<p>We just got back from a college-visiting trip, and while I will try to make more detailed reports elsewhere, one thing my D and I were thinking about was that each school we visited has at least one "Achilles' heel" that prospective students are concerned about, and that they need to explain (or explain away). How the tour guides and info session people approached that was interesting.
At Amherst, for example, I have heard many times that the food is subpar--the tour guide didn't say much about it at all. At Princeton, where (in my opinion) the role of the eating clubs is the big question mark, the tour guide had a detailed, clearly scripted description of the eating "options" for upperclassmen, and what they can "choose" to do, and the last option he mentioned was the dominant one, the eating clubs.</p>
<p>I credit all the fine folks on CC for attuning us to these nuances.</p>
<p>Do you really think that food quality or the prevalence of eating clubs constitutes an actual Achilles’ heel, i.e. a fatal weakness? I sure hope not.</p>
<p>I think the prevalence of eating clubs can be – not that I have anything against eating clubs myself, but I am sure it scares a lot of prospies that clubs will be limiting, snobby, etc… The same criticisms that Greek systems have.</p>
<p>Having just been to Wellesley’s event, of course their “achilles heel” is that it is women only and will you have enough chance to meet / socialize with members of the other sex – as well as whether you’ll have sufficient / easy access to all there is in Boston. </p>
<p>I’d rather schools be upfront about their Achilles’ heels, personally.</p>
<p>The eating clubs are a major sticking point for my D–it’s all too similar to a Greek system, with 70% of upperclassmen being in one of the clubs. Of course, if anybody from Princeton reads this thread, they will explain how it’s totally different from a Greek system–which is kind of my point.</p>
<p>I think really bad food would be a deal-breaker for some kids, although probably not my D.</p>
<p>I’m a Princeton alum, and I understand your D’s objections very well. My D felt the same way, and wound up elsewhere. (I should add that I had a terrific time at Princeton and was in a non-selective club, but that was back in the late '70s, probably the nadir of interest in eating clubs.)</p>
<p>Thank you, Booklady. The last time I was involved in a discussion about this topic, I heard a lot about how the eating clubs weren’t really like a Greek system. And they do differ, in some important ways. Certainly, some people either like them or are able to ignore them–but they are a pretty major element of campus life.</p>
<p>I have no idea whether or not the clubs are like a Greek system, having never spent any time near fraternities or sororities. The clubs are what I thought of immediately, having seen this thread title.</p>
<p>When I was at Princeton I hated the system. Bickered and quit. But both my children have participated, and both have loved their (completely opposite) clubs. I am oddly coming to the conclusion that Princeton ought to expand the club system, make it even more widely available, rather than try to sweep it under the rug.</p>
<p>I know I would feel differently about it if every kid who wanted to be in an eating club could be in one–something which does not seem to be the case now.</p>
<p>Hunt, actually, every kid who wants to be in one can. The sign in clubs always can fit in everyone. But right now they could probably use another one, just so as not to make anyone feel they are settling. Another bicker club is in the works, BTW.</p>
<p>Haven’t they revamped the fin aid so that it covers club membership? That’s the only practical barrier to universal membership (there may be perceived barriers as well).</p>
<p>When we toured Cornell a couple years ago, there was a young woman from Florida on the tour and the subject of the weather came up. The tour guide said: “Well, you will need to buy boots.” Guess understatement is the word at Cornell.</p>
<p>Food may not be a complete deal-breaker for Happykid, but it could easily determine whether or not she opts to live off campus and cook for herself.</p>
<p>Party school reputation. I don’t really get this. If you have five teenagers together, there’s going to be a party. When my DD was getting accepted to colleges last year, everyone was always commenting “that’s such a party school” (mostly OOS publics). Now, I’m starting the search with DS - different level of academics - and again it’s the party school thing. Lehigh. Miami. Those are tough schools to get into, but the party school rep prevails. I have to tell you - I had a pretty wild time at Northwestern, and no one ever says that’s a party school. College is a time when you have to balance. No matter where you go. DD at her OOS public has her priorities straight. Not worried about DS either, when the time comes. If you crossed every school off your list that was a “party school” your list would be very short. BYU?</p>
<p>Bad neighborhood in the area. I read about this constantly here on CC - UMDCP comes up a lot, but it is an achilles heel for schools across the spectrum. I just drove the “wrong way” from the south into Johns Hopkins. Not a pretty picture. But an awesome school. Yale doesn’t seem to have a problem attracting applicants, does it? University of Hartford - across the bridge is kind of seedy; other side of the school is mansions (West Hartford). You can’t just be book smart at college; need some street smarts too. You learn where to go and where not to go. Just one more thing to weigh when selecting a college.</p>
<p>Bad weather. How do you counter this? All I can say is that having gone to college in Evanston, IL, I can honestly say it did not have any negative effect on my college experience. In fact, when I got back to NY, I never felt the need to wear my down winter coat again.</p>
<p>Eating clubs. Well, we toured Princeton this week, but the vibe was not right for DS so we never even got into a discussion about this. But, like the Greek system, if the parents have a perception of it, I think it gets communicated to the prospective freshman. Better to learn about whatever the system is at the college and see how your D/S feels about it…not just go by what the reputation is.</p>
<p>Never heard of the term: eating club before. I’m not sure what it is.</p>
<p>One of my co-workers sons has a specialized diet (vegetarian ethnic) and he moved to an off-campus apartment after his first year. His mother brings him food supplies every three or four weeks (the school is two hours away) so he can make the foods that he likes. Food is something that can be fixed with a bit of effort. Many campuses also have private restaurants nearby that offer additional options. If you don’t like the food at Boston University, there are a huge number other options around campus.</p>
<p>As you can see, you can talk yourself out of being concerned about whatever the Achilles’ heel happens to be–but remember that there are many, many schools with all different characteristics, and you may not have to settle for elements you don’t like.</p>
<p>For my daughter, two schoolsl that didn’t let you use any grants/aid toward study abroad was an achilles heel, not something they talked about upfront, but asking questions later, was a cross-off for her.</p>
<p>Different people have different priorities and different situations. For those who have unlimited $$ at his/her disposal, picking school is easier. For these who have 5-8 options, you can afford to be picky as well. However, for those who have only a couple of options and have financial constraints, the options are between going to college or not. No Achilles heel to talk about.</p>
<p>In the case of my S1, he loves U C San Diego for the location and dislikes the Wisconsin weather. However, when it comes to the cost of attending, he does like the idea of going to a similar college (academic-wise) at half of the cost. The decision is a no-brainer for him. On the other hand, if my name were Rockefeller or Gates, the answer could have been quite different.</p>
<p>BCEagle, eating clubs are specific to Princeton. I didn’t go there (nor have we toured), but I think of them as sort of like a “meal plan frat” Someone else with more knowledge can correct this assumption if needed…</p>
<p>One Achilles heel for a school D1 looked at was that they would only allow study abroad at their own set of programs, and had a rule against allowing credit from any other program or self arranged study abroad. Two other schools required complete withdrawal from the college if you wanted to spend a semester studying directly at a foreign university (if for some reason you couldn’t find a formal program). As D wanted to study in a somewhat unusual country where almost no one has programs (and she had studied the language for several years), she crossed those colleges off her list. She happily studied in her country of choice last semester from her current college, so for her it was a legitimate deal breaker.</p>
<p>But without asking specific questions about this, we wouldn’t have found out on our own, as the college wouldn’t mention it.</p>
<p>I will note that another common response to the Achilles heel question is to say that it’s the same at every school. So even at the most liquor-drenched college, they will tell you that kids drink everywhere.</p>
Someone else with more knowledge can correct this assumption if needed…</p>