<p>I posted a few weeks ago for tips on visiting the midwest. We have completed the visit so I thought I would give some feedback on the campuses my D and I visited. I think that "fit" and vibe are really important. Any of the schools we visited would provide a great education but i want to be sure D is comfortable and able to thrive while half way across the country. The following are my impressions but after reading D's notes we are pretty close in impressions. The 4 are Hope, Wheaton, Carleton, and St. Olaf.</p>
<p>Hope College, Holland, MI</p>
<p>Neat little town, the big surprise of our trip. This school has a lot going on. 4 major new buildings and a real feeling of vibrancy. We toured the campus, D attended a class, we had lunch with a current student (there were 2 other father/daughters at the lunch) and then we met with an admissions person.</p>
<p>Chapel attendance is not required but it is well attended. It seemed like the students were glad to be there. The cafeteria food was a bit weak...by far the worst of all the schools we attended. The campus is pretty and kind of integrated with the downtown...it doesn't stand apart but still has the character of a campus.</p>
<p>I can't edit my last post. A bit more about Hope. They have some great traditions like a big tug of war between freshman and sophomores and a talent competition (comedy skits, singing, etc.) between the freshman and soph girls. I really liked the newspaper and it gave a good indication of the school's atmosphere. There were good arguments for and against gay marraige. My concern for Christian schools is that contrary views aren't tolerated. Doesn't seem to be the case here. </p>
<p>Wheaton, Wheaton, IL</p>
<p>Beautiful campus. Big, impressive buildings on an immaculate campus. New train station next to campus puts Chicago about 20 or 30 minutes away (we had a free day and rode the train in...very easy to take a jaunt to the city).</p>
<p>We took the campus tour, met with admissions, attended chapel, and had lunch on our own. My impression was kind of the opposite of Hope. Chapel is required and there were more than a few students slumped over asleep. The school president was speaking the day we attended. Some kids released balloons during the chapel (maybe 20 to 30 in a romm with 2,000+ students). The president did a slow burn that lasted quite a while. I think it gave a good glimpse at the severe nature of the campus culture. </p>
<p>The dorms were a bit dingy but thre was a lot of stuff on the walls...it looked like the students enjoy themselves. The food was great.</p>
<p>Carleton, Northfield, MN</p>
<p>Not a Christian School, which is something D desires, but I wanted to check out "one of the best". Nice campus, nice dorms. Great vibe. Not for my D. We did not have lunch here. We took the tour and met with an admissions person. Looks like it would be a really fun and challenging place to go. A lot of student activities and they seem to be inquisitive, inventive, and fun loving...not in a party school kind of way but in the "release your inner nerd" and casual partying kind of way. I can see why this school is so highly thought of.</p>
<p>While Wheaton was clean and impressive, this was my favorite campus. Sits on a bluff overlooking Northfield. The stone buildings and many trees make a picturesque, inviting campus that is integrated to the environment. There a lot of really great spaces in the buildings. The research library and cafeteria stand out as pleasant places to be.</p>
<p>Bustling and vibrant atmosphere. Very friendly. We toured the campus, met with admissions, attended chapel, D attended a class, and we had lunch on campus. This was the best cafeteria of our tour (by a pretty wide margin). The Lutheran tradition is a bit more formal than we are used to. The underlying feeling is very pleasant. Chapel is not required but is well attended. Lots of artwork throughout the campus. Dorms are well lit and appear to be good sized.</p>
<p>In general, the midwest is a very friendly place. The culture is different than what we are used to in the San Francisco bay area. It will be agreat experience for my D. At the start of the tour, Wheaton was her #1 choice and Hope was a distant second. There were no others. At the end of our tour, Hope and St. Olaf are neck and neck. Wheaton is no longer a consideration. She is a junior so she has time to look around some more. I would feel very comfortable with her attending Hope or St. Olaf. </p>
<p>Hope doesn't garner the press of a lot of other schools but I think it deserves to be on people's radar. This isn't the detailed descriptions that some of you are so good at...ask if there is something else you would like to know.</p>
<p>Regarding St. Olaf: I know the reputation is that it is mainly blond haired white kids that go there. How was the diversity? Did they mix?</p>
<p>You mentioned that the Lutheran tradition is a bit more formal than you are used to. Besides chapel, how else is their Lutheran roots noticeable on campus?</p>
<p>rhumbob - was wondering since you visited St. Olaf if you have also researched Valpo and the Concordia schools, i.e., Concordia River Forest, Concordia Austin, Concordia Nebraska, Concordia Portland, etc.?</p>
<p>Fresnomom - there are variances in Lutherans.......different synods, Missouri Synod is said to be more conservative, ELCA......more moderate. Would guess that there are students on campus of different synods, including Wisconsin. Valpo, i believe, has ELCA roots as does, I think, St. Olaf. The Concordia schools are all Missouri Synod. some Lutherans have german heritage, others have scandanavian, etc.</p>
<p>Rhumbob,
I love your description of Carleton: "A lot of student activities and they seem to be inquisitive, inventive, and fun loving...not in a party school kind of way but in the "release your inner nerd" and casual partying kind of way. I can see why this school is so highly thought of." </p>
<p>It fits my impression of the Carleton grads I know.</p>
<p>St. Olaf is a wonderful choice. I'm hoping it will be on my daughter's short list two years from now.</p>
<p>I'm also curious how the culture in the midwest is different from where you live? I'm not challenging your observation - just curious about your experience and hoping you'll elaborate more.</p>
<p>Does anyone have a feel for merit aid at St. Olaf? I know they have different levels of awards but I'm not sure how many they give out or how they package things.</p>
<p>If your daughter is looking for a Christian LAC, has she looked into Grove City College? It's just north of Pittsburgh (gateway to the midwest) and though I've never been there heard it's a great Christian atmosphere.</p>
<p>Another Christian LAC that has a good reputation is Messiah College in central PA if she is willing to move a bit further away. It'd likely be a good option for a safety school.</p>
<p>The d. of Earlham's admissions director goes to Hope. Hope's biology department is justly famous for research opportunities offered to undergrads. More undergrad research published in peer-reviewed biology journals than comes out of Hope than JHU or any of the Ivies or AWS.</p>
<p>SB Mom- Gordon College does seem to be popular with the Christian kids here in Santa Barbara. They also seem to like Seattle Pacific a lot as well.</p>
<p>There are so many great schools. I don't think we can see the 20 or 30 schools I see other folks on CC talking about. As of now D really wants to check out Davidson. I suspect she will identify 4 or 5 schools in the south/east to visit next spring (I'm a CPA so after 4/15 and before school lets out). These were our first visits. I don't think visiting a school when it is out of session would be very useful so that seems to rule out summer visits.</p>
<p>As far as the difference between people in the midwest and the San Francisco bay area. I notcied it when i visited Tennessee a few years ago. People seem more open and accomodating to strangers. If you look lost someone walks up and asks if they can help. I've lived in the bay area all my life and people are more guarded. </p>
<p>I wouldn't call any of the schools we visited diverse.</p>
<p>Diversity: not much in the schools we visited. From my perspective the midwest will be a good change for her: a different culture, real seasons, etc. Each school is working on diversity but is not there yet. The SF bay area is pretty diverse so it is not a primary factor in selecting a college (although it would be nice because it enriches the college experience to have different points of view/ experience / culture). I'm hoping D will return home to CA after college. If my child came from an area that was not ethnically diverse I think it would be important to search that out in a college.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>At the start of the tour, Wheaton was her #1 choice and Hope was a distant second. There were no others. At the end of our tour, Hope and St. Olaf are neck and neck. Wheaton is no longer a consideration. <<</p>
</blockquote>
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<p>That, in a nutshell, is the value of doing a college tour.</p>
<p>Rhumbob, great visit tales. I was going to post this afternoon and do another push for Southern schools, but it sounds as if you are going there. Davidson, Furman and Wake Forest all sound like possibilities, and she can hit them in one visit. Good luck to her.</p>