If you’ve seen both of these schools which do you prefer and why? I’ve read about them here and both sound appealing. Thanks
We visited Wooster but not Beloit, but both are in the mix, so I’m interested in responses as well, but no help with a first hand comparison. Have you visited either? What, specifically, are you (or your kid if applicable) looking for?
Wooster is about 50% larger than Beloit and I think going by reputation/stats alone a bit more selective (and possibly a bit less quirky), but they have a number of other things in common, and each have different strengths. At Wooster we were impressed by the personal attention each student seemed to receive at admissions, by the engagement and friendliness of the students we met, and by the overall welcoming atmosphere. (The interiors of recently renovated buildings convey a real sense of both warmth and light.) My kid interviewed with a student who shared his interests, and provided an extremely positive report of his time there.
I’ve heard that Beloit’s new science building is impressive, (Wooster’s seemed pretty old school), but haven’t seen it for myself.
Agree with @porcupine98.
D’s best friend is at Wooster and loves it. It was in D’s top three choices. Their senior year mentored research program is incredible. Everyone participates (mandatory). Kauke Hall is really bright, nicely renovated. Two cafeterias, which is nice (a smaller one on the north end of campus). They are constructing a new Bio building soon. Library is nice, bright for a smaller school. Campus is pretty. Great academics, excellent facilities, and often good merit aid. And gotta love their Scot Marching Band!
Considered Beloit, but did not end up visiting. A friend of mine went there years ago and really liked it.
My daughter is currently a first year at Beloit. Wooster was one of the four other colleges she applied to and was accepted at. We visited Wooster twice and my daughter decided she just didn’t like it. Among other things, the students and admissions staff we interacted with just didn’t seem interested in her. However, I know two people who went to Wooster and loved it. One is currently doing a post doc at Harvard and feels Wooster prepared him exceptionally well for grad school.
Her first visit to Beloit did not excite her either. In fact, until she attended accepted student weekend Beloit was 4th on her list, just ahead of Wooster. Beloit just seemed to click with her at accepted student weekend. The students were friendly and she felt comfortable there. The classes she attended were interesting and the professors spoke to her afterwords. She loved the improv activity and the science building and the food choices in the cafeteria (she is vegetarian).
She is now home after her first semester at Beloit. She did well in her classes, made lots of friends and is very happy with her choice.
So my best advice is to visit and see how it feels. And, if possible, attend accepted students days for your top choices.
Another parent who has visited only one of these two – we have been to Wooster twice, but not made it to Beloit. What we like about Wooster: traditional “collegiate” looking campus – from gothic science library, prairie style house where Admissions is housed, to traditional looking dorms with gorgeous common rooms etc. Larger student body than many LACs – over 2000 students. IS – every student completes mentored research project. I have been impressed by the administrative coordination and structure – APEX-- which is an acronym standing for advising, career planning, study abroad and experiential learning (I think), are all clustered in the lower level of the library, so that students are meeting with their first year advisors, then can connect with career planning, etc. easily because it is all connected. Makes enormous sense as a parent. Admissions has been fabulous with my son, coordinating special requests for meetings with faculty, coach, students with similar interests. I am also very impressed with their new Presidential hire – the Dean of the College at Williams College, a Berkeley trained physicist. Also, while the few blocks immediately around campus are fine, nothing special – there is a compact area downtown which has wonderful boutique style restaurants and the St Paul Hotel is worth the splurge.
Wooster students seem to range across the spectrum, we saw zombies and humans game while were there, plus students looking classic prep, or with blue hair, or just midwest nice.
I’m a current student at Wooster, and though I haven’t visited Beloit I can offer a little bit about the strengths I feel that Wooster has. First and foremost would be the atmosphere, which is overall warm and friendly. One thing that strikes me is how casual many interactions are with professors, deans and staff. Every semester, by the second week the professor has known my name. I make sure to go to office hours during the first week just to introduce myself, and the professors are accessible and welcoming and it often evolves into a discussion about their own academic histories, how they arrived at Wooster, etc. Overall, I feel respected by professors and administrators who seek to build relationships with students. Students are also given lots of autonomy and independence while simultaneously receiving lots of mentoring, especially when it comes to research and our final senior project.
The town of Wooster has also been a pleasant surprise. When I arrived, I wasn’t expecting much from the surrounding area. However, the town is a foodie town with restaurants and markets which rival offerings of much larger towns and cities, and there is a good amount of growth in Wooster. The school is also a short drive to Cleveland, Akron, Canton and Columbus, which is nice because admittedly weekends and evenings on campus can be a little dull. However, the Activities Committee has gotten better about planning weekend events that are both on-campus and off-campus, including trips to Cleveland pro-sports, Cedar Point, movie theaters, hockey games, and more.
I’ve been pleased with my time here. I think the size is perfect because it is small enough to be manageable and friendly, but big enough to offer a surprising amount of things and have a good amount of diversity among the students.
What are you studying? I’m particularly curious about the sciences.
“I’ve heard that Beloit’s new science building is impressive, (Wooster’s seemed pretty old school)”
Beloit’s science building is great. Terrific natural light and spacious facilities. They are working on a restored prairie outside. I was there with a counselor tour group, and they hosted events for our group in the atrium and on the roof.
The intellectual values at Beloit and the thoughtful kids I met exceeded the selectivity of the school. I consider it an admissions bargain for that reason. In contrast to so many campuses I’ve visited, Beloit had poured money into this new academic/research facility despite having some pretty run-down student life spaces. That’s much more what I’m looking for in a school, versus those that have the shiny new luxury dorms and gyms and not much to show off in terms of academics.
I’m studying Spanish and Economics, though I was originally on the pre-med track as Chemistry. I’d say the things about Wooster’s science program that stand out are the “sophomore” research positions, actually open to all non-seniors (https://www.wooster.edu/academics/research/sophomore/), and of course our Independent Study program.
Also you likely saw Mateer Hall, our biology building. It is set to be torn down in June 2016 and a new building built by start of classes in Fall 2018 (https://www.wooster.edu/news/releases/2015/may/four-gifts/). All funding has already been secured and on-campus facilities organized during the construction period. Severance Hall, our Chemistry building, added an addition and was renovated less than 20 years ago with state-of-the-art facilities, including individual lab space for each senior working on their capstone project.