<p>Anyone with any experience with this program or SHU in general? This board is lifeless. Surely there's somebody out there that knows something about this school.</p>
<p>I know nothing about the Whitehead school, but my D was just accepted to the university with almost a full scholarship and really liked the school. Plans to do the dual degree program in Museum Studies if she attends. The tour was much better than some of the tours she took at much higher ranked schools.</p>
<p>D was accepted in to Nursing program with great scholarship too. We have visited, but will be visiting again. S & H took the tour in the spring. They also had a great tour and very enthusiastic tour guide. </p>
<p>We will be visiting again after the holidays when the students are back. It is on D’s final four list…</p>
<p>I am glad to hear you guys have firsthand experience by taking tours. Some of the few things I’ve been able to find have been less than positive, but I didn’t want to just dismiss SHU based on a few random comments. The Diplomacy program sounds great for D who will also be focusing on languages. </p>
<p>We received a postcard from a current student encouraging D to contact her. D wrote her back right away but never got a response. However, I’m sure the student must have been extremely busy this time of year so I told D not to read anything into not getting a response. </p>
<p>D applied and was accepted but SHU just seems somewhat of a mystery to us. I’m having a hard time trying to figure out what better known schools it is most comparable to and unfortunately, I don’t think we will be able to visit anytime soon. D applied on the perceived strength of the Whitehead School and the fact that the application was relatively simple complete. Now that she’s actually in, we are trying to give it a more serious look. </p>
<p>You guys are veterans on these boards and since your kids have visited/applied I assume you have a pretty good opinion of SHU? zoosermom, I know you are somwhat local, not sure about you 1sokkermom, but D would be coming from FL. Obviously, you don’t know my kid, but in a generic sense, do you think SHU is the type of place an OOS kid could get excited about? D has applied to a pretty broad mix of LACs and national universities -she’s much more “program” driven than going by type of school. I think SHU, (and maybe Villanova depending on how one classifies it) are the only “regional” universities she’s considered.</p>
<p>I’m going to be completely honest with you, even if it doesn’t paint my D in a great light because I’d want someone else to do the same for me. Well, the campus is really nice and has a great feel about it. There’s a little town nearby that’s pretty cute and the commute into Manhattan is a snap. My D liked the library a lot, the wirelessness is very impressive, and the two computer-thing is great. HOWEVER, if they were to head in the wrong direction off campus, they could run into a bad area. I’m not concerned about that because I know there could be problems anywhere and I would say that it’s less of an issue at SHU than at my other daughter’s small LAC. D was not interested in the diplomacy program, but when taking the tour she was mightily impressed with the program and all of what she calls the “amenities.” So impressed, in fact, that even though she has pretty specific plans, the program gave her pause. It is what we call a “ta da program.” It’s very well respected hereabouts and considered quite prestigious. The downside for my daughter is that the university, as a whole, isn’t quite as impressive a name as she thinks she deserves, and she is a bit worried about the campus clearing out on weekends. The flip side to that is that upperclasspeople often get apartments off campus, which do not clear out. My perception is that many kids go home on weekends, but many don’t, and many go into Manhattan on the weekends. When my daughter took the tour (it was the first college we visited), the tour guides were so utterly spectacular, so cool, polished, witty and charming – such kindred spirits to my daughter – that no other tour has ever measured up, even much higher-ranked schools. My daughter was so impressed with SHU and felt so personally comfortable that she would have said yes to the seat immediately if it wasn’t in the back of her mind that it’s not a big name. We chose to visit SHU in the first place because both Lafayette and Gettysburg advertise their students’ acceptances into the museum studies graduate program and D thought “why not go there all the way because it’s a combined master’s program.” The Mseum Ethics Institute actually is one of the big names in the field, so she accepts that she’ll end up at SHU as a grad student, if not before. I would say that my D is well above the 75th percentile (well) in all areas but believes she’d be genuinely happy at Seton Hall. For an out-of-state student, there is definitely some clearing out on weekends, but not so much that she wouldn’t have plenty to do and she might “clear out” as well by visiting Manhattan on the weekends. it’s that easy to do. I think in your daughter’s situation, the Whitehead School is so fantastic and has such opportunities, that I’d have her consider it very seriously, particularly if the money works out. The only other school in the range that would be comparable is American University, but it’s not New York, you know? My advice to you (boy am I presumptuous!) would be to email the admissions office after the break and express your concerns about how many students remain on campus and what activities are available. We’ve been in touch with them for a couple of reasons and have had a great response. My husband is convinced she will go to Seton Hall and I wouldn’t be surprised. Of the four yeses she’s received, this is the only one that caused screaming, jumping and glee.</p>
<p>I have a question for you, if you don’t mind. What was your d’s orientation date? I’m trying to get a sense of whether there is one or more than one Pirate Adventure.</p>
<p>Pardon my musings, but there are a couple of other thoughts.
First of all, the basketball team is huge. When you drive down the NJ Turnpike, there are billboards for SHU basketball and my D loves that. She’s also been in touch with the chairman of the department and found him informative, welcoming and enthusiastic. It’s a small department, so she would presumably get tons of individual attention. She likes that, and she likes the idea of being at the top of the heap. My D is the kind of kid who’s the leader of her own parade and I’m confident that the social aspects would be fine. Oh, and the Seton Hall t-shirts are the cutest of any school she visited, because I’m sure that’s as important to other young women as it is to mine (big eye roll!).</p>
<p>Wow. I knew i could count on you for an insightful response. Thanks so much for taking the time. </p>
<p>I don’t know the specific orientation date, but I do know if was set for April. I will check the actual date when I get home. </p>
<p>Our daughters sound very much alike in some ways. D tries to pretend otherwise, but I know she is influenced by the “name” thing. I appreciate that she even makes the effort to get past it. Unfortunately, her mother tends to make no bones about it, and given the small universe of schools she knows anything about, it really complicates the process at times. Thanks to SHU’s basketball program she had at least heard of it before, and thus, didn’t put up too much of a protest when D chose to apply. But oh my, if you could have been around to see the epic battles over the LACs – especially when D2 was applying last year, lol. It just was ridiculous. </p>
<p>D is a fairly low maintenance personality not too easily bored so I don’t worry too much about the school emptying out on weekends. Plus, as you mention, there would be no shortage of things to see and do in the city. But obviously safety, including the perception of being safe, will be an important consideration. I’m not especially worried about it but it’s always part of our discussion about every school. However, thanks for the heads up about going too far in the wrong direction. When we visit I will have to make sure we know exactly where we are going because I don’t want a sketchy part of town to be the FIRST impression. I seem to have a special knack for screwing up directions and ending up in such areas when we travel, lol. </p>
<p>Thanks also for your comments regarding Whitehead. I was hoping to hear that there was more substance to it beyond the marketing aspects. I am going to encourage D to get in contact directly with the department after break. I get to NY/NJ every couple months or so and I’m due back next month so maybe I will try to arrange a visit with D sooner rather than later. </p>
<p>What do you think about the new 'core" requirements? It reads very well. I wonder what they are actually like put into practice? I do have a concern in that I’ve read that most of the “core” classes will not transfer if a student decides to leave. Obviously, I’m not thinking that will happen, but if it did, I would hate for all those credits to be lost.</p>
<p>
I don’t know the nuts and bolts, obviously, but there must be some reason for the program’s great reputation and I can attest to the fact that the school devotes vast resources to it.</p>
<p>
We are a little concerned about that, as well, so D printed out the entire course catalog and plans to read it very carefully over her Christmas break.</p>
<p>Sorry zoos, I misinformed you. The orientation date is June 21-22.</p>
<p>I haven’t dipped in here in a while, my bad. </p>
<p>I have the experience of being the parent of a current junior, who is enrolled in the Whitehead School.</p>
<p>She has very much enjoyed her experience at the school. She is currently an RA and works in the SHU admissions offic(she is one of those “cool tour guides.” Next summer she will be spending a month in Paris with the school’s summer program.</p>
<p>There is plenty to do on the weekends…she comes home mostly for holidays but that’s about it. She makes a lot of trips into NYC. There is great school spirit relating to the basketball team and other activities.</p>
<p>The Whitehead School is an up and comer in the world of diplomacy…it has very strong ties to the United Nations and various internships. I have been very impressed with the teachers. The classes are small and you will be taught by “real” professors from freshman year on…not teaching assistants.</p>
<p>You shouldn’t get hung up with “name” schools. Seton Hall is ranked among the top 125 schools in the country out of the thousands out there. According to my daughter applications have increased dramatically in the past couple years and standards are being raised along with them. Applicants into the diplomacy program are judged more stringently than the school as a whole and the students there are considered among the elite at the college.</p>
<p>I can wholeheartedly endorse Seton Hall as a great choice for your children’s future education.</p>
<p>As far as the “core” courses, there are not a lot of them and I believe they would be transferable. They focus on things like philosophy, ethics, human relations and the like. They are taught by professors from various departments such as English, History, and Philosophy.</p>
<p>Safety issues-the campus is safe and well-patrolled by campus security. The immediate neighborhood is comparable to the “Gold Coast” of Connecticut if any of you are familiar with it. There is a shuttle bus service that takes students around campus and to the railroad station, which brings them into NYC.</p>
<p>Financial aid is good and available.</p>
<p>The schools of diplomacy, nursing, law, business and education are all highly thought of in their respective fields.</p>
<p>There are great library facilities as well as an excellent gym and recreational opportunities. And believe it or not the food is good! I have this on strong authority. ;)</p>
<p>Boss, thank you so much for your comments! D has been getting some mail from SHU which has helped in keeping her interested/curious about the program. I like what I have learned about Whitehead. However, what to expect from the overall experience remains a bit of a curiosity. I think we are just going to have to take in a visit. </p>
<p>A couple of weeks ago D got an email from them soliciting financial contributions which I thought was very odd. It said on 700 of 10,000 young alums give to the school. I was perplexed by both, the solicitation, and the low rate of giving by the alums. It makes me wonder how graduating students actually feel about their experience at SHU. D is not judging them over it, but being unfamiliar, I don’t think it was a good idea to send out that message to prospective students.</p>
<p>D got the invitation to apply to the honors program today, as well as an invitation to a basketball game. My husband is dancing in the aisles about that. If he has any say, she’ll be a Pirate next year. She’s going to apply to the honors because it appears to be classics based, so we’ll see.</p>
<p>Bosss, thanks! Your posts were enormously helpful.</p>
<p>That’s great zoos!!! Lol, I just watched one of their home basketball games the other day against Louisville. On TV the arena looked packed. Lots of school spirit too.</p>
<p>Sokkerdad and D will be going to the basketball game too. ;)</p>
<p>What a great marketing idea!</p>
<p>Glad to hear that Mom! The basketball team is a great rallying point…yesterday they upset Pittsburgh and could have a shot at the NCAA’s.</p>
<p>Fla Dad that is kind of strange getting that solicitation. I wouldn’t read too much into it as the economy is bad right now and “young grads” have those loans to pay off. But you’re right a visit is in order.</p>
<p>My daughter got an invitation to apply to the honors program and answer some questions. Does the honors program come with any extra money or just a more challenging courseload?
I too would be a little disturbed by the letter for money, alumni giving seems to relate to aid for many colleges.
My daughter, as far as stats go would be at the higher end of their averages and had SH and Assumption as a safety school. We haven’t visited yet, but I wondered if anyone had thoughts on Assumption or if it was ever on the radar. I think SH has a stronger academics on paper, although the “commuter” aspect is something to look into. Sometimes if your friends stay, having a little quiet is nice, too much quiet though, can make you feel bored.
ps She is leaning toward business and I’m pretty sure I read that SH is accredited by the AACSB.</p>
<p>From the SHU website:</p>
<p>AACSB Accredited
The Stillman School maintains professional accreditation from the AACSB International — the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. The AACSB commended Stillman’s excellent and relatively unique assessment process for our undergraduate students, a process which ensures that students are receiving the very best in business education. In 2005, the Stillman School’s assessment process was featured in the AACSB’s two-book volume, Assessment of Student Learning in Business Schools: Best Practices Each Step of the Way. </p>
<p>Among the Top Ten
U.S. News and World Report ranks the Stillman School of Business among the top ten undergraduate business programs at Catholic Colleges and among the top 100 of all undergraduate business programs ranked. </p>
<p>Regarding the “commuter” issue, I don’t think this is such a big factor. Neaerly 85% of the freshmen live on campus and usually a small percentage, mostly New Jersey residents, leave on the weekend. My daughter reports plenty to do on the weekends and more and more they are seeing students from out of state. The “commuter” image is one that was prevelant in past years but not as marked today.</p>
<p>BTW I have a nephew at Assumption and I would say that is a very good school as well. Nothing bad to say about them.</p>
<p>Thank you for all your comments. It looks like for business, Seton Hall has a better program. We will have to visit soon, maybe in late February, early March.</p>
<p>My D has been accepted into the Nursing School at SHU. We did the tour this summer when school was out, but are planning a trip soon when their are other college kids on campus. We have heard from others that some weekends are pretty quite because a majority of the NJ kids go home. We are from CT, so my daughter does not plan on coming home too often. She is a big fan of NYC, so she hopes to find others who would want to take the trip in every so often. Are many of you attending the basketball game at the end of February?</p>