Hamilton. I don’t think it’s possible for college students to get any more snooty.
^^^ Have you visited an Ivy League school?
I have to give the nod for snotty to CCM (Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, my kid is an arts major) who had gave one of those rousing “it’s nice that you came to visit, but it’s unlikely that you will be accepted” kind of speeches, followed by a “you’ll always remember that you got to see behind the scenes even after we reject you” kind of tour. Strangely enough, they got cut from our final list…
@mtmcmt — But Brandeis is not religiously affiliated and never has been. Whereas many colleges, including many Ivy League members, were originally religiously affiliated and dropped the affiliation long ago, Brandeis was NEVER religiously affiliated, but always fully secular. Brandeis was just willing to admit a higher percentage of Jews than the Ivies, which was the reason Brandeis began- to provide an alternative to universities that had a quota in those days on the number of Jews they were willing to admit.
So it is not the same as the Jesuit colleges, which are technically affiliated with a religion, whereas Brandeis is not. And they require a theology class. Brandeis, as a secular school, of course does not.
But I get your analogy that the difference may be in the religion of a plurality of students, versus a doctrinaire approach.
Now back to the thread’s topic!
More hatred and invective, please. Remember this thread’s prime directive!
@EyeVeee Yes, we visited Cornell, Harvard, and Yale on that same trip. Our Hamilton tour guide dissed on the town it’s in, basically calling it too poor to be any fun, and said that he decided continuing his high school sport in college there would be a step down from playing his sport in Switzerland.
We were disappointed by Richmond. Had expected to really like it but, as my daughter observed, “it’s like a boarding school where the kids are allowed to have cars.”
For a lot of kids and families, "a nice boarding school feel with a gorgeous, pristine campus, tremendous resources and intimate learning environment " would be a huge plus.
That’s what makes this thread so interesting.
@lalalander111 Agreed - different strokes for different folks.
I don’t get the big deal about taking a theology class or two. They aren’t there to convert you–just educate you. An enormous amount of the wars in history have something to do with religion–its a topic you should know something about if you want to understand the world situation.
Can you count as “least favorite” schools son refused to visit when he and H did their east coast trip years ago? Saw MIT and son refused to visit the Harvard campus, only blocks away and an icon. Would not stop to see Yale on the way to Princeton (a school he started but would not finish the application for). Looking back, he did better at the school he did attend personality wise as well as academically (smart but didn’t always get the grades he could have even in college).
I do get not wanting any theology class. Not a subject I have any interest in whereas a sociology class that deals with WHY people have such beliefs is different, but still not a class I would take.
@lalalander111 You’re so right. Then there’s my kid, who would probably reject any school with a campus that could be described as “pristine” and “boarding school like.”
Is there a safe, nondescript campus full of laid back, smart, lazy kids in normal clothes who like to longboard, snowboard, play music and sort of study sometimes?
Sounds like a state flagship to me. Large enough to have a wide diversity of interests, even within a major and/or honors program.
“Is there a safe, nondescript campus full of laid back, smart, lazy kids in normal clothes who like to longboard, snowboard, play music and sort of study sometimes?”
I wouldn’t call them lazy and they definitely study, but look at schools like UVM, UNH, and a notch lower academics wise Plymouth State.
“We visited just about every school in the southeast. Texas A &M was horrible. It was like exhurbia on steroids. Ugly architecture and felt like you would have to walk miles from class to class. Major roads surrounding campus made it feel even more austere”
I went to A&M… it is not a pretty campus except for some of the large oak trees. When the school admitted women in the late 60’s it experienced a flood of new students and had to throw up a bunch of very ugly buildings to teach and house those students. Needless to say there was no thought to architecture. The dominant building color is tan brick which is depressing. That being said, its a very fun place to go to college and very unique. You made a mistake cancelling a tour based on the look of the campus. Also the complaint about major roads surrounding the campus is true - that’s because no city roads go through campus, which makes the campus somewhat of a sanctuary from city traffic. That’s actually a good thing.
Wellborn Road might be considered a city road that cuts through campus, especially since the Mays Business School moved over to west campus. Plus, all of the animal/ag related departments are on that side.
I went to A&M for grad school and compared to my undergrad institution (Stony Brook), the campus was exquisite. And the students are very friendly.
@eh1234 said "Then there’s my kid, who would probably reject any school with a campus that could be described as “pristine” and “boarding school like.”
My kids rejected every school that they found “boarding school like”, which effectively was every liberal arts college.
As none of them has ever attended boarding school, or even seen one, AFAIK, the judgement seems a bit without merit.
very true about wellborn road. When I was in school the only buildings on the other side of wellborn was the medical school and maybe a Ag building, along with all the parking lots and intramural fields. They have made a major improvement by adding the tunnels so you don’t have to cross the street - plus I think the campus shuttle buses are pretty convenient.
My complaint is IF you host a student overnight do not do it in a quint room of 5 girls who apparently hate each other. They hosted only three students across campus that night and you could not have had a student in a double room host? The arguing and roommate issues turned my Dd off the school. She said it seemed like every student she met hated the other students. One RA even told her she would transfer if she could, good endorsement!
@eh1234 that’s the school for my son! And funnily enough, @doschicos hit the nail on the head, because we just looked at both UVM and UNH. I think UNH might just be his dream school. Could be the school for your kid too, lol!