<p>My D goes to Bryn Mawr and takes courses and has friends at both Swarthmore and Haverford. In fact, last semester D only took one course at Bryn Mawr the other three were at Swarthmore. One of D’s close friends from high school is at Swarthmore and they have remained close. Based on my interactions with D and her friends at all three schools, I think a Republican on any of those three campuses would be in a definite minority. However, that’s not to say a kid who is conservative would necessarily be uncomfortable. Depends on the kid–some wouldn’t like it and others wouldn’t care.</p>
<p>Seiclan, Bucknell Grad here (late 70’s),
Niece Graduated Muhlenberg 2001, D graduated 2009. </p>
<p>You have a rising Junior, who isn’t into the college search, yet. Best advice, we received at your point in the process, was from son’s experienced guidance counselor, who once worked for Admissions at Notre Dame.
He said to experience a variety of campuses- urban, rural, small, large, just to get a vibe, and to narrow the search. </p>
<p>Might Drexel, be on your list if your son likes urban scene, but not a candidate for Upenn?
Haverford, Muhlenberg, and Lehigh would be easy to do and provide some variety. Muhlenberg fills the “small, cozy” campus with Jewish presence.
Lehigh would be fit the “larger, strong Greek scene, Engineering option” college. (No need to duplicate with Lafayette, or Bucknell, unless you had the time.) </p>
<p>Don’t remember how many days you have to tour.
At this point, it might be best for him to ENJOY the visits, and see the value of the process. Let us know how it goes.
My son and husband, golfed at every visit, and it was so much fun for them. (Notre Dame won out for son)</p>
<p>I think if your son is interested mainly in math and science you should put Drexel back on your radar screen as opposed to liberal arts colleges. Drexel is not affiliated with any religion although Sister Katherine Drexel, whose brother financier Stephen Drexel founded the University, was the first American to be cannonized by the Catholic Church. Not only is Drexel well regarded for its Engineering programs it also has the largest private medical school in the United States admitting 240 students into its MD program each year.</p>
<p>I am very biased, but best college in America is Swarthmore. Go see it!</p>
<p>I think a Republican would not have a problem at Swarthmore, even though the college is left-leaning. I am biased too, my son went there. I do know some Poli Sci professors at Swarthmore (like James Kurth, retired, though) who are not left leaning at all.</p>
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<p>I’m not sure what your vendetta against Temple is about, because you keep making disparaging comments, saying we’re not a destination school, etc., but we have a large contingent of South Floridians here at Temple. We have a growing number of students from the south (NC, VA, FL, GA). In fact, my best friend at Temple is from Dallas. My cousin, from Boca Raton, strongly considered Temple, but chose UCF for Bright Futures.</p>
<p>I can understand not picking Temple because of Bright Futures, but to say no one from South Florida would have interest in Temple and it’s not a destination school is unfounded.</p>
<p>I’m so disgusted with the Democrat Party that I voted for Sarah Palin, do don’t consider me a knee-jerk lefty. I absolutely, 100% endorse the education she got at Swarthmore, and especially the way she learned to think about issues in a more complex way. I love the level of political activism on campus. Would I like to see the conservatives on campus be more visible? Probably, but such is life at elite colleges. It is what it is.</p>
<p>Here’s a recent panel discussion at the College on discourse in politics with three alumni. I think it shows that Swatties hardly march in political lockstep. There are actually several well-known conservative Swatties, including even a professor or two, not to mention children of some well-known Repubican congresscritters.</p>
<p>[Swarthmore</a> College Video Blog Archive Leadership, Liberal Arts, and the Common Good (panel one)](<a href=“Featured Videos :: News & Events :: Swarthmore College”>Leadership, Liberal Arts, and the Common Good (panel one) :: News & Events :: Swarthmore College)</p>
<p>BTW, my daughter did her first ever college trip to Philadelphia, the summer after the 10th grade. Her goal (or at least her mother’s goal) was to visit representative schools of each type. At that point, we had no clue what her admissions odds might end up being. She visited Penn as an example of a large urban private university. She visited Swarthmore as an example of a suburban (but near major city) liberal arts college, which just happens to be one of the prettiest colleges in the country. And, I think they also swung by Lehigh and Vassar en route.</p>
<p>She ended up falling in love with Swarthmore on that visit, a preference that was never even challenged in two more years of college visits and applied early decision.</p>
<p>BTW, Penn and Swarthmore are on the same train line. There’s a train station on each campus. Ten stops; takes about 30 minutes.</p>
<p>No offense to Temple, but I don’t see a kid from South Florida, who is top 2% of his class, having Temple as a likely choice. I can see Georgia Tech for a science/mathy kid who wants a big urban university in a big city.</p>
<p>dionte- You know I am not anti-Temple. I am VERY familiar with the school and the area. I am glad you are having a good experience. It is a good school and is very well-respected in the Philadelphia and New Jersey area. It does not have broad reach, however. I also am NOT impressed by the surroundings no matter what you try to say about how safe it is. It’s better than when I used to drive a truck for a summer job and had to go to Temple to deliver stuff and had a tire iron by my seat for self-defense, but it is still not good.</p>
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<p>It’s fine now, and it will be even better after our $1B+ campus renovation project is complete.</p>
<p>I’m sure you say the same things about Penn on here, right? Because god knows there’s nothing wrong with West Philly and the screwdriver wielding and attacking hoodlums…</p>
<p>Have you read my posts? I have been quite critical of the area surrounding Penn, but it is MUCH better than what is around Temple. Get real.</p>
<p>I am ‘real’. They seem to have more noteworthy incidents, and since I actually go to Temple (and you don’t), I’d think my perspective would be significantly better than your suburban bubble perspective.</p>
<p>diontechchristmas,
MOWC does not live in Pennsylvania, but I do and I subscribe to the Philadelphia Inquirer. Temple is a great college and many students from my kids HS go there and have graduated from there but there is absolutely no question that the area around Temple is worse then over in the University City area where Drexel and Penn are located. My daughter had a friend who was robbed at gunpoint, in broad daylight two blocks from the Temple campus.</p>
<p>Here are a couple of links that show criem in both campuses [Philadelphia</a> Crime Map - Showing Crime in Temple University, PA - Crime Statistics - Crime Alerts - Crime Stops Here](<a href=“http://ucrime.com/pa/temple+university]Philadelphia”>http://ucrime.com/pa/temple+university) and [Philadelphia</a> Crime Map - Showing Crime in University of Pennsylvania, PA - Crime Statistics - Crime Alerts - Crime Stops Here](<a href=“http://ucrime.com/pa/university+of+pennsylvania]Philadelphia”>http://ucrime.com/pa/university+of+pennsylvania)</p>
<p>But back to the OP,
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<p>As a long-time Philly area local…I can say that the reputations of both Drexel and Temple have improved a LOT in the last 20 years. I certainly have come around in my view of both schools over the last few years. Selectivity has increased and both appear to be heavily investing in their futures. I know a young lady who aspired to Cornell, was rejected and went to Temple - as bio major in the honors program -on an almost full-ride. She says the honors dorms are real nice too. And the basketball team is pretty darn good (can’t say the same re the football team…but they’re improving!) So if you have a strong student and saving money may be on the radar…why not check it out? Temple has a beautiful campus. Yes, the surrounding area can be nasty…but that’s true of many good schools. I worked in the Penn/Drexel area for years and there are safety problems there as well. (cross posted with Kathiep…looks like Temple’s area may be worse…not a big surprise). But isn’t Temple’s campus set aside from the neighborhood vs being integrated like Penn’s? (that’s how I remember it…not sure though…it’s been quite a few years). Anyway, that might make a difference…the young lady I know took a train that deposited her right on campus…and I believe she is looking at moving off campus next year…to center city (not north philly!) </p>
<p>And Ursinis. Nice school…if you like them real SMALL. They hand out generous merit dollars too.</p>
<p>kathiep- Thanks for the links. While I don’t live in PA, I am there about once a month and my son has many friends who go to Temple (and, of course, Penn). My family is still all in the Phila area and I always hear the news of near-campus crimes. My nephew looked at Temple (and was very impressed by the school, but chose TCNJ).</p>
<p>We are back home now and it turned out that we only had the time to visit two PA schools so we saw U Penn and Muhlenberg. We drove past Drexel to reach Penn but we have no interest there. We had just come from NYC where we toured NYU and Columbia so we saw 4 colleges in total. This was a terrific thing to do at this stage because it got son thinking about the process. He was very excited about the research and technology that was stressed at Columbia in particular. He liked Penn but I am not sure that he fell in love enough to apply ED (which eliminates his tiny legacy bump). It was great going to see a suburban college (Muhlenberg) with a gorgeous campus (quiet with lots of green space) for comparison although I am not sure that it is academic enough for my son. We have all the literature and I took lots of photographs so DS can further reflect on these schools as the year goes on. I really hated the traffic in and around Philadelphia itself…an absolute nightmare!
On in interesting note, as we were discussing admissions in the Alumni Hall with the alumni center representative at Penn, a small microburst (tornado) came through the campus, complete with hail (it was 94 degrees outside). After the weather cleared, there were major trees and branches down everywhere, the campus was a mess. This was the highlight of my son’s experience (remember, he is a science kid)!</p>
<p>^^^^“This was a terrific thing to do at this stage because it got son thinking about the process.”</p>
<p>What a successful trip in all ways! Sounds like everyone had fun. I remember that HOT, HUMID day when the hail storm hit Philly!!! Oy vey!!!
What excitement for your son, and memorable event.</p>
<p><a href=“can’t%20say%20the%20same%20re%20the%20football%20team…but%20they’re%20improving!”>quote</a>
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<p>Our football team went 9-3 last year, and finished 45th in the BCS standings ahead of schools like Michigan and Notre Dame.</p>
<p>OK Dion. College sports fan here…how could I be anything else with rabid sports fans living in my home? I do know that Temple football is on the upswing…and I think they have a terrific coach. I just have a hard time forgetting all the scores against Penn State in the last few years. I actually attended one of those games. Michagan and Notre Dame were horrible last year, but on balance have had really strong programs over the years (ouch, I really don’t like those two teams). Anyway, I root for Temple as long as they’re not playing PSU or my school…which I won’t even mention (they’re terrible!) Hope 2011 is a good year for you!</p>
<p>“Dion”? toneranger, you really don’t follow Temple basketball, do you?</p>
<p>dionte: You are right to represent for Temple, but I doubt it does any long-term good to mislead people. People who visit Temple need to be prepared for its somewhat insular quality – an island of tranquility (and great street lighting) in a sea of . . . nowhere you would want your darling child to wander around. If some people can’t deal with that, they have no business attending Temple, and it’s unlikely they will…</p>