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

[Green Tea]

Look at Brevard College and Warren Wilson College in the North Carolina mountains. I know less about Brevard but WWC is a really interesting and different school -- not sure about the underachivers for it but I know some who've gone to Brevard.

Have pulled up Warren Wilson which is exactly the sort of place he is looking for!

Had received info on Eckard, which was a little too "beachy." I can't imagine anything being too coastal, but its not my college!

 

[cruisnfamily]

Oh, I agree that the reps at college fairs are mostly sales people. I was just looking for a way to ask the question so my son hears it. For some reason, hearing it from someone else will sink in more over my telling him or showing him on the school website.


So how do I know if a school truly has a good biology program? Will I find that on collegeboard? I know not all programs are equal and he wants the best he can get. He has been told by a zookeeper where he volunteers that he should look for a good biology program first and not worry so much about the marine sciences part.

My best advice would be to ask the people in that industry(like your zookeeper) what schools have a good reputation. At least it's a starting point.

I know everybody touts the great search features on college board and college confidential but the search is only as good as the info those websites have and I've been finding colleges that offer things that collegeboards/confidential don't list them as having. I'm not sure that should be the be all/end all place to search. I wish there were some other sites to search on for colleges which offer which majors. Does anybody know of any others?

 

[Green Tea]

Have filled in request forms for each mentioned. He can look and see if they appeal to him. Thank you all very much. South Dakota, Iowa, North Carolina...a great variety of things to look over.

 

[piglet too]

My best advice would be to ask the people in that industry(like your zookeeper) what schools have a good reputation. At least it's a starting point.

I know everybody touts the great search features on college board and college confidential but the search is only as good as the info those websites have and I've been finding colleges that offer things that collegeboards/confidential don't list them as having. I'm not sure that should be the be all/end all place to search. I wish there were some other sites to search on for colleges which offer which majors. Does anybody know of any others?

He is going to the zoo on Friday (no school) to do just that. Plus, he wants to see if the keepers can help him get in to see the head of the dolphin research center down in Florida. It is an extension of the zoo, so it is worth a shot. My son wants to spend time talking to Dr Wells about best colleges as well as advice on how to get where DS wants to get career wise.


As for other sites, I like collegedata.com. That is where we have found most of the schools he likes. Plus you can put in your gpa and test scores and it gives you an idea where you fall as far as getting accepted.

 

[NotUrsula]

If anyone has names of a school like this, please share:

a very small student body, in the mountains or deserts, preferably private, outdoorsy/ecological, accepts classic underachievers. Lots of opportunities for hands on things-not strictly classroom.

Well, the original school of that sort would have to be Berea. It's in Appalachia, in Kentucky. There is no tuition; every student is on a form of work-study at Berea. It is income-restricted, however; Berea only takes students whose families qualify as UNDER a certain income on their calculator.

There is a similar program at College of the Ozarks in Missouri, near Branson, but is is newer (1906 as opposed to 1855) and not as well-ranked. They are both about the size of a typical suburban high school in terms of enrollment, somewhere south of 2000 students.

 

[golfgal]

He is going to the zoo on Friday (no school) to do just that. Plus, he wants to see if the keepers can help him get in to see the head of the dolphin research center down in Florida. It is an extension of the zoo, so it is worth a shot. My son wants to spend time talking to Dr Wells about best colleges as well as advice on how to get where DS wants to get career wise.


As for other sites, I like collegedata.com. That is where we have found most of the schools he likes. Plus you can put in your gpa and test scores and it gives you an idea where you fall as far as getting accepted.

I think the best way it to talk to people in the industry. There are 100's of schools with fantastic biology departments but not all of them will be good feeder programs for a marine biology masters program. He could probably email marine biologists around the country and tell them he is interested in the field and is looking for suggestions for college programs and other advice from the experts.

 

[piglet too]

I think the best way it to talk to people in the industry. There are 100's of schools with fantastic biology departments but not all of them will be good feeder programs for a marine biology masters program. He could probably email marine biologists around the country and tell them he is interested in the field and is looking for suggestions for college programs and other advice from the experts.

Thank you for this suggestion, it is not one that either of us had thought of.

 

[Green Tea]

Well, the original school of that sort would have to be Berea. It's in Appalachia, in Kentucky. There is no tuition; every student is on a form of work-study at Berea. It is income-restricted, however; Berea only takes students whose families qualify as UNDER a certain income on their calculator.

There is a similar program at College of the Ozarks in Missouri, near Branson, but is is newer (1906 as opposed to 1855) and not as well-ranked. They are both about the size of a typical suburban high school in terms of enrollment, somewhere south of 2000 students.

Berea isn't an option; it is likely too selective anyway. Will look at College of the Ozarks. Thanks.

eta: Ozarks really is the same thing. That won't work either for us. But what great opportunities for the right kids!

Keep suggestions coming though. Something mentioned here might be the perfect fit!

 

[Green Tea]

Ozarks:
The Princeton Review’s Best 373 Colleges

• #6 Got Milk?
• #3 Scotch and Soda, Hold the Scotch

Haha. Funny categories.

 

[Buckalew11]

My DS is a junior with decent grades. He has an overall gpa of 3.5 which is a B+ average at his school. He also has scored well on his practice tests for the ACT, which he won't take for real until May. (I don't undersatnd quite how they get this, but they are telling him he should get at least a 31) He plans to major in Marine Biology if the school offers it.

So far we have looked at University of Rhode Island, which he loved. We will also be looking at University of Tampa and Eckerd College over spring break. Another school he is looking into is Carroll University in Wisconsin. This college has an agreement with Hawaii Pacific that he is guaranteed acceptance into their Marine Biology program after two years at Carroll.

Can anyone offer advice on how to determin if a school has a great biology program? I want him to have some schools to look at that may not offer the exact Marine Sciences degree but still get him a good foundation. He plans to go for his Masters right away and wants to eventually get his Doctorate too, so he can always go to a different school for those.

We are going to a college fair tonight, and I want to ask the reps about their biology programs as well as what actual costs end up being. What should I be asking about costs as far as aid, grants and scholarships?

Marine Biology...we have a person who graduated from Maryville College (TN) who then went on to University of Maryland (College Park) and is now a professor at USC. Her and her DH are both into Marine Biology in a big way, I believe. Heidleburg is the last name now, I think.

Have pulled up Warren Wilson which is exactly the sort of place he is looking for!

Had received info on Eckard, which was a little too "beachy." I can't imagine anything being too coastal, but its not my college!

Look into Maryville College (TN) also, GreenTea. A Diser's son is attending as a freshman this year.

 

[Denise W]

My DS is a junior with decent grades. He has an overall gpa of 3.5 which is a B+ average at his school. He also has scored well on his practice tests for the ACT, which he won't take for real until May. (I don't undersatnd quite how they get this, but they are telling him he should get at least a 31) He plans to major in Marine Biology if the school offers it.

So far we have looked at University of Rhode Island, which he loved. We will also be looking at University of Tampa and Eckerd College over spring break. Another school he is looking into is Carroll University in Wisconsin. This college has an agreement with Hawaii Pacific that he is guaranteed acceptance into their Marine Biology program after two years at Carroll.

Can anyone offer advice on how to determin if a school has a great biology program? I want him to have some schools to look at that may not offer the exact Marine Sciences degree but still get him a good foundation. He plans to go for his Masters right away and wants to eventually get his Doctorate too, so he can always go to a different school for those.

We are going to a college fair tonight, and I want to ask the reps about their biology programs as well as what actual costs end up being. What should I be asking about costs as far as aid, grants and scholarships?

Kirsten,

URI definitely is known for having a great Marine Biology program. They also have a world class Oceanography program. Good luck in your search!

Denise

 

[NotUrsula]

Oh, I agree that the reps at college fairs are mostly sales people. I was just looking for a way to ask the question so my son hears it. For some reason, hearing it from someone else will sink in more over my telling him or showing him on the school website.


So how do I know if a school truly has a good biology program? Will I find that on collegeboard? I know not all programs are equal and he wants the best he can get. He has been told by a zookeeper where he volunteers that he should look for a good biology program first and not worry so much about the marine sciences part.

Professionals in the field know. Look at the CV's of people who work where he wants to work and are doing the sort of thing that he wants to do, and see where they went to school. There is also a metric indicator called the institutional h-index that can help tell you (it has to do with the number and influence of scientific papers published in a given field out of a given program; it is complicated to explain. Publication is key to a biologist's career success, and a school where undergrads get opportunities to work with people who publish frequently is a good thing.)

I would suggest taking a good look at the AIBS website; they have some very helpful information about what to ask: http://www.aibs.org/careers/

He also might want to start reading a science career journal. There is a good one that is part of Science magazine, called Science's Next Wave.
http://sciencecareers.sciencemag.org/

As for the marine science part, undergrad internships are going to help him get into a good specialty grad program; he should go after them with a vengeance, and the more prestigous the place, the better.

 

[MnMomtoboys]

I'm at the point where I don't care where my son goes just make a choice. He is sick of all the mail he is getting.

Were visiting another college on Friday and just got the letter that he was accepted into th honors program. I'm going to have too many questions for these people.

Hopefully he will make a choice soon. He wants to be a teacher so he could go almost anywhere. Being in the top 10% has helped also. It doesn't make the decision easier.

Good luck everyone.

 

[CPT Tripss]

Anyone out there know anything about Drexel? Or American University?

If you're getting a lot of glossy brochures, you can check and see if your kids' counselors need any extras...sometimes what they have on file is waaaay out of date .

So...Drexel or AU anyone?

agnes!

Drexel has a very good reputation locally . . . I don't know enough to say anything about nationally. Its co-op program is unique . . . kids go to class 1/2 a year and work in their field, in real jobs and for pay the other 1/2. Needless to say, a lot of them graduate into really good jobs. This schedule makes it a 5 year degree pprogram, but at a lot of the other local schools, 5 years to graduate isn't unusual.

It is an urban and somewhat "gritty" campus . . . but that area of Phila isn't called "University City for nothing. DD went to nearby University of the Sciences and the only real trouble she had was a couple of broken car windows. Kids learn to take public transportation on their way to the "clubs" and a taxi to the front door returning.

Awesome reasoning!

Most of the schools we've visited would require a car because they're so spread out. We'll have to see which one he eventually goes to and make the decision then.

Given the limited and inconvenient parking available at so many schools, your rational doesn't really work in practice. One either walks, rides a bicycle or uses the university's transportation system.

 

[NotUrsula]

Berea isn't an option; it is likely too selective anyway. Will look at College of the Ozarks. Thanks.

eta: Ozarks really is the same thing. That won't work either for us. But what great opportunities for the right kids!

Keep suggestions coming though. Something mentioned here might be the perfect fit!

Evergreen State, perhaps? Not a dry place, however; Olympia, WA is near mountains, but also in a rain forest!

 

[ctinct]

If anyone has names of a school like this, please share:

a very small student body, in the mountains or deserts, preferably private, outdoorsy/ecological, accepts classic underachievers. Lots of opportunities for hands on things-not strictly classroom.

Not quite sure of the name off the top of my head, but it is in Vermont I think---Green Mountain maybe? Very ecologically focused, and I think they raise animals there, too. Also might want to look into College of the Atlantic in Maine. Berea in Kentucky (I think), too.

 

[Pig Pen]

Both my kids attended Champlain College briefly. Neither one were particularly good students in high school, nor do they test well, so that was the only place that would take them.

It's very expensive and more like high school than college, according to my kids. Both left after their freshman year and finished elsewhere.

 

[Pig Pen]

Not quite sure of the name off the top of my head, but it is in Vermont I think---Green Mountain maybe? Very ecologically focused, and I think they raise animals there, too. Also might want to look into College of the Atlantic in Maine. Berea in Kentucky (I think), too.

Yes, Green Mountain College in Poultney and Sterling College in Craftsbury Vermont sound like this.

 

[Robinrs]

Given the limited and inconvenient parking available at so many schools, your rational doesn't really work in practice. One either walks, rides a bicycle or uses the university's transportation system.

In the three schools we visited he would NEED a car. Two had assigned parking and one had eons of parking spots around the main buildings. All were in very wide spread out campuses outside of the city. One was only 4 years old and had a parking deck.

 

[Green Tea]

Not quite sure of the name off the top of my head, but it is in Vermont I think---Green Mountain maybe? Very ecologically focused, and I think they raise animals there, too. Also might want to look into College of the Atlantic in Maine. Berea in Kentucky (I think), too.

CoA is on the radar. The Evergreen someone mentioned looked interesting too. I will look at Green Mountain now. Thanks for the ideas. There are so many small schools that it would be impossible to know about all of them.