is anyone going
My DD will be there
Yes I’m going
Yes. Attending with son. Read the program over.
Looks meaningful and inclusive of quite a bit…
Looking forward to the visit.
@parentgeorgia will you be going all 3 days? I couldn’t fully tell by the brochure if parents attended all days or just Friday
will be up all three but will stay out of the way as S takes it all in. We want to attend a few presentations as parents but o/w will leave it to him to enjoy.Looks as though it is there for parents and admits to learn/participate but we will keep our distance.
Does anyone have any impressions to share from Admitted Students Day? My D attended (alone) and she loved it, but we don’t have details yet. I’m not concerned about the academics (which I know are excellent), but wondering about the social scene and culture? Was there an overwhelming rich kid, prep school vibe?
@hviewer we attended with my DD. I honestly did not get a rich kid type of vibe at all. Most students were in casual or sporty clothing. Everyone seemed very friendly. My DD got more of the inside scoop than us, because she stayed overnight. There definitely are the rich kids who seem to be entitled, but there is also a nice mix of other kids who offset them.
The school is actually making a conscious effort to stray as far away as possible from the rich, elitist vibe and is working hard to make the campus an equal playing ground for people of all different economic backgrounds.
The school does seem to have a strong party scene for those who want that (apparently very popular with the different sports teams), but for those who do not want that, there doesn’t seem to be a lack of other things to do or people to hangout with. A student said she doesn’t smoke or drink, and is not a big partier, and that no one seems to care. She is not lacking in friends or outcasted in any way.
The school is beautiful. The administration team was great. Our DD has a medical condition and the woman that we met with in the Disabilities office was incredibly helpful.
My DD enrolled before we left. My DH and I couldn’t be happier with her choice. We are not a high income family, she is a POC, she is not a partier, and she has a significant health issue. I am confident that she will have 4 fabulous years at Colby.
@toomanykiddos Thanks for sharing, it is quite interesting to learn that. My daughter is also enrolled and happy to learn that.
@hviewer.On target with @toomanykiddos comments. Clearly a terrific program from many perspectives. attended several panel discussions with parents alums and students. S and both parents attended the 3 day well organized event. Also sat in on several lectures and attended 3 performances of the dance theater and music departments. Even if one removes any sense of “everyone being on good behavior” for the benefit of the accepted students, Colby hit a home run this past weekend. Left with an impression that the students are accommodating happy and committed to their college life of learning exploration and interaction with others. Colby’s resources are meaningful sincere and deep from many facets of on campus college living. Yes. Athletics and all it’s trappings are a noticeable part of life at Colby but not at the expense of the Arts which are quite noteworthy and gaining ever more presence and respect. ( A new performing arts center is already planned and will go up near Woodman Hall across from President Greene’s (a gem of a sincere and committed leader) home. Colby’s Academics speak for themselves…Perhaps a measure of a college’s greatness in purpose is it’s alumni base…If so, Colby hits the high mark as any look or query into the alumni strength will reveal a truly dedicated bunch of happy and committed grads…
I would also add that we did not sense an over presence of elitist “rich” kids and did clearly realize enough diversity to describe the student body as “somewhat diverse” but that is only a visual perception which could of course be misleading and unfair…and respectfully, let us not forget that if it weren’t for the participation of the “rich” in years past or otherwise… that Colby and any other major college with a respectable endowment…may not be in a position to establish a resourceful and diverse campus culture otherwise.
@toomanykiddos @parentgeorgia Thank you both for your feedback. Your perspectives also match exactly what my daughter experienced - very friendly, welcoming kids and she felt very at home there. She met all types during her visit – including prep school kids, and even though that won’t be her group, she had a nice lunch with a group of them. She was also impressed with the Presidential Scholars program and the professors she met, and of course all the club offerings. I think as long as you put yourself out there, you will find people with common interests. My daughter will also be enrolling! : )
@parentgeorgia Thanks alot for your comments, very helpful to us staying out of US. My daughter’s schoolmaster was born in Maine and tell her Colby is the right choice for her, although she is the only one planning to go to LACs.
@Skywalkercn. Godspeed and Good Luck to your daughter in making this milestone decision !