Colleges you/child crossed off the list after visiting

Parents Forum
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<p>I find it very strange that some schools are so good at putting their best feet forward and others not.</p>

<p>We really loved Vassar except for the students who spoke at info sessions. We attended three or four (two kids, multiple visits) hoping to hear some who could not be described as “giggly dingbats.” </p>

<p>I am sure the student body is wonderful, but they just didn’t show that.</p>

<p>S and D were very impressed by the students they heard at the schools they attend(ed). And the actual student bodies probably don’t differ all that much, though D insists they do.</p>

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<p>We visited Vassar and spoke to several students, none of whom could be described as “giggly dingbats.”</p>

<p>Another example of YMMV, I suppose…</p>

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<p>fendrock: I know lovely students at Vassar. I was just referring to the “official” speakers at the info sessions. I would have been very pleased to have either child attend Vassar.</p>

<p>I think I want to go. LOL.</p>

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<p>And to be fair, we didn’t attend the info session at Vassar, so maybe that’s how we managed to avoid them!</p>

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<p>Wellesley, though my daughter didn’t cross it off her list. I just wanted her to! The young woman who was the student-expert for the info session spoke in Valley-talk. It was all, “Like, you know, I love to shop…and OMG, there is, like, tons of shopping here,” her voice going up at the end of every phrase, as if she was asking a question. </p>

<p>I couldn’t believe my ears. It was painful to sit through. I truly wondered if there was no one else available. What sort of bizarre image was Wellesley trying to portray? </p>

<p>I remember wondering what my intellectual power-house daughter was thinking. Turns out she didn’t think any less of her or the school, she was so impressed by what the DEAN had to say. She happened to sit next to my daughter and lead that particular info session. </p>

<p>I also remember thinking, “Well, if they let this girl in, my daughter should have NO TROUBLE being admitted!” </p>

<p>It still baffles me why they would allow/choose such a ditzy sounding girl to participate in an info session. And why, if she was as smart as I suspect she must have been, did she want to sound as stupid as she did?</p>

1 Like
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<p>One thing I have found is that there really are regional and cultural differences in how people (women especially) speak and present themselves. One of my SILs always talks in a kind of ditsy, coy, babyish way but she happens to be one of the top research scientists in her field, MD PhD, really brilliant - when I first met her years ago I really wondered until I got to know her what my B was thinking. Another SIL come across as a Valley girl but again happens to be brilliant in her field of genetics and also happened to pick up a law degree on the side, seemingly without effort. I no longer judge by the voice. Now giggly dingbats are a different matter…</p>

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<p>I liked the young woman who was at our Vassar info session. She was double majoring, volunteered in Poughkeepsie and seemed like a nice all round sort, not particularly artsy or hip. Brandeis had an incredibly overenthusiastic admissions officer at the info session to the point where it came off as somewhat dingbatty. Our tourguide though was wonderful. He was a Posse scholar I think - either that or Questbridge - I always get those two programs confused. Son still didn’t like the school.</p>

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<p>Our University of Chicago visit was a disaster. S2 had been to a regional information session the week before which was only so-so, so when he got to the admissions office he asked if he should attend another information session before doing a class visit. The student at the desk told him to skip the info session it would be the same person and the same info. And then turned and walked away. Son called her back and asked how to do the class visit. She waved him off to a bank of computers where another student worker was showing two other visitors how to figure out what class to visit. Son paid attention, and using the second computer figured out for himself what classes were available, when it started and where it met. He asked the student who seemed to be in charge if he needed a pass or anything and was told “no, just go – it’s out those doors there”. Son went off to find the classroom on his own. I waited in the waiting room. It soon became clear that applicants were getting very different treatment. Some where brushed off with no help, others were fawned over. There was a stack of information packets behind the front desk, some kids were given packets, other kids were not. Son was not, not even a campus map. No one ever asked my son his name, no one seemed to notice he was even there. The waiting room had a desk with students working it, and in the hour I was waiting for my son, four different kids worked the desk. None of them seem interested in the job. At one point I got up and asked the student for recommendations for lunch. She told me she could give us tickets for the dining hall. I said I would have to wait to ask son if that is what he wanted to do. She replied “Most parents just tell their kid what to do.”</p>

<p>Son came back from his class, a philosophy class. He said it was painful, none of the kids talked. The professor was clearly bright and engaged in the subject, but he was kind of nerdy and couldn’t engage the kids. Son said at one point the prof asked a question and just waited for an answer. Nothing. Son said he wanted to walk out of the class half way through, he felt so bad for the prof being stuck with such a bunch of dead beat kids. </p>

<p>We decided to skip the dining hall and went down the street to lunch instead. We went to a student place that had booths with graffiti all over them. About half way through lunch Son said “You notice anything weird here Mom? There are no swear words anywhere. I don’t think I want to go to a school were there is not one kid who thinks it’s funny to write **** on the table. I don’t want to be that kid, and I don’t want to hang out with that kid, but I want that kid to be here.” </p>

<p>We started back to the Admissions office to do the campus tour. It was pouring down rain, and just as we got to the admissions office Son decided he wanted to skip the tour. As we made our way back to the train station we wandered through some of the campus buildings. Son noticed that while the bulletin boards had lots of posters for academic meetings and symposiums, there was very little sign of independent student life. No posters for local bands, no posters for the science club, no posters looking for apartments or runaway cats. It was the day before halloween and it really bothered Son that there were no signs of it anywhere. No pumpkins on a desk, nobody in an orange shirt, no candy corn, nothing. Son came away with the impression that there was a sameness of attitude there that he was not comfortable with. He saw nothing that led him to think there were break-out thinkers there. Smart kids, bright kids, but no kids who would take a chance and change the world just through sheer exuberance. </p>

<p>Next morning we visited Depaul. Very different experience. The admissions office was warm and inviting. The information session was one of the best we have ever seen and we have been to a lot. They were able to clearly lay out Depaul’s strengths and what makes them different from other schools. A strong commitment to practical education with a lot of opportunity for integrating the classroom and the community. The student panel was honest, funny and charming while selling the school message. The campus tour was great. The tour guide was able to get the kids talking, she handled very nicely the pushy Dad who wanted to ask all the questions, she introduced other students she knew as we went along who were all friendly. It was very impressive. Son’s reaction was “Well that scared me straight, I’m applying to Chicago.”</p>

<p>You explain it to me.</p>

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<p>I guess he didn’t want what DePaul was offering and <em>did</em> want the uber-academic experience even without bells and whistles. Sounds like a very successful visit because he found himself, which is so much more important than finding out about schools.</p>

<p>And thanks mathmom for the report on the good Vassar info person. I think I’ll stop saying that now.</p>

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<p>Lololu - that’s so funny!! But I do think you should have had lunch in the dining hall. You can tell a lot about school atmosphere from the dining hall experience!</p>

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<p>anxiousmom, Son was so put out by the kids in the Philosophy class that he didn’t want to see anymore students that morning. It seemed like the only thing he liked at Chicago was the chocolate milkshake in the restaurant, which was very good. But even as I type this he is working away on his Chicago essay.</p>

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<p>My D is intent on going to college in a large, urban environment, so most of our visits centered around Boston, NYC, and Washington DC, with a few other visits strategically scheduled as they fit into the drive(s). Results were varied and quite interesting:</p>

<p>DISLIKED after visiting:</p>

<p>American University - As we drove to the college she commented on how much she liked the surrounding area, how close it was to the city, etc., but things started going downhill during the b-o-r-i-n-g information session and didn’t improve after the tour. She crossed it off her list immediately.</p>

<p>Georgetown - Info session and tour were fine. Grounds were lovely. But the vibe she got from the students turned her off and it was removed from her list. Tough to argue when they say it’s just a gut feeling.</p>

<p>Boston University and Northeastern University - She loves Boston so she had high hopes for both of these, but neither school provided enough of a campus feel for her. However, these visits were at the very beginning of this process so she thinks she might feel differently if she visited them now after seeing some of the other non-traditional campuses in other cities. I sense another trip to Boston before the final decision is made.</p>

<p>LOVED after visiting:</p>

<p>George Washington University - This one surprised me, because I thought she wanted a real campus feel. But she loved the whole city atmosphere, the close proximity to everything that is “D.C.” Her #2 choice.</p>

<p>Penn State (University Park) - An add-on because it was sort of on the way. Huge surprise that she loved it, because it is the opposite of urban. But the school spirit (“We are – Penn State!”) grabbed hold of her and wouldn’t let go. She just received her acceptance letter from them last week.</p>

<p>Dickinson College - Another add-on, and another surprise because Carlisle, PA is so small. But the campus is so classically collegiate that it drew her in. And the new science center didn’t hurt either. I’m doubtful that she’ll end up there, it’s just too small.</p>

<p>Columbia University - Tough not to love. In the city, classic campus feel. Her #1 choice, but I’d put her chances of getting accepted at less than 25%, so we are managing her expectations as best we can.</p>

<p>Bottom Line: </p>

<p>You never know what’s going to feel right (or not) until you’re actually there. Do everything you can to visit in person. While there, have your S/D spend some time hanging out in any of the common areas without you. This worked best for us if we took along one of my D’s friends who was also interested in the school. They would go their own way for a short time to watch/listen/feel/experience the campus on their own while I grabbed a cup of coffee and rested. :-)</p>

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<p>Schools that were scratched off the list:</p>

<p>We visited the U of Chicago with both daughters. The Admissions Rep, a recent grad, who gave the presentation mentioned way too many times that “Fun did not die here”. She was not the eloquent, intellectual representative that we expected. The tour guide, on the other hand, was terrific.</p>

<p>The presentation at Lake Forest College was boring with too much focus on financial aid. Also, we thought it was odd that only parents were asking questions. Tour guide was nice, but couldn’t answer many questions.</p>

<p>DePauw (not De Paul) has a 70%+ (might be closer to 80%) rate of participation in the Greek system. The Admissions rep was great and they liked an awful lot about the school, but were just concerned about the social situation.</p>

<p>Schools we loved:</p>

<p>Wash U. St. Louis - hands-down best presentation, beautiful campus, great academics, all students we met were terrific
Butler U- most pleasant surprise during the search - lovely campus, strong academics, impressive students and great suburban location with very easy access to amenities of a large city (Indianapolis) - a real jewel that doesn’t get enough attention
Michigan State U- gorgeous campus, great ice cream, impressive students, some highly ranked programs
Hillsdale College - we loved the honesty, they were not just selling the school, but also were realistic about chances of admission - visit included attending 2 classes which completely energized my strong, silent son - campus is intellectually stimulating, yet warm and fuzzy - extremely strong academics
U of Cincinnati (DAAP) - amazing co-op opportunities in a blue chip design school, campus was surprisingly compact for such a large school - fabulous architecture</p>

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<p>I’ve met a lot of kids at Vassar (disclaimer: son attends) and no giggly dingbats yet. But I must say, I do enjoy the expression.</p>

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<p>That’s because Penn State is a cult.</p>

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<p>^^^ lol
Yeah, some may call it cult-like. My s goes there and enjoys it, wears the sweatshirt, but is not a die-hard. Nor are his friends. IMO…the school spirit does give a lot of positive energy to the campus…but some react negatively to that scene. To each his own…the theme of this thread!
BTW, lots of snow and cold up there right now.</p>

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<p>My niece, a southerner, always wanted to attend Penn State and spent two years there at State College before transferring to a small LAC. At her wedding she told my brother and me, “The Penn State years were the two best years of my life!” So why did she transfer? Duh, I just realized maybe she had thought the grass would be greener and learned otherwise.</p>

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<p>Penn State is like Shangri-La or Lilliput, a hard-to-reach little island of perfection. For non-academic reasons I didn’t go there for grad school, but always felt that I should have. It’s academically strong, is populated with down-to-earth, friendly people, and has everything you need within a small radius. I would love for my kids to go there.</p>

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<p>I understand that this thread is all about personal opinion, so everyone has different tastes. When I visited Penn State for a football game, I was highly impressed by its size and its school spirit, but I was extremely concerned about the drinking culture. Learning that it was Princeton Review’s “#1 Party School” did not impress me either.</p>

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<p>Let’s see. When I was living in Boston I wanted to go to school out these, so…</p>

<p>Yale- Right off the bat, my mom said she would never let me go there. We both had a horrible feeling about it. Sadly, two days later the girl turned up missing. :frowning: Poor girl.</p>

<p>Columbia- Well… We drove through Harlem right before that, and I was having bad flashbacks from when I lived in ATL. Right off the list.</p>

<p>Cornell- Quite the same.</p>

<p>UNI (University of Northern Iowa)- It was about the colors. I am being utterly serious. I hate purple. No joke. </p>

<p>Still in for the running?
Iowa, Drake, Mercer (in Georgia), and still looking at some others. I am mainly going for Iowa and Drake, the other are backups. :)</p>