<p>My DD is having difficulty deciding between Muhlenberg and Dickinson. She was awarded the top scholarships at both but also was awarded the RJ Fellows at Muhlenberg (honor school) which comes with an additional 4k per year. She is pre-med. Concerned with small campus size at Muhlenberg and no outside campus life at Mulhlenberg. Both excellent schools. Any advice would be greatly appreciated</p>
<p>My D has decided to start this fall at Dickinson, over a number of other choices including Trinity, Allegheny, Elon, and Marist. Although Muhlenberg is similar, it lacks an equestrian team which is important to my D, so we never seriously considered it and I don’t know too much about it, but have a generally positive impression of the school. I think is known for having a strong artsy & theater vibe. </p>
<p>I think Dickinson has a slight advantage over Muhlenberg in terms of 4-yr graduation rate and a much higher endowment per student. We really liked Dickinson’s facilities, with many new or newly renovated buildings on campus, the beautiful library, etc. We were impressed by the career success of Dickinson grads, and access to the alumni network. We also liked the global/international focus of the school, and excellent foreign language and study abroad programs. At the accepted student’s day, my D really liked the students and other prospective students she met, and thought she could see herself there. </p>
<p>I tracked down a recent Dickinson grad whom my S had known in HS, for my D to ask about the school, and I spoke with the grad’s mother. I thought we would get a more honest assessment from a random student rather than the ones the admissions office selects to interact with prospective students or those who choose to post on CC. The grad was very positive about the school and the education she got there. One thing that really stuck with me was the response to the question we asked about what type of student wouldn’t fit in a Dickinson, and the answer was that she really didn’t think there was any type of student who wouldn’t find a home there, because there was such a diversity of interests and no single stereotype of a Dickinson student.</p>
<p>Good luck with the decision - not much time left now.</p>
<p>Thank you for the input. After much anguish a decision was finally reached. My D will be joining the the class of 2017 at Dickinson College. In the end she felt that the student body fit her personality much more the Muhlenberg. The campus size was also a huge plus as it more than doubles Muhlenbergs but yet has the same number of students. Either school would have been an excellent choice but we are proud to have a “Red Devil”. </p>
<p>Looking forward to seeing everyone on move-in day. Hope the weather cooperates. Does anyone know how hectic of a day it is? Been through it once before with my oldest D and it was a nightmare from a organizational perspective.</p>
<p>When my D moved in a few years ago, it was really pretty smooth. We pulled up in a line of cars to her dorm. There were tons of older students waiting there to schlep stuff to her room once it was her turn. I would say the best advice is to make sure everything is in some kind of box or suitcase or bag, because there are lots of people to take those and get them to your D’s room. I think it works best if you just pull up, have your D (and her other parent if they are with you) work with the “team” who helps unload and carry stuff. Then you go park the car farther away (they will tell you where) and come back to the room to help unpack.</p>
<p>I think we got there in the morning. Helped D unpack (some excitement when she lost her room key while unpacking), then there was some kind of fair about student activities. Then we (D and her roommate, whose parents had dropped her off a day earlier for some reason I don’t remember…) we went to lunch in the college cafeteria. After lunch they had a session for the parents separate from something the students were doing. I remember that President Durden had been quoted in the Wall Street Journal that day in an article about college drinking, and his phone kept going off during the parent session (and sometimes he had to answer it). Then they had an outdoor reception later in the afternoon for parents and kids, and then we parted ways for good.</p>
<p>Weather was good the day we dropped off. BUT, it does rain a lot in Carlisle. So you might not be so lucky. Be sure your D has a good raincoat, shoes/boots she likes for rainy days, and maybe an umbrella.</p>