<p>My son was recently accepted at Allegheny College in Northwestern Pennsylvania. We have not visited because it's a 6 hour drive each way. I don't have alot of time off at my job and could not justify a vacation day for a college that was a reach. Son, while interested also didn't want to drive that distance alone. We agreed to look if he was accepted.</p>
<p>When my son was deciding which schools to apply to, I strongly encouraged Allegheny because of all I had read about it. After talking with an admissions person from Allegheny at his HS, he agreed. However, it was a reach school and after a not so great first semester, I didn't think he had much of a shot and did not talk it up. He was accepted at his other schools a while ago and has been in the process of looking them over by going through the course books and planning accepted student visits.</p>
<p>Now, up pops Allegheny which is STILL 6 hours away and man, it's in the middle of nowhere! They have an accepted students overnight (Sun-Mon) and he could fly to Pittsburgh, get their shuttle and visit. Pittsburgh looks to be a couple of hours South. Cost for the visit wouldn't be that much as Southwest flies into Pitt but son would have to drive to Philly airport alone since neither of us would be available for pick-up on a Monday.</p>
<p>Son is balking at visiting Allegheny and says he has enough choices already and doesn't see anything that makes it special. He has three other liberal arts colleges that he's been accepted at: York College of PA, Champlain College in VT (now probably off the list), Roanoke and small private Christian college in midwest. York is marginal right now, because of it's location and in comparison with Roanoke, it doesn't seem as good a fit.</p>
<p>He will be going in undeclared but has interests in English, Philosophy and media studies. Should I just drop it or is there something special about Allegheny?</p>
<p>In my opinion Allegheny College is special and I would strongly suggest that you and your son take the opportunity to visit. Its academics are first rate and seems to be the sort of college where "average" students have an opportunity to bloom. </p>
<p>It was my favorite college visit. The campus is quite attractive, the people we met(in admin and one professor) were both informative and engaging. Our student tour guide was great and he too was an English lit(?) major who had been accepted as a grad student by Swarthmore.</p>
<p>Another nice touch was when our son declined his acceptance offer(he is a soph at RPI) AC sent a very nice letter to him, wishing him well and offering to keep his merit scholarship offer available for a year if things didnt work out.</p>
<p>Downside? Yep-location. Meadville is in the middle of nowhere. But being about an hour from both Cleveland and P'burg, I suspect it is not anymore geographically challenged that Roaoke or Champlain.</p>
<p>I think a visit to AC would be a day well spent even if your son decides to decline his acceptance.</p>
<p>Well, that's the thing - he's comparing Meadville to Burlington, VT, where Champlain is located. Burlington is about the coolest college town I've ever seen. Lots of neat shops, bars, restaurants and wonderful outdoor activities. </p>
<p>My husband and I lived in Roanoke before our sons were born. It's a good size city and the college is in the smallish nice town of Salem - 15 minutes from Roanoke and 15 minutes from the Appalachain trail.</p>
<p>Your favorite college visit - now that's impressive! Also, that they were willing to keep the merit scholarship available.</p>
<p>Allegheny College is beautiful and has great academics. It is very well respected in the Pittsburgh area. I think it is only about 1.5 hours from Pittsburgh and it is a very easy drive. </p>
<p>Why would your son have to drive to Philadelphia? Can't he get a flight out of Pittsburgh on a Monday? Maybe if you could get him on Tuesday, Allegheny College would make an arrangement for him to stay over with another student for one extra day. It couldn't hurt to ask, as they seem pretty flexible.</p>
<p>Kathiep, the first thing I thought of is whether he is ready for a "reach" school. My son is going to York this fall, and I am relieved that we didn't do anything more ambitious because he, like your son, hasn't done as well as he should this year. </p>
<p>Many of the kids on CC appear ready to work to their highest potential, but some, like mine, are still a "work in progress".</p>
<p>Interesting that you're leaning Roanoke over York. I thought that my son would end up at a small Roanoke-type, but he really liked the increased course offerings/core flexibility that York offered. I was quite surprised.</p>
<p>I am trying to convince D to consider Allegheny. It is only an hour from Erie, my hometown. (Erie has an airport, too.) I think that area of PA is beautiful and charming, but I would, wouldn't I?</p>
<p>I worked with a few Allegheny College graduates. They received outstanding educations and loved the time they spent there. They spent a fair amount of time here in Pittsburgh while they were in school. It is an easy day trip with plenty to do including sports, concerts, plays and museums.</p>
<p>The campus is beautiful. I think it is worth a trip given that the time commitments and costs are low.</p>
<p>We live about an hour and a half from the Phil. airport. I work Monday evenings (4 - 9) so cannot pick him up. My husband is not enthusiastic about Allegheny either so it will be difficult to have him do that drive. I do not know of a shuttle service that would be more reasonably priced then him just driving there. Allegheny does have a shuttle to and from the Pitt. airport. I may be able to switch with someone....</p>
<p>jaybee, academic fit is another concern. I think he's been a lazy student the last couple of years (see game playing thread) but is academically capable of doing well at Allegheny. Size-wise, I think 1,900 kids is perfect. That more then twice our High School but small enough to get to know everyone. so, far no bad opinions?</p>
<p>I don't know anything about the prices in your area, but I know my D can get a one-way ticket from New Haven to JFK for about $45, and it's a two hour trip. Just driving migjht be a bit cheaper, but peace of mind is worth a lot. Allegheny seems like it might be a wonderful fit.</p>
<p>My son (currently attending U of Chicago) visited Allegheny on the recommendations of two of the programmers (young alums) at my company. We visited the summer before senior year - it reminds me a little of Bowdoin, but not quite so intense. Good, balanced, thoughtful kids. Anyway, he was sufficiently impressed that he applied and was accepted with their merit scholarship. </p>
<p>Allegheny is an interesting school - if you don't believe me - visit the 'sign garden' their students created!</p>
<p>Our youngest S took 5 and a half years to finish his degree at Allegheny. He was a bit lazy and so he tended to take the slooow route. Allegheny was patient and understanding even with some financial aid for the 5th year. Our S loved it at Allegheny and I seriously doubt that he would have finished at all if Allegheny was not so blasted caring and willing to assist.</p>
<p>I have been to Burlington and Meadville does not compare too unfavorably.</p>
<p>Perhaps if you tell your S that the actress Sharon Stone is from Meadville, he will imagine that she might have some younger relatives still there. :>)</p>
<p>Seriously, I would recommend visiting the school, one of the benefits of Allegheny is that it is in a smaller town in the Boonies and therefore the school works hard to involve the students in on campus activities.</p>
<p>By the way the trains run to the Philly airport from downtown right to the terminals, so getting to that airport by train is very easy.</p>
<p>I know an Allegheny alum who is very happy she went there--was an English major and had a good experience academically and socially, although she was from the Pittsburgh area. The limited environment encouraged her to spend junior year abroad in Scotland. I suspect Allegheny is academically the strongest of the colleges you listed.</p>
<p>pyewacket, I think so too. It also sounds like while the students are challenged, the professors help make it work.</p>
<p>I think I've figured out the logistics! Son and I can leave early for the airport and drop his car off at the train station on the way. I drop him off at the airport, he goes to Pitt., catches Allegheny's shuttle, has his overnight and attends class, etc. He takes the shuttle back to Pitt airport and then finds the train back to where his car is parked. Now, to convince son that he can do this and that it's worthwhile!</p>
<p>kathiep - Bravo on urging your son to apply to a reach school like Allegheny and now having the choice of going there. Now the challenge becomes paramount of having your son make his own decision (with parental input) about what college is the best fit. (From reading your posts, it seems that Allegheny to this point has been more a "going along with Mom" decision than being engaged himself.) Before he visits Allegheny, be sure to have your son read the posts from this thread about how caring and special the Allegheny College experience can be. It's not Mom or the Allegheny admissions person talking now, but interested third parties who have had not one negative thing to say about the school. That's pretty darned good. </p>
<p>Also, over the next weeks of decision time, as a parent try to move toward a more neutral "just the facts, m'am" position vis-a-vis your son by perhaps putting together with him a pro-con list of items comparing the various college choices. </p>
<p>Hopefully, like cream, Allegheny will rise to the top.</p>