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CarolynLawrence
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Posted: Mon Apr 10th, 2006 07:34 pm |
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In another thread, I suggested that parents who have already been through the process give ONE reason why they like the college their kids have chosen. It can be anything - from academics to the food in the cafeteria. I thought this might give parents of sophomores/juniors and their kids a quick intro. to a variety of schools.
So, whether your child is already in college or has just picked a school, what is the ONE thing that sticks out in your mind about the school. Please give the state the school is located in as well.
I'll go first ---
Beloit College (wisconsin) - I like this school for my daughter because I think she's going to get an excellent level of support, especially during freshman year. Freshmen arrive 10 days before other students and start their Freshmen Year Seminar immediately. The seminars have 15 students, and the teacher will be their advisor for the next two years. The seminars not only introduce students to the kind of higher level thinking they'll be expected to do in college, but they also give students an instant network of support. The groups do things together outside of class throughout the year and in sophomore year they meet again throughout the year.
I also like that when we visited, the admissions secretary warned her that the chair of the history department was very busy and might only have ten minutes to spend with her. They ended up talking for close to an hour, and then he escorted her and I across campus to her next meeting. During the walk, I asked about research opportunities and he didn't just say "yes, students can do research" but started telling me with great excitement about some of the projects his students were working on. My daughter had similar encounters with other faculty during her two visits, and the excitement in her eyes when she talks about that is worth every dime we'll pay in tuition.
Last edited on Thu Apr 13th, 2006 06:16 pm by CarolynLawrence
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Driver
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Posted: Mon Apr 10th, 2006 08:07 pm |
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I like the "Purple Bubble." Williams College, high in the Berkshires, way up in the northwest corner of Massachusetts. I like the bubble. The bubble has been there since the founding of the college in the 18th century--the town was founded for the purpose of creating the college--and it has remained blessedly, in the bubble.
Within the bubble, they study their posteriors off. They ski their posteriors off. They come come down in droves to my house on their way to this or that "club sport" event, which I love. Kids in sleeping bags all over my house...at one point I announced: I have 1% of the entire Williams College student body (20+students) sleeping on the floor in my house. Nicest kids I've ever met. My daughter has spent her life growing up in great places around the world, and can't wait to go back to the Bubble. She will spend her third summer up there, preparing a Senior thesis. I love going up there because it's beautiful, but also because the vibe is strong. The Bubble isn't the place for everyone, but it works for many. I can't believe I only have one year left as a Williams parent.
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atlantamom
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Posted: Mon Apr 10th, 2006 09:08 pm |
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| What I love about Swarthmore for my son is how well the culture of the school fits him -- intensely intellectual, socially conscious and tightknit communitiy of students and faculty.
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digimedia
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Posted: Mon Apr 10th, 2006 09:45 pm |
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I've posted this on CC (sorry if this is old news), but the following is the reason I love where my son is: The Honors Tutorial College at Ohio University:
From the OUHTC website:
The Honors Tutorial College offers 26 challenging programs of study that provide a unique undergraduate educational experience to a select number of qualified students. Students admitted to the College undertake a substantial portion of the core curriculum in their respective disciplines through a series of tutorials. A tutorial consists of a full-time faculty member meeting with students either singly or in small seminars.
In pursuing this method of instruction the College draws upon the rich educational traditions of British universities such as Cambridge and Oxford. Although other colleges and universities have adopted some aspects of the tutorial model, Ohio University remains the only institution in the United States with a degree-granting college incorporating all the essential features of a tutorial-based education. The success of the College's approach to undergraduate education is evident in its distinguished 30-year history and the impressive achievements of its alumni.
Through flexibility, mentoring, and abundant academic resources, the Honors Tutorial College aims to give high-ability students every opportunity to further their intellectual development. College requirements are kept to a minimum in order to allow students to explore a range of disciplines, engage in substantial creative and/or research work, acquire a high degree of proficiency in a particular subject matter, and participate in meaningful extracurricular activities. Tutorials allow individuals to work closely with accomplished scholars who take particular pride in helping Honors Tutorial College students fulfill their current and future ambitions.
This special combination of freedom and guidance, which is one of the hallmarks of the College, is enhanced by the number of exclusive academic resources made available to its students. These include priority registration, special residence hall availability, enhanced library privileges, research support, eligibility to undertake graduate work, unique education abroad opportunities, and scholarship availability.
A tutorial-based curriculum requires highly developed academic abilities, but it also necessitates motivation, maturity, focus, energy, and a combination of self-confidence and humility. To succeed in the Honors Tutorial College, a student must recognize that she or he bears the responsibility for understanding each week's tutorial material. All tutorials are dialogues - exchanges of thoughts, questions, and possibilities - not lectures. There are no back row seats in a tutorial. At every tutorial, students are called upon to participate in an intellectual exchange in which quality is measured by thoughtful mastery of the subject under consideration.
In addition to being comfortable with the expectations of the tutorial mode of instruction, students must also consider other characteristics of the College. These include participation of all Honors Tutorial College freshmen in a seminar held in fall quarter and an expectation that membership in the College brings with it community service obligations. The seminar and community service work play a critical role in establishing camaraderie between students and maintaining a vibrant, active community of young scholars.
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InterestedDad
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Posted: Mon Apr 10th, 2006 10:44 pm |
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Wow. Limiting it to one is very tough:
Swarthmore College (Swarthmore, PA).
The one thing that most strikes me is the deep sense of community and shared purpose among all elements of the college community. The entire Swarthmore community buys into the mission of the school and trusts the integrity of the school to a remarkable degree. The faculty trusts the administration. The administration trusts the students. And the students trust the administration and the faculty. The sense of shared purpose is the one thing that most makes Swarthmore, Swarthmore.
Here's what the accreditation review committee, headed by Nancy Dye, President of Oberlin College said following their site visit:
Swarthmore possesses a remarkably strong sense of community, particularly among students, faculty and members of the board of managers. Indeed, our team found Swarthmore to exemplify a "culture of community"--that is, community members' sense of trust in the College as a humane and equitable institution is so strong that it can and does rely more upon relationships and traditions to communicate values, rather than formal rules and regulations. Team members were particularly impressed by the trust in and satisfaction with the College that faculty and students expressed. Part of this strong sense of trust comes from Swarthmore's traditions of governance. Although the College no longer governs itself by "Quaker process," it remains strongly committed to participatory governance and to decision-making by consensus. Faculty, students, and members of the governing board, in particular, expressed great satisfaction with the traditions of Swarthmore governance, especially because they have long ensured that the entire College community would see to it that the institution would conduct its activities in humane and equitable ways. Then, too, with approximately 1300 students, Swarthmore is a small, intimate institution, and students, faculty and staff believe that any difficulties or grievances they express can and will be addressed in personal, face-to-face ways.
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CaneMom
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Posted: Mon Apr 10th, 2006 11:47 pm |
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Really great idea for a thread!
The reason I like U of Miami for my son....it brought him out of his shell. Before the college search began, he was a shy, introverted kid. The U has proven to be just the right size, he's flourished, and he's found that there is more to life than just small-town-midwest-living in a farming community that he grew up in. I look at him now as a "senior" and can't see the boy I sent off as a "freshman." He's become the "man" I always knew he could be.
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leftcoast
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Posted: Tue Apr 11th, 2006 01:05 am |
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LOL --what a great idea for a place for us proud parents to get away with more bragging, by singing the praises of the schools our kids choose! Isn't it amazing how quickly we shift into cheerleader mode once the selection is made?
Anyway, I'm going to be back soon as a big time Barnard booster. I just don't want to jinx things by starting too early - my daughter needs to attend the on-campus reception tomorrow before any decisions become official.
Last edited on Tue Apr 11th, 2006 01:06 am by leftcoast
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CarolynLawrence
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Posted: Tue Apr 11th, 2006 01:16 am |
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Yes, I figured we have ALL earned the right to be trolls. 
CaneMom, your post actually brought a catch to my throat. I hope and pray that I will be saying the same wonderful things about my son someday. Leftcoast, I expect a full and separate report on your daughter's experiences after she gets back from the reception.
Keep 'em coming. I'm enjoying reading these parental insights..
Last edited on Tue Apr 11th, 2006 01:17 am by CarolynLawrence
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Lynda
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Posted: Tue Apr 11th, 2006 03:04 am |
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| Son is at University of Redlands in CA. I like that there are staff and faculty who care.
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Alumother
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Posted: Tue Apr 11th, 2006 05:00 am |
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I love Princeton for my D because it is just the right size for her to be able to have an impact and play a leadership role and because all the kids are SO SMART and because the professors are brilliant and because I see her growing every day in her social prowess, her intellectual development, her poise, her compassion, her loyalty, her understanding, her self.
Actually, on the other forum I don't like to post about it anymore. Given the extraordinary luck and legacy it took to get a kid into Princeton I feel bad talking about what an extraordinary privilege to attend the place these days.
I find it astonishing that kids can have this opportunity in this day and age. Astonishing. Princeton has changed so much since I was there - all the good stuff kept and most of the not so good stuff gone.
The president, Shirley Tilghman, is a wonderful leader. Anyway, sorry, enough already.
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westkymom
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Posted: Tue Apr 11th, 2006 06:15 am |
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Alumother,
I think it is to Carolyn's credit that we have created such a safe place in the world -- this forum -- that you can express your unalloyed joy here that your daughter is in Princeton. I personally have always been fascinated by Princeton -- the only Ivy I've ever really thought very highly of. I have heard its science programs are out of this world and it is more than just a "brand name" college.
I want to celebrate with you! Hurray your D is in Princeton! There is no better reward for a parent than to have a happy child. 
--Rhonda
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CalifCarolyn
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Posted: Tue Apr 11th, 2006 06:36 am |
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One of my co-workers has a daughter off to Princeton on a volley ball scholarship next year (full ride!!!). She will love hearing such nice things about Princeton. She has been hesisitant sending her middle class B+ student there!
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CalifCarolyn
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Posted: Tue Apr 11th, 2006 06:47 am |
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I have been very happy with my daughter choosing NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY. Boston weather has been an adjustment but the business department has been a great fit. The leadership oppotunitities for a freshman has allowed her to continue to grow and develop her leadership skills. The co-op advisors are open and willing to meet with highly motivated kids whenever they need to. My daughter wants to do her 1st co-op next spring here in So. Cal. and plans on spending part of this summer setting things up. She met with her advisor last week and he spent hours with her going through what she needs to do to get the ball rolling--and set up a 1-1 meeting to cover the information that she would normally be receiving next fall in her Sophomore "co-op' class.
She has no problem getting the classes she needs and her Freshman year has been a success!! I also like the fact that her spring semester ends April 28th! This momma bear can't wait!
Last edited on Tue Apr 11th, 2006 06:40 pm by CalifCarolyn
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Alumother
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Posted: Tue Apr 11th, 2006 06:30 pm |
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CalifCarolyn - Congrats on Northeastern and your Ds success. For your friend the volleyball player, just note that Princeton doesn't give athletic scholarships - none of the Ivies can. What they do is recruit athletes and give very good financial aid.
And my daughter's best friend is a recruited athlete. It seems they bond strongly with their teams, the athletes, but apparently for some of them it's also the moment when they really discover their intellectual curiousity and move beyond just being athletes.
For my D what she likes so much is that you don't have to hang with and identify with the stereotypes of "smart kids" at Princeton to have intelligent friends.
Thanks for the permission to enjoy our good fortune. Agree, thanks Carolyn.
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Asdad
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Posted: Tue Apr 11th, 2006 07:52 pm |
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Beloit College - When I get a letter from my D and in the middle she stops and writes "I love my school", then I love it too.
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fredo
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Posted: Tue Apr 11th, 2006 08:16 pm |
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| My daughter attends DePauw-the one with a "P" in Greencastle, IN. It gets such a bad rap from the heavy Greek presence but I like that if you look past that, it has excellent academics and it puts it students through their paces to really learn. My duaghter is learning - not just taking classes. Plus, everyone there is midwest nice!
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Bridie
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Posted: Thu Apr 13th, 2006 01:45 pm |
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| Vanderbilt University--We love the atmosphere that is academically challenging but doesn't feel cut-throat amongst the students. We love how the beautiful campus feels secluded from the outside world when you're on it, but you can walk right out the gates and be in the heart of Nashville. Being from NY, we like the weather. We're impressed with the administration, especially the Chancellor, and mostly, we love the fact that our S is having such a great time and can't imagine himself anywhere else.
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Pye
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Posted: Thu Apr 13th, 2006 04:54 pm |
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D will start Brandeis (Waltham, MA - near Boston) this fall. I'm happy about her choice because she is not an easy fit for more "typical" American colleges--she wanted good academics including journalism courses but in the context of liberal arts studies rather than pre-professional. She wanted a self-contained campus with good access to a stimulating city. She wanted a social life de-emphasizing drinking, sports and frats but with friendly kids who take their studies seriously without being cutthroat competitive. She wanted easy access to an international airport for flights home. She wanted classmates and profs with good senses of humor and tolerant attitudes and kids who are more quirky than standard issue all-around popular types. By reputation and word of mouth, Brandeis offers all of the above.
Last edited on Thu Apr 13th, 2006 04:59 pm by Pye
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maryanne
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Posted: Thu Apr 13th, 2006 05:09 pm |
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| Beloit College -- to hear my oh-so-lazy-and-indifferent when in high school son be so enthusiastic about learning and the learning environment is a real treat.
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leftcoast
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Posted: Thu Apr 13th, 2006 06:47 pm |
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I'm back & it's official:
Here is why I like Barnard College:
It is a place where my daughter can have everything:
Last edited on Fri Apr 14th, 2006 02:57 am by leftcoast
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