<p>Do any of you know about St. Martins U in Lacey Wash? Any feedback appreciated. Thanks much.</p>
<p>We live nearby and our older D too one class there before going away to school. It was a political science/history course that she really enjoyed. St. Martins is a small school. I don't know a lot about it but I have friends who teach there and have known a number of kids who have gone there. What is it you would like to know? What is your student looking for?
Ellen</p>
<p>It's pretty small, so I can't say I have known anyone who has gone there-sorry.:(</p>
<p>That's OK EK :-)</p>
<p>Mini I am curious about how well respected it is. Prestige is not a big deal but if people in the area have a good reason for not wanting to send there kids there that's important to hear:</p>
<p>Since you asked,</p>
<p>My D is an outdoorsy, bookish, athlete who is pretty reserved...OK really reserved until she feels very comfortable. She loves the sciences and is hoping to get into vet school after undergrad.</p>
<p>Academically she wants strong biological sciences though it seems everyone says they have them. She's a 3.9 uw and a really dedicated student. She also wants to be close to somewhere where she can get animal experience via internship or employment.</p>
<p>Recreationally, she also would like to be able to attend Mass on or close to campus and be able to play soccer at at least the IM level. If horses can be brought into the picture in any way that's another plus as is any sort of outdoor activity involving speed and risk (good thing she attends Mass regularly ;-) )</p>
<p>Socially I want her to be part of an inclusive group that will help her to come out of herself a little more. This is a girl who would sit in her room reading in her free time and would feel uncomfortable making a first move toward friendship. She is a twin and has always had her best friend sharing a room/life with her which has been a blessing but has also meant that she is not overly experienced in having to make new friends. She has many friends here in our llittle town and is not a hermit but her friends have been her friends since middle school and before. So I think the best environment for her would be somewhere that would help her develop and nurture that side of her personality while accepting her for the sort of person she is. </p>
<p>Socially she wants a place where she percieves students to be real. She has discarded all Southern CA schools but one because they seemed like fashion and having the best stuff were overly important. She also wants to be in a place where she can find alcohol-free activities readily on the weekends. </p>
<p>Sorry to go so long....you know how some parents become wind bags when asked the simplest questions about their kids :-0</p>
<p>Oh, and one more thing...she plays mallet percussion and would like to continue that in college. Thanks</p>
<p>The college is very much under the radar locally. I don't know of anyone who has considered going there, although I do know someone who taught there and he is a great guy.</p>
<p>You said horses and soccer, which reminded me of a post I read the other day about Carroll College in Helena MT. They have a one-of-a-kind program in animal-human relations, and their soccer team is an outstanding team for their small conference (can't remember the name of the conference). Plus it's a Catholic school, though not known as extremely religious. Just a thought.</p>
<p>Someone I work with is a Carroll College grad. She has nothing but wonderful things to say about it, other than being a Texas girl not used to the snow. They have a good music department and one doesn't have to major in music to get a music scholarship.</p>
<p>St. Martin's has a good reputation locally but it is a very small school, though growing. I know it has a pre-med program but I looked on their website and did not see any pre-vet. They do not have horses but there are plenty of local private stables that she might be able to trade work for riding. We also have lots of large and small animal vets that she might be able to work with.The students I have met are often diverse in age and it has a large number of international students especially from Japan. I have a friend who teaches Chemistry there but it is not really known for sciences as I recall. I think of it more for social sciences and education. They are a Div 2 school I believe and I assume they have women's soccer. I know there are women's soccer teams in the area as well.
It is a catholic school and the is a monastery on the campus so I assume they have mass on campus, There is also a catholic church with in walking distance of campus. Olympia/Lacey/Tumwater is a fairly small trio of towns though growing. Olympia is the state capital.<br>
My daughter has a friend who applied to Univ. of Portland as a science person, have you looked at it?
Your daughter would likely finds friends at St. Martins, it is not known for a snooty student body and likely has non alcohol activities, it is not known as a drinking school. Sorry I can't tell you more.
Ellen</p>
<p>too funny rainmama and dragonmom...I am the OP of the Carroll College info. It's funny that not even knowing my D you got a sense that it might be a great place for her. It is VERY attractive and my only objection is my fear that if my kid (s) needs me I won't be able to get to her/them quickly. Whenever we talk colleges my girls say "Yeah but school X won't give me a puppy like Carroll"</p>
<p>Thanks for the info about your co-worker DM. Merit and Talent Aid at Carroll are examples of why this school seems perfect except for the whole Montana thing. It seems like Carroll is mostly sunny when it's cold...I've been monitoring the webcam. I think sunny bitter cold would be easier for my CA girls than gloomy bitter cold. </p>
<p>St. Martins does sound cool on the web site so anything you learn would be great beneficial. Thanks!</p>
<p>Cross posted w/ mini</p>
<p>Ellen Thank You. I do appreciate the information so much. As a matter of fact, UP is one of the schools we will be visiting in two weeks. Both girls fell in love with their admissions DVD and attended an info session as well. Funny you ladies are really good at the college match thing ;-)</p>
<p>We do get plenty of rain, but it generally not all that cold. At least I don't think so. David and my youngest D would disagree with me, especially when I turn the thermostat down in the house.
I would say St Martins is a school she should visit if it sounds good to her on the website. It is small enough that she is likely to get a sense of it with an overnight visit. There are plenty of outdoor activities in the area and the campus is pretty.</p>
<p>Historymom - That is so funny! I sent your Carroll link to my daughter as soon as I read it. I love your daughters' puppy comment :) Montana might be a bit of an adjustment from California, but I should mention that Seattle got several hours of real snow today, and it has been bitterly cold this week. Yikes, I thought it was almost April!</p>
<p>rainmama and mini :-) We are in Northern California in a little mountain town so we actually get seasons...had snow a couple of times this years too. rainmama what does you D think of Carroll? If I could just take everything Carroll has to offer and put it somewhere in the Sierra Nevada or Cascade ranges that would be perfect.</p>
<p>On an unrelated note, how do youmake a real smiley????</p>
<p>D is only a sophomore, so hasn't gotten too serious about picking colleges. She loved the animal program at Carroll, but will probably be looking for more of a history major kind of place. But then she doesn't know how wonderful Montana is yet! </p>
<p>I do the smilie in the normal colon parentheses way. If yours isn't working, I think you can go to your profile or settings or whatever, and uncheck the disable smilies box.</p>
<p>did it work :)</p>
<p>I do not know if Linfield College has all that she wants. It is in a small town and I am sure there is a church there. If you are visiting University of Portland you might add on Linfield which is 45 minutes outside of Porltand. Welcome to our fabulous state!</p>
<p>You might check out Gonzaga--it's in Spokane, Catholic with a beautiful Church on campus. There is some partying there but also a lot of kids that are not into it.</p>
<p>oregon 101 Linfield is also on the historyfam Oregon college tour itinerary. In two weeks we'll be going from home to Willamette to Linfield to U of Portland and finally to Pacific U. I really like Pacific U and I hope the girls will too. Thanks for the welcome! </p>
<p>Mombot since Saint Mary's of California is one of my girls' top choices they decided they couldn't simultaneously love SMC and consider Gonzaga. Plus a girl they didn't like in elementary goes there, another strike against it in their minds so they vetoed Gonzaga. :P Silly I know but I didn't push it. Thanks for the suggestion though.</p>
<p>I have been to dog agility trials on the St Martins campus. (They won't be there in the future, as they are planning to build on those fields.) Nice people! Pretty campus. BUT... kind of remote from anywhere---it's about 100 miles to Seattle or Portland. Closer to Olympia, but Olympia is still a good ways away, and Olympia isn't really a student town the same way Portland or Seattle are.</p>
<p>Since you will be in Portland have you thought of looking at Louis and Clark? and then if you are going to go up to see St. Martins could also stop at the U. of Pugent Sound in Tacoma (pretty campus). There is also the Chauilly (sp?) museum.</p>