<p>DD would like to choose a school in a city. For the schools on the list that are in a city, I'm interested in its safety. :-) Also, even in looking at church-backed schools, she's looking for one fairly liberal. Quality of life/dorms are important too. She's interested in Linguistics/languages. Schools with strong study abroad programs are also a wish. Anyone visited/attended these?</p>
<p>Syracuse
Dickinson College
Fordham University
Juniata College
Providence COllege
Villanova University
Wheaton College - Norton, MA
Clark University - Worchester, MA
Illinois Wesleyan University</p>
<p>Hi
I visited Clark and applied/was accepted. Clark's campus itself is decently nice. The surrounding area is definitely working class. When I visited i really didnt notice it too much... but other people seem to think it's in a really bad area. I kinda just think it's a slice of life though. If you use common sense, it shouldn't be a problem. Worchester itself didn't seem like much of a city too much, but i think it's what you make of it. Plus, boston is only an hour ago.</p>
<p>Clark's a pretty liberal school... not church-backed (i'm pretty sure). I'm not sure if the language programs are strong.. but clark has an international appeal. apparently the international development major is both strong and popular.</p>
<p>Juniata - Nice campus in the middle of nowhere. Mediocre liberal arts college backed by some obscure Protestant sect.</p>
<p>Villanova - Half decent university (#1 masters) in Philadelphia's main line. Mostly white, preppy, and Catholic. A good education can be attained.</p>
<p>These are the only two on which I can accurately comment.</p>
<p>I'm a sophomore in Illinois Wesleyan. To be honest, IWU is more that I expected, esp. since I didn't visit any colleges (I'm an international). IWU is only historically affiliated with UMC. As far as I know, IWU has a great language program (Greek, Latin, German, Italian, Spanish, French, and Japanese). Study abroad program is also easy to apply for. About 200 students study abroad every semester.</p>
<p>Villanova University
Clark University - Worchester, MA
Syracuse
Wheaton College - Norton, MA
Dickinson College
Fordham University
Providence COllege
Juniata College
Illinois Wesleyan University</p>
<p>Fordham University is a great college but it's in the middle of the absolute ghetto. White people, especially white girls, don't wander around that area pretty much at all, during the day or at night. She better have a car or she'll be in some serious danger.</p>
<p>I visited Wheaton and Clark durring the summer, when there were no students there. My mom and I prefered Wheaton. </p>
<p>Clark was one of the colleges that change lives and is probably a little more selective, however Worchester, the surrounding area was a BIG DEAL to us. I'm from San Francisco and my mom and I were early on our visit and drove around for 45 minutes before finding any place to get coffee. It doesn't sound like a big deal, but to me it said the area wasn't student friendly. On one side of the campus is an industrial slum that was full of boarded up factories, stores and churches. On the other side were some cute victorian houses in varrying conditions (mostly where professors live) and some strip mall fast food kinds of businesses. It took 15 minutes to get to the closest drug store that we could find. Clark itself was really nice, the campus is pretty (though not as nice as Wheaton's) and it has the liberal arts focus that I want. I think it's more diverse than Wheaton. We met one student, our tour guide, who was very nice and seemed intelligent.</p>
<p>Wheaton is in a town that could suck as much as Worchester, depending on your point of view. It had an ice cream store and a drugstore and that was it. It's a very safe campus though. There are co-ed bathrooms. That traumatized me. The academics sounded pretty comparable to Clark's, strong liberal arts. Wheaton used to be a women's college and they claimed that made it more a supportive atmosphere. I believed it, although in all fairness we only met three students (all of whom seemed great.) Wheaton's campus is pretty, very green with a big pond with a fountain in it. So far every admissions person I've been in contact with has told me that if you walk around it 3 times with a boy and he doesn't kiss you, you're allowed to push him in. That wasn't relevant, if you apply, you need to be ready to hear about that a lot. Clark's dorms were probably a tiny bit nicer, although both were fine. Both schools appeared to have nice but small theater departments.</p>
<p>Let me know if you have any other questions!</p>
<p>Honestly, now, let's stop dissin' The Bronx! Fordham (Rose Hill) is in the Bronx ... you have to be smart, just as you would in any city. Campus security is some of the best in the country. There's also the Lincoln Center campus in Manhattan, which is near Central Park. Two very different campuses so it pays to visit both.</p>
<p>HeavenWood, I think PMcMScot meant that you have to be "street smart" and "city smart" if you're in New York City (virtually anywhere in New York City), not that you have to be smart to be admitted to the school (which of course you do).</p>
<p>Thanks, Chedva. Yes, I did mean street smarts. Of course, you have to be smart, as well, to get into Fordham. :)</p>
<p>Anyone who still uses the term "ghetto" probably wouldn't be happy at most city campuses. Not an editorial, just a fact. Of course, this would include Penn. ;)</p>
<p>yeah, just 'cause Fordham is in the Bronx doesn't mean you're guarunteed a mugging. Also, great places like Yale and Hopkins aren't in the nicest areas of their cities. About Worcester, I hear its a terrible city, and the part of the city Clark isn't great. Syracuse seems awesome though, I'm definitely looking there.</p>
<p>I live in the Bronx not saying you guaranteed a mugging, but white people pretty much moved out of that area in late 60s early 70s and well lets say aren't well liked in that neck of the woods down there.</p>
<p>Re Clark- Worcester not the greatest area. But the school has made a very conscious effort not to isolate itself from its surroundings, but rather to work to try to be an active part of its community - prides itself on partnering with the community and getting its students involved in programs helping the community.</p>