<p>Walmer: Your daughter is right - they should get an answer in 4 weeks. My daughter’s answer was less than 4 weeks (I think about 3). from the PhilaU FAQ:The Admissions Committee will begin reviewing applications in October for the following fall semester. Review usually begins in June for the following spring semester (January). Once all required materials have been received, the student usually has a decision in approximately four weeks. If the Committee requests additional grades and/or SAT I/ACT scores, a decision is usually rendered two to three weeks after the requested materials have been received. </p>
<p>Also the school is about 1/2 commuters so the campus is not hopping with students on the weekends when no classes are in session. However, students like my daughter who live 9 hours away are there all weekend and are either working on design projects, working out in the gym/doing sports or hanging out with friends. They also use the weekends to take the RAM van or SEPTA into Center city to enjoy Philadelphia.</p>
<p>The Campus is super safe in my opinion. Even parents have to be logged in by the student and show ID every time they go in and out to visit. Dorms are locked and paid security guards (who don’t just say “Aw sure go ahead in”) are at the front door. We spoke with a campus security guard (on his Segway) who said they have not had but one or two “serious” crimes (i.e. assault) in the past ten years and the crime they do have is mostly theft of ipods, bikes, etc. The neighboring area is suburban homes, not businesses and is home to many influencial people like the Mayor and judges so the police response time is very fast and almost no one who doesn’t go to PhilaU is roaming the streets. If they wander more than three of four miles from campus there are some less desirable nieghborhoods but my daughter has had no problems walking into Manayunk and going to restaurants, church and shops there. Also, my D has frequently used the RAM vans, which are on-call in addition to having regular routes, to get from one place to another at night (or in her case - early morning for crew practice).</p>
<p>I would say all of the design programs are great for students who like hands-on and one on one attention. The students fare well in local and national competitions (first Project Runway winner was PhilaU grad). It is a small school with good teachers and students who enjoy doing their thing. It is not a place for someone who doesn’t know what they want to do in life (not enough majors) or who wants the excitement of big time athletics, etc. However, the faculty and staff are super friendly and available. I would call a faculty member from industrial design and talk to them - I am sure they will help fill in the specifics of where that program is right now.</p>