<p>Our son is an talented writer, interested in either communicaitons or creative writing, trying to choose betwen these two. One issue of concern to all of us - he's been sober for two years - is the party scene at each school.</p>
<p>thanks,</p>
<p>Pattymac</p>
<p>Schools are equal when it comes to the “party scene.” Gettysburg is a little higher ranked academically and in terms of selectivity -it’s on a par with Dickinson- so that’s something to consider, although the difference is probably not great enough to make a decision just based on ranking. Muhlenberg has good programs in the arts; don’t know much about the curriculum at Gettysburg.</p>
<p>Did he apply for financial aid? Which school gave him the best aid?</p>
<p>I don’t think random opinions on the extent of the “party scene” are going to be helpful to you. It’s so subjective.</p>
<p>pattymac - I know next to nothing about Gettysburg, so I don’t know how much this will help, but I will say that my D (finishing sophomore year, double theatre and vocal music major) has had some very valuable writing opportunities at Muhlenberg, despite not being a communications and/or creative writing major.</p>
<p>A couple of weeks ago, a theatre critic from New York came to campus to offer a workshop on writing about the theatre. Several students, who are strong writers, were invited to attend. My daughter really enjoyed it.</p>
<p>Muhlenberg also has a ‘New Voices’ program to recognize plays written by students. My daughter was hesitant to submit her work since she is not a writing major of any sort, but she was finally plead with enough times, that she submitted two plays. She found out this week that at least one of those plays will be produced next fall, and she got incredibly positive feedback (I’d say more, but I might be divulging information that has not been released). However, since she will be studying abroad, someone else will direct the play, although she might have a chance to help cast it before she leaves.</p>
<p>So I would say that the writing element of the liberal arts curriculum has been very successful for my daughter, and I particularly appreciate the way the faculty has encouraged her to challenge herself with this as they obviously see some talent there. One of the plays she wrote was an assignment for a theatre class, but the second play was written, I think, because she got such positive feedback for the first play, and was not done as any sort of class assignment… she just did it because she wanted to. I don’t think that would have happened if the school hadn’t made it such a priority to nurture and recognize talented writers.</p>
<p>Hopefully someone else can chime in on Gettysburg.</p>
<p>Regarding the party scene - I can only compare it to a larger school that D1 went to, that was not set in a residential area like Muhlenberg is. At Muhlenberg, because so many students either live on campus, or within walking distance, and there basically are no bars within walking distance, most partying is via ‘house’ parties. Students aren’t necessarily heading out to bars like I see on other campuses that have bars within easy walking distance. But this is just my observation, comparing it to a school where walking to bars is routine.</p>
<p>I don’t usually engage like this, but KUDOS to you, teriwtt. </p>
<p>Pattymac, for what it’s worth, our daughter has applied as a transfer to Muhlenberg, and is hoping to hear soon. It’s her top choice out of 3 schools. For various reasons, she has chosen to not drink, but has friends who do, and feels she can participate in certain events where others do drink. She also appreciates schools that offer enough options to socialize without that, which is part of why she’s transferring. She’s heard nothing so far that leads her to believe it will tough to thrive at Muhlenberg. She’s spent a fair amount of time talking in person and emailing current students to get their honest take on this. Her feeling is that the school offers as much or more than other schools in ways of events, extracurriculars, etc. </p>
<p>All the best to you and your son as he makes his decision! Maybe our two will be attending the same school next year.</p>
<p>Patty mac, my d is a senior at 'berg, so it’s been some years since we looked at Gettysburg. Refresh my memory about Frat and Sorority %'s at Gettysburg. </p>
<p>I think that stat could be helpful in helping know what the atmosphere will be like. A large % of males in frats will suggest a more intense party scene, something to factor in.
I know the jocks at 'berg party in houses, which the University and community try to monitor. </p>
<p>How does geography play into his decision? Is he the kind of kid who would travel to NY on the bus trips, or venture into Philadelphia (if or when he outgrows 'berg?)
I don’t recall what Gettysburg offers for off campus excursions, but it felt very remote.
And, this is coming from a Bucknell graduate who knows what it is like to be at an isolated campus. Lewisburg and Gettysburg are quaint and historic, but don’t offer much for college students. Not that 'berg is much better, but my point is that it is closer to Philly and NYC.</p>
<p>If your son thrives in a creative/ artistic environment, 'berg should have a big advantage.</p>
<p>I wish your son much luck with either choice, (both are excellent schools) and applaud him on learning some lessons before he hits the rocky road of collegiate life- kudos to him!</p>
<p>Thanks to all of you for your thoughtful answers. They confirmed my gut feeling about Muhlenberg and its reputation as the caring college and about the advantages of being closer to NY and Phila. </p>
<p>The Greek stats at Gettysburg range from 45 - the official number - to 65 in the unofficial guides written by kids themselves. It’s as much as matter of tone: Gettysburg seems to emphasize its Greek life, while it seems to be a background issue at Muhlenberg. </p>
<p>Your comments were enough to push me out of the undecided category and feel really good about Muhlenberg for him. Now it’s up to him!</p>
<p>Pattymac- do let us know what he decides, and hope it all works out. </p>
<p>Curious when you visited both schools, did you, or your son, notice a difference ? </p>
<p>Hopefully, your son knows someone at these colleges who can describe the campus “vibe”, “tone” from a students viewpoint! </p>
<p>Do let us know how it all turns out.</p>
<p>The percentage of Greeks at Gettysburg is: 38% of men are members of fraternities; 26% of women are in sororities. These are official statistics from the college, found here:</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.gettysburg.edu/about/offices/ees/institutional_analysis/cds/CDS08-09-finalGettysburgCollege.xls[/url]”>http://www.gettysburg.edu/about/offices/ees/institutional_analysis/cds/CDS08-09-finalGettysburgCollege.xls</a></p>
<p>I see no reason the college would lie about something like this. Now, those who are few in numbers but make an exceptional amount of “noise” can often seem like the majority, so I wouldn’t necessarily rule out the possibility that the Greek presence feels much bigger than it is.</p>
<p>Pattymac, best wishes to your son and your candor in raising his issue speaks well of you.</p>
<p>Both are fine schools with smart kids and pretty campuses. I do not know either well, but, intuitively, given that the stereotype (which can obviously be way off base) of Gettysburg is preppy frat members and the stereotype of Muhlenberg is Jewish pre-meds and artsy girls, I would be very surprised if Muhlenberg had as much drinking. The high Gettysburg frat %–especially with freshmen not being eligible to live in frats–would concern me.</p>
<p>An overnight weekend stay at both might help.</p>
<p>My daughter attends Gettysburg as a freshman. The college allows one to specify on housing requests a “substance-free” (what a goofy name) preference. My daughter used this and got a very fun roommate who is sober and serious. One or two “substance-free” pledgers are frauds that are keeping mom and dad happy by checking the box, but most seem to be serious about it. AStudents make friends among peer groups in their freshman seminar courses, which are usually housed together in the first semester.<br>
Daughter is finding many things to occupy her time in the way of sponsored campus events, departmental activities, athletic & outdoors, etc. She has gone to one or two frat parties with floor mates, always taking along her own water bottle and staying sober. No one seems to give her any grief about it, and her sobriety is entirely respected. (More so than at my own alma mater, where I was partly scorned and derided, though useful as designated driver.) I am told that guys that are not members</p>
<p>I have been told that male freshmen that want to participate in a frat party have better odds of being admitted if they bring girls with them when they go. My daughter reports that a handful of classmates stagger into the dorm intoxicated on weekends, but in smaller percentages than among her high school peer group. The college has a bunch of mandatory alcohol abuse training for incoming freshmen, and policies that regulate how much, how often, to whom, with what supervision campus groups can provide/share/allow alcohol. The yin and yang of that - the college is administratively serious about promoting and supporting campus sobriety, presumably because they believe it is worth the time effort and cost of a few staffers to stay on top of it. If your son wants to stay sober and enjoy his college experience, he would be able to do that at Gettysburg. My daughter loves the place, much more than she expected, and is a lifetime militant teetotaler. </p>
<p>If you both want your son to be in an environment free of recurring temptations to drink socially, caution is in order. Gettysburg is more controlled than many colleges I’ve known, but some students there as elsewhere can read a calendar full of activities and events and still claim that there is “nothing to do here except the party at ___ house,” and it is tough if that is the response of your son’s floor mates and seminar buddies. Best wishes to you.</p>
<p>I happen to have a son who is currently a student at Muhlenberg and one who graduated from Gettysburg in '08 (and one who graduated from Lafayette last year…if you are familiar with these schools, can you IMAGINE my recent tuition payments!!!..anyway).</p>
<p>BOTH are fabulous places. Great campuses, great educations, great programs. I would have to say the “party” levels are about equal. Maybe G’Burg is a little more party oriented. The differences are, obviously, the academic focuses. The Mule is very fine arts focused, G’Burg more science. (Muhlenberg’s fine arts facilities are fantastic!)</p>
<p>I think Gettysburg campus is hard to beat. It is spread out and lovely. The library is fantastic. But Muhlenberg is beautiful too. Certainly more compact. </p>
<p>How it all turns out for my youngest son is obviously yet to be know, but my oldest son (the Gettysburg son), got his BS in bio, and is now getting his PhD at genetics and virology at Duke, so we’re happy with the result. </p>
<p>One more thing, both have good food, but while G’Burg says they have the best, Muhlenberg’s food seems to be the best of the three schools. And just wait till you see the Muhlenberg cafeteria! It looks like a ski lodge in Aspen. (Lafayette’s food is horrible! One big draw back over there.)</p>
<p>Can’t go wrong at either one. Go Mules! Go Bullets! Go Leopards!</p>
<p>BWoods- you are the expert on those three schools.
you wrote And just wait till you see the Muhlenberg cafeteria!
My D 09, and Niece 01 -Muhlenberg graduates both sent pictures from Homecoming of the cafeteria. They raved about the changes !</p>
<p>When S and I visited Muhlenberg we were blown away by the look and feel of the cafeteria. As icing on the cake (pun intended :-)), as the tour group was about to leave, we were approached by a man in a chef’s coat who introduced himself as the executive chef and proudly described the locally-sourced food that they were able to offer. It was a charming addition to the tour.</p>
<p>I love reading all your responses.
My dd applied ED to Muhlenberg about 2 weeks ago so now she (we LOL) just sit and wait.
She hopes to study bio at Berg and has had her Red Muhlenberg hoodie on almost 2 weeks straight LOL
I smile when I read the back that says Go Mules…LOL
Her college advisor pushed us to vist Gettysburg but it is about 4 hours away from our home and was just too far for both my dd and my dh and I.</p>
<p>Good luck to us all!</p>
<p>Congratulations on applying Early Decision. Muhlenberg loves ED applicants - it does increase one’s chance!</p>
<p>The bio program at Muhlenberg is very good. Beyond that, the school’s proximity to NY/NJ/CT/Philly is a big plus for many over Gettysburg. Gettysburg is a clear winner for studying history and political science. Muhlenberg goes toe to toe with Gettysburg in other majors and is a clear leader in theater/drama. </p>
<p>Campus culture is probably more tame at Muhlenberg - partly on account of popular majors; the campus surroundings; and the Female/Male ratio (slightly higher at Mberg). Mberg may also have a slightly stronger participation in volunteerism (from what I’ve gleened from visits and posted web news).</p>