What is your instate public university?
The University of California sustem
@BeefyBill did your kiddo apply to any of the UCs or Cal States for undergrad? I’m not sure I understand why the schools on her list are…on her list.
@thumper1 She states that the daughter has top merit from all four private west coast colleges, and trying to find the most rigorous of those for biology. I do not think this family has any trouble paying for the four colleges,given the very top merit packages these colleges offer smart kids, just wants to figure out ACADEMIC comparisons. Not every California students wants a public program, some want small private schools and can afford them.
Top Merit would be a free ride I would think. She got good merit not great. We are by no means rich…at all…Kid just worked her tail off and got good grades and happens to have diverse interests, no fluff. She has applied to several UC’s but she likes the smaller schools. I can’t disagree much, while all the state schools are good I don’t think they are for everyone. She wants to get a good education and have a little room to grow instead of committing to a field right off the bat I think that’s why she likes LACs
On point
I think I would put this college selection discussion on the back burner for a month…or two. So much can change…and student perspective can change between now and May 1 when she has to make a matriculation decision. Plus, she probably will have some more acceptances by that time.
Will she be able to do accepted student visits at her top several choice colleges? For some kids, that seals the deal…and maybe would eliminate a school as well.
@Coloradomama I wasn’t asking about the instate publics because of cost…at all. I was asking because I wondered why this list of schools was created. This student doesn’t want to jump into a particular course of study…and the public universities have many options from which to choose…maybe more than these four colleges. Just food for thought.
We have visited all but plan to do a second round
She should attend all “overnight stays” for admitted students - she may have to register for those ahead of time so check out the page or ask Admissions about dates/opportunities. She should request attending a Freshman English or Freshman Seminar class + a Freshman biology class, meet with the Biology Dept’s Head or a professor, with the Honors program (I assume she was admitted to Honors), compare benefits, stay in the dorm and eat in the cafeteria, read the student paper…
After an overnight stay, some should stick out either favorably or unfavorably.
Last year my D received I believe top merit at LMU and Chapman, around 32K at each school. She didn’t end up at either but preferred LMU over Chapman. She has a good friend at each of these schools. Very smart kids. Both are very happy academically and socially.
My DD is at LMU. We also visited Chapman. Chapman was very impressive in a “bright and shiny” kind of way if that makes sense…beautiful, happy smiling (if quite preppy/upper class in appearance), gorgeous facilities (we toured film school and theater program). LMU is also beautiful, my D got more of a home feel there in terms of fit and culture and personality, and the Jesuit philosophy appeals to her even though she has moved away from the religious faith she was brought up with. She’s in the theater program but has found her non-theater “core” courses quite challenging and has met very bright, ambitious and academically successful (and challenged) kids, many in the Honors program. One of her close friends is graduating premed in 3 years somehow. We’ve been very impressed with the personal attention with professors and advisors, which I would think would be very beneficial for pre med. I really like the size of LMU (6000), I think they call it a medium sized school with a small school feel or something like that.
I live in Portland, Oregon and know Willamette well. It’s a good school, but very expensive for what you get in return. Another thing to think of is that it’s in Salem. Not much to do…The arts are limited and Salem as a whole is not a great place to live. The school sits right near the capital and Salem Hospital. There are frequently problems with transients and drug seekers trespassing on campus from the hospital or nearby jail…
This is a VERY liberal college and many of the students who go here are from very upscale, wealthy families. Smoking pot and drug use is prolific.
Willamette has an excellent law school but other than that I’d go elsewhere…
Personality and location wise, all 4 are VERY different from each other. Is she looking at honors college options at all?
Yes, she wanted to stay kind of close to home and liked medium sized schools. All of these schools gave her a good “vibe” she liked that they were lively. Honors is an option.
Liberal? You ought to take a look at Reed. Last I heard weed was legal in OR. Honestly I’d rather her do that then binge drink.
LMU, Seattle, and to an extent Chapman are all in big urban areas. Easy access to airports, theater, music concerts, etc. I’d drop Willamette from the list because of the reasons @Biydste listed. It’s only an hour from Portland, but Salem is a small town, focused on the government activities. There is a lot of pot available in all three states these schools are in, but it may be more the culture at one school than the others. t’s not legal for 18 year olds in any of the states, but probably as available as it always has been.
LMU and Seattle are Jesuit schools. There is going to be a different focus at those schools, including a commitment to service.