<p>My son is planning on applying to 4 schools, which is making me very nervous. He does have a safety school (I agree) that he has seen and likes just fine. I have bugun to hear about College of Charleston but really don't know anything about the school and would love to hear some input about it. What other school might it be compared to? What other schools do kids apply to who apply to CoC? What are the strengths and weaknesses? The student body? More conservative vs. liberal? Is it a particularly religious school?</p>
<p>I would appreciate knowing more about it so he can decide if he should consider applying there.
Thanks very much.</p>
<p>There used to be a bit of a buzz about College of Charleston. As there were many positive comments made about it, I did check the website and gave it some consideration. My d did not as she wanted to stay a bit closer to home as we are from NY. Of course she did apply to 1 school in Florida but it's a quick direct flight via Jet Blue. I do not think there is any quick direct way to get from NY to Charleston. I got the impression C of C is fairly selective-- at least B+ student and 1200 SAT's. It was also one of those schools that had a much higher female to male ratio, so your son might get an advantage. As we are Jewish and from NY, I checked out the Hillel website and also wanted to know if it was "too conservative" . I was pleasantly surprised. It seems like a very cosmopolitan and all inclusive campus. I would suggest you post on the Parents thread as I know there were several parents who did have some experience with College of Charleston. I think it is a very solid school. Good luck.</p>
<p>I have been to this school twice on my visits to Charleston. To put it simply, Charleston is amazingly beautiful. Plus the social life at C of C is definitely up there. If you are not having a <em>rediculously</em> good time at the school, you are doing something awfully wrong.</p>
<p>PS - just stay away from the citadel kids because they are very arrogant.</p>
<p>There is a lot about the College of Charleston in Anne Matthew's Book, Bright College Years, if my memory serves me. It sounded like a very caring school in her portrayal.</p>
<p>I don't know about the school academically but I walked through the campus on a recent visit to Charleston and it is very pretty and well maintained. It is just outside the nicest part of the historic district, at the edges of a slightier seedier area, but not scary. It was larger than I expected and had some lovely old buildings as well as the expected new, large ones. I think it's a public school not a private one,w hich wuld mean lower tuition probably. I don't think it is terribly selective, but it certainly would have a solid faculty and basis; the numbers in Princeton Review and other resources should give you a good sense of what it takes to get in.</p>
<p>These were great responses. I appreciate what everyone had to say and would love to hear more. My son's reluctance has to do with someone from our school who is a freshman at C of C and in high school was a very poor student and quite the "troublemaker" type. Why is there so little mentioned about this school? Marny1 - a lot of what you wrote about is relevant to us so it was very helpful.</p>
<p>boxcar, Unfortunately "troublemakers" are not exposed to good schools through essays, sat scores and gpas. If this student had the savvy to pick the ppl who would write the recs in a positive manner, then these issues may never have come to light. I have seen this in our hs. Some students such as you describe, get away with so much for so long, but I have also seen it hurt them at times. This should not stop your son from applying. My son applied to a school and a friend of mine (teacher by profession) said that one of her students who is a wise guy, attended there last year and so she would not allow her S to apply to that school. I think this is silly b/c such ppl will be found on every campus, but probably more on some than others.</p>
<p>BTW, I know of one such student from my son's school who lasted one semester, and was kicked out of college for behavioral issues. I won't go into details, but I am told he is now in the US military. This happens here and there I guess.</p>
<p>I've heard the town is great, social lives are good. Academics are fairly strong. Lots of people move off campus after freshmen year. Don't know too much, but I have a friend there and she loves it.</p>
<p>BOXCAR - MY DD - and also unbeknownst to us - my son's DIL applied to CofC - it is a wonderful school - right in the midst of a beautiful downtown area - no car needed actually.</p>
<p>When we went to see the school - it was in the middle of hurricane Kyle - and we missed our tour d/t flooding north of there - we called and requested - if possible - could they leave out some infor for us as we still intended to 'land' in Charleston after hours - they could not have been nicer to us - they left us a wonderful package in a mailbox - with a walking tour of the school and other school info - we arrived and had a wonderful evening touring around the campus and the downtown area - spoke to several students - visited the recreation facilities - had coffee in a local cafe - also with some students - and then toured the sourrouding area. What a beautiful area it is in - and great folks there.</p>
<p>During the admission process everyone we spoke to/worked with - were just soooo full of that wonderful southern charm. My DD originally applied there as a pre-physical thereapy major - they have a hospital/med school right down the road. My DD and the other gal were both accepted there - the other girl is now a poli-sci major I believe - tho my own DD decided to go elsewhere - CofC was her second choice after visiting all the schools she was interested in.</p>
<p>I feel that CofC has alot to offer and will give your DS a great opportunity - and I would by no means feel that he should not apply there. Academically it is a solid education and socially it offers alot as well. I would have absolutely no qualms had my own DD decided to attend there at all.</p>
<p>I do know that the other gal is able to come home to New England without too much fuss - there is an airport very close by. As far as housing - we found that if one was ablet to get things in on time it was not a problem for freshman houseing - but after that many students live in apartments that a scattered around town but very close to campus. Not sure about the politics of the students - and didn't find it religuous at all - tho I am certain that if that is an interest for a student that there are supports either at or very close by the campus.</p>
<p>Good Luck to your DS - CofC may be a very good fit for him - like I said - had my own DD decided to go there - we would have been thrilled.</p>
<p>I know little about the academics and student life but it is indeed a beautiful campus. I've been to Charleston a few times - have family there - and I can say it is one of the nicest small cities I've ever visited.</p>