Current UC Freshman Here To Answer Any Questions :)

Colleges and Universities A-Z Ursinus College
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<p>Benel- My D is a junior at Muhlenberg, and we live in so cal. You can fly into ABE, and sometimes D does that. But the flights into Newark and Philly (southwest was rounrdtrip around 200 in Dec) are usually so much cheaper than using the connections into Lehigh Valley that it is rare that she flies there.
And yes, the Jewish population is bigger than the Lutheran one. The Hillel is very active, and I think is one of the most active in the country. They have many members who range from those that attend services every Shabbat, to those who just show up for free bagels on Sundays. That said there are some really beautiful services held in Egner Chapel. At Christmas the choir sings a candlelight service that is just beautiful. We have gone to see it twice. This past year it was snowing as we walked in, and so quiet and white when we left.</p>

<p>My D has one friend in the film department, the program is new, but he loves it. Since she is a music/ theatre kid she has had opportunities to audition for student films.</p>

<p>To whom it may concern- sorry to highjack this thread and turn it into more discussion about Muhlenberg.</p>

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<p>anothermom-w-q, thanks for the additional insight about Muhlenberg (and double apologies for the detour from Ursinus discussion to Muhlenberg).</p>

<p>What does your daughter think about the school? particularly for a west coaster?
Does she fit in, being a theater major, with so many of the pre-professionals.
My S is interested in the Film studies major, so any info on that would be helpful --- or perhaps an introduction to the friend in film, if that isn't too much trouble.<br>
One concern I had is whether a film studies/creative type would be out of place with the emphasis on pre-med, pre-law etc.</p>

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<p>Triple apologies to those re: Ursinis discussion.</p>

<p>The neat thing about Muhlenberg is that most of the student body is very serious about their future, whether it be in theatre, business, medicine or music. And there is a lot of crossover between the disciplines. My D has friends who are double majors in theatre and business. </p>

<p>My D is currently studying abroad in Sydney, but when I talk to her next, I will try to get info about her film studies friend. I know another of her friends is a double music and english major and I will try to get contact ifno for her as well.</p>

<p>As far as campus culture is concerned; there is a cultural difference between the west coast and east coast. My D had never been around that many people from the east coast, but has made some great friends. She is more laid back, but enjoys the energy of the students there. And that school has some really nice traditions, like holding doors open for people. I would say the only problem she has had as far as the school being so far away has been when she needed to get home quickly (she had two tragedies happen to close friends in the past two years, one of whom died) and we just had to bite the bullet and buy tickets home.</p>

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<p>Okay, sorry, but triple apologies or not, time to move Muhlenberg discussions to PM's or their board.</p>

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<p>The Muhlenberg crowd tends to include many from Long Island, while Ursinus, for the most part is comprised of many locals (PA'ers) hence the Jewish element up north of here. I have been to the Holiday service at Muhlenberg every year since 2005, Ursinus has no equivalent, though Bomberger (the original on site church and academic/admin building was recently renovated). Ursinus does lack the sense of community that I have seen elsewhere and of which the Holiday service is a prime example...I wouldn't say that we lack character, in the words of my photography professor, "Everything has character!" The character of Ursinus is just not something that appeals to me, and apparently to others. It is my impression that the president is aware of this issue and actively looking for some way to resolve the situation, though nothing has been proposed thus far. One thing I can say about UC is that everyone has a place...from the kid that wears a cape, to the girl that wears cat ears to the former homecoming king that dressed like a Pirate (see youtube), Muhlenberg can be cliquey, but it is a more professional social atmosphere, I get the sense that students are somehow driven to succede on a higher level. As for liberalism...both schools are liberal, but liberals of a different sort, Muhlenberg students are tolerant of opposing views and worldly overall while UC students are fearful and angry of anything that upsets the apple cart. The music department at UC is up and coming with the Bomberger renovation but can't be compared to Dance, Music and performing arts at Muhlenberg. Good luck with your searches.</p>

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<p>Folks,</p>

<p>My D was accepted to Ursinus last November as the result of a Priority App. Well, a few minutes ago she received her acceptance in the mail from Muhlenberg! This is the first "Common Application" school that has rendered a decision on her application.</p>

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<p>Congrats...time to go buy her some UGGs and a North Face jacket.</p>

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<p>Hi, my S has been accepted to Ursinus and really likes the school. He recently heard from a coach regarding sports...anything about their programs you can share?
We did visit last Spring and will probably make the Capstone if it doesn't cause a problem with his track schedule. Thanks.</p>

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<p>JGCIM -- my D is a freshman on the track team. Is that the sport your S would want to continue at Ursinus?</p>

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<p>mrsref: Possibly...he knows how much time and focus goes into being on a team.........he is still thinking about it with a lean to the track team...he's a thrower.....</p>

<p>How much time does your D put into track...did it help her adjust to the whole freshmen thing.......Thanks for your input.</p>

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<p>My D loves being on the track team at Ursinus. The time commitment is not any more than what she had in HS, and I know it's helped her settle in at school. </p>

<p>In the fall, the pre-season workouts are 2-3 times per week and they are optional. (But if you are not there, Bayless will ask you why...just to make sure you aren't being lazy). When practice for indoor season officially starts in November, practices are M-Th from about 4:30 - 6:15 pm. Many of the track kids then go to dinner together. No practice on Friday.</p>

<p>Most indoor meets this year were Saturday, with a few on Friday evening. More than half of the indoor meets were at home, which makes them very easy -- no travel time involved. They start the outdoor season with a meet this Friday; the bus leaves at 10 am so D will miss a couple of classes. There are no "home" meets for the outdoor season, but I think most of them are on Saturdays so there shouldn't be too many missed classes.</p>

<p>I think the time involved is enough to make D plan her week and stay focused, but not so much that she feels overwhelmed. She does very well in her classes, does track, tutors once a week, and still found time to play intramural basketball on a team made up of track athletes.</p>

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<p>I'll share this with my S.....Have a nice day.</p>

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<p>My question is this: Ursinus has grown significantly in the past few years, from 1370 students in 2003-04 to 1589 in 2007-08. Is there a deliberate plan on the part of the administration to get bigger and if so, how big does it plan to get? My impression is they draw most of their students from the PA-NJ area. Do they plan to step up recruting nationwide?</p>

<p>I first learned of Ursinus through the "Colleges that Change Lives" book and may visit with my S next month. What makes Ursinus distinctive? My impression is that it seems to have good programs in political science and international relations, and I like the idea of the "Common Intellectual Experience" for first years.</p>

<p>How big is the fraternity/sorority presence? It seems like many of the upperclassment live in houses on the main street running along the south side of campus. Are those fraternity/sorority houses or special interest houses? How many upperclassmen live in dormatories; campus-owned houses; or off-campus houses. Is drinking a major activity?
If people come from the PA-NJ area, do they go home on weekends?</p>

<p>Is there respect for people of all points of view? How would a relatively conservative Christian be treated?</p>

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<p>I'll answer what I can, but keep in mind that D is only a frosh at Ursinus so we have limited experience!</p>

<p>D's class was the largest freshman class to enter so far. I don't know if that was on purpose or not.</p>

<p>Fraternity / sorority presence: Ursinus gives figures in the ~20% range, D1 has no interest so I cannot help here. She hasn't complained about the frats, but there is one particular dorm that she doesn't want to live in because it is the home of many frat guys...I think there is too much partying (and resulting mess) in that dorm for her taste.</p>

<p>The houses along Main Street are not Frat / Sorority houses. Some are SPINT (special interest housing), some are just student housing available to upperclassmen. Ursinus says that about 95% of students live on campus, that's in the dorms and in the college-owned houses. There is not a lot of affordable student-friendly housing off campus. I think the jr/srs take up most of the space in the two newest (nicest) dorms, so D1 is going to try for a SPINT next year.</p>

<p>Drinking is a major activity for some of the students, but D1 is not a partier. She and a small group of friends spend Fri/Sat nights with DVD's and games. There is not a lot of campus-sponsored activities and freshman can't have cars on campus, so weekend life can get boring for non-partiers. Being busy with sports helps. Things probably get better once you have a car or friends with a car.</p>

<p>D estimates that on most weekends about 20% of the students leave campus, either to go home or to visit friends at other schools. D came home about every other weekend during the first semester (partly to get hours at her job), but only for Spring Break so far this semester. I wouldn't consider Ursinus a "suitcase" school.</p>

<p>My gut feeling is that the students respect all points of view with a "live-and-let-live" attitude, but FlytheHelo probably has more insight here.</p>

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<p>I'll do my best to address some of these issues, first, housing:</p>

<p>I have had a pretty good housing experience, as a Freshman you will be in a Freshman Center (BWC, BPS, or Floors 1 & 2 of "New Hall"), about 98% of the students in the Freshman Centers, besides RA's are actually Freshman, sometimes there is overflow from the upper classes and or disabled students in those buildings, but for the most part you are with your class. Some people like this, others do not. In my case I met most of my friends on the various floors of my freshman dorm (BPS). The rooms are of decent size, bathrooms are large but not private in BPS, smaller and some private in BWC and 100% private in New. They WILL show you New as a freshman dorm as a teaser, but they only use the first 2 floors for Freshmen, having added the second floor this current year to deal with the overflow to the dismay of many upperclassmen. The other two freshman centers are...or at least were...dingy, poorly lit dirty and wild. They eliminated some common areas to utilize as housing but they just remodeled some of the remaining areas and put in new TV's too. They aren't as dark as they used to be but still nothing special. In the last two years they have improved the laundry issues, free machines that don't catch on fire anymore. They house some of the freshman sports teams on floors and wings of these buildings, generally areas that you don't want to live in, next to, or walk through. People take lacrosse sticks and golf clubs to the lighting fixtures; you may find mud, food and various bodily fluids splattered all over the walls. This tends to hold true for Riemert (the Upperclassmen Dorm which the previous poster was talking about). The short story on that dorm is don't live there if you want a quiet place to study or live and don't plan on drinking, the Greeks and some sports teams have designated suites (4 doubles and a common area) and it is a party all week long. I have been assaulted there at least twice while working and have sent more than a few off with the Police, our record of most ambulances called in a night for one dorm is 5 and Riemert takes the cake for Air Band and Oktoberfest...and Homecoming. I don't really attend too many campus events anymore but I know they have called off a couple in the past due to injuries and the inability to control the crowd. Res Life and Campus Safety usually work these events alone as our president has, in so many words, asked the local Police to stay off of his campus. Our CS is not armed, not ACT 120 certified and I think we are down to 1 EMT on a full-time staff of 6 or so.</p>

<p>Main street housing is hit and miss, but tends to be quiet unless the party is in progress, you will find a few nice houses and a few that you won't want to touch the floor in. They recently vacated some formerly held by Frats as they had destroyed the buildings and were drawing Police attention every few nights...and also they lit 944 on fire once...SPINT housing is available but you have to work for it, SPINT houses have an HC instead of an RA, you would report and coordinate your required SPINT projects through them, you need to earn permission to live in a SPINT house, but for the most part they are good places to be. I was in Musser, the international house, for a semester and it was quiet and clean...except for the kitchens.</p>

<p>Main Street itself tends to be dangerous and poorly lit; in my time here we have had 2 students hit by cars, one last spring.</p>

<p>Greek life has changed alot in the past years, they had a drinking related fatality about 6 years ago and have an ongoing problem with hazing, one girl was seriously injured last year and Pledging was rebranded "New Member Education"...more or less a feel good measure. I have seen hazing involved in everything from Frats to the Rugby team. Greek life isn't huge, I would estimate more than 20% but no one is really excluded, if you want to be in you will find one to be in and some actually do some good community related work. The social functions here all revolve around drinking. We do have some Christian groups, I am not involved but I have friends that are and they seem to be satisfied, though no one does pancakes like Muhlenberg's Newmans. :-) Drinking is a way of life here, and though you won't be forced to drink there are very few alcohol free social events and everyone seems to drink to excess, I've cleaned up after most of them...</p>

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<p>Many people go home or out on the weekends, you will see the parking lots empty out. The freshmen are stuck. Some freshmen can have cars but they have to beg and grovel to Kim Taylor our fearless director of Campus Safety, I applied for mine from her predecessor who was unceremoniously discharged after suffering an injury inflicted by a student...I guess they thought it was his fault for trying to stop a crime in progress...long story...anyway, unless you can show that you need it because to be without one would be a hardship to your family, or you have a medical reason or sometimes a job that you can't take a bus to, I wouldn't count on getting one.</p>

<p>The status of the food service is testament to the fact that they a) don't want people here on the weekends, and b) that people aren't here on the weekends. In the main dining area (Wismer) Breakfast and Lunch are consolidated into Brunch and our to-order section (Zack's) is closed along with Jazzman's (Coffee, salad, bagels, muffins, etc.) They opened a convenience store this semester, but you can only spend cash equivalent there (cash, dining dollars or flex dollars) you cannot use meal credits there.</p>

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<p>While we're talking about campus safety I might as well throw my $0.02 in on that too. Tour 3, ie. midnights, you can have anywhere from 1 -3 "Officers" on duty...mostly nice people with keys and a flashlight, in short, they aren't going to stop anything. We have had 2 active shooter situations on campus that resulted in nothing...no lockdowns, no notifications, I'm not even sure they called the Police for the second one. The procedure is supposed to include an SMS notification with the new post-Virginia Tech. notification system and instant lockdown...which consists of everyone locking their doors as they don't have the staff to do much of anything safely or effectively. The catch is, most classroom doors both do not lock and have glass in them, they aren't even fire barriers. Following the lockdown local and State Police respond, we have anywhere from 1-3 PO's on duty in Collegeville at any one time, some surrounding towns have units available to assist but the maximum response in the first 15-20 minutes is about 2-6 patrol officers. Our local tactical team needs to be mobilized from off duty on call officers from across Montgomery and Bucks counties, 45-90 minutes, so more or less, we are screwed. EMS situation is a little better 5-8 minutes for an ALS ambulance if the first due is available, 6-15 for the second. We have an on-campus EMS (non-transporting) service that does a good job, they have an AED and can do CPR and that’s all you really need...they are treated like the bastard step child by Kim Taylor and the rest of the administration but recent years have shown progress. As per a Dean I once spoke to, "they are appreciated and needed but not respected." In short the President and Deans don't like to see ambulances on their campus because it makes us look bad, so they refuse to call them every so often which has so far resulted in a least one injury that I know of and the generation of a form for members of their EMS team that asks them to relinquish their legal responsibilities to medically untrained administrators who then decide if the student gets an ambulance.</p>

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<p>Let me know if I missed anything.</p>

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<p>Fly: You were spectacularly thorough. So thorough, in fact, I am gong to convince my daughter not to enroll at Ursinus. It sounds like a zoo. It sounds like a horrific place to be. It sounds like you're describing life in a ghetto projects, just substitute crack cocaine for the alcohol. Good grief. My God, save yourself. Get out of there!</p>

<p>I have to believe Muhlenberg and Dickinson are safer and less rowdy (my daughter has been admitted to all three).</p>

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<p>Fly, I have to say that your lengthy diatribe against the school causes me to doubt half of what you say. No offense, but that's just one of the immutable laws of marketing:</p>

<p>In business, and as in all of life, the critics tend to get more "air time" than the fans.</p>

<p>I didn't want this thread to die on possibly undeserved negative tone.</p>

<p>If there are other UC students lurking, we would truly like to hear your perspective on what your experience has been like.</p>