<p>Evergreen was quite a bit different 25 years ago than it is today. It maintains some of its "alternative" ethos, but because of numerous things that have happened, including heavy emphasis on public policy driven by the Legislature here as well as the need of students entering a computer-driven economy, the academics have been souped up in a major way. It remains true that lots of folks who come to Olympia to attend Evergreen never leave (and may take more years to graduate, though mind you that that statistics reflect a more "normal" student body of students in their mid-20s.)</p>
<p>It is NOT Reed (and really is not similar other than in being rather small and in the northwest ethos of white kids with dreds.) If you want to be a classics major, or a physics major, or follow a very traditional major, Evergreen is not the right place. If you want the school to lay out the full course of study you should pursue, Evergreen is not a good fit. The average student at Reed is four years younger than at Evergreen.</p>
<p>Music scene - lots of small alternative, hip-hop, metal, etc. We have several festivals, and serve as an incubator of big-time bands (Sleator-Kinney is the street that runs by my office.)</p>
<p>2incollege: What's the music scene like? as in, genres of music...big concerts or small underground metal shows...etc.</p>
<p>to everyone else: It sounds like the academics at Evergreen are being questioned. I read about E. in both Kaplan/Trent & Seppie's Unofficial Guide to the Best Colleges and in 'Students' Guide to College' - both of which claim to ONLY review excellent, reputable, highly-ranked schools. They both say that anything in the list is already a given as far as being academically excellent.</p>
<p>So...now I'm a bit confused.<<</p>
<p>Mini has described the music scene well; I know the sort of neo-Beatle folk music types, but alternative seems to be very big.</p>
<p>we didn't even look at lewis and clark actually- the only schools D applied to in Oregon was Reed and UofO, and U of O was only on the table because we knew some people in the bio dept and were interested in their work.</p>
<p>Evergeen was her first choice for years because of alumni, including a former Presidential cabinet member,( and one who turned down Cornell for Evergreen to her parents consternation )and we felt that if you happened to hit the right combination of classmates and programs you could get a very good education for a bargain price.</p>
<p>We also liked the apt style living in the dorms, and while the grey buildings at Evergreen are a little too dull in the rain, the campus is beautiful and familiar with the water and trees.</p>
<p>It's sounding like E. is not very strong on academics. </p>
<p>Then why are they listed in both of those books, as well as in the 'Colleges that Change Lives?' I thought they had certain acedemice critieria to be listed there.</p>
<p>And, you've told me which majors are not strong there. Can you tell me of any majors that ARE strong there?</p>
<p>That is my main concern - it sounds like a really cool place and he'd fit in, because of the social atmosphere and because of his eccentric learning style, but obviously not at the expense of a solid and useful degree that will get him a job.</p>
<p>It's not really a matter of majors (that's not the way they do things.) I can tell you areas that I know graduates strongly enter upon graduation: public policy (and political economy); computer tech; environmental sciences and engineering; social services; and arts management.</p>
<p>we didn't even look at lewis and clark actually- the only schools D applied to in Oregon was Reed and UofO, and U of O was only on the table because we knew some people in the bio dept and were interested in their work.
<<<</p>
<p>We didn't even think of L & C, but thankfully my son's guidance counselor did. For a while it looked as though it was the only college he was going to get into, and so when I began really investigating, I was happy to find that we'd be happy to have him there (with a very good grant, as well). He was far less excited, however, and was around the moon when Amherst College was the last envelope to come--and was big.</p>
<p>For some reason my son was convinced it was a "hippie college" and didn't want to go just for that reason. We really had to laugh as he said that, given that we were on our way to Carnegie Hall for a concert and he was wearing torn jeans, muddy sneakers, and a hoody he wouldn't take off.</p>
<p>Although he loves Amherst's curriculum and his classes, he now tells me "it's hard to go to school with a bunch of East Coast prep school kids." We're still laughing, since we're wondering what he thinks HE is, lol. :)</p>
<p>they don't have majors-
If you want say- to major in genetics you can't be sure what courses-* concentrations* will be offered and what they will cover.
Which is why I think it is difficult for other schools to evaluate transfer credits from Evergreen as well as for graduate schools who want to sort by GPA and curriculum.
You can * major* in something, if you are very careful about your course selection , but it frankly doesn't make sense to me that a program is for sophomores or juniors for instance, if there aren't pre reqs for the program. The instructors may be aware of the level of work that you have already accomplished in order to determine readiness to move on, but that may vary.
<a href="http://www.evergreen.edu/advising/academicfairs.htm%5B/url%5D">http://www.evergreen.edu/advising/academicfairs.htm</a></p>
<p>Yeah, personality is definitely a factor for us. My son needs to be in a liberal, open-minded environment with plenty of diversity. He got an offer of full tuitition from Westminster and we want to make sure it's a good fit. It's not the best fit, but it might be ok.</p>
<p>I forgot about L&C. Will have to look into that too. The Kaplan book says it's mostly rich white kids. My son is half white (& half Hispanic) but not rich.</p>
<p>He wants to go someplace where there is snow (none in south Texas) but I think the east coast might be too much of a culture shock, with all the blizzards.</p>
<p>Ididnt' have the impression that Amherst students were predominately from the east coast,it has a reputation as a national college certainly.
D just couldn't get a sense of it, ( we didn't visit) although we do know a recent grad in computer sciences who is from the Okanagan, and really enjoyed living in the Amherst area.</p>
<p>I'll rephrase: which concentrations or fields of study are strong?</p>
<p>I'm aware of the lack of conventional majors, but I thought that was a selling point. I like how the admissions officer told me that if my son wanted to concentrate in Computational Linguisitics, they'd make it happen for him, even though that's not even normally offered. I'm still trying to figure out how they'd do that, though.</p>
<p>I don't think computer science would be a strong area, from what I can tell. I'm just wondering what E's strengths are in terms of fields of study.</p>
<p>if he is interested in alternative fuel technology and wants to ski- he may want to look at Western washington ( mt baker has the best skiing in wa)
He might also want to look at a colorado school, my nephew is Columbian and attended Ucolorado boulder in engineering-.and they have some interesting programs</p>
<p>It doesn't snow much in western OR or western WA: climate is gray and damp 3 seasons a year and warm/dry/sunny in the summer. Not hot and not cold.</p>
<p>I also think it's a little odd that you want no grades and nontraditional academics, but you also seem to want a "solid and useful" degree that will get him a job. </p>
<p>JMO but he might want to compromise a bit..</p>
<p>I forgot about L&C. Will have to look into that too. The Kaplan book says it's mostly rich white kids. My son is half white (& half Hispanic) but not rich.
<<</p>
<p>My sons are biracial as well and middle class; even though we have 1/2 tuition paid by my husband's job, Lewis and Clark STILL offered him $12,000 in straight grant money, bringing the cost of the school for us down to about $12,000/year. Perhaps they are trying to diversify their student population?</p>
<p>Ididnt' have the impression that Amherst students were predominately from the east coast,it has a reputation as a national college certainly.
D just couldn't get a sense of it, ( we didn't visit) although we do know a recent grad in computer sciences who is from the Okanagan, and really enjoyed living in the Amherst area.<<</p>
<p>Oh, I agree. I think we were just hearing the "I'm not in Kansas anymore, Toto" cry of a son who has lived the last ten years in NYC. BTW--he loves the school. It's a good fit for those kids who like not having distribution requirements to contend with!</p>
<p>"I don't think computer science would be a strong area, from what I can tell. I'm just wondering what E's strengths are in terms of fields of study.'</p>
<p>Public policy (and especially political economy), public administration, environmental and especially biological sciences, cultural studies, computer sciences (yes, they have a rather large department for a school of that size, especially in addition to the math department). They did have one of the leading computational linguistics profs in the country in David Paulsen, but he is recently retired.</p>
<p>I think it is worth noting the biggest difference between Evergreen and both Reed and, especially Amherst. At Amherst, 55% of the students receive no need-based aid, which means families earning in excess of $160k a year, and the median income likely in the 200s. Reed families are a bit poorer than that, but as only 52% receive any need-based aid, median income is likely in the 150-$160k range, meaning half the student body at both schools comes from the top 3% of the American population (Amherst's being richer.) At Evergreen, the median family income is likely half that at Reed, and less than half that at Amherst. In the main, it serves a different economic class of students, which plays itself in class discussions, political activism, concern regarding class issues, and (especially in contrast with Amherst) clothing styles. (I say this with some firsthand as well as statistical knowledge, being a Williams grad, and with a daughter at Smith who had attended Evergreen for a year, with many friends at Reed.)</p>
<p>I like how the physics and calculus are integrated into the curriculum.</p>
<p>Well, overall it still sounds pretty cool, but now I know that it isn't perfect. My son really likes what he read about it, so I think he'll apply. It is a HUGE if as to whether it'll even be possible, so I guess we'll see what happens.</p>
<p>In the meantime, we'll look into these others some more.</p>
<p>"They did have one of the leading computational linguistics profs in the country in David Paulsen, but he is recently retired."</p>
<p>Oh wow, that is a major PLUS!!! Even though he is no longer there, that means they are familiar with it and may continue to offer it. No wonder they seemed to respond favorably when I asked if they offered it - most other LACs I've asked did not offer it at all.</p>
<p>I think David still teaches his seminar once a year on "Life and Consciousness", which is jointly shared between the computer science, philosophy, and biology departments. I've always wanted to audit it, but never found time. You still see him around town.</p>
<p>I wouldn't oversell it, though. I imagine such a specialized interest might be better served at a major research university.</p>
<p>Lewis & Clark also has a very strong study abroad program, and from what I understand may students take advantage of it.</p>
<p>Reed College is quite different in approach and atmosphere to Evergreen, but S liked it there as well (no merit $$ offered there).</p>
<p>My S considered Evergreen and applied, he liked it, and they did offer him a good chunk of merit $$ (is in-state). I believe the The National Survey of Student Engagement found Evergreen to be in the top 10% of the schools surveyed in academic challenge. Olympia is a really nice city, we have attended classical concerts there, very welcoming and friendly.</p>