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CarolynLawrence
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| Joined: | Sun Mar 5th, 2006 |
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Posted: Sun Apr 9th, 2006 06:02 pm |
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Hi all --- this is, of course, a second hand trip report, but I wanted to update you guys on how things are going for my daughter at Beloit this weekend.
She and my husband arrived Friday afternoon. They spent yesterday morning driving all around the Beloit area, even heading over to nearby towns to check out the shopping malls. My husband has, according to my daughter, asked every waitress and shop-person they've met for directions to "the bad part of town." According to my husband, he has not yet been able to find a section of Beloit or South Beloit that is as bad as parts of San Diego or Los Angeles. He said that South Beloit is more run down than Beloit proper but that he noticed the houses there don't have bars on all the windows and doors like many areas here in San Diego have. He said the immediate area around the school, plus the Beloit downtown area seems safer to him than the part of San Diego where our children's school was until last year. He feels confident that she will not be in any more danger than she would be in San Diego, but of course she'll need to use common sense no matter where she goes.
According to my husband, every type of store daughter might need is within driving distance - he found a Best Buy and Staples, a Home Depot, a Wal Mart, a Target, a Kohl's, Bed,Bath & Beyond, etc. either in Beloit or up in Janesville, a slightly larger city about 15 minutes away. His feeling is we should be able to buy almost everything she needs there instead of having to ship huge quantities of things from home. So that is good. He also found where the local hospital is, got a local bus schedule, the phone numbers for the two taxi services in town, the names of the most convenient banks, and a recommendation from the hotel for a good general practitioner. Did I mention that he is a very organized man? 
Yesterday afternoon they spent walking around the campus. My daughter is thrilled! She said it is actually much nicer than she remembered from our last visit. I asked her what the kids looked like and what they were wearing and she said, "The only thing the same about the people here is that they are all different." She said she'd seen everything from guys in baseball caps to a girl dressed head to toe in purple (including her hair). The only thing she hadn't seen were girls with designer bags (if you've been following the saga of D's college search, you'll know that that an overabundance of girls with designer bags led many good schools to be immediately disqualified). My husband said the kids look mostly pretty normal to him, with maybe the little bit of quirky edge that daughter seems to like in her own dress. He said she fits right in. Daughter did say she saw "Several really cute guys." Her definition of cute is Orlando Bloom and Johnny Depp rather than Brad Pitt so that gives you some reference.
My daughter was really impressed that several people actually said hello and talked to her for a bit as they walked around campus. She said she saw a group of 6-7 girls just dancing free style on the grass, another group was sitting in front of a dorm playing guitars, and other little bunches of people walking back and forth to downtown. Apparently the big event this weekend is an attempt to break the world's record for the longest ultimate frisbee game. They watched that for a while and Amanda said one of the guys said they'd been playing for 36 hours straight, but needed to play for another 12 hours in order to break the record. My husband said it was really crazy and fun to watch. Husband also noted that they saw lots of kids out and about in the downtown area.
Last night around 10:30 they went back over to campus and walked around to see if there were wild parties. They were both happy to report that they didn't see any drunken brawls going on at the frat houses and that campus seemed relatively quiet, with lots of people coming and going but nothing really too rowdy.
Anyhow, they just called a few minutes ago before heading up to campus again for the admitted students events, which includes a dinner with the faculty this evening. Daughter will be spending the night in the dorm and then they'll both be attending more events tommorrow before flying home tommorrow night.
Daughter says she has no doubts: she's found her future home. Husband says he has no doubts: she's found a good home. I'll post a follow up when they get home.
Last edited on Sun Apr 9th, 2006 06:14 pm by CarolynLawrence
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MaizeBlue
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Posted: Sun Apr 9th, 2006 06:50 pm |
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"she's found her future home"
Carolyn - you may be a prophet. The people of Wisconsin (and anyone who chooses to live there for awhile) are a pretty nice and attractive bunch! My S is marrying a WI native he met while in law school at UW. Great news that after all the anticipation your D is as sold as ever on Beloit.
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CarolynLawrence
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| Joined: | Sun Mar 5th, 2006 |
| Location: | USA |
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Posted: Sun Apr 9th, 2006 07:38 pm |
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Maize,
If she can adjust to the weather (and that's a big IF) my husband and I would not be surprised if she ended up staying in Wisconsin. She is not a big city type of girl, and we suspect that she may like some of the more rural parts of Wisconsin very much if she gives herself a chance to explore. Given the price of homes here in Southern California, it also would be a lot easier to get launched financially in Wisconsin. I think alot will depend on who she meets, how much she travels, and what she ends up majoring in (right now she is very interested in earning her teaching credential, which she can do for Wisconsin at Beloit).
Carolyn
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CarolynLawrence
Administrator
| Joined: | Sun Mar 5th, 2006 |
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Posted: Sun Apr 9th, 2006 08:59 pm |
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| By the way, here's a news report on the Beloit students breaking the ultimate frisbee record: http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/local/index.php?ntid=79491&ntpid=3
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westkymom
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| Joined: | Mon Mar 6th, 2006 |
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Posted: Sun Apr 9th, 2006 09:13 pm |
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Carolyn,
Your husband is very thorough! I tried to get my son to go back at night and see what the Denison campus was like after dark, but he wasn't having any part of that. He said if Denison stays near the top of his list, he'll find out on an overnight visit. You really find out a lot about a campus after dark.
My son was very glad to hear how much Ama and your H (still) like Beloit College and the surrounding area in general -- especially after all the press lately. We probably won't get to vist until Spring 2007 though.
Please let us know if any other interesting impressions of Beloit come up. Thanks!!
--Rhonda
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CarolynLawrence
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| Joined: | Sun Mar 5th, 2006 |
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Posted: Mon Apr 10th, 2006 06:41 pm |
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Well, just heard from my daughter and husband. The overnight went splendidly. Daughter's admission rep had called her last Sunday to ask if she had any preferences about her host or the dorm she wanted to stay in. She was so surprised to hear from him that the only thing she could think to say was to ask that she not be put with a partier. They put her with two girls who don't drink but were a ton of fun, according to my daughter. They assured her that while there are plenty of kids who do drink at Beloit not drinking is not an issue at all in terms of having fun and an active social life. They did an excellent job of hosting her --- they took her to every single dorm that has freshmen in it, and knocked on the doors of people they knew in each dorm so she could see the room options and meet different people at the same time. She said everyone was incredibly friendly but more importantly they also seemed funny and interesting. She sat in on some more classes this morning and talked with the teachers afterwards and said they confirmed what she'd felt last year when she visited: that Beloit is going to be a great place for her, with lots of emphasis on creativity and class discussion.
My husband, meanwhile, talked to everyone from the college president to the guy mowing the lawn. He also attended the parent panel discussion and sat in on a class. He said that what impressed him most is that the administration and faculty seem very honest about what Beloit is and isn't - they didn't try to gloss over some of the limitations that come from being a small school in a small town and they also didn't try too hard to oversell the positives of what they do well. He liked that. He has no doubts that D. has picked the right school for herself.
So, the long admissions journey is over. Daughter is on her way!
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MaizeBlue
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Posted: Tue Apr 11th, 2006 01:27 am |
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She's on her way... whew, sigh of relief. Now on to worrying about why she isn't answering her phone or replying to your email within the hour. 
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mackinaw
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| Joined: | Mon Mar 6th, 2006 |
| Location: | Michigan |
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Posted: Tue Apr 11th, 2006 01:39 am |
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What a positive report, and such a happy outcome!
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Lynda
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Posted: Tue Apr 11th, 2006 03:00 am |
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| It has been wonderful getting to "know" Amanda over the three years. So very happy to hear about her new home.
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Alumother
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| Joined: | Fri Mar 24th, 2006 |
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Posted: Tue Apr 11th, 2006 05:02 am |
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| Carolyn - yay!
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UPS dad
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Posted: Tue Apr 11th, 2006 07:38 pm |
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| I think colleges look better after acceptence. My S had the same reaction at UPS. Until then it was just "ok" . After he went back it was "perfect"
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westkymom
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Posted: Mon Sep 4th, 2006 01:55 am |
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Carolyn (or anyone else familiar with Beloit),
Is there a best/favorite place to stay in Beloit when going for a campus visit? We're considering visiting Rose-Hulman, Terre Haute IN, in the AM and driving to Beloit in the PM (sometime in the week of October 9); then we'll visit the Beloit campus the next day. BTW, my son nixed Knox. 
It actually took me a long time to find this thread. The "Beloit" search didn't bring it up for some reason. And when I alpha-sorted, I must have skimmed right over it in the "R's". I'll add a suggestion in the suggestions thread to begin trip reports with the name of the college. I knew this really REALLY good report was out there and I was determined to find it!
Thanks,
--Rhonda
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GladHi
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Posted: Mon Sep 4th, 2006 02:56 am |
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Westkymom,
I highly recommend the Beloit Inn. It is within 2 short blocks of campus, and it is a wonderful boutique inn just a few years old. It is right next to downtown Beloit (not a big city, but it does have a cute downtown). Make sure if you stay there that you ask for the Beloit College discount.
My D and I stayed there in January when she did the Presidents' scholarship weekend. Because all the regular rooms were taken, I reserved a junior suite. It was wonderful, and very reasonable. (But then, I live in Hawaii, where everything costs more than the Mainland.) Our suite had a separate master bedroom with a jacuzzi tub, and there was a gas fireplace between the bedroom and living room. Had a kitchen, too, which we didn't use. A very nice breakfast buffet is included in the room price. Not just cold food--it had eggs and bacon and sausages in addition to the danish, fruit, and cereal.
Jim Zielinski, the Beloit College director of Admission, had recommended the Beloit Inn to me and since I did not have a rental car, it was perfect. (We took the Greyhound from Appleton to Beloit, that is another story).
We have close friends living near Beloit with whom we can stay when we visit our daughter, and my only regret is that we have no reason to stay at the Inn. But even if you don't stay there, the restaurant, Cafe Belwah, is excellent. We took our friends there for dinner in August when we dropped our daughter off to college. (Another regret--due to spotty cell phone coverage, Carolyn and I didn't get a chance to meet in person.)
Carolyn and her family have stayed there, also, so she should be able to provide her own review.
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westkymom
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Posted: Mon Sep 4th, 2006 11:07 am |
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GladHi,
Thank you for the terrific review. The Beloit Inn it is. My son and I always like to stay someplace unique with a bit of local flavor; however, I'm a bit reticent to without a good review. Thanks so much.
It's a shame about the cell phone coverage and not being able to meet Carolyn. My mother and I live right next door to each other and a tower, and we still can't call each other on the cell phones -- some dead spot in the grid.  Exasperating!
--Rhonda
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CarolynLawrence
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| Joined: | Sun Mar 5th, 2006 |
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Posted: Mon Sep 4th, 2006 05:11 pm |
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Rhonda,
Just a note about timing: October 13-23 is mid-term break at Beloit. There will be no classes and few students on campus then, so you might want to plan around that. I'd also avoid the friday before break starts as I suspect most students will be clearing out then. Additionaly, the weekend of Sept. 30-October 1 is family weekend, so it will be difficult to get a hotel room then.
I'll add my vote for the Beloit Inn. It's a very nice place. They also will give you a substantial discount on the room if you tell them you are there to visit the College. However, the only way to get the discount is to call them directly - don't make your reservations through the online system, call the hotel directly! The Beloit Inn has a nice dinner, but if you go down the main street, there's a little restaurant called Denali's right on the corner that is also very nice. And, if you drive along the river road (I think it is RT. 50) for a few miles, there is a really nice little restaurant called Sophia's that is homey and has EXCELLENT prices for dinner, lunch and breakfast. The hotel can give you directions.
As for visiting the college, a few other points points: Try to visit during a week day if at all possible and be sure to let admissions know that you'd like your son to sit in on some classes and meet with a professor in the Math/Comp. Sci department. They will arrange everything for him if you ask. (However, since many classes will have mid-term exams the week before break, that may affect what classes are available to sit in on. And, let me know when you'll be on campus - Amanda would be happy to meet up with you guys for lunch if she's available.
Carolyn
Last edited on Mon Sep 4th, 2006 05:18 pm by CarolynLawrence
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westkymom
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Posted: Mon Sep 4th, 2006 06:08 pm |
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Hi Carolyn,
Thanks for the great advice. I'm sure my son will want to eat at Sophia's for breakfast; he loves good breakfast food.
You have confirmed my fears: my son's Fall break coincides with Beloit's midterm testing. Thank you for the offer to have lunch with Amanda. We are definitely happy to buy her lunch as a thank you for her time. I imagine she won't know what her exam schedule will be like until the last minute, do you think? As a rule, we definitely avoid exam weeks for visits. However, my son's courseload is so heavy this year, he doesn't want to miss a single day. And, he didn't want to visit Beloit on family weekend; he preferred an individual visit. Beloit is too high on his list to just skim over on a Saturday or summer day; we may have to rethink our timing. And we are covered up in the Spring with the PA and NY trip!
Maybe I can find an odd "teachers' day in service."
--Rhonda
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CarolynLawrence
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Posted: Mon Sep 4th, 2006 06:24 pm |
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Rhonda,
Beloit is a little different than some schools in that does not seem to be a huge "test" school. My daughter, for instance, has NO mid-terms exams scheduled, only papers and other assignments due that week. Classes meet during regular times as well. This might be different in some departments (math/Comp.Sci) but I think it would be safe to visit even though it is technically "mid-term" week. There will still be plenty to see and classes available to sit in on! The faculty at Beloit seems to truly delight in meeting prospective students, so that should not be a problem either. If this isn't the case, I'm sure the admissions people will let you know. So, I wouldn't put off the visit if it is the only time you can do so. I'll send you a private message about meeting up with my daughter.
Carolyn
Last edited on Mon Sep 4th, 2006 06:27 pm by CarolynLawrence
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WestrnMom
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| Joined: | Fri May 26th, 2006 |
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Posted: Mon Sep 4th, 2006 06:32 pm |
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How do you find out in advance if a school is a "paper school" vs a "test school?"
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CarolynLawrence
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Posted: Mon Sep 4th, 2006 07:30 pm |
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| Class sizes often have something to do with it. Schools with lots of large lectures tend to be more test-based than those that have primarily smaller seminar-style classes. There are, of course, many exceptions to this rule, so this is one to ask several current students (not just the tour guide) about when you visit. Another good place to ask is on the school's student livejournal, if one exists.
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westkymom
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Posted: Wed Oct 18th, 2006 10:30 pm |
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My HS junior son and I visited Beloit College in Beloit, Wisconsin, last week.
Directions (included because of the extensive construction going on): We took 39 North across the Illinois border into Wisconsin; you're charged a dollar toll before you're released to Wisconsin. Illinois seemed to be one huge plain of corn fields until we reached Rockford IL where the landscape changes to rolling hills. The Fall leaves were spectacular! Wisconsin is truly beautiful. Temps were 61 am and 41 pm. Beloit lies just across the Wisconsin border; off of Interstate 39, you take 81 to Beloit (as opposed to 43 to Milwaukee). The college is best accessed by following 81, then taking a left on 51 (if you turn left, the road is also known as Pleasant St; if you turn right, the road becomes S. Riverside Dr.) Pleasant St. runs by a sign for Beloit College (under construction), but stay on Pleasant then turn left at Bushnell and park in the spots by the park. Then walk up College St for a couple of blocks to the "Middle College" building in the middle of a block; therein lies admissions. Emerson St., a major throughway across campus was blocked for construction. Bare earth and mounds of dirt lie where the new sciene building is to be erected. Per the comp sci department, they're still on schedule to finish by 2008. The bookstore is at Pleasant St and E. Grand.
Town of Beloit: When you first get off of Interstate 39 to Beloit, the road is lined with hotels, fast food restaurants, Applebee's, and WalMart. However as we drove through the nice residential area and toward downtown, my son slunk down in the car and almost threatened to not get out of the car. There is no real mall there (an Elder Beerman store in an otherwise deserted building with blank storefronts does not constitute a mall). The town of Beloit is like an odd jigzaw puzzle. Where the ABC Company billionaire has invested, Beloit is pristine; the unrefurbished areas are the abandoned reminder of bygone industrial days when Beloit was an important river city. Beloit is a town in transition, apparently on the rise. However, for the students who attend Beloit College in the next few years, Beloit will remain the odd mix of beautiful river park with some fifty Canadian Geese landing spectacularly and then what looks like black and red bricked, abandoned industrial shops -- right next door to each other. Beloit is a town of potential.
Beloit College is a small LAC of 1,250 full time students from 49 states and 48 countries. And the diversity is everywhere and sometimes unexpected. A 50+ year old woman stated proudly, "I'm a student here. Can I help you find your way?" We did not see one Beloit T-shirt or sweatshirt on campus, which is roughly two city blocks of old, collegiate looking buildings, sidewalks, and green grass. Everyone seemed very busy being themselves. One wore tweed with a scarf -- though she was female, I almost missed the deerstalker cap and pipe! Then another student was in familiar jeans and polo shirt. Another was a young man in a white shirt, blue striped tie, and yellow sweater vest (very dressy). Another young woman was in a T-shirt with an insulting saying, what seemed to be an elongated tutu, horizontally striped socks, and converse sneakers. It is vogue and acceptable to be as thoroughly yourself as you can possibly be. When we went to lunch with two nice young ladies (nose rings in), people poured over to our table to tell my son all of the reasons why they love Beloit College: personable professors who want to be called by their first names, students who really want to be there, people who really work hard at being individuals and accepting others as individuals, the internationalism, the insistence of involving the students in their own learning.
We sat in on a chemistry class (the admissions officer accidentally sent mom along too -- hee, I didn't mind). Honestly, I have never seen chemistry 101 taught like that. We sat in on a class where literally every student was engaged in a discussion about what and why things happened in the lab, which involved an organic compound. I had three years of chemistry and never have I seen it taught like that.
We met with a comp sci professor. They have only 7 people in the whole school majoring in comp sci (this follows a nationwide trend of diminishing enrollment in comp sci). The professor stated they have been on sabaticals and developed new classes so that they are no long "five years behind." He made it clear that they mentor the students in comp sci.
My son's first interview with an admissions officer was just a comfortable discussion with a nice young man, who pressed a Beloit catalog into my son's hands as we left and told him, "We look forward to reading your application next year." My son liked him immensely. The admin officer told my son that Beloit is a strong science school.
We thought the food in the cafeteria was very ordinary, but didn't get to try the food in the other eating establishment on campus. There were no stores on campus, though none of the students thought that was a problem, "We just go to Shopko." We never did see where that store is, but the students said it was a short walk away. There is little to no parking on campus -- typical urban campus -- but the students said they didn't need a car. There is a shuttle to WalMart every Wednesday and Saturday (?).
On the morning we left, we ate at Sophia's Restaurant (From 81, turn right on to 51 or S. Riverside Drive and go about 4 stoplights), terrific breakfast food. It was about 30 degrees outside. As we ate, my son stared out the window at a dense snow fall. I asked him if he could see himself living in Beloit. He said, "Yeah, I think I can." He also said he is definitely applying to Beloit.
--Rhonda
Last edited on Wed Oct 18th, 2006 10:44 pm by westkymom
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