Way behind after the MSU visit and a whirlwind weekend. I thought I’d pop in and give a quick visit report…
Aside from the abysmal weather (cold, drizzly, windy ALL DAY), it was a good visit. The weather didn’t dampen S17’s spirits at all, but he’s a Northern kid through & through. And we walked over 10 miles in one day, so he had ample time on and around campus to get a feel for walking even in non-ideal conditions. MSU campus truly is huge, but S really likes that aspect.
The morning was the standard accepted students program, which was done well, but didn’t give a lot of new info. The student who presented for study abroad was a bit frenetic–she might want to switch to decaf ~O), but our tour guide was awesome. She knew the school, campus, and class types, and she wasn’t too perky. They had a prof present “advice” to the students, but it seemed the parents were more interested than the students.
We had lunch in the dining hall where S would eat (his major all live in 1 dorm which houses this dining hall, too). He’s picky with some sensory issues, so it was good for him to see that there was food he would/could eat. I discounted this aspect with S15, and find he uses A LOT of his spending $ on outside food…
We made a trek over to financial aid, and determined that his legacy scholarship still stacks with the increased merit from his honors college acceptance, so that was good to know.
The afternoon session with his major (residential college within MSU) was perfect for him. He already is changing his concentration within that college, though. ;
which doesn’t surprise me, since I thought his original choice was a little too theoretical for him. They took the students off for a “mock class” with a prof who held a shortened, discussion style class with them. S felt very comfortable speaking up, and said he both asked and answered questions. Even in high school, his favorite classes have strong discussion & debate flavors, so he was happy with the class style. The parents stayed with an advisor who presented info and answered questions on curriculum. They also really stressed the field experience and internship requirements and opportunities–S was all in for those.
We also wandered campus and the area around it (in the drizzle) and spent some time in the student union, just hanging out and people watching. S said the students around seemed “normal” so I think he’d fit in.
So, he likes it, and can see himself there, BUT he can also see himself at Albany. Not a lot of clarity yet. :-S The good news is that I can also see him both places, so I don’t think he can make a “wrong” decision. I asked him negatives for each school, and he said MSU was a little far from home and the club hockey team is too competitive for his playing level, so he’d be playing “less competitive” intramural hockey. For Albany, the negative was that it was “kind of small” and didn’t have as much of the big college feel and experience. So, now we wait, while he figures it all out…
