<p>As I stated earlier on the board, I am a alumni from HPU. If Forbes, US New World & Report and Parade Magazines are giving this college non-bias reviews then that should say something about the school without anyone on this board having to say a thing. I mean these magazines are not being paid or sponsored to give any reviews about a college in the boonies of North Carolina.
I realize that this is a public board and we ALL have freedom of speech and are entitled to our own opinions, but if this is not the right school for you or your children, then why are you here on this forum?</p>
<p>I don’t get it either-stating an opinion is 1 thing, but a handful of posters seem to be personally invested to the point where I wonder why.</p>
<p>I am a professor in the Southeast (not at HPU) and also a parent who has this decision coming in a few years. I find this thread fascinating. HPU is a small Southern liberal arts college making a major transition. A few comments from my point of view:</p>
<p>(1) I agree that the marketing is “creepy” and too glitzy, and the president has a big ego, but the university is putting its money where its mouth is, and this covers a multitude of quirks. It is not just erecting buildings but working on the quality of its programs and expanding its faculty. I can name you a number of schools in the area that do slick marketing and will tell you what you want to hear, but you will regret it if you send your kids there. I do not accuse HPU of this.</p>
<p>(2) It’s a church-related school, but I don’t think of it as one of the “Christian colleges” like Bob Jones or Liberty. However, Northeasterners visiting the area should remember that HPU is in the South, and the culture is different. People are quite open about their religious convictions here, and everybody talks about church as if we all go. We all don’t. 
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<p>(3) Too much is made on this board about faculty salaries. For its class and region, HPU pays decently. I teach at a similar institution, and I can make twice the salary in other parts of the country for lesser positions, but would have half the house, no land, and a longer commute. The type of faculty person who teaches in the South is often from here or moves here because it is possible for them to maintain life/work balance in ways that are difficult to do in the Northeast. Can’t fault anybody about that.</p>
<p>(4) If you see the slovenly way the typical college student dresses and eats, the steakhouse is not a bad idea.</p>
<p>(5) I have encountered HPU faculty at conferences. Not one of the premier schools in my profession but they show up and do their presentations, which means they are not brain dead. Lots of faculty from primarily undergraduate institutions are missing in action when it comes to ongoing scholarship, but I wouldn’t accuse HPU of this. </p>
<p>(6) As we all know, there are several premier colleges and universities in central North Carolina, so it makes sense that HPU gets some of the dregs. However, there are many colleges much worse in the South. If you want to go to a liberal arts college and can’t get into one of the elite schools, HPU is a good choice. I would take Wake Forest or Davidson over HPU if I had the choice, but if HPU succeeds with its development campaign, HPU may turn into a strong competitor.</p>
<p>This is for CTYankee…While we’re visiting colleges…you’re using your time bashing HPU. You must be a miserable individual, I feel sorry for you. Really I do, but unlike you, I wish your child luck getting into the school of his/her choice.</p>
<p>Interesting - - back when I posted (post #43, April 2009) it was the HPU supporters who were bashing posters who gave legit, but negative, first-hand accounts of their visit to the school. And, I am neither obsessed with HBU, nor a miserable individual - - just someone who posted early on and who continues to get email messages re: current posts on this thread.</p>
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<p>"If you want to go to a liberal arts college and can’t get into one of the elite schools, HPU is a good choice. </p>
<p>I think even this is a bit of an over-statement. If you want to attend a southern LAC and can’t get into one of the elite schools, hpu MIGHT be a good choice. I can see where, families can be turned-off by the constant to Ritz-Carlton amenities (believing those dollars should be spent on the academic program), might understandably decide to “vote with their feet.” </p>
<p>Personally, I find the president’s comments about admitting attractive students offensive. That alone would be enough for me to say “no thanks,” but others might dismiss such remarks as better left unsaid, but no big deal - - both positions are valid.</p>
<p>Here are the HPU 2008-2009 faculty bios from the HPU web site.</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.highpoint.edu/alumni/documents/faculty_profile_book.pdf[/url]”>http://www.highpoint.edu/alumni/documents/faculty_profile_book.pdf</a></p>
<p>I think I can explain CTYankee quite easily. “CT” is a hate filled Liberal who hates Conservatives. Just ignore. They are easy to spot. CT and most of NE is filled with them. Just turn them off. HPU sounds like a wonderful conservative school.</p>
<p>I am a senior in high school going to High Point next year and am extremely excited. I think that it is a great fit for what I want. My sister goes to Elon and says that she knows a few people who go to High Point and love it. One of them just got accepted to Stanford’s graduate program last year. The 2.1 billion plan is going to be extraordinary in raising teachers salaries, providing students with new academic facilities, and offering many more programs with their school of education and school of science. HPU is definitely on the rise, and I cannot wait to go down there for Early Registration.</p>
<p>My son has been accepted to both High Point and Elon and has been going back and forth between the two. I’m curious about your perspective. Why did you pick HP over Elon. Why did she pick Elon and how would you compare the two? Any thoughts would help.</p>
<p>I was accepted at HPU in early December. I did early action at Elon too, and was planning on going to Elon if accepted. I was deferred. I wanted to make sure that I saved my place at High Point so I placed my deposit at High Point. After not hearing from Elon by the end of February, I figured the ship had passed. I started to do all of my placement tests for High Point and did all of the housing as well. I got the call today from Elon that I was accepted. But this was after getting a nice amount of scholarship money from HPU, having all of my placement tests and housing all set up, and having my trip down to High Point planned. </p>
<p>I know this may seem like I am not happy with High Point, but after thinking everything through, I feel like High Point would be the best fit for me. I’m not following in my sister’s footsteps, I am gaining scholarship money, I felt more at home on HPU’s campus, I like the dorms more at High Point, and after talking to the business professors at High Point, I felt like I would succeed academically at High Point and be challenged as well.</p>
<p>My sister was choosing between Indiana University, Clemson University, and Elon. I know that she loved the campus at first sight. The weather, the facilities, the professors, and the southern hospitality. Elon has a very well known Computer Science department that made her decision even easier. </p>
<p>I feel like both colleges would have been a great fit for me. Elon has the higher reputation right now, but I have no doubt that High Point will keep getting more difficult to get into and gain prestige. Either choice that your son makes will be a great one and he should be happy that he has the decision between two great schools. </p>
<p>Best of luck!</p>
<p>HPU is on it’s way to becoming an elite school. Give it 3 more years.</p>
<p>Wow, a lot of wrong information in the early stages of this thread. Looks like its back on track now though.</p>
<p>My best advice about HPU is to come tour the campus and go talk to professors/advisors in your specific major. If you come to HPU because of the aesthetics, you’re a fool. No college should be chosen based off looks. </p>
<p>I came to HPU because I saw a HUGE difference in the outlook of the business school. Many college business professors teach straight from the books and they dont have a real passion for what they teach. They’re doctors of business who know a lot about what text books say, but have never really seen success in the REAL business world. This is NOT the case for the professors at HPU. I have already had a handful of teachers who have actually owned businesses and know that only teaching cliche text material will get you no where in the real business world. </p>
<p>In other words, I felt some colleges would give me a nice briefcase, but there would be nothing in it to help me when I get out into the real world. At HPU, I’m leaving with a briefcase full of real world knowledge I can use right away in the real world. I love when I can relate my classes to the real world, and my professors have been great at that. On top of that, im in an environment with state of the art technology every single day. My friends are always amazed that such a small school has better resources than their huge state schools. </p>
<p>Students and parents: HPU is a great school, its not for everyone though. PLEASE avoid coming here based on looks. Come here because it inspires you. Come here because you feel in love with a department. Come here if you want a holistic education rather than nose-in-book 24/7 research school. Come here if you want a small school feel. Come here if you want professors who know your name.</p>
<p>HPU is the best decision I have ever made. PM me if you all have any questions about student life or beyond.</p>
<p>As a CT resident with a daughter attending HPU, I’d like to apologize for this CTyankee person that seems to have a problem with HPU. Think what you want about Nido, you certainly won’t forget him which is more than I can say about any of the other colleges we visited. Frankly, I see nothing wrong with Nido calling the school a “God and Country University”. It’s certainly better than having a liberal agenda pushed down your throat like at so many universities. Clearly, Nido was joking when he said they only admit good looking students. Anybody that took offense to that should really learn to lighten up.</p>
<p>I must say when we first arrived on campus for scholarship weekend it did have somewhat of a Stepford aspect to it, perfect looking kids with perfect smiles in polo shirts waving to you. Once we we spent the day there and met the people my daughter didn’t even want to visit Elon which she had also applied to. Three years later her college experience couldn’t have gone any better and she has a number of graduate assistentships lined up. She loves the place so much, she actually hopes to return to High Point as a professor at the new health sciences school after grad school.</p>
<p>“Frankly, I see nothing wrong with Nido calling the school a “God and Country University”. It’s certainly better than having a liberal agenda pushed down your throat like at so many universities.”</p>
<p>It’s fine that you and CTyankee disagree. But for students/families who would prefer a liberal agenda to a conservative one, it’s clear that HPU would not be a good choice - -just as you might decide to bypass one of the more liberal schools. (FWIW, I don’t really believe liberal schools push anyting down students’ throats any more than conservative schools do. But schools DO have policies consist w/ their ideologies and if one’s values bump up against those of the dominant culture at the school, it can feel like you’re being pressured.)</p>
<p>The fact is they don’t push religion or jingoism on you at HPU. The President’s seminar teaches basic life skills and values such as giving back to the community. You have to take one religion course but it’s usually a study of world religions. I believe there is one nondenominational mass on campus weekly and nobody pressures you to go. I would also say there is no dominant culture on campus unless you consider preppiness a culture.</p>
<p>HPU is a pretty moderate campus. I would say that there is less liberal influence on campus than you would find at a state school, but there is certainly not a conservative agenda. Almost all my professors have given a view from both sides and left the decision up to the students. </p>
<p>You won’t find students protesting or marching around like you do at liberal schools because HPU teaches you to solve problems, not shout about them. Keep in mind we’re in the south too so God and Country is the way many of us were brought up to believe in. But I can’t say this enough… no beliefs are shoved down your throat at HPU. College is about forming your own opinions and HPU understands that.</p>
<p>High Point University is a joke. High Point University’s president is a joke. Save your money for application fees for a real school and provide your children an adequate undergraduate education. HPU does not purport the lowly 56% graduation rate when boasting their top rankings on Forbes or U.S. News & World Report. Not a single claim they make, by the way, is followed by their providing the public with reasons as to what exactly the publication is considering when placing the institution on the list, or what the study’s results are based on. High Point University is a scam and they’re fooling more and more people each year. I frequently encounter a problem with finding parking due to High Point University’s prestigious security officers blocking off hundreds of parking spaces that they reserve for “event parking”, or people who would otherwise be considered the sucker parents sold on the NASDAQ bell ringing ceremony, the campus ice cream truck, and HPU’s little demigod Nido who came from the bottom all the way to the top with nothing but seven dollars to his name (even though he had a family sponsor and financial aid, people never hear that portion of his legacy) As I said…High Point University is a JOKE!!!</p>
<p>Perhaps the 6 year graduation rate of HPU has to do with the lower price tag of attending a NC public U as an instate student (NC public Us are relative bargains in terms of cost and quality for the instate student). I say that because I just checked 2 other small private colleges in NC and their graduation rates are fairly similar: Guilford is 61%, Queens U of Charlotte is 59%. I wonder </p>
<p>My source for those percentages come from:</p>
<p>[College</a> Navigator - National Center for Education Statistics](<a href=“http://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator//]College”>College Navigator - National Center for Education Statistics)</p>
<p>You should use your online resource to inquire about rates of Davidson College, Elon University, Campbell University, as well as those of other institutions. Likely, you will also discover neighboring institutions’ faculty members are reluctant to express such illusions of grandeur purported by the self proclaimed extraordinary institution of which we speak. I enrolled at High Point University when it was little more than a sleepy little college near my hometown, but now they’re a booming business whose students have been minimized to playing the role of the customer. I regret having even applied to High Point University, however, I will credit them for having instilled in me the motivation to apply to graduate school (NOT at HPU) and earn a degree from a institution worthy of calling my alma mater. I 'd kick myself in the face if I could for investing so much time and money in this degree; only to be associated with such idiots.</p>
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<p>Lots of good third and fourth tier and completely unknown universities in here. One guy claims a PhD from California State University. Which one? Also, I don’t think many (if any) of the Cal States offer PhDs. The University of California offers the PhDs in that State.</p>