<p>Does anyone have any firsthand knowledge of McDaniel? We've been looking at it recently since it seems to have much of what my daughter wants: political science/music, proximity to a large city, and as a bonus, a program in Deaf Studies (including the possibility of a semester at Gallaudet). BUT at sites like epinion, studentsreview, and campusdirt, if it's reviewed at all, drinking is mentioned as one of the main activities. My daughter is a non-drinker who has little patience for drinking as recreation, and I'm not sure I want to bother with a summer visit if this is truly the case. </p>
<p>It seems that if drinking really is a significant part of the campus culture, she'd be better off waiting until there are students around, so she can get a better sense of her fit. I know that's true in general about any visit, but I was hoping to get some of the long distance visits accomplished this summer.</p>
<p>In addition, McDaniel talks a great deal about its location on a hill. Does anyone know if the campus is a challenge to walk? My daughter is having some knee problems, and if we visit during the summer, she will probably be going just before or shortly after knee surgery...if the campus is not flat, that would probably be another reason to wait until after school starts.</p>
<p>Lenoir Rhyne in North Carolinais another one with deaf studies, or possibly deaf education. I have not heard anything about problems with drinking at McDaniel so I can't comment --- but I do know that the town thta it is in is not exactly a hop skip and a jump to Baltimore. You'd need a car for that, I believe.</p>
<p>My daughter doesn't necessarily want to pursue a degree in Deaf Studies (at McDaniel, it's only a minor), but the presence of a program is a plus. I personally think ASL is more important to her than she realizes; she's even started going to a Deaf church on a semi-regular basis just so she can communicate and be a part of a Deaf community (and this is a church that is WAY more conservative than our home church but she just "bites her tongue"). </p>
<p>I've reached a crossroads in the college search, and I'm trying to decide which path to take. I honestly believe my daughter is overlooking some very good schools that would be right up her alley (Earlham would be the best example), because she so desperately wants to be out of the midwest. But I'm not going to drag her to Indiana, kicking and screaming, based on my perception of what is "good" for her.</p>
<p>And yet, her health issues are not going away; if anything, they're becoming worse, so the prospect of her being really far away is causing me a great deal of angst. She even told me the other day that when she's having a bad day, she likes being able to lean on me. On days like that, the urge to force feed her some midwestern schools becomes quite strong.</p>
<p>Today is her last day of school and then she'll be at Disney World for almost a week to perform; once she's back, I think we're going to have to sit down and have a heart-to-heart about her priorities, her health, and my need for her to take greater ownership of the process.</p>
<p>Mezzomom, I have a different suggestion than McDaniel for you. Look at either Goucher, Towson State or Loyola. All are closer to Baltimore and great schools. The nice thing is that you are able to take one class a semester at the other schools, and also at Johns Hopkins. There is a free shuttle bus that runs between the schools making this easier to accomplish. Towson has a nice-sized ALS and deaf education program, which leads me to believe that they also have a good sized deaf population. A plus, of course, is easier access to top notch medical facilities in Baltimore. My daughter really liked Goucher and the opportunities to take classes elsewhere combined with a beautiful campus only minutes from shopping, etc. has kept it on her list. We did not visit Towson or Loyola but I have heard nice things about both schools. There would be no problem getting around Goucher if you have knee problems (although there are some stairs to climb right by the admissions office) - the buildings are very centralized. You could then throw in a visit to McDaniel if you wanted, and it is also an easy hour-and-a-half drive or so up to schools like Dickinson, Franklin and Marshall, York, and Gettysburg. </p>
<p>Don't worry if you feel you've reached "that certain point" - I feel the same way. I thought my daughter's list was pretty complete until yesterday when she informed me that she has "about 5 or 6 other schools I want to look at." I panicked a bit - but I think this is normal, her friends are only now starting to really talk about schools on their respective lists, and I think she is feeling a bit of the fear that comes from knowing that with few exceptions none of her friends have ever HEARD of the schools she's considering, let alone the towns they're in.</p>
<p>I can relate about the drinking. My D had the same concern.</p>
<p>I just wanted to mention that the key thing to know about the campus is not whether or not there is drinking (there ALWAYS is) but
--How comfortable are non drinkers?<br>
--How accepted?<br>
--How many social options exist on a typical night that are not a frat party? (Could be choir performance, screening of a film, Amnesty International meeting, anything.)</p>
<p>On the illness side of the question I do not know what to say, except to empathize with you; that must be very scary for a mom!</p>
<p>McDaniel was almost selected by my son this year, at the last minute he chose another school only because of a special program he was admitted into, otherwise it would have been McDaniel. He did an overnight on campus and reported that there was no more dirinking there than any of the other schools he visited overnight. He felt no pressure to engage and had the best social visit of any of the the schools. (BTW Gettysburg was a total turn off for him becuase of the excessive drinking and expectation that he should be involved with the partying). McDaniel is a very warm, personal, and involved community. Example, he has a hand written note with his acceptance and a nice reply response to his letter informing that he would not be attending. They went out of their way several times to make sure he had all the information he needed to make an informed decision.</p>
<p>As for the 'Hill', the campus is located at a high point in Westminister. There were some steps to get to where the freshman dorms were but most of the main campus is fairly level. It is beautiful and expanding.</p>
<p>Of the other schools mentioned Goucher is the only one that I consider similar but they still has a very large female to male ratio, my son would not consider it. My son also applied to Dickinson and in the end decided it was too preppy for him, good school for international studies though. He would not consider Gettysburg after the overnight. </p>
<p>You really need to visit during the school year to get a good feel for the student population and do an overnight if at all possible, at least visit the campus again in the evening to see what is happening even if you are not staying in a dorm.</p>
<p>Carolyn, thanks for the additional suggestions (and for talking me down!). Towson looks interesting; it's larger than most schools my daughter is looking at, but the student population actually living on campus is about right. Goucher was on the list ages ago, but dropped off when their mailings were mainly touchy-feely but content-deficient. I just looked at their website, and I think it's a school that I'll mention again. Other than the lopsided male-female ratio, I can't see much to DISlike. Loyola is out (no music program), but McDaniel, Goucher, Towson, and American would make for a good campus blitz.</p>
<p>FWIW, my daughter had me take a personality profile test the other day, and I came out as "results-oriented" and "achiever". My daughter is "developer" and "creative"...profiles which are strong on ideas, short on follow-through. My profiles are the exact opposite, so I think it's pretty clear that my angst isn't going to go away any time soon, and her eye-rolling ability is going to be well-practiced!</p>
<p>SBMom, I think you nailed it, particularly with "how many social options exist on a typical night that are not a frat party?" My daughter isn't a total prude but doesn't want to find that her choices are a)frat party; b)pre-gaming in someone's room before heading to a bar; or c)drinking in a dorm room until passing out. The situation Seenitall describes at Gettysburg would be my daughter's worst nightmare. And thank you for your kind words; to some extent, I set myself up for disappointment because I talked myself into believing that her rheumatoid arthritis would easily and readily go into remission. It has diminished in her hands (she's even been playing the piano again although she has yet to pick up her French horn), but it seems to have migrated rather than gone into remission. It's heartbreaking to see her struggle to walk, but I have to give her high marks for carrying on. </p>
<p>Seenitall, thanks for your insight about McDaniel. Because of your comments, I think we will wait to do our mid-Atlantic tour until early September. I was hoping to go in late August and avoid missing any school, but her school is just going to have to deal with excessive absences next year. I'll have my daughter double-check with admissions at each school, but I'm fairly certain that the mid-Atlantic schools which do require an audition will also accept a CD. If we can do an early autumn visit and audition by CD, then it won't be so much of a crunch second semester (when most auditions take place). </p>
<p>And I'll just have to tell my results-oriented self that an expanding list is just more options to consider if acceptances roll in!</p>