Anyone around to ask some questions

<p>scholarship information came with the letter. good luck!</p>

<p>Would someone comment on the quarter system. Is the workload of a 10 week course the equivalent of a semester’s workload at another school? At some schools that use the quarter system, the students take only 3 courses. 12 classes a year seems like it would be very intense.</p>

<p>The workload is about the same, but there is little “catch-up” time. One must stay current with the work. Having more classes is a good thing, more things to sample. Also, a bad quarter has less of GPA affect than a bad semester.</p>

<p>Yeah, I don’t feel like I work more than my friends who have semesters at other schools, although you have to start the quarter strong because midterms come before you know it. There are LOTS of interesting classes to sample and I wouldn’t have the flexibility to try out things that seem interesting outside my major and university requirements if it weren’t for the quarter system.</p>

<p>My son just had a bad interview. He does not feel that he got to talk about his interests
etc. He was asked several open ended questions. DU is his first choice so no he is very nervous. How did your son do with early action?</p>

<p>My OOS son visited this school last summer and really liked it, but I haven’t seen it yet. Any feedback from parents about whether you liked the school? Also, does anyone know what kind of reputation it has outside Colorado?</p>

<p>Hello - My daughter and I visited DU as she applied to CU Boulder and CU Denver (dowtown) as well. We were quite surprised and I like DU better than the other two. It is in the city - just outside (couple light rail stops) from downtown. The campus is beautiful and the tour and especially the discussions with a couple professors were great. HEr interview went well and although not her first choice, it is high on her list. They have a lot of school spirit and emphasize writing and also small classes. CU Boulder and Denver much larger classes. It is easy to get to Boulder, I understand there is a free shuttle and all students (DU and CU) get free light rail pass. She needs to get some financial help if she attends. We are from Los Angeles - CA colleges are quite a mess right now so I am happy she applied out of state - Privates have more money to give anyway. as a parent you would feel your child is safe.</p>

<p>Also, they take 9-11th grades and weight the gpa which is better than CA colleges - so although she does not have a high SAT 1750 and ACT 25 - I think her gpa is about 4.1 so I hope she has a good chance. Anyone want to comment on her chance?</p>

<p>My daughter was around the same GPA and ACT. She applied Early Action and was accepted w/some merit aid. DU is great for that! Her Hyde interview went well, she had strong recommendations, is captain of her dance team, and her essays were well written, so I think it is an accumulative process. I’m sure your daughter has a good chance. My daughter has selected DU. She is excited to attend this Fall, 2010.</p>

<p>Thanks for the info. I think DU is getting to be one of the first on her list. I am also glad to hear about merit aid as we will need that. I guess regular dec will hear anytime in next couple weeks. I think DU is great and overall was impressed - I hope she gets aid and picks DU. Anyone else has heard from admissions yet? Any aid/scholarships?</p>

<p>Mayanoa - Thanks so much for the reply. I’m glad to hear that you seemed to like DU as much as my son (he also preferred it to CU Boulder). We are from San Diego, so I guess our kids will both have to adjust to a serious climate change if they go to Denver. Also, I share your concerns about California schools right now. My husband and I are both UC grads, so we are really sad to see the huge budget cuts, overcrowding, etc. I suspect your daughter has a very good chance of being admitted to DU. Our son applied early with the “pioneer application” and got in with some merit aid. He has higher SAT/ACTscores but a lower GPA than your daughter. Good luck!</p>

<p>Thanks RSD mom - I am excited to hear back as is she. I liked the fact the campus was self contained for the most part and easy to get to the city via light rail for internships, shopping or games at the stadium. They support study abroad which is great as my daughter wants to do that. Another great point is how DU stresses writing skills which is also great as so many college grads can’t write. Great school spirit for basketball and Hockey which was important to her as well. Keeping our fingers crossed. I also feel sad about the UC system. My daughter applied to several including UCSB, UCSD, UCLA - and SDSU - although UCSB is her first choice so far, I hope that if she gets aid from DU- she thinks again about DU as we will visit again in March or April. Would be great to live in another state. We live in LA (Burbank) - Did your son decide to attend DU? Thanks…</p>

<p>Hi Mayanoa, We are going to visit DU in April. I’m anxious to see it. At this point, our son is still undecided – we are trying to evaluate finances, etc. So much to think about! (BTW: I was up in your area last weekend for a cheer competition in Universal City - it rained buckets!) Keeping my fingers crossed for your daughter’s DU application!</p>

<p>My daughter goes to Du. She really loves it there. You can either go to the mountains and really get into the outdoor stuff on the weekends, join in a little bit, or not at all. Denver is a great city, clean and friendly. The light rail to the city makes it really easy to get into downtown, but the school itself is as self-contained as any “campus” school. There’s a ton of school spirit. The kids who go there really do love it, just as a general rule. In the satisfaction survey done of many students at many schools, DU students who graduate, into the high 80% say they would attend again.</p>

<p>Also, it was listed, again, in the top up and coming schools section in US News and World report rankings. (fwiw).</p>

<p>The classes are challenging, but the professors are accessible and so far have been more than interested in being involved. Most of the kids at the school are the get up and go types who like to be involved. I’d say it is a very involved campus. </p>

<p>D expected it to be more wealthy than it is. Most of her friends have work study and aid. Even the kids who don’t have aid have jobs for spending money. There are a lot of jobs around the campus and in the city and in Cherry Grove. It is easy to be involved in the EC’s, as well, if there is something a kiddo finds interesing.</p>

<p>Coming from Chicago, D finds the constant sunshine and the fact that being up in the mountains the days are warmer really great. One complaint is that I’m not a big fan of the student health services. Think it takes too long to get an appointment. I feel student health centers ought to take walk-ins since kids tend to wait until they are very sick before they go see a doctor. But, once you realize you need to make an appt first, it’s not difficult to call over and get one. (Just a nitpick, but it can seem major when your kid is sick away from home.)</p>

<p>Good luck to everyone. I’d say Denver is one of those really great all around college experiences, and I’m glad my D chose to go there.</p>

<p>My son is a junior at DU, just back from a fabulous semester abroad, and he loves DU. The academics can be intense because of the quarter system, but he thrives on the intensity. Professors have been wonderful, helpful and enriching. When his grandmother died recently, every single one sent him personal notes of sympathy, and all offered to adjust due dates as needed as he observed the week of shiva.</p>

<p>His biggest problem at DU is a good one to have–he would like to take a lot more courses than he can fit into his schedule. The last several semesters he has taken 19 and 20 hour loads–some classes are 5 hour credits because they are considered more difficult or some such and come with very heavy workloads–but he has really enjoyed the challenge.</p>

<p>He has gotten very involved in things on campus reflecting a diverse range of interests and has not gone snowboarding nearly as frequently as he thought he would–there is just too much to do on campus and in the city for him to “waste’” (his words!) every weekend in the mountains.</p>

<p>poetgrl and boysx3 - Thanks for the great info!</p>

<p>Thanks DU moms the info is really helpful. We hope to hear any day about the decision. My daughter’s grades are good so I think good chance she will be admitted. Cost is an issue so we will see what aid she gets if any. I hope she chooses DU over UCSB/ UCDavis and SDSU. We are going to go there in April once we hear. I just know she will get more out of DU then the UC or state schools here in Calif. I was going to ask about a jewish presence? I noted boysx3 mom family is jewish. We are not religious at all but just wanted to find out about diversity at DU. I also think internship possibilities in denver appear real good. I hope my d is as interested as I am in DU when it comes to decisions. Do you know when acceptances are coming? The sense I got could be anytime, maybe week or so? I am going to call. Thanks all of you - continue with input as really helpful. Anyone have kids from So Cal at DU now?</p>

<p>Also anyone think their son/daughter would be willing to chat with my daughter (she would be horrified if she knew I asked) when she comes to DU to visit probably in April. Good student, nice, fun girl, athletic and very easygoing. From Burbank, CA - :)</p>

<p>Also just called Admissions. They are mailing acceptance notices starting today!!! and will take 2-3 days to get them all mailed!!! Fingers crossed for all of us!!!RSD mom and others, let me know - If accepted, planning to go to Pioneer Day 4/11-4/12?. Although my daughter now says first choices are UCSB/and SDSU - I reallly want her to consider DU as will get out in 4 yrs and much more individualized. She did like DU when we went in Jan. Im willing to pay a bit more for DU rather than CA schools. scholarships will be mailed with letters and Fin Aid comes later in April. That part is too bad. I hope the April visit will make her want to attend. San Diego Mom…let me know what your son decides.</p>

<p>Well, good luck to you and your daughter, mayanoa, wherever she decides to go. I have to say that DU wasn’t MY first choice for my daughter. I wanted her to go to UNC-Chapel Hill or Berkely, both of which accepted her. DU was her first choice. </p>

<p>When you go to visit, make sure you do an official visit and there will be specific kids to talk to her about being there. Mostly, though, if she visits and isn’t enchanted, then she ought to go where she really wants to go! College is a big committment and the more they want to be there, the better the committment they will make.</p>

<p>If she has good grades, they’ll probably offer her a scholarship, and I know that can influence a kid’s thinking, even when it isn’t their first choice. Everyone loves to be wanted. ;)</p>

<p>Again, best of luck to you. It sounds like a good problem to have…decision-wise.</p>