Villanova, Wesleyan or Colgate?

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21

Hey, I’m with you. Middletown is quiet. That’s one of the reasons I like it. People generally drive in (the perpendicular parking spaces are nearly always filled) from nearby towns and that accounts for the lack of foot traffic. What I especially like about that is the stores and restaurants are seldom packed; the cashier lines are short; your food comes relatively quickly. I wish Brewbakers was open a little later (they close at 2PM), but Mondo’s is just as close to campus and open generally until 9PM.

IMO, Middletown mainly represents a way for Wesleyan students to take a break from campus food (or cooking for themselves) and an excuse to take a walk.

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22

Ha! I know it sounds bad to judge based on YouTube! I’m clutching at straws! But some of the college reviews are great! As in, they are very detailed. You find out what the schools traditions and activities are, what the students do in their free time, how hard it is to make friends, and what to do about it. For Wes, nothing! Except some promo ads with vague promises that it will change your life.

23

Has your student looked on Unigo? (with the usual advice about taking online reviews with a grain of salt of course.)

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24

CT resident here. Many restaurants are closed now on Mondays and/or Tuesdays now. But Middletown has a bunch of restaurants that are open these days. However, some are only open for dinner starting at 4 or so. And some have breakfast and lunch only and close about 2.

I would not call Middletown sleepy at all. Lots of action there. But it’s not London!

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25

We were there on a Tuesday to attend a scheduled tour at 1 p.m. Before that we were looking for a place to eat lunch and admissions recommended Perk on Main, which was fun, but in a strip mall with stores that were all closed, and that was far from campus. It’s absolutely fine for the town to be dead if the campus is lively.

26

1.students were hopefully in classes and not sitting around!
2. Lots of things are now closed on Mondays and Tuesdays in CT. Those aren’t their busiest days.

I wouldn’t judge the college based on the above.

I will say, for someone interested in the arts, Wes has lots going on…to see. But Villanova is close enough to enjoy the arts in Philly.

27

If the three schools are somewhat similar in other aspects, why not? It says something.

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28

I look at YouTube videos to get “information” I can’t get anywhere else. I know it’s not definitive, not ideal, not representative. But I do think some students have great videos! I just watched a couple by students from Boston College and they were articulate, attractive, gave relevant details. So it gave me a positive feeling toward that school. So I have to wonder why there are none from Wes.

29

You might have better luck looking at Instagram. Many colleges’ admission office Instagram accounts have students taking over their Instagram stories posting as they go about their day and taking questions. Also look for Instagram channels and/or Tik Tok posts by clubs and academic departments of interest.

In general, I would say that students at Villanova and Colgate are more preprofessional than at Wes. This is a generalization, of course. Among my daughter’s creative friend group in NYC, many of whom applied to Wes, I don’t think a single one applied to either Villanova or Colgate. Their perception (which might be unfair) was that these were preppier, less arts-oriented places. I do think that you would find overlap among applicants to Villanova and Colgate. All three are excellent schools, but Wes has a pretty different vibe from the other two schools, even for those who aren’t involved in the arts.

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30

Within the video realm, this is my favorite from Wesleyan: https://youtu.be/SFISRDj5BNk?si=a_sPNw0oAAjAn-4V.

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31

Because, a party one day is not the whole school experience. For instance, there’s something called “Villanova Nice” (you hear about it from the students), in which the students are all really nice and say hi and open doors for you, but it doesn’t go any deeper. I’m just giving an example of perception v reality. It’s not a real worry, because a lot of it depends on the individual and what effort you put in.

32

Yes, beautiful. Thank you for sharing! To my point though, this video is 10 years old. Why aren’t there new Wes students videos?!

33

One thing I’d note - and I think it’s great to get more info or have concern -

But sometimes kids just click somewhere - and it’s done.

A lot of threads are parents trying to find out “how to” show another as better that the student didn’t see or didn’t want to see.

But in the end the student is going.

Based on your first post, the student has made up their mind - and that’s ok - and I put the link above in a previous note for Villanova on Set - so they do have - at least a focus of interest - on the entertainment industry.

If Middletown is sleepy two days a week (whether it is or not, it is to the student), etc. or the student already has in their mind what the school is, it’s highly doubtful it’s going to change.

Nova did a great sales job - and part of the selling is their students were clearly happy (and that part cannot be faked).

If you end up having to go with that because the student pushes back - nothing wrong with that.

Because it’s likely the final answer anyway - they’ve decided and I’m not sure it’s worth the effort to get them to undecide.

They did visit Nova and Wes - and saw what they saw. Visiting on an admitted student day vs. another doesn’t matter.

At one they saw vibrant, happy kids - and regardless of the production the school put on, they saw those happy vibrant kids. At the other, they didn’t…was it a one off odd situation or not…isn’t relevant.

Nova is close to the large, bustling city…is larger than the others and maybe that has impact…has train stations (multiple on its long campus) - whatever the reason, if what you wrote in the first post is accurate, they are choosing it.

So if you can revisit the others - great - and if not, I think it’s great your student found a campus they love and I’d be ok with that too.

PS - Nova is a well reputed university with a long standing national reputation due, in large part, to its old Big East basketball team and with it’s recent success as well.

So it’s a fine school and yes maybe not as well known in some circles, but very well known in other circles…very well known.

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34

You speak with wisdom. I have to work to not show my biases and when DC decides, celebrate it!(I still want to know for myself though–can you have fun at Wesleyan?? Why is it so quiet?)

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35

Sounds like you saw Wesleyan on a normal day when people were going to and from class. This is what American college students do during weekdays. Did they look depressed? Did they not look healthy and well-fed? Did DC bother to sit in on a class? My understanding is that all of that is pretty perfunctory at UK colleges. That may explain the disconnect between expectations and the reality of how Americans (who are paying a king’s ransom for their educations) approach things. What you saw at Nova was closer to the UK model.

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36

Colleges tend to really roll out the red carpet for admitted student days. I would agree it definitely puts Colgate and Wes at a disadvantage. These “red carpet” events for admitted student days though are not indicative of every day life at that school!
Not sure what your travel/time/resource constraints are, but if there’s a way to have one more visit each at Colgate and Wes, then I’d try and do it. If she still feels the same after additional visits, then it seems like Villanova might be the way to go. BIG differences between the 3 schools though in pretty much every regard, so in the meantime, maybe she can dig deep and really come up with a pros/cons list for each school including but not limited to location, size, programs/majors, opportunities, etc.

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37

Here’s a page on Wes’ website that lists student organizations and clubs. It includes everything from a fraternity to improv groups to club sports, etc.
If you click on them, you get a description and there’s usually a link to their Instagram account.
https://wesleyan.campuslabs.com/engage/organizations/

ETA: I don’t have a vested interest in Wesleyan. It’s the school I know best of the three your son is considering.

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38

Thank you! I hadn’t seen that. I know US News & World Report named Wes as one of 20 colleges where it is easy to get involved.

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39

Paging @James_West, who I believe is very familiar with Middletown.

My experience with Middletown was as a representative of a liquor brand targeting hip cool and happening restaurants. I went to many, and was impressed with Middletown.

You seem determined to believe Wesleyan is quiet and boring!

I would also add that Villanova, as a less selective school than Wesleyan or Colgate, has to try harder. As @tsbna44 says, they were selling the school. This is not a criticism!

ETA I agree that each of the 3 schools is completely different, in terms of setting/location and vibe. If one is a really good fit for your son, there’s a good possibility the others won’t be.

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40

Hi no sorry to sound negative on Middletown, just describing our experience. It’s great to hear from you and the others that it is hip and happening. It’s really my DC’s experience I’m worried about. I will pass on info that Middletown is not dead.

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