Like so many class of 2020 families, all of our admitted students were cancelled. Unfortunately, we were relying on those to choose from an array of schools. Virtual sessions thus far have not been helpful. Our finalists are Miami (OH), Denison, Denver, UVM and Charleston. Coming from an urban East Coast area and large public high school. Fortunate to have money from all. Student ambivalent about midwest/flat lands. Parents interested in OH schools. Anyone have feedback on vibes, programs, academic support at any of these options?
Contact admissions and ask them to put you in touch with current students at the school. Look at the official college Instagram. Also look up students on Instagram who have tagged their college. Use the website Niche, where students review their colleges. See if you can order a Fiske guidebook.
What major is your student interested in?
You can also look at the school newspapers online to try to get a better sense of what is/way going on at the campus.
Congratulations on your amazing choices. Well done. What is it about the OH schools that the parents like? (Apparently the student is worried about the flatness?)
A lot of NYC kids go to UVM and like it–also from DC area. It seems to be drawing urbane students who also like the sporty atmosphere and the size of the school and the cute town of Burlington.
One issue that may help sort this: how would student get home if suddenly the dorms close? Collect stuff if they close while s/he is already on fall or spring break? This is an issue that’s come up this year … a lot of dorms closed while students had their stuff still inside of them, thinking they were returning. Denver seems more difficult to collect stuff from than something within driving distance. Getting a company to come into the room and pack for you is not an option at one of my kids’ schools.
Have you not visited these schools at all?
When my eldest was in the college process we were living in Germany at the time. We did a spring break tour of most of the colleges she applied to…,but when it came time to make a decision, it was not in the budget to go to admitted students day. She selected a college and had no issues.