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

[disney junky]

I googled it, too. Wow, that gave me the creeps.

Why?

 

[Robinrs]

Why?

I could ask you "why Not" but everyone doesn't have the same values or beliefs.

It absolutely was the polar opposite of what I stand for. That is why.

 

[disney junky]

I could ask you "why Not" but everyone doesn't have the same values or beliefs.

It absolutely was the polar opposite of what I stand for. That is why.

That's fine. I just was questioning your use of the phrase "that gave me the creeps."

 

[NotUrsula]

I'm rather surprised that Grove City labels itself highly conservative. I think that "highly libertarian" would be a much more accurate description, notwithstanding the evidence that they have a rather draconian "big brother" attitude re: student social interaction.

GUESS:
I'd be willing to bet that that translates into a student body that is very homogenous, because most minority students will self-select NOT to apply. Regardless of their religious POV, you just won't find that many American minority students willing to associate themselves with an institution that takes pride in being able to discriminate on any basis that they like, even if the institution doesn't actually choose to do so.

VERIFICATION:
I guessed correctly. They report their demographics as 96% Caucasion/non-Hispanic, 2% Asian, 1% "international", and 1% unknown.
The gender split is nearly equal, however.

I don't mean this as a political remark -- I mean it as a reflection on what makes a school the wrong fit for a certain type of student. There are a lot of people who would feel that they were being unethical by accepting the terms of the "bargain" that a school with such a philosophy exacts.

 

[Robinrs]

I'm rather surprised that Grove City labels itself highly conservative. I think that "highly libertarian" would be a much more accurate description, notwithstanding the evidence that they have a rather draconian "big brother" attitude re: student social interaction.

GUESS:
I'd be willing to bet that that translates into a student body that is very homogenous, because most minority students will self-select NOT to apply. Regardless of their religious POV, you just won't find that many American minority students willing to associate themselves with an institution that takes pride in being able to discriminate on any basis that they like, even if the institution doesn't actually choose to do so.

VERIFICATION:
I guessed correctly. They report their demographics as 96% Caucasion/non-Hispanic, 2% Asian, 1% "international", and 1% unknown.
The gender split is nearly equal, however.

I don't mean this as a political remark -- I mean it as a reflection on what makes a school the wrong fit for a certain type of student. There are a lot of people who would feel that they were being unethical by accepting the terms of the "bargain" that a school with such a philosophy exacts.

It's what is NOT said that affected me. Exclusion, INclusion, and not accepting money to cover it... speaks volumes.

 

[bluesaturn]

Do you mind sharing where she went for her undergrad and grad?
We looked on collegeboard and we found schools that have an undergrad degree in forensic psych. My ds is convinced that he'll have to go to medical school. I have no clue where he got this information and if it is true. How can we find out if certain schools are well known for this degree?

He won't need to go to medical school to be a forensic psychologist because psychologists are not medical doctors. Psychologists either have a PhD or Master's in psychology, or a PsyD (Doctor of Psychology). Psychiatrists go to med school because they can prescribe medications. Psychiatrists primarily prescribe psychiatric meds and do med management, and psychologists provide therapy/assessment. I guess he could be a forensic psychiatrist, but honestly I don't think those exist and I don't see much of a use for them.

A BS in forensic psychology would really just a stepping stone to go to get at least your master's. There's not really anything you could do with just your BS. So to me it wouldn't be worth it to go to a school just for the forensic psychology major, especially if it were going to be more expensive. You could likely do just as well taking some criminology courses in addition to a psych major.

Graduate education in psychology is really tricky. It is unlike med school, law school, and many other graduate programs in terms of admissions and what you can do when you graduate. If his high school offers a psychology elective, he should definitely take it now.

 

[disney junky]

Both of my children went to Grove City College.

Neither of them are members of cults. Both of them are professing Christians. Neither of them are in any full time ministry. Both of them do, however, attend church.

I thought the idea of this thread was to offer suggestions for colleges. I didn't understand why my suggestion warranted the type of response it did. I didn't feel the need to suggest that other suggested schools were liberal or party schools. I was simply offering my two cents.

Why is it that when a conservative school like this is mentioned, it warrants criticism of this sort?

Grove City College advertises what it is and doesn't apologize for it. If it doesn't fit, don't send your kids there, but there is no need to insult an institution and those who attended it or those who are associated with it simply because you don't agree with their ideology, philosophy, theology, or the morality they attempt to maintain.

Who is being narrow minded?

 

[Robinrs]

You can do whatever you want. You asked me why I stated my opinion and I have a right to it, so I told you. If you didn't care for it I am sorry.

I think everyone has the right to go to or send their children to whatever school they choose. I'm not saying a thing about you or your kid's character, just about the policy that personally offends me. But I'm an old school burn your bra feminist... a rare and unusual bird around these parts.

 

[NotUrsula]

Both of my children went to Grove City College.

Neither of them are members of cults. Both of them are professing Christians. Neither of them are in any full time ministry. Both of them do, however, attend church.

I thought the idea of this thread was to offer suggestions for colleges. I didn't understand why my suggestion warranted the type of response it did. I didn't feel the need to suggest that other suggested schools were liberal or party schools. I was simply offering my two cents.

Why is it that when a conservative school like this is mentioned, it warrants criticism of this sort?

Grove City College advertises what it is and doesn't apologize for it. If it doesn't fit, don't send your kids there, but there is no need to insult an institution and those who attended it or those who are associated with it simply because you don't agree with their ideology, philosophy, theology, or the morality they attempt to maintain.

Who is being narrow minded?

It wasn't my intention to insult at all. As you said, Grove City is what it is and they are not reticent about saying so. However, they ARE very philosophically unusual in a way that will be objectionable to a large percentage of the US population, particularly among the most economically-disadvantaged segments of it. You have to expect dismay from a lot of people if you describe the place simply as a well-priced quality alternative, without also describing the unusual conditions that have to be accepted in order to enroll there.

There is an ethical issue for many frugal people when a school with good academic credentials but very restrictive covenants is put forward as a money-saving option. Do you lie about who you are and what you believe in order to take advantage of the opportunity to get a degree at a good price?

The thing about being conservative at a "party school" is that you are not required to participate in those activities in order to matriculate, so it is not as crucial a distinction. I know plenty of so-called party schools that have very active conservative and/or religious groups on campus that any student is free to join or not join, and that choice has no enforceable effect on your academic status. (In fact, there is a front-page article on that topic in this week's Chronicle.)

At a school like Grove City (notice I didn't say ONLY at Grove City, but at any school of similar size with similarly restrictive covenants, regardless of religious affiliation or lack of it), openly failing to agree with the administration's moral and political philosophies can adversely affect your admission prospects and academic status. That is something that it is VERY important to be aware of before considering such a school as a possible choice. It is also an important consideration that a degree from a restrictive-covenant school acts as a banner declaring your politics/religion when it comes to employment opportunities, which then allows employers to covertly discriminate against you on that basis, because if they don't ask, they can get away with it. I personally would prefer that my child not limit his potential opportunities that way.

 

[kbeverina]

I'm sure that you and others probably know that $40,000+ is a common price for a year at a private college/university but for those folks just starting out on this paying-for-college/choosing-a-college journey they probably don't know the particulars (especially because, in my opinion?, schools usually like to hide the bottom line costs of attending).


agnes!

This is true, and when I first started looking I had to remind myself to look at the cost-of-attendance, not the tuition. I think the first couple of times I saw those numbers I assumed it included housing--ha ha, so naive.

If parents have a set amount to spend over 4 years, you probably want to look at requirements for living on-campus and the costs of living off in that particular town. When I went to Tech, it was cheaper to live on campus than off, and my parents required us to live on for two years unless we didn't get housing the second year. Tech only guarantees it for the first. When we moved off, they paid the amount it would cost to live in the dorm and we were responsible for the rest.

Where my sister went, it was cheaper to live off-campus so they let her get an apartment starting the second year. Some schools require you to live on campus all four years, so you'd want to factor that in as well. I liked that at Bowling Green they require two years on campus because I think two years on, two years off is a good formula and I knew he'd be guaranteed for that second year.

Right now, I'm looking at the school my son is starting to lean toward, to see if that cost-attendance will go up or down significantly when he moves off campus and that might influence our decision if he doesn't get the in-state tuition we're hoping for.

 

[golfgal]

And in today's mail (pretty light today)

Bennington College in VT
Carroll University in WI
Grand View University in IA

Emails from Creighton in NE and Colorado College in, yup, CO --both of these are still on the "list" for DD and we are familiar enough with these. The others Never heard of the last two.

 

[cruisnfamily]

And in today's mail (pretty light today)

Bennington College in VT
Carroll University in WI
Grand View University in IA

Emails from Creighton in NE and Colorado College in, yup, CO --both of these are still on the "list" for DD and we are familiar enough with these. The others Never heard of the last two.

My dd18, currently a hs senior gets a few pieces of mail but not much from the random colleges. DS15 doesn't get any but maybe because he hasn't taken the psat yet? I'm surprised to hear your ds gets so much. I'm assuming it must directly correlate to your test scores and your son's must have been good!

 

[piglet too]

And in today's mail (pretty light today)

Bennington College in VT
Carroll University in WI
Grand View University in IA

Emails from Creighton in NE and Colorado College in, yup, CO --both of these are still on the "list" for DD and we are familiar enough with these. The others Never heard of the last two.

Carroll University seems like a great school, and as of last night is #1 on my son's list. (I just checked for you, and they do have a woman's golf team.) This is the school that my son likes because they have a program with Hawaii Pacific where he does 2 years at Carroll and then is guaranteed acceptance into HP's marine biology program. The thing that really appeals to my son is that with his current class rank and ACT, he is also guaranteed a sizeable merit scholarship each year he goes there.

ETA ~ He talked to the Creighton rep last night and is interested in finding out more about that school too. Is Colorado College still doing the one course at a time thing?

 

[Anne34]

And in today's mail (pretty light today)

Bennington College in VT
Carroll University in WI
Grand View University in IA

Emails from Creighton in NE and Colorado College in, yup, CO --both of these are still on the "list" for DD and we are familiar enough with these. The others Never heard of the last two.

Carroll University used to be called Carroll College. They are located in suburban Milwaukee and a good small school approx. 2-3,000. It has a good reputation (but not top) for medical fields. Sorry can't tell you much besides that.

 

[AshleyW]

And in today's mail (pretty light today)

Bennington College in VT
Carroll University in WI
Grand View University in IA

Emails from Creighton in NE and Colorado College in, yup, CO --both of these are still on the "list" for DD and we are familiar enough with these. The others Never heard of the last two.

I apparently live less than 2 hours away from Grand View and had never heard of it til you posted the name. I don't think I know anyone that has gone there.. sounds like a tiny school though, apparently they only have about 1600 traditional students enrolled.

 

[golfgal]

My dd18, currently a hs senior gets a few pieces of mail but not much from the random colleges. DS15 doesn't get any but maybe because he hasn't taken the psat yet? I'm surprised to hear your ds gets so much. I'm assuming it must directly correlate to your test scores and your son's must have been good!

Worse yet, we get DOUBLE the mail because our 15 year olds are twins so pretty much everything we get is times two. They had some of the sophomores take the PSAT and the ACT this fall and they both did well (28 for DD and 29 for DS on the ACT and they were both close to 200 on the PSAT-196 and 198 I think-it's easier to remember smaller numbers ). They do it for "practice". Heck, we still get mail for DS18 and he is almost done with his freshman year in college.

Carroll University seems like a great school, and as of last night is #1 on my son's list. (I just checked for you, and they do have a woman's golf team.) This is the school that my son likes because they have a program with Hawaii Pacific where he does 2 years at Carroll and then is guaranteed acceptance into HP's marine biology program. The thing that really appeals to my son is that with his current class rank and ACT, he is also guaranteed a sizeable merit scholarship each year he goes there.

ETA ~ He talked to the Creighton rep last night and is interested in finding out more about that school too. Is Colorado College still doing the one course at a time thing?

I thought I heard Carroll here somewhere-now I remember because of the Hawaii thing. DD is leaning toward biology right now so that one will be in the "keep" pile. I think Creighton is a good fit for DD right now-having not visited there yet so that is on the list. I didn't know that Colorado did the one class at a time thing. I went with out college volleyball team there as the athletic trainer and the campus is really nice .

This is the "pile" from the last week:

 

[Robinrs]

Worse yet, we get DOUBLE the mail because our 15 year olds are twins so pretty much everything we get is times two. They had some of the sophomores take the PSAT and the ACT this fall and they both did well (28 for DD and 29 for DS on the ACT and they were both close to 200 on the PSAT-196 and 198 I think-it's easier to remember smaller numbers ). They do it for "practice". Heck, we still get mail for DS18 and he is almost done with his freshman year in college.



I thought I heard Carroll here somewhere-now I remember because of the Hawaii thing. DD is leaning toward biology right now so that one will be in the "keep" pile. I think Creighton is a good fit for DD right now-having not visited there yet so that is on the list. I didn't know that Colorado did the one class at a time thing. I went with out college volleyball team there as the athletic trainer and the campus is really nice .

I get daily mail, too and my son has only taken the PSAT. I think so many colleges need the money they are constantly sending out advertisements>

Lately I've been getting a lot of summer mail, also. What ticks me off is they have deadlines for NOW. I wish I had this info earlier.

 

[ctinct]

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College Confidential Post

Hello all.

I just got my first financial aid award back, from D. My FAFSA EFC was around 8000, and even that is a stretch for my family. D, after a 20K presidential scholarship, work-study, and various loans, expects a payment of 22,000/year and a total cost of 26,000/year. Yeahhh I don't think so.

End CC post.

This is a post from College Confidential from someone else; not me. I intended to copy post it on the 2011 College thread, but I found this post first and I'm feeling a bit lazy today. Anyhow, I think it will be of particular interest to Agnes!, because I'm pretty sure it is the same college her daughter got excellent aid from. Although I think you posted the name on one of your threads, Agnes, I deleted the name here. I find it interesting that this person is so unhappy with their aid pkg. while Agnes's dd got such good aid the school is now in contention for the fall. I guess you just never know; the whole thing seems so dang capricious. My dd and I are on pins and needles waiting to hear from her first choice college in a few weeks....Lord, please make it possible.

 

[frndshpcptn]

Okay guys, tell me what you think of the University of Maryland College Park. Thoughts? TIA! .

I went there and didn't love it. The kids I ended up spending time with were mostly from NY / NJ / Baltimore area and not my cup of tea. I think because they were familair to me (being from NJ), I naturally befriended them - but never really developed any lasting friendships.

I joined a sorority - but we rushed first semester freshman year back then and I joined a house that really didn't suit my personality. I never fit in there.

The only upside? I was so unhappy my freshman year that when I was flipping thorugh the student paper and saw an ad for the Disney College Program I decided - hey, why not? It has to be better than this.

I was accepted into the Disney College Program that following summer, LOVED it - did it again the following summer and met my two best friends in life while working there. Best decision ever.

So I guess I can kind of thank Maryland for that

 

[cruisnfamily]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
College Confidential Post

Hello all.

I just got my first financial aid award back, from D. My FAFSA EFC was around 8000, and even that is a stretch for my family. D, after a 20K presidential scholarship, work-study, and various loans, expects a payment of 22,000/year and a total cost of 26,000/year. Yeahhh I don't think so.

End CC post.

This is a post from College Confidential from someone else; not me. I intended to copy post it on the 2011 College thread, but I found this post first and I'm feeling a bit lazy today. Anyhow, I think it will be of particular interest to Agnes!, because I'm pretty sure it is the same college her daughter got excellent aid from. Although I think you posted the name on one of your threads, Agnes, I deleted the name here. I find it interesting that this person is so unhappy with their aid pkg. while Agnes's dd got such good aid the school is now in contention for the fall. I guess you just never know; the whole thing seems so dang capricious. My dd and I are on pins and needles waiting to hear from her first choice college in a few weeks....Lord, please make it possible.

Why delete the name of the college? I thought that was the whole point here, to discuss the schools?