47 vs. #66. I assume will have a better chance and choice when graduate</p>
<p>I’d be very careful about assuming too much based on a fairly slight ranking difference in one survey. Two good schools but I’d think carefully about both, and what your S wants, especially how strong they are in his intended major etc. (Why is he making the choice so late?)</p>
<p>Thank you Gwen. Unfortunately this is why my S is in this group. He got accepted by these schools late.</p>
<p>I agree that ranking should not be the deciding factor. Has your son visited both? The satellite campuses (especially the smaller ones) are definitely known for being suitcase schools. We really liked PSU-Harrisburg until we heard that.</p>
<p>fwiw, I have 2 nieces at UCONN-- both have loved it and gotten a lot out of it. It has a lot to offer…So does Penn but I’d be wary of the 2+2…I guess it depends on the kid, but there’s something important about settling in and getting to know your school, then building on that for 4 years… Can you visit both places before he decides?</p>