We also eliminated Portland and Seattle from our search, even as PNW residents.
1 Like
But these kids who go to Portland high schools already live there, and the parents arenāt flocking to leave. I used to live in Portland and the downtown area always had homeless people (yes, I know it is worse now).
I live in Denver and it is shocking how many places are just overrun with tents and shopping carts. I find them particularly numerous near hospitals, on the alleys near shopping center, under highway overpasses. There are even tent cities provided by the city and some churches set up to get the āpop up citiesā away from city schools, out of parks, but it doesnāt prevent them in other places. Itās bad, but I donāt notice them right next to the college campuses (any more than in other neighborhoods in the city).
But Iām not moving out of Denver.
1 Like
I would say that it is much worse Downtown Portland closer to Portland State vs Univ of Portland or Lewis and Clark. Many āPortlandā residents live in Beaverton, Lake Oswego or across the border in Vancouver, WA. There has been a flight from DT Portland but not a flight per se from Portland neighborhoods away from the core (ie Alberta area) or other suburbs like those listed above.
3 Likes
Most of the Catholic High Schools that I mentioned are in the suburbs and thatās where most families live. Many people are leaving the area, we plan to once our youngest graduates if things donāt drastically improve. We no longer allow our 18yr old to go to Portland with her friends, we donāt go ourselves unless thereās a particular reason we have to. Itās very sad.
I think when it comes to UP, which is in a relatively safe and beautiful part of Portland, it isnāt that the campus is unsafe. Itās that thereās nowhere for the kids to go out that is safe. Even the NW these days is having problems and with REIās imminent closure it will get worse. Denver may have a homeless problem, Portland has a serious crime problem.
Probably not the platform to get too far into it but I can understand why parents (myself included) would be looking outside the area. Who wants to be a college student and not be able to hang out in the city near their school?
2 Likes
Nvm
Santa Clara sent something to my D asking if she would accept admittance if they gave $16k in merit. Very odd as it was kind of an acceptance without them having to record it as such, maybe to game the #ās? She already made her decision but thought it was interesting.
5 Likes
This process is getting a little over the top this year! Jeez.
4 Likes
I am entertained by this last minute stuff though.
4 Likes
Also have had multiple schools e mailing saying ānot too late to enroll even though it is after May 1!ā.
9 Likes
Yes - itās kind of sad though but also gives good perspective about whoās really in the driverās seatā¦.
2 Likes
Hello,
I saw your posts in this thread and was very interested in your daughterās process. Mine is a rising senior and I just noticed URI yesterday, also Salve Regina and UMass Amherst, And UM-TC are on the current (very long) list. Would you be willing to share anything you learned about these or other schools and how your daughterās decision process worked?
Thank you so much!
2 Likes
Do you have a budget? That is the first step. Then, eliminate any schools that will not fall in the budget (even with potential merit or fin aid).
Happy to write further and feel free to ask questions.
See message #9 on the other chain for more context on budget and desire.
Hi there
Iāve been offline a lot of the summer and am now currently limited to my phone.
But Iām happy to share as much as you like.
Nutshell for now:
Criteria were cost (under 40k/ year)
Blue state/progressive culture, laws,
Politics
Plenty of cold weather and snow
Much bigger than her high school (NO LAC)
Good metro area nearby
Her sport(figure skating) is popular
So that is how we landed in New England. UM TC was an outlier but I was worried about safety and she gets migraines now and so we starting worrying about anything that was SO COLD.
Visited URI somewhat on a whim and fell love. It didnāt entirely fit what she originally thought she wanted but we think it has a culture she will more realistically thrive in.
8 Likes
@AustenNut s old post had some great suggestions.
5 Likes
@AustenNut is a rockstar and made a tremendous positive impact on our search!
7 Likes