<p>This board has been dead for a while; I'm thinking that with a new group of students rising up and looking at schools this fall, it might get active again. Just letting people know that I'm available, as a parent of a child who is one of the rare "non-East coasters" at Muhlenberg, to answer any questions.</p>
<p>My senior D, a southern girl, is interested in Muhlenberg. After visiting earlier this month with no expectations, we were VERY impressed.</p>
<p>However, we were there on the day before classes were to resume after fall pause, so there were very few students on campus.</p>
<p>Can you give a brief description of the "vibe" or general orientation of students?</p>
<p>We just returned from Parent's Weekend last Sunday, and although we had been to Muhlenberg before as prospective parents/student, this was different. I don't know how you can learn about these things until your child is actually a student there. </p>
<p>While we were walking around campus, my D made a comment about 'the campus that cares', and I thought she was just spouting some marketing jingle that appears on stuff they hand out to new students. But she kept referring to it, so I asked, and she was being very serious. They often have free giveaways in Seeger's Union or the Parent's Plaza - small things, but the kids really appreciate it... making sand art, making your own giant pixie stiks, snow globes with a picture with you and your friends in it, etc. I thought, well, that's cute, but then she wondered out loud if she would open doors for people when she comes home on break, then she clarified... students hold doors open for everyone (I've had another adult observe this, too) - in fact, they have deep discussions about what the appropriate distance is to stand and hold a door open for someone who's walking toward the door. Also, as kids are walking around campus, when they see miscellaneous trash, they pick it up and dispose of it properly. There just seems to be a set of unwritten acts of kindness that students engage in, and I can't tell you how refreshing it was to see, and hear about from my own daughter's mouth. </p>
<p>When just my husband and I were walking around campus, it was not unusual at all for students to acknowledge us as parents, greet us, make quick conversation, etc. </p>
<p>On Saturday night we were running late to get back to campus for the musical, and we decided to just eat in the Garden Room (their general cafeteria). We (husband and I - daughter was taking some stuff to her room), arrived at 6:50PM, and saw a notice on the door that it closed at 6:45 on Saturdays. Someone saw us standing there, and opened the door (and of course, held it for us) - a woman told us to hurry in, we could still get some food before they started putting it away. So we loaded up, and tried to pay, but she wouldn't let us. After we sat down, she came over a couple of times to make sure we had everything we needed. When our daughter arrived (around 7PM), she insisted my daughter get some food, but daughter wasn't hungry. Then she volunteered to go get us some dessert, which we declined, but she was so kind about it. After she left, our D told us that there are whole facebook groups devoted to this woman... they don't know her first name, but they call her the Cute Asian Lady. While it appears as if her job there (probably a manager or something) is not hostess, she treats everyone this way. </p>
<p>Anyway, you asked about the vibe of the students/campus - I learned so much more about Muhlenberg after my kid was attending there than any tour could have told us about.</p>
<p>Other than that, I can make some broad generalizations about Muhlenberg that may be informative or not: appoximately 30% of their students are Jewish, 30% Catholic, and the remainding... Protestant, or other. The two most popular majors seem to be pre-med and theatre. 60% of its freshman class is admitted ED, but their ED deadline is later than most. </p>
<p>If you have any more specific questions, please let me know.</p>
<p>"they don't know her first name, but they call her the Cute Asian Lady."--
this is too funny- when my daughter was a freshman, my mother and I met this wonderful woman (she graciously allowed us to enjoy a cup of coffee in the closed dining room), and we commented to D about her friendliness
D did know her name ( and had been on campus for two weeks).This woman has worked about Muhlenberg for 20 years when my niece graduated in 2001.</p>
<p>Something like this emphasizes what a small campus offers- intimacy, friendliness!</p>
<p>Glad to see that you, Terrwtt, are here on CC Muhlenberg board.</p>
<p>southjerseychessmom - it's hard not to want to talk about the place when you observe such things as the ones I saw last weekend. Also makes writing out that monthly tuition check so much easier :)</p>
<p>We just got back from campus as well...not for parent's weekend, but a nice campus visit. Everywhere we saw kids that looked happy and engaged. I know the kids there are described as preppy by some guidebooks. I think my D has met all types of people however.</p>
<p>Now I have to ask my D about the Garden Room lady...it's funny, my D almost always eats at Sandellas downstairs this year. I think she o.d.ed on the Garden Room freshman year. Now she has a hummus wrap almost everyday for lunch.</p>
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We just got back from campus as well
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<p>How was your visit?? Were you not just thrilled with Ruddigore? I was sooo impressed!</p>
<p>Am thinking about going back for D's a cappella concert at the beginning of December since at least half of her group was in Ruddigore, so they couldn't give a concert Parent's Weekend. They did give us an impromptu three song snippet in Parent's Plaza, but I want to hear more!</p>
<p>Regarding the Garden Room... my D started out the year eating at the GQ most the time (she ran through her Dining Dollars quickly). She eats more in the Garden Room now, but I don't think she has gone to Sandellas at all.</p>
<p>Our visit was great, Ruddigore was great, and next weekend I will see both my kids. We are going to a small beach town in Oregon that you know very well for an early Thanksgiving!</p>
<p>My H and I are going to campus again the weekend of Candellight Carols, so maybe we will be there at the same time! </p>
<p>BTW, D is trying to organize a caroling group, so maybe the girls will sing together in a smaller setting too!</p>
<p>my kids are looking forward to coming home - it will be the first time this semester for both of them. Muhlenberg kid is especially excited. She feels like she's the only one of her friends who has not been home at least once this semester... but that's the consequences for going to school so far away! I know you can relate. Inacchord's concert is a Thursday night, so if I go, I'll only be there overnight since she'll be home the following week.</p>
<p>Enjoy your getaway. Now I can genuinely say I'm jealous!</p>
<p>Muhlenberg just seems like the type of campus that is so warm, friendly, and closeknit. Allentown isn't a bad area- There are things to do nearby. (My favorite is the Lehigh Valley Mall with its new stores of Sephora, Coach, JCrew----ahhhhh I could spend DAYS there (and, consequentially, be in bankruptcy for the rest of my life =P) But, yeah, there are a lot of good restauurants around it... Just to name a few, Carabbas is right up the street, Outback, Panera Bread, this really cool Mexican restuarant (forget the name)... It is nice and small.</p>
<p>However--- does it sometimes feel TOO small and stifiling? What is the social atmosphere like on the weekends?</p>
<p>Can you be more specific about social atmosphere? Are you asking about partying or something else?</p>
<p>Hi Irnprcll
I see from your posts you spent some time at Muhlenberg for summer program, so you do know the campus well, but have you visited when it is in session? </p>
<p>I encourage you to visit while it is in session, and ask the students what they do on weekends, because it is a "small" college.
If you are not part of the sports scene, or theater scene-what would occupy you?<br>
You have asked a very valid question, which most likely applies to any school as small as Muhlenberg ie Gettysburg, FandM, Dickinson. </p>
<p>Many students study abroad so when things are closing in too much, you have a change of scenery. </p>
<p>Have you visited while M'berg is in session?</p>
<p>I visited for their Spring Open House....but there were so many people there (400+) overcrowded on the small campus that it was hard to get a feel for it.</p>
<p>I kind of got the jist that Muhlenberg does get a little bit boring. When asked what the students did on the weekend for fun or if it was boring there, a lot of students didn't answer the question directly.</p>