Any parental advice? Stuck between two LACs: Sewanee or Knox?

Parents Forum
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<p>Out of all the schools I applied to(and there were quite a few!) These two offered me the best financial aid. The problem, though, is that I really like them both! Sewanee is absolutely gorgeous, slightly more conservative, and has a rich English and anthropology program. Knox is much more liberal, not quite as aesthetically pleasing, but also a bit stronger in what I believe I want to major in-International Relations. I tried to make a list of positives and negatives.. But it really did not work out well, i just like for different reasons. </p>

<p>Does anyone have kids attending these schools? An ironic afterthought, my Sewanee admissions consular called me yesterday; she asked what other schools I was considering and I told her Knox... She used to work there last year! Imagine that haha. </p>

<p>Here are their financial aid packages:</p>

<p>Knox</p>

<p>Pell Grant: 5,550
SEOG Grant: 900
ACG1 Grant: 750
Knox Founders scholarship: 7,500
Knox Grant: 16,565
Perkins Loan: 1,200
Direct Sub Loan:3,482
Direct Unsub Loan: 1,990
W/S: 2,475</p>

<p>Estimated Balance due: 2,428</p>

<p>Sewanee:
pell grant: 5550
Sewanee Grant: 30,200
perkins: 2,000
Subsidized loan: 3,482
W/S: 1,500</p>

<p>Estimated Balance due: 5580 (3590 if I take out the same amount of unsubsidized loan as at Knox, they just did not include it in the offer)</p>

<p>I'm just so unsure of how to compare the two. It seems like Knox's offer is a bit better, but Sewanee's website also states they decrease the loan amount if the student has a 3.2 after sophomore year. I am an independent student so I don't have any parents to help me decide on this problem.. Ill be working a lot this summer, and I've also applied for a census job! So hopefully ill be able to pay the estimated balance due at either school. I really do believe both packages were generous given my efc of zero- most other schools maxed out my loan amount and then left a gap of 3000-15,000. </p>

<p>Any advice anyone has would be appreciated :)</p>

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<p>I’m sorry I don’t have experience with these two schools but I can share a trick that sometimes helps me with decision making. </p>

<p>Get yourself somewhere private and relax. Allow yourself to imagine it’s a few weeks from now and imagine you’ve already made choice A. How do you feel? Turn off your logical, list making mind and see if you can tap into that elusive “it” moment. Tlell yourself, “I’ve done it. I’ve made the choice. How does it feel?” Then try it again with choice B. You can do it a few times. </p>

<p>Of course, it may only make you more confused! But I am a list maker too and I have found that telling my brain to kindly be quite while I consider non-linear factors does work very well sometimes. I wish you the best of luck!</p>

<p>Oh, I forgot to add that it can also help to remind yourself that there is no right choice. Truly, there is not a best choice here. There are two excellent choices, you will pick one, wave good bye to the other and step into your future. That’s what will happen, so let go of any “wrong choice” fears as well.</p>

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<p>it depends so much on you.</p>

<p>Sewannee, to me, is much better known but it is seriously out in the middle of nowhere and has a weird dress code.</p>

<p>Knox, to me, looked and felt like a high school. The surrounding town is sort of dreary. It just seemed really insular. </p>

<p>I would go to Sewannee. I thought the campus was gorgeous and I do not mind being away from a town.</p>

<p>GOOD LUCK!</p>

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<p>I am actually a recent Sewanee alum and can recommend it without reservation. It is consistantly in the top 40 for all liberl arts schools and has an absolutely gorgeous campus. We don’t actually have a dress code there, though dressing in a manner respectful to the class and the professor (class dress) is certainly encouraged. </p>

<p>If you are worried about it being too conservative, I can speak for myself and say that I am a rather liberal person who has been working in progressive democratic politics since graduation. That said one of my good friends works across the aisle and we remained friends in spite of our views. In realty it is one of the most balanced places I have been and more importantly, it brings (as Sen. Jack Danforth says) “a level of civility and honor to public thought that is uncommon in many places.” I have remained involved closely with the university since my graduation and am more than willing to answer Amy questions you have about the school. Please feel free to email me at djstroud(a)gmail.com if you have any questions. </p>

<p>My four years there were incredible and I would certainly encourage you to look very seriously at going if you are at all interested.</p>

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<p>I am familiar with both schools and while both are excellent (congrats to you!), I would give Sewanee a clear edge. It is SO gorgeous and students do go into Chattanooga and Nashville. There are amazing outdoor activities. It IS a big drinking school, so be aware of that. It has a preppy vibe (but not everyone fits that mold) and a Greek scene, but parties are open to all. Knox does have a less appealing surrounding area and is decidedly midwestern (not a bad thing) as opposed to Sewanee’s more southern feel.</p>

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<p>I love Knox. The admissions people are really interested to talk to you and convince you to come to Knox personally. And, it’s a CTCL and a big ‘feeder school’ to good grad schools (not sure about S though)</p>

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<p>These are two very different schools. Can you visit both? I think you’ll instantly feel more comfortable on one campus or the other. I really like Knox, too, though I know nothing about Sewanee. Southern vs. Midwestern. Conservative (a dress code??) vs. progressive. Compare the cultures and see where you fit.</p>

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<p>@pugmadkate, thanks! That is very good advice, ill be sure to try to find a quite place and attempt to do that! It really is hard to make a decision as the deadline approaches!</p>

<p>@ mom4college, Sewanee’s campus is probably one of the largest draws for me; its defiantly one of the prettiest i have ever seen. I especially like the Gothic architecture! I kind of like the isolation, but I don’t consider it a positive or a negative- its just part of what Sewanee is. </p>

<p>@Djstroud , Thanks so much for your response! The dress code and somewhat conservative atmosphere did not worry me too much, I find them kind of unique. I will be sure to email you if I think of any questions specifically for Sewanee!</p>

<p>@MomofWildChild, thanks :), I love the idea of all the outdoor activities, but the greek scene is one of the things that get me a bit worried- I just dont have the money to join a frat. I heard the fees can run from 750- to like 5000! Ill be cutting it close with the loan limit already; I would like to use any additional money I make to help pay those down. Im sure I would not be completely alone in not going greek, but it still makes me a little apprehensive. </p>

<p>@mamaroneck, Yes the people are absolutely amazing; I have certainly had the best experience with my admissions consular from there(not that Sewanee’s was bad or anything)! I looked at the list of Sewanee graduate school placements, and most seem to be at Southern Schools, not a bad aspect by any means but I hope more Northern schools know of it as well. I am not at all certain that I want to do graduate school, but I would like to keep it as an option! </p>

<p>@wjb, unfortunately I can’t visit either- it would just be so expensive to fly there( that 300 is something I need to save for my deposit!). I know each has a distinct feel- one more relaxed and liberal, and one (optionally) formal and conservative. I don’t particularly mind either; I’m liberal on a lot of issues, but I wonder if Knox would be a little overly… progressive :). Sewanee seems like a moderate atmosphere, a little to the right but not stiflingly so. I really am not certain as to which I would prefer…</p>

<p>Thanks for all of your advice! Any more is certainly welcome from anyone. I am still waiting on the financial aid packages from my instates( ASU and U of A). I’m not certain if I would go to those unless they offered me a drastically better deal.</p>

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<p>Northern schools certainly know of Sewanee. I know a Sewanee grad who went to UChicago business school.</p>

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<p>My high school boyfriend went to Sewanee; I used to visit him and wished I was there. He’s an English professor now. </p>

<p>I don’t know Knox at all. What I can tell you is that I don’t think of Sewanee as conservative. It’s in turmoil right now to an extent, though, because it’s affiliated with the Episcopal Church, and the entire worldwide Anglican Communion is on the edge of schism (or in the middle of it, depending on who you ask). This conflict between religious and social conservatism and liberal inclusive values is right now related to the ordination of gay bishops, and in general, about the increasing inclusiveness of some “strains” of Anglicans. </p>

<p>It’s manifesting on campus at Sewanee as a call for alumni and supporters to stop sending money, as independent blogs with angry rhetoric both supporting and opposing gay inclusiveness. There’s been some strong language, but there’s also been a lot of pushback from the community, from students and faculty alike. </p>

<p>As others have said, at least when I used to visit, Sewanee had a Southern preppy vibe, with a strong academic/independent streak. The dress code doesn’t mean that students are conservative. It’s actually incredibly cool seeing professors in academic robes. It’s also got a sense of isolation, a sort of bubble about it. (That said, I still think fondly of tapping the car roof when passing in and out of the gates…) I think my boyfriend was at Tuckaway Hall – I just remember the dorms being so gorgeous and the room he had so big – he used to sleep in the closet, because it was like an alcove. <em>laugh</em></p>

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<p>I agree that the dress code is NOT a “conservative” thing- it is just part of Sewanee’s history and atmosphere. While you are correct that the Episcopal church is in some turmoil, most of the students are oblivious to this and it doesn’t affect campus life much. As an Episcopalian in the diocese, I can assure you that daily life does not revolve around the gay bishop controversy.<br>
Yes, Sewanee is known in the north and has excellent acceptance rates into grad and professional schools, but much of the student body comes from the mid-south.</p>

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<p>I know nothing about Knox -I am from the South and Sewanee is on my daughter’s list-she is a junior-Everyone seems to love it and I hear it is so gorgeous-</p>

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<p>Many colleges have distanced themselves from their original denominations (Furman, Wake, Richmond come to mind re cutting ties to Baptist dollars and thus removing denominational politics from center stage on campus and preserving academic freedom). Nevertheless, you will see that these formally Baptist heritage colleges still have vestiges of “Baptist” culture among some Trustees, faculty members and attendees and that conflicts in that denomination will be therefore remain part of the conversations on these campuses still. I am sure this is also true at historically Catholic universities. The Episcopalians are in turmoil over gay ordination but so are most denominations at this time. One of my Furman grad friends is an Episcopal Bishop and he gets tremendous pressure on this issue, but this is a civil rights debate that is universal and is getting press in most denominations now and in the near future.</p>

<p>I got a fantastic education at Furman while having no Baptist cultural ties, and because of the quality of the classroom education, I have watched my Furman classmates achieve great things in graduate school and in their career paths. In fact, I think the faculty enjoyed very much teaching any and all students who were out of the usual pool of students that might have defined a more typical Furman student in my day. I might even go so far as to say it was an advantage to represent another corner of America there in my day.</p>

<p>I know this to be the case at Sewanee as well…that the faculty very much wants to teach students from every race, economic background and part of the USA, so the fact that Sewanee wants you is the most important thing here. You will be unique and appreciated for being yourself if you are interested in being part of Sewanee. </p>

<p>I think you should attend the college where you felt you can be the most authentic version of yourself, keeping in mind that everyone will change and grow a lot in four years. If you feel a great pull to Knox, I wouldn’t attend Sewanee, but I would have to say that Sewanee’s academics are outstanding.</p>

<p>I know Sewanee is very Greek and that they have less to do near their gorgeous campus so there is more of a drinking culture typical of isolated campuses north or south but I know some great kids who are not Greek there or who can go to parties and not drink at all. </p>

<p>Keep in mind that these four years are probably not the only college years in your life if you plan for a secondary degree, you can always exit the south at that time. </p>

<p>I personally have one son who went Greek and one who would never find Greek life to be congruent for him, and my independent son is extremely happy at Vandy. Being independent has its perks should you find yourself in the minority in this one respect at Sewanee.</p>

<p>Lastly, before making your decision, look at the academic potential of each college and how your own learning style is best tapped. What are your learning needs? If you think you would thrive in rigorous small classrooms, strongly consider Sewanee and trust yourself to make it work.</p>

<p>congrats on winning support and interest from two colleges…good job!</p>

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<p>Love, love Sewanee. Supposed to be a secret…shhhh…saving it for my niece!!! We visited (sis and I) and fell in love! Note that I do also very much like Vandy as well, maybe even more than Duke or UNC. (but this cannot be disclosed to any neighbors here in “State” and “carolina” stomping grounds!)</p>

<p>The campus is gorgeous, huge amount of acreage to explore with hiking, biking and horse trails. Has a barn for said horses…and a wonderful architecture.</p>

<p>Class offerings seem to be more classic, but with a definite modern bent preparing for the future. I think - could be wrong- they have some type of create your own major- interdisciplinary- were you could create your own IR major ie., history, poli sci, cultural, foreign language, english… You get the idea.</p>

<p>As far as FA, you might give them a call and let them know you would like to attend but Knox offered more? Did Sewanee leave out an SEOG for you, as it appears in your original post? SEOG can vary from school to school in availability and amount HOWEVER it can’t hurt to ask or mention Knox awarded you one. Also cap max on SEOG is $4000 so there is some wiggle room there for Sewanee AND Knox.</p>

<p>With the offer they made you have $5500 per year in loans subsidized and possible more subsidized. Let Sewanee know more loans would make you uncomfortable and work from there.</p>

<p>You can also approach Knox with the same game plan and see what happens. Since you are independent you do not have a parent who would be making these calls it will be ALL you. Both seem friendly and are doing much to get you to their respective campuses.</p>

<p>Give them a chance to improve the packages for you. I know I would have my kiddos try. They did and there was “movement”.</p>

<p>Call soon. As in today!!</p>

<p>Kat</p>

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<p>I will say that I swore not to go Greek, but did join a fraternity when I went, though dues are only a small fraction of what they are at other schools and the Greek culture is much less exclusive than anywhere else i’ve been. That said, if you choose not to go Greek, that is no impediment at all on a social life. A good number of folks I was close with were not Greek and they were every bit as social as anyone else. As for the isolation, you’re spot on. I loved being remote. It was isolated and safe and it was great. I graduated in 07 and I didn’t even lock my dorm doors while I was there. It sounds like you’ve visited, and if you have and loved it, definitely try to go. If financial aid is an issue (as it was for me) definitely give them a call, they’re really good about working with pu to ensure it’s possible if it’s what you really want. Come to think of it, that’s a great way to describe the administration and faculty on the whole.</p>

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<p>These are some of the things I liked best about Knox:</p>

<p>Community feel – it’s a small school in a small town. Before the first class day there is the Pumphandle, where everyone on campus shakes hands with everyone else. Before classes even started my freshman year I met a guy who would become one of my best college friends. Also, the First-Year Preceptorial gives all freshmen a common experience (with the same assignments due the same day) and is a great common ground for meeting people. (Want to start a lunchtime conversation with that cute freshman girl? Ask about her Precept paper!)</p>

<p>Strength across disciplines – Knox is strong in a lot of areas, with opportunities for student research everywhere. Writing and critical thinking are emphasized across the curriculum. If you like to use both sides of your brain, Knox will give them both a good workout.</p>

<p>Trimesters – three classes at a time for ten weeks. Three courses allows you to focus on each of them, and ten weeks was the right length for me – short enough that I couldn’t procrastinate, but long enough that it wasn’t a crunch.</p>

<p>Honor code – you can take exams anywhere you want, and professors are forbidden from proctoring. It made for a more laid-back, lower-stress testing environment, and it was also nice to be treated like an honest adult from day one.</p>

<p>Knox doesn’t have the public name recognition of some schools, but it is well-known among graduate and professional programs. And you probably already know some of their recent commencement speakers – Barack Obama, Stephen Colbert, Bill Clinton, and Madeleine Albright. The New York Times did a story this month on the success Knox has had in landing A-list commencement speakers for a school of 1400 students, especially given that Knox also doesn’t pay their commencement speakers.</p>

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<p>@Knights09, thats good to know thanks!</p>

<p>@TrinSF, Yea, I think the dress code thing is actually kind of cool. When I said conservative, I meant more of that it is archaic in that aspect- there is not another school I can think of that still does that! </p>

<p>@MomofWildChild, I think being with people from the mid-south would be interesting! I’m originally from NY, but have spent the last two years in AZ. So it would be a totally new part of the country! So would Knox I suppose haha</p>

<p>@hlsess, It looks simply amazing, right?! :slight_smile: </p>

<p>@Faline2 , That was all great advice, thanks! One of my best friends just got into Furman actually, he’s going to take a trip down soon I believe. I do not believe I would like to live in the South for the rest of my life, I remember how humid the summers were in NY; I can only imagine it gets worse in the south- Arizona has a nice dry heat! :slight_smile: But i’m also not keen on living in the mid-west. So either way I would want to move eventually! As of right now anyways- who knows what could happen in four years! </p>

<p>@katwkittens, I’m sure your niece will love it! I could do an interdisciplinary major, but they actually do have an international studies major as well. Though I know their anthropology program is highly regarded-probably because of the field opportunities offered by the domain- and I think that would be an interesting course of study! I called The Financial Aid Dept on Friday and asked if I could receive an SEOG grant, but the person on the phone said they had all been used up :(. I should, however, be eligible for an academic competitive grant of 750, when I asked she said they would just have to see my last transcript. I’m not entirely surprised, I believe my stats are in the lower 25%- 25 act, scored abysmal in math which brought my cumulative way down, and 3.5 gpa. So considering, I suppose their initial offer was generous! No movement :frowning: but thanks for the advice- one cannot receive if one does not ask, right? :slight_smile: </p>

<p>@Djstroud, I have not visited, but I’ve searched for every picture and review I could find of both schools! I have been told before that there is no need to lock your door at Sewanee- pretty impressive :)! It’s nice to know that going Greek is not as pivotal as I thought before, and yes, administration is terribly nice- and have intriguing southern accents! </p>

<p>@spdf, thanks for your great take on Knox! The trimester calender at Knox is something I really do like about it- 3 classes for 10 weeks seems perfect. The honor code is nice as well and I’m pretty Sure Sewanee follows it too. Its nice to know that the Colleges think enough of their students to allow that! Hahah, it would be nice to have a way to get to know that Freshmen girl! As for the news article, I have actually read it! They do seem to have an uncanny ability to draw the big names. I do not believe either have wide public recognition throughout America; though I did meet someone who attends ASU yesterday from Chicago, and he knew and thought highly of Knox. One of my teachers is from TN and practically hit the ceiling with praise when I mentioned Sewanee, something about living at Hogwarts from Harry Potter…haha. </p>

<p>Thank you all for the anecdotes and advice! It’s not really helping me decide- just making me love both of them more! Knox has an advantage with the money, but Sewanee just seems like such a nice place to live for four years… and really, and few more thousand is not terribly expansive for something that will build the foundation for the rest of my live. 2 days until I have to decide! :(</p>

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<p>As far as the SEOG if you do matriculate go back at the beginning of EACH semester (fall 2010, spring 2011) and ask AGAIN. They will have awarded SEOGs to students who do not attend and that money will go back in the SEOG pot. They might have something left over and can maybe award you some in the spring as well, even if you do not receive any in the fall. </p>

<p>For next year make sure your FAFSA and other FA stuff they need is in early (as in EARLY) and you will receive SEOG, all about first come first serve. Pell is always available it’s the SEOG that can vary. </p>

<p>Once you’re a matriculated student and on campus it is much easier to “visit” the financial aid office. Keeps you current, ever present as my kiddos say.</p>

<p>The w/s is also low can go to $4000 per year. If you find a job you love on campus that is w/s funded it is amazing to see how much you can earn. Son actually earned “too” much so the funds had to come from elsewhere. When daughter’s funds ran out, they used another budget to fund her work.</p>

<p>Remember there is play with those numbers. Buy used books on Craig’s List, half.com, amazon, make friends with upper classmen and “rent” their same text for pennies on the dollar, and friends can loan books by trading off for semesters.</p>

<p>For travel put Ding! from southwest.com on your computer, and be on the lookout for cheap flights.</p>

<p>Buy your linens at Ross Dress for Less, TJ Maxx, Marshalls, Home Goods and Big Lots. Don’t try to stuff it all in your luggage, rather ship UPS or USPS your stuff ahead of time or within days. Cheaper than the overweight, extra luggage fee you will be charged.</p>

<p>So for example son was awarded $3700 in his COA for books and misc. He spent maybe $1000, so the rest went to other things.</p>

<p>keep that in mind. Be realistic about the COA, you have to pay tuition, room and board. Maybe don’t pick the biggest meal plan, see if you can adjust after a week or two and pick a cheaper dorm.</p>

<p>Look at both schools, and really look at the money, not just the package they sent you.</p>

<p>Good Luck!!</p>

<p>Kat</p>

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<p>@katwkittens, that’s great! ill be sure to ask Sewanee if they have any SEOG left if I decide on them. I actually asked my admissions counselor about raising my work study, but she informed me that 1,500 was the max Sewanee would give- I could, however, work odd jobs and errends for $10 here and there. </p>

<p>The Traval expense is one I would have either way, but that is good advice to shop around first. Its funny that you mention shopping at Marshals and the other discount retailers; I work at Marshalls! I can agree, I do not understand why anyone would buy home or dorm products anywhere else! Best of all, I can use my discount at Homegoods and TJ maxx too! I can’t wait until all the dorm stuff starts coming in!</p>

<p>I think ill email my admissions consular and ask about a triple room( I know Sewanee has a few). Knox only has doubles so I can’t decrease that cost much. I agree with looking at the entire package. Knox covered more than Sewanee of my COA, but they also promise to reduce loans after Sophomore year if you have above a 3.2, though the financial aid officer did not have details on it. Makes it hard to get the full picture!</p>

<p>Thanks again :)</p>

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<p>I heard the dorms at Knox suck though. Pretty run-down and tired -looking? And the area surrounding campus is… not the safest. Anyone can attest to this?</p>