A "is this a good college" thread for all college searchers...

[Denise W]

Im looking there. I now people who have went there and have heard pretty good things. I think I am done touring untill I apply now though. I pretty much have my top school picked out and now I am just really looking for backups so if everything goes right I will never actually ever have to go to any of these places.

I live right outside Providence. It is a small city (about 100,000 people). It has Brown, RISD (Rhode Island School of Design), Johnson and Wales, Providence College, and Rhode Island College in the city. Because it is small it is easy to get around. It is a very "artsy" city - a lot of the artists from RISD stay here after graduation. Waterfire began here - a music and art celebration using lit fire pits on the river - a great experience.

You mentioned wanting to know about Bryant University - I assume you mean the one in Smithfield, RI? It started as a business school and is still known mostly for business degrees. If you are interested in political science, I would apply to Brown or Providence College.

The other great thing about the Providence area is that you are 40 minutes from the ocean, 2 hours from skiing, and an hour from Boston.

Denise

 

[bballmom56]

I have read stories about people who got my finacial aid or money offered from a school that was not their top choice and they then told this to the top choice that offered less and ended up getting alittle more money from the top choice. I have actually heard this happens quite often, the top school will not match the money from the other school but will usually raise their offer. So, it does not hurt to contact schools about other scholarships or financial aid offers.

Yes, my DD was able to do that and get an increased amount at her top choice.

 

[kbeverina]

However, and this is just conjecture-I have nothing to back this up except a strange merit scholarship story- I wonder if this student was too well qualified for these schools, and they rejected him in favor of other candidates because they figured he would not attend anyhow. Does anyone know if this happens?

They call this "Tufts Syndrome" on college confidential to describe bizarre admissions decisions. There is definitely a concern that schools will try to protect their yield, the number of acceptances in relation to offers of admission, and will reject students they feel might be using them as a safety and are likely to get into a better school.

Admissions counselors will deny it, of course, but it does show the importance of visiting a school and making sure they know you want to go there.

 

[Green Tea]

I haven't taken the time to look through the whole thread, but I have a feeling it probably hasn't been discussed...Anyone looked into Rollins College in Winter Park, FL? I've been looking at it for theater but have seen no indication that an audition is required...I REALLY want to go here! Their program seems the most well-balanced and seems like it has NO core classes (math, science, etc.) which is what I want. Anyone?

I don't know the program but visited the school with one of my children. What a beautiful place! It is truly a lovely campus.

 

[kacaju]

Monmouth Univ. (West Long Branch, NJ).

I don't know anything about Monmouth, but last year somehow they ended up with my dd's cell phone number, so she would get the automated calls from the school ALL THE TIME.
I tease her now that she should apply there since they already think so highly of her to include her on their phone list!! LOL!!

 

[disneylovin24]

I don't know anything about Monmouth, but last year somehow they ended up with my dd's cell phone number, so she would get the automated calls from the school ALL THE TIME.
I tease her now that she should apply there since they already think so highly of her to include her on their phone list!! LOL!!

O boy, guess who gave them there number today

 

[KarenB]

Those of you that have mentioned Bucknell but don't know anything about this school, watch the Patriot League semifinal men's basketball play off at 7:30 tonight.....and root for them please

 

[nuttylawprofessor]

However, and this is just conjecture-I have nothing to back this up except a strange merit scholarship story- I wonder if this student was too well qualified for these schools, and they rejected him in favor of other candidates because they figured he would not attend anyhow. Does anyone know if this happens?

Yes. This absolutely happens. Schools will reject a highly qualified candidate who is highly unlikely to attend the school in order to keep its selectivity rating up. This is particularly likely to happen where the candidate has scores that wouldn't significantly pull the SAT or GPA category up in the rankings. It's a phenomenon most likely to occur where the school is mid-ranked.

 

[erincon23]

I don't know anything about Monmouth, but last year somehow they ended up with my dd's cell phone number, so she would get the automated calls from the school ALL THE TIME.
I tease her now that she should apply there since they already think so highly of her to include her on their phone list!! LOL!!

There's a Monmouth in NW Illinois also -- they call my DS at least twice a month, and we get more mail from them than anywhere else! We think they saw him at a HS theatre audition (it was a theatre fest, and the kids could choose to do an audition where they'd be seen by up to 30 schools). He's told them OVER and OVER that he's a student somewhere else, and they just keep calling! Wonder if the NJ and IL schools are related.

 

[a1tinkfans]

We are starting the "search" and I have to say I am totally feeling overwhelmed with it. The "student" is not Sure, why would he, he just thinks the $$ will magically appear, the college will "want him" and all will fall into place. What is this thinking, "Disney Fantasy Inspired" I do not think this will be easy...I am just hoping for "somewhat smooth"
Today I spoke to someone who works at the state University near by us. She said that the school is cutting back even more on the money for our own residents to re-allocate it for out of state students...Oh, thanks, more good news.......Not!! I "had" thought of it as a back up....

 

[golfgal]

There's a Monmouth in NW Illinois also -- they call my DS at least twice a month, and we get more mail from them than anywhere else! We think they saw him at a HS theatre audition (it was a theatre fest, and the kids could choose to do an audition where they'd be seen by up to 30 schools). He's told them OVER and OVER that he's a student somewhere else, and they just keep calling! Wonder if the NJ and IL schools are related.

Making a note "no address or phone numbers to Monmouth"

Do they not understand that this is annoying and they are probably scaring off more students because of this?

 

[Robinrs]

bump!

 

[bethbuchall]

Making a note "no address or phone numbers to Monmouth"

Do they not understand that this is annoying and they are probably scaring off more students because of this?

Pace University called here so many times that my daughter ended up screaming after she hung up the phone one night. No matter how many times she and I said that she wasn't interested, they just kept calling. Even if she had a little interest, it would have been squashed by the number of phone calls. I don't know where they got our phone number.

 

[bethbuchall]

I think she's pretty much made the decision, but anyone want to weigh in on SUNY-Albany, SUNY-Binghamton, SUNY-Buffalo, SUNY-Environmental Sciences and Forestry, Rochester Institute of Technology, or Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute?

 

[dejr_8]

I think she's pretty much made the decision, but anyone want to weigh in on SUNY-Albany, SUNY-Binghamton, SUNY-Buffalo, SUNY-Environmental Sciences and Forestry, Rochester Institute of Technology, or Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute?

None of the other schools you listed are in the same league as RPI.

 

[bethbuchall]

None of the other schools you listed are in the same league as RPI.

Thanks. That is one reason she's still debating. We're not convinced it's the best match for her, and the cost is staggering.

 

[erincon23]

DS got a ding letter from his top choice school yesterday... he's quite depressed about it. His "co-top" choice, Western Michigan, hasn't sent out letters yet -- still has one audition coming up (Friday), so hopefully we'll know next week. But after the rejection yesterday, he isn't feeling too confident. And we haven't heard from the state school that should be a lock, except it took him forever to get his transcript from last semester to them, and he screwed up part of his audition (didn't sing enough of the songs, mixed things up with other schools he was auditioning for). We may have him here next year too!

 

[dejr_8]

Thanks. That is one reason she's still debating. We're not convinced it's the best match for her, and the cost is staggering.

She will have her "choice" of men. RPI is heavily male.

What major is she looking at?

 

[pixie dust 112]

Pace University called here so many times that my daughter ended up screaming after she hung up the phone one night. No matter how many times she and I said that she wasn't interested, they just kept calling. Even if she had a little interest, it would have been squashed by the number of phone calls. I don't know where they got our phone number.

For my daughter it was e-mails from Emmanuel in Boston. She had sent in an application and just had to send in her recommendations to complete the application. Well we visited in the meantime and she absolutely hated the school, so she never sent in the recommendations. They kept e-mailing her asking for the recommendations and she kept responding that she was withdrawing her application as she was no longer interested in the school. Finally she got really mad one night and sent them a very nasty e-mail telling them she would not even consider going to her school and to basically just leave her the heck alone. (She did not show me the e-mail until after it was sent). Two weeks later they sent her an acceptance letter and a $15,000.00 scholarship award letter! Nope she still didn't go there!

 

[pixie dust 112]

I think she's pretty much made the decision, but anyone want to weigh in on SUNY-Albany, SUNY-Binghamton, SUNY-Buffalo, SUNY-Environmental Sciences and Forestry, Rochester Institute of Technology, or Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute?

Everyone of these is a good choice! What is she interested in doing?