<p>Foolish, </p>
<p>I would not make a college decision based solely on interaction with less than twelve people on campus during the summer months. Nearly 2,000 people go to HWS. You have only met about 0.6% of the student population. Visit during the school year.</p>
<p>Foolishpleasure, I don’t know that I can answer your question of social fit. If the school academically is a good choice, then it might be worth visiting again when school is in session to check about the social fit. Only you all can determine that. It may have just been a down day for one reason or another. I know it was useful for us to visit a few schools more than once, as a way to narrow down some of the choices. Good luck in your search!</p>
<p>It’s an interesting question, the fit issue. With my kids that initial “go see” definitely dropped colleges off their list that I thought might be great. If you can afford the time and cost and this school was one that was initially “high” on your D’s list, then yes, visiting during school session might be worth it. If it was just one of many on an initial list, then it might not be important enough to warrant another trip. One thing we did do with #1 and will do with #2 is an overnight after acceptances and before the commitment, just to “make sure” that the choice is really the best choice. I am not a parent who thinks that the kids can necessarily “learn to be happy” wherever they land. Right now HWS is way high on my son’s choices and yes, if he is accepted, I would send him back one more time for the “gut check” confirmation.</p>
<p>Thanks to all three; your posts have been very helpful.</p>
<p>mattJ, I wouldn’t advise D to make decision on meeting a dozen people, but whether the propsie loves/hates tour guide or a whether it’s sunny/rainy day can catapult a school to the top of a list or cause it to sink like a stone to the bottom. And even if D visits several times, she’s unlikely to meet more than a small fraction of the students; like mst students, she will undoubtedly make her decision based on a handful of significan interactions (like the overnight host and the host’s circle of friends, or rapport with members of an athletic team).</p>
<p>CarolynB and Momof3, HWS is one of a dozen or so schools that are a good fit academically and it is in the middle of the list in terms of geography, being a slightly longer drive than we’d like (the least desirable schools are those reqiring a a flight). My primary concern with HWS has always been social fit and the students we met, though an admittedly small sample, were more formal/reserved/preppie than D and her cohort. D will apply (unless the supplement is inssanely difficult) and, if admitted w/ aid, she’ll not only visit again, but definitely stay overnight.</p>
<p>[To how many schools did you make more than one admissions visit BEFORE applying? D has visited some campuses for activities (sports camps, etc.) unrelated to admissions, but for schools more than a couple of hours from home, D has toured and interviewed during the same visit b/c a second visit during fall of senir year may not be possible.]</p>
<p>We only made one visit to each of our #1 son’s “favorite on paper/web” schools. Then S1 returned and did an overnight at his number one favorite and my (LOL) number one favorite and chose his fav. We did the first visits with #2 and I assume that we’ll do the same thing with number 2 this winter/spring after the acceptances and let him revisit his first choice for affirmation which is Hobart but I’m keeping my mouth shut this go-round about “my favorite.” The only thing out of son #2’s mouth to his friends in that regard was that he thought HWS had “the best looking girls”</p>
<p>Foolishpleasure, we have twins. Our daughter wound up applying to a total of eleven schools (10 LACs and our state flagship school) and our son to eight (7 LACs and our state flagship). Because we have twins, we started our college search in earnest in the spring of sophomore year. Junior year we used both February break and April break to visit schools and the summer before senior year, we drove over 1200 miles to visit I think 15 schools to have a total of 17 interviews and tours. That summer was when we did the second visits to schools. (They never did really visit our state flagship as it was a bit familiar to them; it was mostly a financial safety.) Both my kids saw twice the schools they applied to. Once they received acceptances and we examined the financial aid, they narrowed down their choices so that my daughter did overnights at three schools and my son at two. I agree it’s difficult to sneak in second visits in the fall of senior year, and with twins, it’s even more complex, so we tried to avoid that problem by starting the process early.</p>
<p>Great to see that so many people have been posting in here recently. I’m back in Geneva now but thought I’d offer a few thoughts.</p>
<p>I would like to echo all the positive things that everyone has said about President Gearan - I’m under the impression that he’s done a really good job at improving the school over the last ten years, and I hope that HWS’ upward trajectory continues in the future. The academics are pretty solid, no doubt about that. </p>
<p>I do have to disagree with mattJastn6 about Geneva, however. Although HWS has improved significantly over the last ten years, I think that Geneva’s gone in the opposite direction. It’s unfortunate (and I’m pretty sure the local economy is to blame), because it really is a pleasant town in many respects. That said, I simply just don’t feel safe walking off-campus at night, period. Not the school’s fault, of course, and I feel perfectly fine on campus. The downtown stretch (Seneca and Exchange) is also ok at night, and there are certainly some great restaurants and shops in Geneva (I’d recommend the second-hand store and the bike shop) but I wouldn’t go any further into the town after dark. I think last year there was a student walking in Geneva at night that was mugged. So, although Geneva (and the region as a whole) is indeed very beautiful, people should take care. </p>
<p>Still, it’s a great place with solid academics - I’ve got my hands full this semester in terms of courses and it seems like I’m always working on some schoolwork, but I’m having some fun on the side, too.</p>
<p>Gvol21, </p>
<p>My friend got his biked tuned up at that shop in town; you do any mountain biking behind the Houghton House on the trails? </p>
<p>From my experience several years ago at HWS, all the places in Geneva that consisted of restaurants and bars were in safe areas. I went out to eat at Parkers Grille. I never had any problems, nor did any of my friends walking from the campus to Geneva at night, about half a mile. Of course there are some seedier sides on the way other side of town, yet I would have absolutely no reason to walk there. You sure this mugging actually happened? Hope not. Anyhow, crime can happen anywhere. Geneva is considered a small city. For me, it provided a decent college town. Never once did I consider not walking to the town, even alone, due to safety factors.</p>
<p>Anyhow, I do like the fact that HWS is not directly in the city, like some other liberal arts schools. I feel like HWS has a better location and city than some other LACs such as Trinity and Union. HWS is definitely located on the better side of town. The campus and areas directly around the HWS campus were always very safe. </p>
<p>Good luck this semester.</p>
<p>Gvol21, there are always desirable and undesirable areas in most any town. It’s good to know the difference and to pay attention to your surroundings, no matter where you are. Back in the Pre-Cambrian Era, when I went to college in a large town/small city in Ohio, I knew there were areas downtown by the river I shouldn’t go, especially at night, so I didn’t, but there were areas which were OK and of course I felt safe on campus. Geneva and the HWS campus have the same feel to me.</p>
<p>Thank you for nodding in on this forum in between your studies and your activities. I wish you well this semester!</p>
<p>Anyone have any current info about HWS academics, social life, food, theater or dance?</p>
<p>1bie792, you have a very broad question so I will touch on all the issues briefly as not that much has changed in two years, and if you have further questions, please ask.</p>
<p>HWS academics are very good; both my humanities son and his pre-med girlfriend have been satisfied with their professors for the most part. Every once in a while there’s a prof that’s not great, but you’ll find that occurrence anywhere in any college. So academics are good. I like the goals focus on distribution requirements which provides real flexibility in shaping your academic studies. I also like the major/minor arrangement where you are required to have in some form a single discipline and a multi-discipline, allowing for depth and breadth in learning. Every year HWS has a ton of really impressive speakers for all kind of lectures. There’s an honors program senior year which I think my son’s considering doing next year.</p>
<p>The social life is what you make it. There are people who attend frat parties and there are people who don’t attend them and have a fun time doing other things. My son and girlfriend do not drink (or do drugs) and so they don’t attend the parties. They watch movies, hang out with friends, attend the occasional dance, etc.</p>
<p>The food is reasonable and various, and a range of plans offers different numbers of meals per week, depending on your lifestyle needs.</p>
<p>I can’t comment on theater as I don’t know much, other than they put on productions, but I know the dance department is very popular and well supported, with lots of performances throughout the year.</p>
<p>If you haven’t explored the HWS website thoroughly, I encourage you to do it. It’s among the friendliest and best college websites I’ve seen, with a wealth of knowledge. Poke around a bit and take a look at the extensive photos and you’ll see the amazing variety of activities available. </p>
<p>My son is going into his junior year and I’m very happy with the opportunities HWS has offered. I think college is what you make of it.</p>
<p>thanks for all the info gvol21! </p>
<p>do you feel like NOT partying all the time makes you out of the loop?
is there social hierarchy?</p>
<p>junior96, I’m glad gvol21’s comments were so helpful. </p>
<p>Responding to your question about being out of the loop, it all depends on if you consider partying all the time as being in the loop. The ones that party all the time don’t make it through all four years. There are plenty of kids who have their friends and sometimes go to a party; it’s a big enough school that you can do whatever you like.</p>
<p>Anyone have a current or former student who took part in Greek life? Any feedback (positive or negative)? S was admitted and is definitely interested in doing that. Thanks in advance.</p>
<p><a href=“How One College Handled a Sexual Assault Complaint - The New York Times”>How One College Handled a Sexual Assault Complaint - The New York Times;
<p>Anyone who would pick this college over Dartmouth, Georgetown or Cornell would have to get their head examined. But more likely, whoever made this claim was lying. </p>
<p>Well, it sounds like the boys there thing gang rape is fun, so there’s that. Plus the administration gives is a thumbs up, so no hassle on that front. </p>
<p>It’s prospective, not perspective</p>
<p>Another positive: after that New York Times article, it should be much easier for future classes to get in. </p>