<p>umich8790…would love to hear your thoughts on DePaul / Bradley. We are in NJ but love Chicago. Don’t really think DS14 would go that far (we are in NJ) but are both ranked with honorable mentions for Game Design programs. Thanks for any feedback!</p>
<p>umich8790…as I read further down the thread (started from top) I read your visit review. I’m thinking my DS14 would feel the same about DePaul (I don’t see him in a “city” location). Sorry you didn’t get to Bradley…sounds much more suburban. After reading through this…I want to go to LSU or Alfred!! Please keep us posted on visits!</p>
<p>Sorry…meant SLU in that last post ;)</p>
<p>tcprd66: Any chance your son would consider Digipen in Redmond, WA for game designing? It’s ranked in the top 2 or 3 in the US for gaming. Not a traditional campus (it’s in an industrial park), but it is in the center of the tech world–five minutes from Nintendo and Microsoft. Very rigorous program and tough to get into…but, a world of opportunity awaits those who can make it through. I know several kids who attend there and they live, sleep, and breathe Digipen.<br>
Just a thought…</p>
<p>UMich8790, I know a young man about to graduate from Western Michigan. He has had a great experience there and will be going on to medical school in the fall.</p>
<p>Best of luck in your son’s decision!</p>
<p>momofwon - Digipen was suggested to us several years ago for their summer programs. I couldn’t imagine sending DS that far away for a summer program at the time, but am definitely thinking about it for the younger one that tells me he wants to be a game designer (he’s in 4th grade!). I will definitely keep a watch on that school as my younger one gets older.</p>
<p>Thanks VillageMom. Any reassurance I can get about our most likely choices are appreciated.</p>
<p>Tpcrd66… just saw your posts. If you get to Alfred before we do, I’ll be interested in your impressions as well.</p>
<p>The fun continues…going to visit Indiana and Syracuse with D in Aug. I had Indiana beating Syracuse in our extended family March Madness bracket contest. D had Syracuse beating Indiana. No hard feelings. Everyone wins because they’re both great schools! Go Orange!</p>
<p>@beadymom… my 30 year old son is a video game producer/designer for Sony. It is a VERY lucrative job and he LOVES it!! He can’t believe they pay him to do it. His first big game he produced just came out and he gets royalties for the first time. He will make so much money it will make your eyes water. I know your son is still a little young, but if you need any advice I can ask my son:)</p>
<p>Hi momofwon…thanks for the suggestion of Digipen. I have heard that it is a fabulous program, however, we are in NJ and I think that may be just too far (probably for me more than for him). I also think he is looking more of the college campus feel but really appreciate your input.</p>
<p>5boys…where did your son study? Congrats on your son’s game!! If you’d like to share the title we can recommend to our G a m e r sons!!</p>
<p>Digipen’s summer camps are great for kids who are interested in gaming and other video pursuits. A good friend’s son has been doing 2-week summer camps there for years and he’s always had a blast. However, they live 15 minutes from the campus and he just went during the day. I have no idea how they manage out-of-town campers. Definitely not what I picture as a traditional college campus, but the kids I know who go there “live” at home. From what I hear, they’re rarely at home, but instead at the school day and night working on projects.</p>
<p>Definitely not what my D has in mind for a college campus ;-). She wants the small town/big school feel. Ivy-covered buildings with a cool quad for gathering, sports stadiums, Greek row, coffee shops, and lots of classes in a variety of majors in case she decides she wants to explore other majors/options, etc. </p>
<p>So glad that D knows what she wants in a school. That’s been so helpful to narrow down choices. Excited to visit some potentially excellent fit schools later this summer.</p>
<p>tpcrd—I don’t know where you are in NJ so don’t know if Riverdale will be convenient for you. A friend’s two sons have attended this camp [National</a> Computer Camp - Tuition, Locations and Dates](<a href=“http://www.nccamp.com/locatn.html]National”>http://www.nccamp.com/locatn.html) and speak very highly of the CT location. Campers can attend as day students or boarders and that flexibility appeals to my son.</p>
<p>I think the non-local kids who attend Digipen live in the apartments in “downtown” Redmond a couple of miles away. I see them walking or biking in the area.</p>
<p>Digipen is in an office park, among office parks, right across the street from a golf course, and a short distance from “downtown” Redmond with restaurants, shopping, and fairly new apartment complexes which generally consist of multiple 2-3 story buildings. It is quite safe and not too exciting for college kids.</p>
<p>Noting to add-just bumping thread up from page 3. </p>
<p>Oh, I started a thread for Class of 2015 since they will be rising juniors within the next 6-10 weeks!</p>
<p>Back to my fattening bowl of almonds & dried fruit–no popcorn until after Pesach for me!</p>
<p>Happy Easter to those celebrating!</p>
<p>Random thoughts on a quiet morning…</p>
<p>D’s 3rd quarter ended on Friday. Odd to think that she only has one more quarter to go to get her “final” GPA if she decides to apply ED in the fall. </p>
<p>Having way too much fun cheering for Syracuse, D’s top choice (on paper–we’ll visit in Aug. to see if it really is a perfect fit). D asked if I can order her a Syracuse sweatshirt online because the chances of finding one near us is probably slim to none. </p>
<p>OK…enough indoor time. Weather forecast today: 75 and sunny! Woohoo! Remember, I live in the Seattle area, so anytime we have a forecast like this in March, you get outside and garden, picnic, kayak, hike. Dog is ready for a long walk. I could use one too.</p>
<p>It is amazing to think that our kids will soon be applying. This is my third, and last, so it also has another “feeling old” aspect to it.</p>
<p>I believe Eckerd remains my guy’s top choice this month… I’m not sure the finances will work out for them. Their NPC doesn’t come back very promising, but time will tell.</p>
<p>I’m still working out when to visit the southern schools… there’s no easy answer.</p>
<p>Thank God my daughter finally got serious about her GPA. My daughter is set on one school and its like pulling teeth to get her to talk about going on a road trip to visit other schools. While it looks like she has a good chance you never know for sure. A lot of these kids have so much talent but maybe not much drive (at least mine). Its nice to know that I’m not alone in this boat.</p>
<p>@tpcrd66…Regarding my video game producer son. He actually went to our local state flagship and studied communications as his major. When he graduated he got a job as a production assistant on a few television shows and quickly skyrocketed up the ladder there, where he was doing the lights for big time movies and shows. His GF got a job promotion and had to move to the Bay Area. He decided to follow her( much to everyones dismay…but they are now married). Since there is not much TV and Movies up in that area he went to an open call at Sony for video game testers. He came out on top, along with 2 other guys, with an applicant pool of thousands. He has since worked his way up. He had A LOT of years with hardly any pay and LONG hours. His new game is GOD OF WAR the ascension.</p>
<p>Hello, all! I’ve followed the 2013 thread some too, though my child who fits here is a 2014. He has a 3.26, and it is largely due to a D+ (arrggghhhh) from algebra I in 8th grade which appears on his report card, and is part of his GPA. He had a 3.3 freshman year, and a 3.5-- (forget) last year, but the darn D+… I’m hoping for his sake that schools can re-calculate the GPA for high school only, since this really does not seem right, and would certainly open up possibilities. We need mid-Atlantic schools, large, D1 sports and not particularly urban in feel. He loves JMU. I think we found an in-state safety over break too. We have D2013 (going to UVA), S2014 (TBD) and then S2017 (really TBD!) so in-state (VA) is helpful since we are not going to qualify for much aid although I think we need it. 
He is doing SAT prep- PSAT was about 1100, which is not bad but if he can shine on the test that may help. D was the opposite- a crazy high GPA and relatively lower SAT. Nice to “meet” you all!</p>