<p>My D has been accepted for the class of 2013 and got a pretty good financial package. We loved the college when we looked at it. Anyone else accepted and considering Juniata as their choice for next year?</p>
<p>congrats to your daughter! juniata is on my daughter’s list for next year’s applications.</p>
<p>Thanks. We have a few more accepted students days to attend but Juniata is very high on her list.</p>
<p>Waiting on D’s FA package, supposed to be done this week.</p>
<p>What are your other “finalists” and what do you see as the difference makers other than financial aid?</p>
<p>My S is considering Juniata as one of 2 final choices. His main concern is being able to independently (won’t have a car) access theater, restaurants, etc. from the campus. A sprained ankle kept him from making the college visiting day, so we haven’t seen Huntingdon in person. Anyone with input on the town and convenience to Altoona or State College?</p>
<p>If his other choice has good access to off-campus theater and restaurants, Juniata will likely lose on this count, as Altoona is not a cultural mecca. But consider whether the possibly rare off-campus jaunt outweighs on-campus considerations.</p>
<p>He needs to to think hard about whether a beautiful, friendly, etc but small and isolated place is the right environment for him. If possible, he should visit it despite missing the official day; I am sure they will welcome him.</p>
<p>State College and Altoona are each 40 miles away. Neither is a simple, quick trip. Tussey Mountain looms between either which can be in winter, monumental with the occasional snow storm. Don’t count on either for regular social release. Once in awhile. To illustrate the reality, the opening of Walmart a few years back was a MONUMENTAL event for locals. As one said, “I couldn’t buy a pair of sneakers in Huntngdon until that happened.” True. Huntingdon is one of the poorest counties in PA, very high unemployment, not easily accessible. Train was at one time very viable, now only one daily stop, departure. With lots of lower cost, available housing, and 2 state prisons, Huntingdon has a very unusual population mix in race, ethnic, transplants, educated, non-educated, upper middle class, poor, professional, fully unskilled. Life for college students seems to revolve around the campus, not the community or region.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, the isolation is why my S chose not to go there. He agonized over the decision because he thought Juniata was a better school than the one he ultimately chose (University of Mary Washington), but he just couldn’t handle being that rural. Being a two-hour train ride away from Harrisburg and a bunch of relatives wasn’t enough to sway him. He hated sending in the paper turning Juniata down because Michelle Bartol (Dean of Enrollment) had been so nice to him during his interview.</p>
<p>I know I am jumping in quite late here with comments, but these could help anyone looking at Juniata next year.</p>
<p>I just finished my freshman year at Juniata and loved it. I am also a semi-local student, I live 30 minutes away, so I commuted this year.</p>
<p>Huntingdon is pretty rural, but one of the student organizations offers, I believe it may be biweekly, shuttles to State College for a day… and there’s always something going on. There are certain times in each semester, that to see a movie all a student needs is a canned good and a dollar. And on Tuesday nights, JC students can get into the theatre for $4.</p>
<p>There -are- some things to do in Huntingdon, like the movies, going to Standing Stone [an amazing coffee place off campus], there are places like Boxers, which while it is a bar has amazing food and nonalcoholic drinks… seriously the lemonade there is good.</p>
<p>And for people without cars… there are enough people on campus who have cars who don’t mind taking an extra person or two when they go to Walmart or such… Plus there is a grocery store within walking distance.</p>
<p>I know my opinion can’t change the class of 2013’s decisions… but I hope that by putting this up others can see for the class of 2014 and on.</p>