Help! My son is trying to decide between Endicott College and Wheaton (Massachusetts). Any input or anyone with firsthand experience of either school? He likes both.
Have you toured both? We were really turned off by our Wheaton tour. The campus felt very small, more like a high school than a college. It didn’t help that our tour guide was a complete ditz and kept comparing it to her high school. I went to Endicott (ages ago, lol) It seems like a great school that has been steadily growing and improving under the leadership of Richard Wylie, the president. The campus is beautiful–can’t beat the oceanfront setting. Seems like it would have more of a rah rah sports atmosphere than Wheaton. The biggest benefit to Endicott is probably their internship program. What is your son looking to study?
We have toured both and my son did an overnight at Wheaton which he liked. Wheaton is significantly closer to us, which is a plus. However, my son thinks he wants to study criminal justice or communications which only Endicott has. It is quite possible that he may change his mind, though. I like the internship program at Endicott, and they have an academic coaching service my son would likely benefit from since he has some executive function issues. Not sure how he would fit into the campus culture at either school, but he did say his host at Wheaton was nice. My son plays chess competitively and would hopefully find some good extracurriculars at both schools, though he does not play sports.
Here is my two cents having research both schools. You take it for what it is worth. My impression is that Wheaton is a much stronger school. I toured Endicott back in 2013 and it was the only school that left my daughter (and her two brothers who happened to join us) all feeling unimpressed. We were there in the summer so the campus was quiet. Although the location was beautiful the campus buildings were uninspiring and a bit shabby. I understand they are expanding the school so my impressions of the physical appearance may be outdated. My son was accepted to Wheaton this year and I have been very pleased with the communication from the school. We have toured and my son did an overnight. We found the campus to be much nicer than what we recall Endicott being like. Perhaps things have changed at Endicott in recent years. More importantly I believe that Wheaton is a much more rigorous and prestigious school. Of course prestige is not everything but all things being equal I would imagine Wheaton has much more to offer. My impression was that they encourage internships and offer a $3,000 grant to fund internships, research experience and other experiential learning opportunities. An acquaintance of mine has a daughter studying biomedical engineering at Endicott and she complained that the school did little to help her obtain an internship. I would also check Endicott’s financial health.
I know kids that go to both. The more studious kids went to Wheaton and the sports party guys/girls went to Endicott.
That’s just my opinion from a guy in the Boston burbs with kids at public high school. Our school sends a decent amount of athletes to Endicott every year.
I have the same impression as RightCoaster–that Wheaton has stronger academics. Every year a few kids from our local high school (town northwest of Boston) attend Wheaton. My daughter’s bff went there. She got lots of merit aid. D’s friend had a great experience at Wheaton and took advantage of what Wheaton had to offer–she participated in the Twelve College Exchange program (where she was able to take classes at Wellesley), went to the Middle East for a study abroad semester. She was able to study Arabic at Wheaton for two years and then took Arabic at Brown for two semesters–something the language department at Wheaton worked out for her. She was active in student government and got a job in higher education, largely through her Wheaton connections. Her husband (they got married last year) is also a Wheaton grad and he works in a start-up company with another Wheaton grad and is doing well. Anecdotal data–hope it helps. Good luck.
Wheaton is stronger academically. The vibe at both is very different.
Wheaton is one of the nation’s leading colleges in terms of numbers of winners of major awards like Fulbrights. Very impressive. And Wheaton is part of a twelve college exchange that includes colleges like Amherst and Vassar and Dartmouth, so as a Wheaton student, you could spend a semester or year at one of those, too.
@oceanstatemom Have you discussed the executive function issues with counselors at both schools? Probably very few on CC know the particular support either college provides in that area or even how much support your son needs. The best people can give you here is what they have and that is that Wheaton provides a stronger academic environment and is much closer to RI. It looks as if the MBTA runs buses from Wheaton to Mansfield Station, making Wheaton easier for your son to get a commuter rail either into Boston or back home to RI. Endicott has commuter rail, but not to south station (only to North Station), making Providence very inconvenient.
Thanks everyone for your input–it’s so helpful. I have discussed academic supports with both colleges. Endicott has an academic coaching program you can pay extra for, run by learning specialists. Wheaton has one person who runs the accessibility office for the whole campus–albeit, a smaller campus than Endicott. Of course, both colleges have a writing center, subject tutoring, faculty advisors, etc. We are going to Endicott accepted students day today. Tomorrow we are supposed to go to Roger Williams for their accepted students day since my son has not ruled it out yet (if anyone has any thoughts on RWU). I think my son would like to have a fresh start out of Rhode Island, however, from what he has said. One thing I thought of is if he does go to Wheaton, perhaps I can hire someone to help him stay organized and plan long term for assignments.
Just be careful - Endicott seems to be over enrolling and the students are four in a dorm room that’s typical for a double. There’s no closet for any of them.
My daughter picked Wheaton over Endicott. She thought the campus was beautiful with the quad. Our tour guide at Endicott told us he wanted to transfer but didn’t know where to go. Then at Wheaton - the president hosted a reception where she met other students. He already knows her name, and faculty were there too. They seemed very student focused. At Endicott, many of the classes are taught by part-timers.
@oceanstatemom : what did your family think after their visits ? What did you decide at the end?