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

[gopack]

gopack-- I could have written your post, but reversed. I was the Carolina grad who sent my child to State. Like your daughter, I'm assuming, he got into my alma mater and chose to go elsewhere. State fit HIM better. He now has a good job in his field at UNC Charlotte, too.

I was on the State campus with my "Pack Parent" decal on my window and my Carolina front tag many times! I also am a "tar heel born and bred," and writing checks to State had no effect on that whatsoever.

Tar heel, I am glad to hear that one can survive the State/Carolina house divided issue! LOL! The two schools certainly do have a different "vibe" (to quote my daughter). She attended a PAMS event at State yesterday after going to Carolina and she just didn't "feel" it. I am glad to hear that things worked so well for your DS! I am guessing he was an engineering major?

 

[allison443]

I want to go for political science. My top school right now actually is not a liberal arts school but I have found that most schools that do offer the size I want are liberal arts. I kind of do not want to go upstate NY because it is too remote for me.

Would you consider schools in Washington D.C.? They have some "competitive" ones: Georgetown, George Washington, American??

 

[disneylovin24]

Would you consider schools in Washington D.C.? They have some "competitive" ones: Georgetown, George Washington, American??

I was looking at Georgetown originall but then took it off my list because I thought I had a lot of schools to look at closer to home. Now, the second thing is not true but I am still reluctant about Georgetown because it is 6 hours away and it is in the middle of the city which scares me alittle and now I am just "shook up" because I did not like BC which I really thought I would and now I have no idea what to like or not. Ok, that probably ounds confusing but now I am really confused an all because I was really expecting BC to be my first choice and for me to love it so I keep asking myself what happened there and all.

 

[java]

I was looking at Georgetown originall but then took it off my list because I thought I had a lot of schools to look at closer to home. Now, the second thing is not true but I am still reluctant about Georgetown because it is 6 hours away and it is in the middle of the city which scares me alittle and now I am just "shook up" because I did not like BC which I really thought I would and now I have no idea what to like or not. Ok, that probably ounds confusing but now I am really confused an all because I was really expecting BC to be my first choice and for me to love it so I keep asking myself what happened there and all.

Well if it helps- I liked Boston College over Georgetown- So if you didn't like the vibe at BC maybe Georgetown will be more your speed. I just got a text from my friend that is on her way up to BC with her son to check it out. I am anxious to hear if they like it!

 

[disneylovin24]

I'm curious as to what criteria you're using to help pick the right college for your kids?

Location?

Tuition?

Size?

Reputation?

Major?

How difficult or how easy it is to get into?

Everyone's criteria is so different so the "right" college is quite personal.

Of course I am not a parent but I can say as a teen what is important right now. My parents give me suggestions and all but are not effection my decisions at all.

Loaction is big because I do want to be semi-close to home, like not too close (2 hours is starting distance) but not too far, 4 hours would be great but I am willing to do up to 6 if the school is AMAZING. I also want to be close to a bigger city where a lot is going on. I feel like having a city right there helps with getting jobs when your done too because your close to a lot of job oppertunities.

Tuition makes no difference, Ive discussed this with my parents and we've agreed that happiness comes first then figuring out how to pay. Loans may be necessary but we are expecting a good amount of aid.

Size has become VERY important. I want a smaller school, no more then 8000 kids. I like the community feel of smaller schools, it makes you feel more protected which I like.

Reputation is important. I want to attend somewhere that does have a good reputation because I think it helps getting jobs in the end.

I want to go for political science so a lot of schools have it so that's not a big one. Pretty much any school I look at has it so it ends up making no difference.

I also want a more competative school because I have worked hard in high school to get into a good college.

 

[disneylovin24]

Well if it helps- I liked Boston College over Georgetown- So if you didn't like the vibe at BC maybe Georgetown will be more your speed. I just got a text from my friend that is on her way up to BC with her son to check it out. I am anxious to hear if they like it!

Im sure they will! lol From everyone I have talked to I feel like I am the only person who does not like it. Georgetown is more of a consideration now though because I did not like the Boston schools I thought I would.

 

[java]

Anyone know anything about Scranton University?
I just found that one on the Jesuit website and it's rather local so we could easily check it out- day trip. Anyone know anything?

 

[punkin]

Another one that is way too far from me and it is too remote for my tastes.

Did you look at Skidmore? It seems remote, but Saratoga is a great town and it is fairly close to Albany (good airport for whoever asked and Southwest flies there)

I looked Bryn Mawr up. It was perfect except all girls school which is another no no.

Don't immediately dismiss women's colleges (I assume you are female). They offer an incredible education. Bryn Mawr is in a consortium with Haverford (and I think Swarthmore too), Mt. Holyoke and Smith are in a consortium with UMass, Amherst, and Hampshire college. So it's not like there are no boys at all.

 

[cruisnfamily]

Of course I am not a parent but I can say as a teen what is important right now. My parents give me suggestions and all but are not effection my decisions at all.

Loaction is big because I do want to be semi-close to home, like not too close (2 hours is starting distance) but not too far, 4 hours would be great but I am willing to do up to 6 if the school is AMAZING. I also want to be close to a bigger city where a lot is going on. I feel like having a city right there helps with getting jobs when your done too because your close to a lot of job oppertunities.

Tuition makes no difference, Ive discussed this with my parents and we've agreed that happiness comes first then figuring out how to pay. Loans may be necessary but we are expecting a good amount of aid.

Size has become VERY important. I want a smaller school, no more then 8000 kids. I like the community feel of smaller schools, it makes you feel more protected which I like.

Reputation is important. I want to attend somewhere that does have a good reputation because I think it helps getting jobs in the end.

I want to go for political science so a lot of schools have it so that's not a big one. Pretty much any school I look at has it so it ends up making no difference.

I also want a more competative school because I have worked hard in high school to get into a good college.

Read this

 

[bballmom56]

Anyone know anything about Scranton University?
I just found that one on the Jesuit website and it's rather local so we could easily check it out- day trip. Anyone know anything?

Youbetcha . Both of my kids went to the Univ. of Scranton and LOVED their time there. They have done a lot of new construction recently including a new student center and sophomore dorm which are finished, and a science complex and upperclass apartments (including an additional dining location and fitness center) are under construction and scheduled to be completed by fall, 2011.

The campus is well maintained and dorms and buildings we have been in have always been spotless. It draws students mainly from PA, NJ and NY, but both my kids had friends there from the west coast and other countries as well. Academics are first rate with the sciences being very strong (their med. school acceptance rate is fairly high). They have a unique honors program offered to the top (approx. 50) incoming freshmen. We also found they were fairly generous with merit and need based aid.

My DD knew that was where she wanted to be when she first set foot on campus when we visited. There was a vibe and a feeling she didn't get from any of the other schools on her list. DS actually started somewhere else and transferred to Scranton for second semester freshman year.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask!

 

[Buckalew11]

Ok, my turn. Impressions of Gettysburg and Ithaca?

I don't know much about it but my niece is graduating from Gettysburg in May and she has loved it.

 

[allison443]

Of course I am not a parent but I can say as a teen what is important right now. My parents give me suggestions and all but are not effection my decisions at all.

Loaction is big because I do want to be semi-close to home, like not too close (2 hours is starting distance) but not too far, 4 hours would be great but I am willing to do up to 6 if the school is AMAZING. I also want to be close to a bigger city where a lot is going on. I feel like having a city right there helps with getting jobs when your done too because your close to a lot of job oppertunities.

Tuition makes no difference, Ive discussed this with my parents and we've agreed that happiness comes first then figuring out how to pay. Loans may be necessary but we are expecting a good amount of aid. Size has become VERY important. I want a smaller school, no more then 8000 kids. I like the community feel of smaller schools, it makes you feel more protected which I like.

Reputation is important. I want to attend somewhere that does have a good reputation because I think it helps getting jobs in the end.

I want to go for political science so a lot of schools have it so that's not a big one. Pretty much any school I look at has it so it ends up making no difference.

I also want a more competative school because I have worked hard in high school to get into a good college.

Why are you expecting a lot of aid? Do you mean merit aid or need-based financial aid?

 

[tw1nsmom]

Read this

Please...everyone posting to this thread should read this.

 

[bballmom56]

disneylovin24 ~ Have you taken SATs or ACTs yet? Also, please consider what the previous posters are telling you. Don't get saddled with outrageous amounts of loans so that you can be happy now. Those loans will last a lot longer than your 4 years of "happiness". There are a lot of excellent schools where you would not have to take on that kind of debt.

You could look for schools where your stats (gpa, SAT/ACT, class rank) would put you in the top of the applicant pool. Those schools may offer you substantial merit money.

 

[ctinct]

I don't know much about it but my niece is graduating from Gettysburg in May and she has loved it.

That seems to be the general feeling of everyone we've talked to. We visited last April and it just seemed that everyone we talked to loved it there. I have found some people in various forums who attend also, and no one really has much negative to say about it. And believe me, I've asked!

 

[ctinct]

Anyone know anything about Scranton University?
I just found that one on the Jesuit website and it's rather local so we could easily check it out- day trip. Anyone know anything?

We visited, but my daughter did not like it. On paper, it was a good fit, but I forgot to mention in an earlier reply that one of the things that was most important to my daughter, for better or worse, was a real traditional "campus." She wants the green lawns, an enclosed space feeling, etc. Scranton, while everything else was fine, just did not have this. We did a lot of walking on city streets on our tour. The school is in the city center and just does not have a whole lot of green space. There was also quite a bit of construction going on. The mansion that houses their admission center is absolutely stunning, though. It sits on a hill overlooking the city and you can clearly see how at one time it was at the center of the city. One minor point that was a very nice touch at Scranton (although it must be very expensive for them) was that they give everyone a free meal voucher for their dining hall after the tour. We really appreciated that. And, since you found Scranton on a Jesuit website, I will assume that this is important to you. One thing that we heard mentioned several times is that they are "unabashedly Jesuit", so that might be a big thing in its favor for you. Since you say you are in the area, I'd at least check it out. It wasn't for my daughter, but it may be perfect for you.

 

[golfgal]

Please...everyone posting to this thread should read this.

Student loans are not evil. One can be STUPID about taking out student loans, certainly as this person has illustrated, but I hate to see someone chose between not taking out some loans and not going to college. Our son will have student loans when he graduates, equivalent to about a car payment. It isn't all that bright to take out $100,000 in student loans for a job that pays $30,000. You have to factor that into your decision too. Is going to Harvard going to make a difference between you getting selected for a teaching position vs someone that went to the local State U-probably not, but going to Harvard might make a difference between you getting into a top medical school vs someone that graduated from the local state U. You have to weigh the benefits. Is $100,000 in student loan debt a big deal for a dr, not really, but it is for a teacher (or a fortune cookie writer ).

 

[disneylovin24]

Why are you expecting a lot of aid? Do you mean merit aid or need-based financial aid?

Need based, neither of my parents make much money. My cousins got a lot of aid and their parents make twice of what my parents do so we are expecting a lot too.

disneylovin24 ~ Have you taken SATs or ACTs yet? Also, please consider what the previous posters are telling you. Don't get saddled with outrageous amounts of loans so that you can be happy now. Those loans will last a lot longer than your 4 years of "happiness". There are a lot of excellent schools where you would not have to take on that kind of debt.

You could look for schools where your stats (gpa, SAT/ACT, class rank) would put you in the top of the applicant pool. Those schools may offer you substantial merit money.

No, taking SATS in two weeks I understand what loans mean. I have family who have large loans but it is manegable. I am somebody who is hard to please at times and I know I could not speand 4 years somewhere if I was not happy there no matter what the cost. I do believe that it is important to be happy over the 4 years no matter the cost. I am expecting to come out of college owing something and that is fine with me. It is my decision to make and I know what I want.

 

[golfgal]

Anyone know anything about Scranton University?
I just found that one on the Jesuit website and it's rather local so we could easily check it out- day trip. Anyone know anything?

http://www.creighton.edu/

If you are specifically looking for Jesuit schools, Creighton might be of interest. I know it is in Omaha, Nebraska but Omaha is a nice town with an airport

 

[disneylovin24]

Did you look at Skidmore? It seems remote, but Saratoga is a great town and it is fairly close to Albany (good airport for whoever asked and Southwest flies there)



Don't immediately dismiss women's colleges (I assume you are female). They offer an incredible education. Bryn Mawr is in a consortium with Haverford (and I think Swarthmore too), Mt. Holyoke and Smith are in a consortium with UMass, Amherst, and Hampshire college. So it's not like there are no boys at all.

I have been to a lot of places upstate and it is not me! And I know that i do not want a female college! I am somebody who has never had a boyfriend and one of the things I am most excited about in college is to start dating! I know that there are other schools around but I want to be able to go to school with guys.

Read this

I understand about student loans and am fine with taking them out. I have done math with my cousin who owes 100 grand and we figured out that if you make 45k (his salary) you can have your loans payed off by the time your 30. I do not think that's bad. Now, I do know that I may not make 45k right off the bat but still, I am fine with paying student loans. And I know you are going to try to convince me otherwise because I am young and all but you are not changing my mind! I already know where I really want to go (all of the other schools are just backups) and I will pay whatever to go there because that is how much I loved it.