<p>Can anyone tell me what you have heard about either of these liberal arts colleges?</p>
<p>Which Regis? There is more than one I think.</p>
<p>As for Lake Forest - solid little liberal arts school about 35 minutes from Chicago by train. Supposedly has a very pretty campus in a pretty town. Academics are strong, especially business, history and English. Has a rep as a party school with lots of drinking on campus. Good safety for many students, however.</p>
<p>Thank you! My daughter has been accepted at Lake Forest and is pleased by the personal attention and phone calls. We are from the West coast but she was in Chicago for three weeks last summer and loved it, so the idea of being so near the city was appealing. Are most of the students quite wealthy? They appear very generous with financial aid...somewhere else on CC I seem to remember reading about the party aspect, also- can you elaborate? Regis University is located in Denver...I appreciate your help! Thanks again!</p>
<p>My uncle is a professor at Regis, he loves it and tried to get me to go there. He is a bit biased though and the truth is I don't know much about it.</p>
<p>When I lived in Chicago, Lake Forest had the reputation of being a school for well to do kids whose families wanted them to stay in the Chicago area. The school is in a wealthy suburb of Chicago and has a beautiful campus. I would compare it to Hobart William Smith on the East Coast. As a private school, it is more expensive than many of the choices in the midwest.</p>
<p>But the school has beeen undergoing changes in the last 20 years, as more kids are going away for college, and diversity has become an important thing. LF gives generous financial aid package (100% of need) and has a number of merit awards. I would hardly characterize as a "rich kid's" school with the percentage of kids on aid. It has excellent departments and facilities, and is a good value. I have known tow girls who have gone there; both loved the experience and have done well.</p>
<p>My observation over the internet is that they have very credible faculty, reasonable facilities (new library) but the student body may be split between party animals and some serious students.</p>
<p>I don't know what the dorm situation is, but understand it is prohibitively expensive to be off campus. I believe alcohol and tobacco are allowed on campus in many dorms.</p>
<p>There seems to be ample opportunity for a serious student to be involved in research (their may be a special summer program for after freshman year) I would like to know more about where and how many graduates move on to decent grad schools.</p>
<p>Thank you for the excellent information- I very much appreciate it! We have been impressed with the personal attention and offers of financial aid. Many thanks again for writing!</p>
<p>For Mr. B- thank you, also! As a West Coast student, are you also looking at many schools in other parts of the country? Is Lake Forest one that you are considering? Thanks again!</p>
<p>I agree with Mr. B - Lake Forest's faculty is very impressive. They are trying to diversify geographically as well as ethnically. My daughter and I will be visiting Lake Forest in the spring as I think it has a good overall academic program. (we're also from the west coast)</p>
<p>Regis in Denver was recommended by my daughter's guidance counselor who seems to think it is a solid school academically. I do not know more than that as it does not have a strong program in an area of her interest (art). My sense, however, is that Lake Forest is superior in terms of academics and facilities.</p>
<p>My child is looking at schools from Boston to San Diego. She has two things in mind, what can the schools do for her and what she could do for the schools. </p>
<p>I personally think a school like Lake Forest would be good for a person, like her, who is willing to organize and create opportunties if they are not already in place. She reintroduced the mock trial program at her high school and is the actual coach, having found an attorney to provide technical support and a teacher to lend an adult name to the signature sheets. It has been a wonderful experience for her and I would like to see her continue to not only continue in Mock Trial and speech and debate but to continue to develop her role as a creator and leader.</p>
<p>I don't know what makes the difference between a top tier school or a second tier school, but I think if Lake Forest continues to improve its program it will eventually find itself in the top tier.</p>
<p>Your daughter sounds a lot like mine in some ways Mr. B. I like much of what Lake Forest offers --- just worry about its reputation as a big drinking/party school. Any thoughts on that?</p>
<p>So far my daughter has avoided the drinking parties at her high school, but I am concerned about the dorm life at this school and posted a question with no takers.
I think she would be more likely to hang out with a students who are driven to work if there was a living situation that encouraged or allowed that. My daughter is very accepting of many things but she sometimes shows a low tolerance for fools. </p>
<p>Although they are very different schools, I think UC Berkeley and Lake Forest would do well to create a total experience for excellent students. Smaller honors classes, better housing situations and special opportunities. It could be the action that would cause both of their schools to be the first on higher qualified student's lists. Having great financial aid is great, but a lot of people would be concerned about sharing a room with three roomates.</p>
<p>It really is hard to get a handle on what is stereotype and what is reality when it comes to drinking, drugs and general partying. Obviously, some of all are going to go on at most colleges - the question, I suppose is, is there more to do on the weekends than party? It's hard to get a sense of that just from a visit. I guess you have to do an overnight visit or two to really get a sense. In any case, I'll let you know what my daughter thinks (and me!) after we visit Lake Forest over spring break.</p>
<p>I look forward to her opinion. Do you have any sense of the Dorms. I know my daughter would not want to be in a building with smokers, and I think if there was a space near students who are artful and academically inclined she would be comfortable there. I suspect they have a floor or dorm set up for non-smokers but I don't know if there is one for serious students that is available to freshman.</p>
<p>Carolyn, anxious to hear what Lake Forest College and the town is like now. Wonder how much it changed since it was in Ordinary People-just before I spent a summer there.</p>
<p>Mr. B. I haven't really looked into the housing at Lake Forest, except I do know that something like 90% of students live on campus. Most colleges these days have substance free areas in the dorm so I'll ask when we visit. My daughter also would be happiest surrounded by students who are academically-involved and artistically inclined. As I said, she doesn't mind others partying but wants a school where that isn't ALL there is to do for fun.</p>
<p>I live in Lake Forest, and know quite a bit about the college and town. The school is supposedly quite good. The classes are very small, and their is lots of interaction between students and faculty. The school does have a reputation for being a dumping ground for the bottom students at top prep schools though. Overall, I think its solid academically, and one where someone could really thrive if they utilized everything that was offered.</p>
<p>The town of Lake Forest. Not what one would call an "average" college town. I'd say the average home here sells for 1.5 million dollars. There are MANY homes that sell for over 3 million, and the most expensive home on the market currently (according to the local newspaper) is 19.5 million. Think the Newport Beach of the midwest. However, there are two train stations in Lake Forest, and its only about 45mins to 1hr to the city.</p>
<p>let me know if you have any specific questions!</p>
<p>Wow- thanks to all of you- what a lot of great information. And a special thanks to "Torn" for a genuinely expert opinion you can only get from someone who lives there! I agree with one of the other parents' comment that it's not so much that the party scene exists- it does everywhere- but if that is the FOCUS on the weekends. Are students going into Chicago primarily for all the culture, or to go to bars?! My specific question would be about the political science department, which certainly looks impressive with lots of student/faculty contact. But- did anyone else find it a little strange that a photo was requested? Lake Forest was the only school to require one...many thanks again to you all!</p>
<p>Torn, Thank you that was most helpful. Do you have any sense of whether Lake Forest is a big partying school or whether there are other things to don there on the weekend? Sglass, I also noticed the photo thing and had the same reaction as you. They are also one of the few schools I've found that ask to see a graded high school paper. I personally wish more schools did that!</p>