<p>I did not omit them because of negative things, Northeastmom. I don't know anyone who went to either of those schools, that's all. Don't know a thing about Marietta, just some vague familiarity in the name. OW has an interesting program that my son researched, I remember, where you can intern for a semester or year for credit, but he did not get that far in checking it out and I was not involved. I know a number of folks who have gone to Denison, Wooster, and those other schools, and have heard a lot of good things about the schools. Otterbein, I am familiar with their MT program somewhat since one of the faculty there posts regularly on the MT thread here on CC, but I know nothing about the school as a whole. Kenyon, Denison, Oberlin are all schools that kids from son's school have investigated and are popular picks here in NY.</p>
<p>cpt, thank you.</p>
<p>I grew up in the Chicago area, so I will add my 2 cents worth while making the disclaimer of 'different strokes for different folks'. Historically, LFC was known as preppy, snotty, and rich. My h graduated from Elmhurst and he loved it. Where we now live, our youngest d has a friend whose parents both graduated from Kalamazoo (international students) and they loved it. Additionally, many people here have high regards for Oberlin. </p>
<p>Please be mindful of timing when scheduling a campus visit. If at all possible try not to go during some 'dog and pony show' event. Many suggest not visiting on the weekend, but I disagree with that. If your child is very far from home, he/she will probably spend many weekends on campus, so he/she needs to know what to expect.</p>
<p>
[quote]
57% of LFC students come from out of state. Living in the Chicago area, I would say LFC does not have a high profile in Chicago. The other small or LAC schools in the area draw much more from in-state (North Central, Elmhurst, Benedictine).
[/quote]
</p>
<p>What states, though? There's a difference between them coming from Wisconsin or maybe Indiana or Michigan or Iowa, vs coming from the NE.
Does anyone come from the west coast?</p>
<p>Honestly, here in Chicago, I really don't think it's known at all, aside from the graduate business program it offers. But part of that is that Northwestern's not all that far away.</p>
<p>Thanks all, and these opinions are very helpful. I think that we will just continue to search.</p>
<p>whoa... to get from Midway to LFC, you only need take the Orange Line (the El) from Midway into Chicago. Then you walk about three blocks west to the Ogilvie Transportation Center, and from there you catch one of the Metra trains out of Chicago directly to Lake Forest.</p>
<p>I live in the north/northwest suburbs and have taken the Metra rail down to Midway several times; it's quite efficient/cheap, and easy. I much prefer to fly out of Midway than O'Hare even though O'Hare is closer to my house by 25 minutes.</p>
<p>1-888-YOURCTA</a> | System Map - Downtown</p>
<p>Here's the link to the Chicago Transit Authority's map. You can easily see the distance of the Orange Line, and the Ogilvie center from each other.</p>
<p>Thanks teriwtt for posting the map. I knew someone from Chicago would eventually chime in.</p>
<p>I was a bit unclear in my description. When I said 2 different trains with bus and walk, I was referring to the thought that you could catch a bus (56) the 3 blocks between the CTA and the Metra, although most student type folks (unless their luggage doesn't have wheels) would probably walk the 3 blocks.</p>
<p>Of course, with the way the airlines are charging for luggage (Southwest still being one that allows 2 freebies, though) carrying luggage won't be the worst part of it.</p>
<p>no problem... now I will add, that when you factor in luggage, it's not dreadful, but give yourself an extra few minutes to maneuver the El (Orange Line) platform. The tracks are raised so if you are going to Midway from Chicago on the Orange Line, you have to carry your luggage up the stairs (and gracefully through the turnstiles); if you are going to the Ogilvie Transportation Center from the El Orange Line, you will have to haul your luggage down the stairs. But if I can do it, anyone can. To me, the walk between the two downtown stations isn't worth waiting for a bus... really. Even if rolling luggage, it shouldn't take more than ten minutes... and that's walking leisurely.</p>
<p>D's friend had many friends from CA, and some from the east coast. Midwesterners, too. Most of his friends had parents that paid the full freight.</p>
<p>? Revisiting this thread...I'm wondering how far is Beloit from Lake Forest?</p>
<p>about an hour and a half by car</p>
<p>Beloit is right smack on the Illinois-Wisconsin border. You actually can walk from campus to Illinois (it's less than 2 miles). There is frequent daily bus service from Beloit to both Chicago airports, and students get a discount. When we visit my daughter, we leave from the west coast in the early morning, and are on campus by about 1:30 or so in the afternoon.</p>
<p>actually, an interesting way to get to Beloit (if you are renting a car anyway) is to take the Metra Rail out to Harvard, IL, then rent a car in Harvard. Beloit is about 30 minutes from Harvard.</p>
<p>I can't imagine two schools that are more different than Lake Forest and Beloit, but maybe I am missing something. I just didn't think the two would be on the same list.
Elmhurst is a nice school, very popular with kids in the area, but is not fully residential and I would guess empties out a bit on weekends.</p>
<p>I just checked out Elmhurst. I had never heard of it. Seems like 8% of students come from OOS. Financial and merit aid look okay and the sticker price is a bit lower than at some other schools.</p>
<p>I think that Beloit can come up when there is a discussion about LF, because they are in the Chicago area (that is all relative), both accept B students, both are known for good financial aid.</p>
<p>My grandmother worked at the college for over 40 years. She lived in the neighborhood - my family originally was of the servant class for the McCormick's and the McCormick's built a home for us - a servant's home - but still a home - and she walked to work to the college everyday. My grandfather also attended the school, and likely is one of the school's few pro football player graduates. </p>
<p>Lake Forest College has a wonderful sense of community and is a good school for those that can use the attention and care and feeding that a smaller school can provide. Very serious students can do exceedingly well. </p>
<p>Upon my grandmother's death, over 400 people attended the funeral of this quiet woman who administered the housing at Lake Forest College - a woman who never drove a car a day in her life, walked to her office every day without fail, and never forgot how difficult life could be while growing up in an orphanage on the North side of Chicago. The president of the college attended the service; so did the past president; and most significantly, so did a number of students (and their growing families) who got kicked out of housing due anti-war protest activity and lived in my grandmother's home to finish the school year (girls in the house, boys in a tent in the backyard); and so did a few women who suffered from lack of funds and lived with my grandmother in otherwise expensive Lake Forest to get through school. I say this not to brag about my grandmother - although that is incredibly easy for me to do - but rather to say I was really touched by the actions of the Lake Forest College community - and from that perspective, there is something there well beyond the degrees and the classes and the buildings. </p>
<p>Lake Forest is easily the most expensive (although quiet and not glitzy) suburb in the Midwest. And in that sense it is not a college town. But it is likely one of the safest places in America to live, and an hour train ride puts you into the Loop, while a car ride offers Zion Beach State Park, Lake Geneva, and the like. If a student needs lots of city stimuli, it is not a place for them. And for those who jog or run, for the Midwest, the quiet roads around the college (rarely trafficked) and Lake Michigan coastline are great areas to run. </p>
<p>If one is looking at small college options, Lake Forest to my mind serves up pretty well.</p>
<p>Honestly, northeastmom, I don't think Elmhurst College is worth coming from another state to go to. I think it's just a small, local, suburban college.</p>
<p>Pizzagirl, Thanks, but we aren't looking at Elmhurst.</p>
<p>Mam1959, What a story, and family history. Thanks for sharing it.</p>