<p>Forgot to say that your d could get involved in Irish studies through Loyola's program in Cork.</p>
<p>The one hold-up for Loyola MD was that we both read and were told first hand that it is a very yuppie type school-that the girls were all about what clothes you own, what car you own.
her personal nightmare - she arrives and finds the entire dorm are size 4 girls dressed entirely in labeled clothing from upscale mall stores - full price paid of course - who drive luxury cars and shun anyone who has a clue what days Costco gives out snacks. (g)</p>
<p>"The one hold-up for Loyola MD was that we both read and were told first hand that it is a very yuppie type school-that the girls were all about what clothes you own, what car you own.
her personal nightmare - she arrives and finds the entire dorm are size 4 girls dressed entirely in labeled clothing from upscale mall stores - full price paid of course - who drive luxury cars and shun anyone who has a clue what days Costco gives out snacks. (g)"</p>
<p>My niece is a senior at Loyola MD and I can say that your daughter's concern is quite, quite valid. Niece is from an upper-middle class area of Bergen County, NJ and was always a bit like that, but now it has gone to the extreme. I'm sure there is diversity, but I haven't seen it and I just asked my sister, and she laughed in my face.</p>
<p>For what it's worth, the mom I know whose daughters go to Eckerd said that her D's also like it because it's not preppy.</p>
<p>Well, I know a freshman that attends Loyola, and she is not a size 4, and looks great, is not anorexic looking, but is probably a size 10. She comes from a very nice middle class home and does not drive a new Lexus. She probably has a few dollars for the week-end, but won't be dining regularly in an upscale restaurant. I know that her parents know the value of a buck, and I seriously doubt that she is handed unlimited funds to shop at upscale stores. My son knows some young ladies with hundreds to spend on their wardrobe each week, but the young lady that I am thinking of does not have those funds. True, one person is not going to give a picture of the entire student body, but she would not be the only one without a money tree.</p>
<p>I can't resist, but this is one nice thing about public Us. My son does not need to worry about having enough money for Cancun, or $200 tennis shoes. Everyone he knows has a normal college budget. He has no problem wearing $5 shirts from Walmart.</p>
<p>" can't resist, but this is one nice thing about public Us. My son does not need to worry about having enough money for Cancun, or $200 tennis shoes. Everyone he knows has a normal college budget. He has no problem wearing $5 shirts from Walmart."</p>
<p>I swear I'm going to hang this on my fridge so I will remind myself of the aggravation I will be avoiding if I can persuade daughter to go to Plattsburgh.</p>
<p>"can't resist, but this is one nice thing about public Us. My son does not need to worry about having enough money for Cancun, or $200 tennis shoes. Everyone he knows has a normal college budget."</p>
<p>This isn't 100% true at many publics. Where I live, there are many students going to public universities whohave Hummers, designer clothes, etc. Many come from families with homes $500,000-$750,000 in a city (mine) where the average house price is around $140,000. </p>
<p>Those students are far more into conspicuous consumption than were and are students at the Ivy that I attended. Indeed, at the Ivy where I went, what impressed students was their peers' skills and creativity at extracurriculars such as community service (which at least 60% of the students voluntarily participated in), music (most students did some kind of music or arts-related EC), political organizations, publications, etc.
Also, to pledge Greek -- which many students do -- costs thousands of dollars. Not exactly a place where low income students feel that comfortable.</p>
<p>Going to a private school doesn't mean that one will be surrounded by students who are wealthy or into conspicuous consumption. Going to a public school doesn't mean that the majority of one's classmates will lack expensive tastes and accoutrements.</p>
<p>zoozermom, LOL! I suppose it is harder on parents with Ds, but I would not know (nor do I want to :D).</p>
<p>It is not an exaggeration. The vast majority of my son's college needs are met at Walmart. It is one stop shopping. He goes there with friends (and the females shop there too). I don't need to worry about how much he is spending. He is responsible about how much he spends to begin with, but no harm has occured to my credit card debt b/c he shops at Walmart. I have not been asked to pay for spring break yet, but he knows not to ask me. During the summer, he will spend a few days at his friends' homes in the Va. Beach area (he goes to a public U in VA), and they will stay with us to venture into New York City. I warned him that even this idea, can add up quickly, but he is motivated to work as soon as he gets home.</p>
<p>NSM, You are right, but it just has not been the experience that my son has had at his school. None of his friends seem to have the money for fancy ideas, but many do have cars at home and will be bringing them next year. My son will not be one of the students with a car. Most of my son's friends have enough money to go out to eat at an inexpensive restaurant, or go to the movies on campus, but not for much more than that.</p>
<p>The way to avoid having a nightmare come true at any college is :</p>
<p>do not agree to attend a college if you have not visited the campus before and spoken with numerous current students!</p>
<p>True story. my son spends an overnight at Bucknell, fall 96. He interviews the next day. Afterwards I'm invited in and asked if I have questions. I said "where are the minority students with dreadlocks, and the girls with the purple and orange hair?" and she said "oh we have one".</p>
<p>I do want to mention I think they offer an amazing education, are very generous to poor students, and I know they are working hard to be diverse.</p>
<p>Old in NJ, my husband and I are Bucknell grads, and trust me Lewisburg is a quaint town, without any trendy clubs or any cultural arts scene. </p>
<p>Funny that you would ask that at interviews! Bet you made the interviewers day, with your boldness :)</p>
<p>Where did son attend?</p>
<p>And, just read previous posts about Eckerd. D's friend goes to Eckerd and she visted during the break.
She is a sophomore and likes it a lot, on the soccer team, so has instant group of friends. Eckerd has an interesting schedule, and they are back at school, taking one class right now.</p>
<p>You could also consider another Loyola - Loyola Chicago. Great profs, huge Irish presence in Chicago (not one, but TWO St. Patrick's Day parades - I always preferred the South Side Irish one), plus a prof who specializes in Irish history (Jane Nolan). And I promise there will be plenty of people who have heard of the Dropkick Murphys and Flogging Molly. In fact, she'll be a short cab ride away to see them when the come to town - every band comes through Chicago, and a lot of those little clubs they play in are great. Loyola also has a campus in Rome where she can do a semester or summer abroad - very cool experience, esp. for someone interested in medieval history. It also has a very diverse population. And despite the cold winters (except for this year, apparently), the lake is lovely the rest of the year, and the city is a very cool place.</p>
<p>My D's good friend went to Loyola Md. Definitely not a size 4 (probably 10/12), and definitely not rich. Very frugal, much older parents, who were on the verge of retirement and would never overspend on clothes, etc. Overall, a very grounded young woman who adored her experience at Loyola and ended up moving to Baltimore full time after graduating.</p>
<p>As far as publics vs privates for style/diversity: My D started at an OOS Public Flagship where everyone was not only white, but blonde, it seemed, and most students seemed much more interested in clothes than books. We noticed one green-haired kid on Accepted students Day,but he most have been the exception that proves the rule, because she never saw another.</p>
<p>She transfered to a private LAC--no one there gave a fig about clothes; most wore jeans or cargo pants mended with Duc Tape, and ratty T-shirts with obscure logos. And a hoodie. D shopped at Bob's and secondhand stores and fit right in. So as everyone has said, you really need to visit the school, and get beyond the PR, which D did not do with her first school.</p>
<p>My son went to American University. His close friend had an older sister there, so when he visited he had an extra fun time. At first he was thrown off by many of the kids having more $. Then he joined a frat and got very close to a nice bunch of guys. They partied a bit too much I think, though. We had big bills come along at the same time my husband's income went up - so EFC went from very low to way higher than we could deal with. He transfered to Rutgers. He thinks RU is great - about 3x harder than AU - but he had a super rough adjustment to the school as a transfer. He's long over it but I still feel depressed even thinking about what happened. That said, he'd love DD to attend. He's old enough to know it was his attitude, not the school, that was at issue. He just finished Seton Hall Law, and has a wonderful new job. passed NY/NJ bar so it's no big deal to him at this point.
Loyola Chicago, U. of Scranton (other Jesuit schools that sound great) don't have anthropology. sigh.</p>
<p>Hi, Old!
My son is a freshman at Fordham and your post jumped out at me. He is very, very much into the Irish punk scene and is very happy at Fordham. He's already got his tix to the Dropkick St. Pat's show in Boston (he also went last year). He and a few friends from Fordham plan to take one of the infamous (or should I say notorious) Chinatown buses. Guess it's all part of the adventure. :) He's enrolled at Fordham College (Rose Hill) and has gone into NYC for quite a few concerts. </p>
<p>I'm not all that familiar with Holy Cross admissions history, but is it really that much more of a reach than Fordham? BC I can see (because a lot of kids are attracted to Boston) but I'm not sure HC is all that more selective.</p>
<p>If you have any more questions about Fordham, I'm happy to answer. I also am a Fordham grad. Obviously, Fordham has strong Irish Catholic roots, and I know that they are quite strong in medieval history.</p>
<p>oh that Chinatown bus. My older daughter takes it up to visit her friends in school in Boston. (g)
Once I found out 6000 kids applied early decision my hopes for her sank. Plus unless she gets decent FA we just can't send her.
My original concern is being Irish Never-practiced-at-all Catholic would be an issue, but my impression is that the kids and teachers will be find about it. She's getting very interested in God and religion lately, so I figure who better than Jesuits to help with it?</p>
<p>Old,
Although our family is Catholic (we're Scottish, not Irish though), and we attend Mass most Sundays, my son has yet to set foot in Fordham's Church for Sunday Mass. I've asked and asked. It disappoints me, frankly, but I know it's not unusual for kids (Catholic kids, especially) to challenge their faith during the college years. He's a good kid with a good head on his shoulders so I'm trying not to worry. :) He's a public HS kid (as was I), where most Fordham kids tend to be from Catholic HS, so that was something he had to get his head around as he tried to figure out how he'd fit in with kids he assumed would be more conservative and more devout. Turns out not to have been much a of a problem. His roomie went to a Catholic HS and he has yet to go to Mass either. </p>
<p>My guess is that the Jesuits will get both of them there sooner or later. My point is, though, that the Jesuits are happy to work with what skills/background our kids bring with them to Fordham. They are the most tolerant men I know.</p>
<p>"My guess is that the Jesuits will get both of them there sooner or later. My point is, though, that the Jesuits are happy to work with what skills/background our kids bring with them to Fordham. They are the most tolerant men I know."
The Jesuits are an amazing order, that is for sure.
myself and siblings are survivors of a Catholic school that managed to turn off all of us completely, which is a shame.</p>