<p>My S is from CA and has been accepted to both schools. He has never visited previously but is going out to see both schools next week. Both offered him huge merit awards, but Hobart turned out to be a bit cheaper. His goal is to major in Environmental Science and do pre-med to become a wilderness ER doc. Internships at a hospital close buy would be important to him.</p>
<p>My S is very laid back, unpretentious, gets along with any "type" of group, but, outdoorsy mountain man more than jock ball sports type. I would describe him as an intellectual hippie. He is going to hike the Pacific Crest Trail...2600 miles by himself if this tells you anything. He also got into University of Puget Sound here on the west coast and University of Denver, both are fits as far as location, but he is still very interested in the eastern schools. His outdoor enthusiasts buddies tell him to stay in the west, as there are really no mountains in the east. just hills..LOL!! He is sure he can get a good education at all of them with no debt. </p>
<p>Just wondering if anyone has an opinion or advice..sense we are naive west coasters.</p>
<p>I’m a happy SLU alum from the 80’s. Hopefully seeing the schools next week will make things crystal clear! </p>
<p>As far as the differences between the two schools, I think the biggest difference from Hobart is that SLU doesn’t have much of a fraternity system at this point. At this point, I believe they have one fraternity and four sororities. I think Hobart has more, but someone else can probably speak to Hobart or your son will find out for himself next week. </p>
<p>I think SLU is a very interesting place. It sounds like the location would actually be a positive for your son! I had no problem spending four years in Canton, though I do occasionally look back now and think I was crazy for choosing to spend four years in upstate NY. Why not Miami?! It really is cold. I was able to do great things there, like edit the literary magazine and intern for the alumni magazine. My friendships were close and we’re all still in touch twenty years later. I learned a lot, socially, for sure. I credit SLU with teaching me how to stick out my hand and introduce myself, especially to people in authority. This might sound like a no-brainer, but it has been a huge help in my career, being able to navigate board meetings and board members and behave appropriately. I can honestly say that the first five years out of college I met so many people who really couldn’t handle talking to “the boss” or in front of people, and I think at SLU I spent a lot of time talking, writing, and presenting, as well as attending social functions with alumni, professors, and parents. </p>
<p>One last plug for St. Lawrence! Viggo Mortensen went there! He’s what I think of when I think of an outdoorsy, intellectual hippie. Good luck with the decision, it sounds like he has two great choices.</p>
<p>Wow, great but tough choice! I was admitted to both of these too, and liked both of them. (I’m also from the West coast). They are similar in many ways. HWS has a beautiful campus, but the town seemed rather run down. SLU seemed to have a more outdoorsy / athletics vibe to me (which I liked!) SLU also has this, which might be great for your son:</p>
<p>The Rural Medicine Program</p>
<p>The articulation agreement between St. Lawrence University and SUNY Upstate Medical University (College of Medicine) is a pre-college matriculation early assurance program for students interested in rural medicine. The agreement allows for students accepted into the program to have a place at Upstate Medical University waiting for them after they complete four years at SLU.</p>
<p>Thanks for your replies!! It definitely helps to have some alum and people that have visited both. I agree that they seem similar, and that SLU seems to have a more outdorsy vibe. So far the jury is still out ont whether my S will like greek life or not, so I don’t think that in itself will be a big decision maker. Being in the middle of no where and being cold are actually both positives for my S.</p>
<p>Both schools look GREAT for pre-med… I think both have high med school acceptance rates… I think I heard Hobart had 100%, so that is why these 2 schools are on his short list to visit. I think Hobart also has a few early assurance programs that my S may already qualify for based on his HS SAT scores…One in particular is a Humanities early assurance program that really looks interesting for my Humanities and Science loving kid. I think both have excellent Environmental Science programs. My S had a SLU student email him and she is a Conservation Biology major with an Outdoor Studies minor and is going to the Himaylays to study wayershed and sustainable rural living next year… I think she might be my S’s twin sister…LOL!! My S lived on a rural organic farm for a semester last year to study sustainable living. My S was super psyched to see that. I am so anxious to hear what he thinks… it may be a hard decision, but maybe not. I think a lot of it is going to come down to the classroom experience and whether he feels he can see himself jiving with the student body.</p>
<p>^^ Agreed… can’t wait to hear all about it… wish I was going but it will be good for H and DS to have one last time to bond before he is off on his hike. I LOVE seeing college campuses… I will have them take tons of pics… and I will probably be texting DS lots too:-))</p>
Good luck with the decision, it sounds like he has two great choices.</p>