Holla out to TSDAD,BARRONS,DIG, WI people

Parents Forum
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<p>It's come down to the battle of David and Goliath. The first school D fell for was UW Madison. When she visited as a junior, she was sure that she would NOT want to attend a small school. She filed her app on the very first day possible, and in 2 weeks she was in. It was a very nice thing to have in the bag. She applied to a variety of other schools in a range of sizes, all with the following criteria in mind: high level academics but not a grind school, smart student body but not one where everyone thinks they're "all that", no snobs, great opportunities for outdoor activities and intramurals, opportunity to complete premed requirements while enjoying english/humanities, not too hot, merit aid. Long story short, she visited and loved Colorado College, so that school and WI-Madison have made the final cut.</p>

<p>Here's the 2 places it bit us in the a$$: </p>

<p>1.) After thorough study, we felt that she would be in line for merit at CC. (We are not eligible for need based aid.) A similar LAC offered a very doable package of scholarships and loans. CC has a very self-selected applicant pool due to the Block Plan which D thinks she would really dig (I agree). Despite that, the pool for 2009 appears to have been larger and more high test than anyone-including the school-anticipated. She was accepted EA and in apparently in very very good company, but with no merit whatsoever. 2.) The final decision is coming down at a time when she is really stressed about finishing a difficult final semester and a very major independent study research project. All her pals are coasting, hanging out, talking about prom, experimenting with things they haven't done before <em>cough</em>. She is stressed and feeling a bit like a social and educational pariah.</p>

<p>I think, because of her current feelings of insecurity, she is leaning toward CC because it seems socially and educationally "safer" right now, with a "built in" like-minded friend pool. I've never had any worries about her handling big school academics and profs, but it is true that at WI everyone moves off
campus after the first year, and dorms are assigned by lottery so she could end up in a southeast party dorm. She does not want substance free, but just a quieter atmosphere--indicated all Lakeshore preference.</p>

<p>She is worried about the money and med school. I can't credit all the good advice because I'm drawing from about 20 threads, but we feel she is worth a "merit scholarship" from us, and she is willing to be indebted to us for a portion of the cost. But she has been made to realize that, despite our ability to support her choice, she is choosing between one of the great research university all-around college experiences in the country with instate tuition and a very pricey LAC that I could not have designed better for her if I tried.</p>

<p>We are going down to Madison next week. I want her to make this decision for positive reasons, but WI can't provide the overnighting experience and she has no buddies among the student bodyto crash with. I need to come up with some ways to showcase the wonderful points of this school so that she leaves nothing on the table when the decision is made. Any ideas for me? CC always comes through...thanks in advance!</p>

<p>ez</p>

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<p>Chadbourne Residential College would seem to be a better dorm choice at UW. Many honors students and generally the most academic dorm while still having a great location. That way when she does move off campus it could be with like-minded Chad kids.</p>

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<p>I wonder if they would let her change her preference list at this point, though...I think you have to indicate chad or brad as your first choice.</p>

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<p>What do you think of the L & S honors program? She needs to submit an essay if she wants to do it. Any real advantages? Thanks</p>

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<p>We have many friends with kids at UW. (My husband is also an alum). In fact one of my best friend's daughters is a freshman premed and is in one of the "quiet" dorms. If you are interested in finding an overnight for your D or someone else to talk to, just send me a pm.</p>

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<p>Baymom, that rocks! Here comes a pm...</p>

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<p>I think the most value is in the first year classes which are small and taught by the best faculty. After that it is just a matter of doing some extra work in a regualr class. Good for grad apps too.</p>

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<p>This is beginning to come together, thanks to you good people and a long lost friend from my college days whom I last saw 20 years ago in Madison. I googled him-he is back in Madison- and now I'm his guest at a wine tasting and D will be entertained by his sophomore nephew! I arranged for her to have a tour of the Bradley Learning Community for another housing option thanks to Barrons, and with luck she will buy a lunch for Baymom's friend's daughter. CC rocks.</p>

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<p>ez: S is 2nd yr. grad student at UW. I have no opinion about where your D should go, but wanted to relate his Madison housing story. </p>

<p>Almost all leases are annual and expire at noon on the same day, August 14th, with new leases commencing at noon on August 15th. This year, we drove to WI to deliver his bedroom furniture (and other stuff) to him, and helped with his move to another apartment. When we arrived at 3pm on the 14th, I was shocked to see the mountains of bagged garbage and tossed aside "stuff" lining the curbs. Students and parents were babysitting U-Hauls and pickup trucks lining the streets, many sleeping in them. Everyone homeless for 24 hours! I thought this was just astonishing and couldn't believe that the City of Madison could handle this. My S took a walk (he slept at the hotel with us) and picked up a pair of bookends from the throw-away heaps. Many students were scavaging. Decent-looking couches were there for the taking. Again, I was just aghast!</p>

<p>We woke up on the 15th to pristine sidewalks and curbs. Not a single bag of garbage nor left-behind furniture or even a lonely piece of paper remained. The City of Madison performed a miracle overnight. And we never heard the roar of a single garbage truck. Amazing. I thought the system was nutty, but obviously it they had the logistics down pat.</p>

<p>Now, after moving in on the 15th, students were decorating, organizing, and tossing more garbage (the wrappers from those new egg crate pads...). Again, the curbs were wall-to-wall garbage. And, again, by the next morning it was as if nothing unusual had ever transpired over the past 24 hours.</p>

<p>If Madison always hums along like this, I can only imagine that your D might enjoy the music.</p>

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<p>M&B: what a wild story! Hard to imagine--but then I remember visiting my brother at UW years ago. I was a young mom, he a grad student, in the absolute rattiest apartment I have personally ever laid eyes on--the kitchen was a converted 2nd floor porch. He thought it was GREAT!</p>

<p>ez</p>

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<p>ez - a late howdy from me. For a decision like this, each family will have to decide what to do based on lots of things we don't know about. I can only imagine what we would do if we were in the same situation. You know I like Colorado College and the environment there, but for the difference in cost vs. the quality of education, I would start looking strongly at Wisconsin's rankings and stats:</p>

<p>Univ. of Wisconsin - Madison
Peer score (out of 5): 4.2
Rank (National Universities): 32
Freshmen in top 10% of class: 55%
SAT midrange: 1150-1370</p>

<p>For Colorado College:
Peer score: 3.7
Ranking (LACs): 33
Freshmen in top 10% of class: 44%
SAT midrange: 1160-1360</p>

<p>Other factors:
CC is in Colorado Springs, not a great college town
Wis is in Madison ('nuf said)</p>

<p>CC has less than 2K students
Wis has about 30K students (hmmm... lots)</p>

<p>Anyway, the University of Wisconsin sure has a lot going for it (except its size). And the money difference is HUGE.</p>

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<p>Tough call for sure. I just want HER to make it with all the right information. God, I'd hang the moon for this child. I may have to...</p>

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<p>I've pm you.</p>