<p>I am looking for feedback - anything you know, good, bad, indifferent - about this very little college in historic Salem. We stumbled on it accidentally, it looks to be not terribly selective, but its stats don't differ too much from many other all womens' colleges. </p>
<p>Middle 50% 1000-1250, 860 undergrads, 150 freshman, cross registration with Wake Forest. Very reasonable tuition. Very small classes, freshmen retention rate not impressive, but consistent with other schools like it.</p>
<p>D is interested in music ed. Students are allowed to participate in Wake Forest ensembles, marching band.</p>
<p>I have never seen this college mentioned on CC.</p>
<p>We have not visited either yet. She will probably like Wake. </p>
<p>We are just beginning our exploration, we will visit both when we are in the area. Wake Forest is very easy to find information about. Salem is not, I can't say I've ever met anyone that has been there.</p>
<p>I think my daughter may like a college of this size that is all women.</p>
<p>If someone was to compare Salem to Mary Baldwin, Hollins, Randolph, Sweetbriar, or another college like this, what might the difference be?</p>
<p>Wells is another that comes to mind, it is now newly co-ed, but it is a similar size with cross registration at Cornell and Ithaca.</p>
<p>Salem is small and all women (as you know), and it has always had a solid reputation. The only women I know who went there and graduated were all from extremely wealthy families. So it has also had that reputation (an elite private school for girls from wealthy Southern families), but that may not be the case anymore. I daresay Agnes Scott had that reputation, too, but that's not so much the case for them anymore, either. I've never heard a bad word about Salem. Those I know who went there seemed to really like it, and they were/are very smart women and have been very successful in their working lives-- if that helps.</p>
<p>Meredith College in Raleigh (also all women, but larger) has an excellent academic reputation, is more selective than Salem, and they are known for having a very strong music dept.</p>
<p>Salem does have a reputation of being a school for wealthy daughters of Southern society, but it has definitely been evolving past that as of late, and it's very well-respected locally and is well-known for excellent arts programs.</p>
<p>Salem seems to be very diverse from looking at the only information sources I can find. It also appears to have a high number of international students. This is a little unusual for a school of this size. The global makeup would be appealing to D.</p>
<p>Mills looks very interesting, but costs more that 40k with room/board and with travel expenses would end up being cost prohibitive. As a parent, I also did not want her that far from home!</p>
<p>Salem College has made a strong effort to increase diversity and an international presence. Although most of the students come from the South, the percentage of young women who come from the mid-Atlantic and NE has been growing, so I think the common perception that Salem is a school for "wealthy Southern belles" is dated.</p>
<p>The college is integrated into Old Salem, the historic neighborhood just south of downtown Winston-Salem. Old Salem is sort of a low-key Williamsburg, but the neighborhood reminded me more of the German Village district in Columbus, Ohio in the way that contemporary life is integrated into the historic fabric. When I have been there the number of tourists vs. students and neighborhood residents seemed about equal. </p>
<p>As for the quality of the educational experience, I know one very accomplished graduate who is extremely positive about her time there. On the other hand, this woman graduated a couple decades ago so this testimony is also dated.</p>
<p>Thank you, this is great feedback. This is exactly the sort of information we are looking for. We are also interested in knowing about the interaction of Salem College with other schools in the area, and how it is perceived in its community.</p>
<p>It is important for us to understand that it is an old school that is trying to adapt to changing times, and if this strategy is working.</p>
<p>pumpkin65: As far as I know, Salem has a good reputation and is well-respected in the area. The NC School of the Arts is also located in Winston, and they may have some sort of relationship with them as well (in addition to WF). I'm not sure about that, but worth researching.</p>
<p>Salem has a great local reputation. It is noteworthy that Salem, unlike many of its peers, doesn't seem to have trouble attracting enough competent female students, as I have not heard that they are considering coeducation. Perhaps this is also an indication that its graduates are successful, with sufficient income to donate generously to their alma mater!</p>
<p>We live near Wake and Salem- the girls we have known that have gone to Salem are wonderful, energetic young ladies. I have worked with several of the Salem girls at the Little Theatre. They have plenty of great opportunities with Wake, NCSA all very close by. Old Salem is an awesome little area, but Wake is nice as well. So much will depend on the atmosphere she wants- Wake is very typical campus, sports, spirit, Fraterinities. I can say that I have never heard a bad thing about Salem, and have never met anyone from Salem that I thought was flaky? For lack of a better word. </p>
<p>Plus weather has been great this year. For Such a small town Winston-Salem is very progressive in the arts. Hope this helps. If you need any more information about the area, let me know if I can help.</p>
<p>The NC School of the Arts has a wonderful reputation and is just a few blocks away from Salem College. Do they offer some reciprocal programs? I also understand that although there is a very small community of Jewish students and families, Salem College is a very welcoming school. </p>