<p>Well if the school is Union, as Art is guessing, the school COA was 45,550 for last year and only 60% of students received financial aid. That is some expensive school for anything less than "perfect" for the student. No, actually, it is some expensive school regardless of what is being offered!</p>
<p>There are definitely students who prefer to just sit and take notes so they can pass the test and there must be parents willing to pay for that. Nothing wrong with that, I guess, but not how we'd want to invest $150,000-$200,000.</p>
<p>A while ago I posted a negative review of a college, and I think I may have mentioned it here. The school is a small LAC located in northern NJ. However, on our tour, the guide noted that drinking was prevalent and the school turned a blind eye, the classroom we were taken to had broken blinds and broken chairs and was generally dirty, we couldn't see many importan places (dining hall) because it was closed, landscaping was in progress...we think (due to huge piles of dirt all over the campus). We left with a less than favorable view of the place. The adcoms, however, were very nice (although quite young...both grads that spring). Two kids went on the trip, neither applied. At the time, I wanted to say..."didn't you have a better classroom to show folks?" Or "why didn't you just suspend tours while all these buildings were closed and landscaping happening?" Or "did you know that your tour guide told parents that drinking was ok?"</p>
<p>My neighbor's daughter had a terrible overnight. Everyone was drinking and her purse was stolen from the dorm room where she was staying. She crossed the school off her list and is attending the State U instead. But I am leaving it on my daughter's list, because it maybe just an isolated incident. The school has a very good reputation.</p>
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<blockquote> <p>CC types >></p> </blockquote>
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<p>What is a CC type? From what I've seen here, there are many types of students looking for colleges.</p>
<p>What kathiep says is true. Lots of schools get trashed here regularly. Is there a school that has not had some negative reviews by someone -- not that I know of. Some schools may not have been trashed here only because they aren't on anyone's radar. </p>
<p>I'm guessing that what bothers you about the school may be that what they put out in their brochures does not match up with your campus experience -- that is useful information, IMO. I know that if my daughter was planning to attend a school and a negative was brought to my attention, I would be sure to check it out -- I wouldn't just accept it without looking into it and deciding for myself. I think if you can say there is a CC type, that is it -- they will consider other people's opinions, but they will make up their own minds. So don't worry so much! Worst thing that can happen if you offend someone is that you'll get a few flames . . .</p>
<p>^I agree. I'd like to think that the overwhelming majority of people on CC possess the intelligence and maturity to put people's opinions about a school, whether positive or negative, in the proper perspective.</p>
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I wouldn't be interested, personally, unless there was a repetitive pattern. A single incident is not a useful datum. Anecdotal info is sometimes worse than no info at all.
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<p>But a parent/student visit is always just a single incident. Our own anecdotal experience with a school is all any of us can contribute. An accumulation of individual reports can give a better impression of a school than a single report, but we are still talking about a collection of anecdotes. This is not a scientific process.</p>
<p>Otherwise, what are we to do? Make multiple visits before formulating an opinion on a school? It would certainly be nice, but not practical. For most of us we have one chance to look at a school and the school has one chance to make a good impression. As long as the basis for the negative report is fully explained, I can draw my own conclusions.</p>
<p>I would like to hear the whole shebang, with the school name. If you're concerned about dissuading students who might be a good fit, the answer is to report your observations rather than your conclusions. Quote the tour guide and others you talked to. Describe the sights, smells, and sounds. Don't speculate about what goes on if you didn't see it yourself. If students there want to argue that what you saw was not representative, that will be informative too. But they can't say that you are WRONG in first-hand observation.</p>
<p>I've written a number of reports and always try to include objective information as well as my personal feelings about such information. There's something about an all positive or all negative review that I don't trust. A less academic student who is looking for the college experience? The less mature student who is looking for a place to grow up? I haven't visited, so I can't contribute facts, but obviously there are those who liked it there.</p>
<p>In our own state, none of my 3 kids would consider the flagship U because of it's reputation for being a party school with weak academics. But the school is full and turning down kids - and is a first choice for many. So clearly what we consider necessary in a school is not a universal thing. What I consider a negative might well be what someone else is looking for, so I try to offer even my subjective feelings without judgement. </p>
<p>At several of the schools we visited, the phrase "Work hard; play hard" has been offered. We react negatively to that phrase, although the students offering it always seem proud. To each his own.</p>
<p>I encourage you to write your review, and like others have said, those who disagree will refute it, and those who agree will appreciate your warning.</p>
<p>I am not sure what is meant by an intellectual vibe. Do you mean kids sitting in their dorm rooms talking about great books or world events or physics theorems? Do you mean class participation? Do you mean attending lectures? Which schools have such a vibe and which do not? My son will be attending Union in the fall and I definitely think the students there are more mainstream, but that does not make them intellectually lazy (if it did, very few schools would qualify as "intellectual"). While his experience will tell, what I can say is that I have met and been told of many, many Union alumni of various ages and any college would be thrilled to turn out students who have done as well in their fields as these folks. In addition, I have yet to talk to a single one who is not proud of the school and who does not highly recommend it. I went to a SUNY university center and I can tell you this is not a universal feeling amongst graduates.</p>
<p>I want to hear the honest review! We are all intelligent enough to sort things through for ourselves. What might be a deal-breaker for someone wouldn't matter to someone else.</p>
<p>I posted that I got yelled at by a Princeton admissions employee on our visit to Princeton a couple of years ago. I was carrying a hot drink into what turned out to be a "historic building with NO drinks allowed"! I wasn't impressed with the demeanor, but I hardly think everyone on CC is going to scratch Princeton off their list because of my experience. However, a few people might feel it confirms a certain "vibe" THEY got from the place.</p>
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the phrase "Work hard; play hard" has been offered. We react negatively to that phrase
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<p>Why? Every college student should try to lead some sort of social life.</p>
<p>If the only visits that get reported are those that are positive, what's the point in posting? Then, cc simply becomes a marketing tool for various universities. When a particularly positive report is given, no one accuses the poster of being on the university's payroll in the PR dept so why assume a negative post is just for the sake of bashing a university? For most here positive reviews are starting points for students and their familes to ask questions and do further research. Why wouldn't you assume that the people on cc are smart enough to use the negative reports in the same way? </p>
<p>What my kids or my family see as major negatives may simply be "the one kinda downside" with your family given the other attributes of the university or you may even consider them positives. And of course, multiple reports echoing the same feelings are more telling but how will there be multiple reports if no one reports the first time? This goes for positive and negative reports.</p>
<p>cavalier - as I said before, what turns us off may be exactly what someone else is looking for. In our case, "work hard play hard" seems to be a euphemism for, sure, we're drunk every weekend, but Monday through Thursday we're dealing with unreasonable professors, so we have a good reason. Neither the partying nor the difficult professors appeal to us.</p>
<p>A sample of the "Code words" we look for are:<br>
Instead of "work hard": our students make something of themselves, our students go places, our professors care about students, undergrads are encouraged to do research, we help them find internships ....</p>
<p>Instead of "play hard": Over half our students are involved in the arts - music, theater, etc. We have bazillions of clubs, and if you can't find what you're looking for, start it yourself. Our students stay on campus on weekends because of all we offer. </p>
<p>And so on. YMMV.</p>
<p>Isn't an actual review better than giving a few hints and starting a guessing game?</p>
<p>It reminds me of the interviewed athlete that is quoted as saying, "Many players are doing _______." Now we guess about all of them.</p>
<p>Those aren't mutually exclusive concepts. Plenty of high-achieving students like to kick back with a pint or two every once in a while. And plenty of social butterflies are stone-cold teetotalers. But CC isn't the place to have a reasonable discussion on this sort of thing, so I'll stop now.</p>
<p>" Is it bigger than a breadbox?"</p>
<p>is it smaller than infinity?</p>
<p>Yugoslavia!</p>
<p>binx</p>
<p>Some schools with the work hard-play hard designation might also have your code words. Grinnell comes to mind.</p>
<p>bethievt -- Grinnell popped into my mind too!-- same reasons.</p>