<p>My son and I are thinking of visiting this college. They sent us a finaid brochure that makes it look like they might give money to even middle class families. I've looked at some student reviews on-line but, as usual, they sound fairly negative. Any opinions, information?</p>
<p>If you like basketball, there's nowhere better than the Big 5.
As a Penn student, I can only say that the only Big 5 school I've felt unsafe at was LaSalle-of course, being a band member when our basketball team is beating theirs puts a large target on my back.</p>
<p>(ps- I've felt less safe at certain Brown and Yale basketball games, if that gives you any perspective)</p>
<p>If anything, my son would be in the band too. He's not into sports and I don't think he ever attended a b-ball game in HS. Of course, he went to every football game - to march with the band. We were much more successful at the festivals then the team was with with their games.</p>
<p>Kathiep, I met 2 young men that attended. The first went in as a nursing major (he wants to go onto med school, but if he does not he feels that he has a nice career). He is quiet and hard working. He had a very successful freshman year and was quite happy. He got his best financial aid offer from them. He originally told them that their first offer was not enough and told them an offer from another school made theirs 4,000 more. They asked him to physically come to the fa office and they would discuss it (he and his parents did take them up on the offer- I would think many families would not make the trip). Sure enough, they did offer 4,000 more per year. He told me that you really won't feel comfortable there if you are not catholic.</p>
<p>2nd young man- not raised catholic, but has one catholic parent. I do not recall what his major was, but not nursing. He was less of a student in hs, but a good kid with many ecs- ie: was an emt, and claims he had a pilot's license (is that possible at 17?). He did not do well socially, and did not do well in classes, and was very unhappy. The 2 were roomates and were friends in hs, but that did not help him at all. He left after 1 semester and I do not know where he went. The other young man told me student #2 was headed for a suny in upstate NY.</p>
<p>Other comments from student#1- "there is drinking and some are dumb enough to drink in dorm halls and they get kicked out, if you drink in your room you have no problems." He also says that they are not in the better part of Phili. I can tell that he is very happy there and doing well.</p>
<p>Kathiep, Additionally, I asked the 1st student why the other was not doing well socially and he said that he did not know, but that he was acting strangely. He did not elaborate. I do know the second student and never saw strange behavior. I do not think that he is innately as bright, and he does not have as much fortitude to sit with the books, but gives endless hours in community service. He is not at all lazy and is really a good kid.</p>
<p>LaSalle is an inner city Catholic Philly college that attracts a mixed middle and lower middle class student. It has some good programs - communication for one and a loyal student body, but the location is rough. A deterioting urban neighborhood, a long way from center city. Unless youre getting big money, not a place for an out of state student</p>
<p>The 2 young men that I know are definitely middle class and from a middle class community. I agree with speedo, they did say it is not in the best part of Philly, but they seemed okay with it. I guess you really need to explore the surrounding area as much as the school before deciding.</p>
<p>For what it's worth, two young men from from our neighborhood went/go there (one just graduated). One went to an upper middle class Catholic high school and one went to an all male Catholic prep school, and our neighborhood would be considered upper middle class.</p>
<p>hmmm, we're definately not anything like Catholic. I was interested because it's within a couple of hours of us, their computer majors looked pretty good, and the finaid sounded decent. I am kind of leery (leary?) of cities in general and I know my son wasn't that keen on the area around Drexel, which didn't look that bad.</p>
<p>Kathiep,</p>
<p>My bro registered at Temple undergrad in North Phila---his car was broken into the first day there, and my parent's transferred him to a suburban school within the week!</p>
<p>Then again, I went to law school in North Phila (very bad area) and it was quite manageable--lots of security, plus I was a commuter so went to classes and went home to study in the 'burbs.</p>
<p>I'd feel more reluctant to have an 18 year old in a bad section of Philadelphia---they are just younger and more vulnerable (in my mind) than I was as a grad student in my 20s. Plus they are more involved in the social aspect of school, and spending more time on campus.</p>
<p>I will say Drexel is a very well-regarded school, and I had my 14 year old there at a summer program w/no concerns---that area of Philly is not that bad (although it's not the 'burbs, either). It's better than North Philly, by far. Of course U of Penn is near Drexel too---a top school and w/great security.</p>