Appreciate the CMC Info

Colleges and Universities A-Z Claremont McKenna College
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<p>I wanted to thank the posters who regularly share their experience and knowledge of CMC (you know who you are!). It has been a great help to me and my son in putting together a manageable list of college prospects and future college visits. He is a rising Junior, and CMC looks like a perfect fit for him on paper for one of his reach schools, so it will be interesting when we get down there this summer and have a look at it.</p>

<p>I hope that you continue to take the time to volunteer your expertise in the future, as I will probably be asking all sorts of questions and looking for advice.</p>

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<p>I’d like to say thank you as well!!</p>

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<p>Hi Wrldtravlr, glad to hear that your son is considering CMC. You indicated that you would visit this summer, but it may be difficult for your son to truly assess CMC because most of the students will not be there. If you can swing it, a visit during the school year may be more informative.</p>

<p>Confusedgirl11, I know you announced your intention to go to CMC elsewhere on CC. Congratulations - we look forward to having you on campus.</p>

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<p>Thank you parent57. We are going to be in SCal this summer for some basketball stuff, so will be touring colleges, a good time for general impressions only. He will go back and look at some of them during the school year. I don’t know how people do it with academics, sports, EC’s, etc., but I am sure there will be a free 3-day weekend somewhere.</p>

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<p>confusedgirl-</p>

<p>You are going to CMC?! D has been so busy with projects/finals coming up that she hasn’t been on Facebook lately. She will be very excited. Congratulations!!!</p>

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<p>wrldtravlr-</p>

<p>Not sure if you are talking about me, but lately parent57 (who gives great advice) and I tend to be the ones going on so…you are very welcome. Glad if something I said was useful!</p>

<p>I have been going through this process for what seems like forever and have done a lot of lurking vs posting. (I honestly don’t know how some folks find the time, but I am glad they do as reading these boards has been so helpful to me and my family as well over the years.)</p>

<p>Anyway, I try to pay it back when I can, especially if I feel like we have experience with an area and others are not giving much feedback. Then I probably post more than people want to here, but again, you never know who else might be lurking that you may inadvertently help.</p>

<p>In my reading I have come across several of your posts in different places. We have much in common, including sons the same age and geographic location. My boys also attended many bball camps…a few in CA (Santa Barabara, even). We have visited nearly every college in CA at least twice with our girls…and many others in different parts of the country. </p>

<p>Our D at CMC had big ambitions (typical of CMC kids) and definite requirements as to the type of school/peers/experience she wanted and she was adamant about graduating debt free because of grad school plans. Anything you need to know about finances, both merit and need based per selective schools, we probably know. She racked up a crazy amount of $$$/options with her acceptances. It is good to start early. </p>

<p>Hmmm…I remember you talked somewhere about taking the SAT as a soph. I wouldn’t recommend it, for various reasons. I think it is better to gear up for the PSAT in the fall instead.</p>

<p>I also think you were the one that stated the conversation on the East coast coming from the PNW? Some folks had good insights there, as I recall. We have family/friends back there and I spent a fair amount of time there as well because my sister lived in NY when I was growing up. My oldest has some substantial experience in that part of the country too and knows tons about the education stuff. MY D at CMC has many friend from there/ going to college there but she would not apply in NE. Didn’t you say somewhere that your son liked warmer weather? I could be way off on some of this, but I tend to have an annoyingly good memory (at times).</p>

<p>Anyway, we have much in common so if you have more specific questions, please, fire away. I have been trying to hang around here more to help people coming up against decisions the last month or two. Sometimes I have been guilty of posting and then not going back to a spot and missing a reply. Remember, you can always pm.</p>

<p>It will be fun going through the next couple of years with a son!</p>

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<p>Confusedgirl, I think you should change your name to decidedgirl :-)</p>

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<p>Congratulations Confusedgirl11!!</p>

<p>Critter-I sent you a pm as I didn’t want to clutter this board with questions about other California colleges. Its not showing up in my account so not sure you received it. Let me know.</p>

<p>parent57-S is in the middle of AP testing nightmare; I’m not a fan, especially as we are a state that starts very late, so teachers are even more rushed. He has a fantastic AP Euro teacher, and S loves discussion classes, but poor teacher is always saying “after the AP test we will have more time to delve into these topics more thoroughly”. Seems so wrong somehow, all of these hoops that have to be jumped these days. Anyway, after next week hopefully he will have more time to do some college research. I want him to look at the CMCnation website; its well done.</p>

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<p>Hi wrldtravir - I am not sure about other colleges, but I know that CMC classes are small and the professors encourage class discussion, particularly in the govt, history and international relations classes. I remember my son coming home at the first break his freshman year and telling me in detail the real meaning of the Federalist Papers and their application to the current political scene. It was apparent to me he had been discussing this very extensively. I think this is why most kids prefer college over high school, because instead of emphasizing the rote memorization of facts, the professors explore topics in depth and encourage their students to use their critical thinking skills. </p>

<p>I live in Southern California and am familiar with many of the colleges and universities in the area, so hopefully I can be helpful to you and your son as you begin your research.</p>

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<p>Thanks parent57, I’ll pm you soon about other colleges in the area. I would really like S to focus on LAC’s due to the small class sizes and the ability to learn through discussion vs. big lecture. I’m glad that your son is so happy at CMC. What is he going to do over the summer?</p>

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<p>He will intern at an investment bank, an internship he was able to secure because of CMC’s excellent career office and very helpful alumni.</p>