<p>Have a kid who may want to take a look. Posted a similar thread on college search and selection....would like opinion however of moms and dads who have a child there or at least visited. Thank you.</p>
<p>Now which St. Mary's might that be? I believe there may be several. P.S. a quick google count yielded 13.LOL. I didn't guess that high. I knew of three-Ca.,Tx., Md..</p>
<p>Maryland...thanks.</p>
<p>You got me on that one but I'll be interested to hear the responses. Is that the school with the NHS scholarship?</p>
<p>No, curmudgeon, that's Washington College in Chestertown, MD.</p>
<p>Oldman, as you can see, I'm only 17 years old, but I have been to St. Mary's a couple of times. I never did the all-out overnight visit and tour type thing. Rather, I've taken myself on a walking tour of the campus when we were picking up a friend to go somewhere in Washington that day.</p>
<p>Carolyn's son spent the summer (?) there at the CTY program and I've heard a lot of great information about the school from her.</p>
<p>Edit: It might be worth mentioning that I'm a huge fan and supporter of the school, too, and have already sent my application.</p>
<p>Nope, that is Washington College in Maryland. St Mary's of MD happens to be a favorite of mine. I have visited it several times, and love the school. It is truly in the middle of no where but a more beautiful resort you will not find. It has a fleet of sailboats that students can use to navigate the River and waters around it. The campus is simple, yet beautiful. The academic departments are very strong. For a small state school, I believe it is unparalleled. The only problem is its location which could be daunting for someone who wants to be closer to suburbia or a city. Also the type of student who goes there is not the big city type kid, so if your kid is not interested in that crowd, it could be limiting. You really need to visit with your student and see how it strikes him as that is crucial in the fit. More so for St Mary's than many other school, I believe. And the school recognizes that, with "fit" and desire to go there a strong advocated for admissions.</p>
<p>my son has expressed a desire to not be in a city so it may fit.....do you know which departments excel?</p>
<p>Yes, my son spent the summer there on a CTY program last year. I have to say it has colored his thoughts on what he wants in a college. He LOVED the St. Mary's campus - loved the feeling of seclusion and the natural beauty of the place. He has stayed on other college campuses and we thought the dorms at St. Mary's were really nice - he stayed in a townhouse suite that had 4 bedroms and two bathrooms and a huge common area. I had a chance to talk to the President of St. MAry's while I was there dropping him off and came away very impressed - this is a school that really believes in and nutures its students - in short, it was hard to think of St. Mary's as a public school. </p>
<p>Some potential negatives, however: the nearest shopping areas of any size are a good ten minutes drive --- and options there are mostly limited to chain restaurants and WalMart. However, after we visited Washington College on the Eastern Shore, we learned what "isolated" truly was - there it's a 45 minute drive to the closest Kmart. But still, with only 1700 or so students, some people might feel claustraphobic at St. Mary's. However, I agree with Jamimom: St. Mary's is an undiscovered jewel, a private school LAC experience at a public school price.</p>
<p>I have their catalogue, and it seems to me to be a very good liberal arts school. Perhaps weak in the computer and lab sciences. I would put it on level with Gettysburg College when it come to LACs.</p>
<p>Oldman, when I talked to the president of St. Mary's last summer, she mentioned biology/environmental sciences, English, History, and Political Sci as being strong but I think most of the departments at St. Mary's are pretty strong. But it is a 'liberal arts college" - no business or other "professional" majors.</p>
<p>"after we visited ... the Eastern Shore, we learned what "isolated" truly was -"</p>
<p>That made my day! ;)</p>
<p>I did the CTY program there. Carolyn, which class did your son take?</p>
<p>The area was beautiful, but too isolated for me. Your son should visit if that is possible so that he can see if he feels comfortable in such a secluded place. Some of the dorms were amazing, and the dining hall was really nice. It took about ten minutes to walk from the dorms to the dining hall and rec center.</p>
<p>Yemaya, My son did ancient Greek second session. He's hoping to go back to St. Mary's again this summer but is torn between St. Mary's and doing Ancient Greek II which is only going to be offered at Franklin & Marshall.</p>
<p>By the way, Yemaya, did your friend ever come up with a final list of colleges to apply to?</p>
<p>She is now applying to 13 schools. The college counselor convinced her to look at more realistic colleges, but she still has many reaches. Thank you so much for your suggestions early on.</p>
<p>Thanks for the update - I could tell you were just almost as frustrated as I was with her determination to only look at reaches. But, with 13 schools, hopefully she'll hit pay dirt. She is lucky to have a good friend like you in her court. Let me know how it goes for her!</p>
<p>I visited St. Mary's with my daughter a couple of years ago. Don't know if I can add anything to the earlier comments, but I do agree that it's a gem of a school for the right person. I got the impression that the school is eager for out-of-state applicants as well, probably to increase its national reputation.</p>
<p>My daughter did sit in on a class, which she enjoyed. From the classroom she could look out and see sailboats.</p>
<p>Once concern I had was that there is so little to do there and on such isolated campuses I do worry about drinking being a significant activity. Outside one townhouse we did see a small tree decorated with empty beer cans - could probably see that on many other campuses, I guess, but that is always a concern of mine.</p>
<p>Also figured it was a campus where a kid would really be itching for a car - just to be able to go other places.</p>
<p>Other than those two concerns I really liked it - wonderful option for a public liberal arts college. Nice size, strong academics, focus on small classes and personal attention from profs, beautiful/unique setting.</p>
<p>Thanks for the input!</p>
<p>Visited with son 2003 summer, really liked the place!</p>
<p>A few items that stuck:</p>
<p>1) tremendous flexibility - because staff/student ratio is favorable, you can do at least one tutorial a year (1:1 with prof), determine your own major (if they don't have all the courses they will send you abroad or to another school to get them) - I got the impression that they would bend over backwards to help self-motivated students do whatever they want.</p>
<p>2) 50% go directly on to graduate or professional school. This is a MUCH higher percentage than the Ivies and any of the top LACs. IMO, this is really one of the most important measures for outcomes of undergraduate education.</p>
<p>This high percentage has many implications - a) the kids are not burnt out b) the professors must have collectively done a good job of inspiring them c) they are still interested in their subject(s) so they have the motivation to continue d) don't need to get a job right away to pay off loans e) St. Mary's is successful in helping them get accepted to grad/professional school.</p>
<p>I think if a student is really in love with what they are studying, the natural flow is to continue their education without a break. (This is not meant to imply that 'straight on through' is the only useful way to get an education, but rather to point out that if students seek to continue further studies immediately, they must be pretty sure that it is what they want to do).</p>
<p>3) It's a lovely sleepy little southern brick colonial feeling place, decent size campus, and IT'S RIGHT ON THE WATER! Lovely.</p>
<p>As far as being small and out of the way is concerned, that is lessened in impact if the student is heavily involved in ECs (sailing, sports, theatre, music, etc.). The up side of that is that it is really kind of a laid-back pleasant little bubble.</p>
<p>In sum, I really liked the place, the course offerings, and the attitudes expressed about education and their students. It would be one place I would be happy to attend if I were applying to college again. My son is applying this year because he liked it when he visited, but is probably more likely to go to a larger school.</p>
<p>I spoke to a number of students there when I visited 5 years ago. The main drawback was the small size which is characteristic of LACs and the isolation. But the one young man I met had transferred in there from a city school which was a suitcase school and found that the place truly cleared out on weekends and left him literally holding the bag. In contrast St Mary's apparently provides activities on campus for the kids as it is aware of its isolation, and the school provides many of the cultural activities for the surrounding community. Town/gown and community relations are outstanding and the cafeteria ladies and cleaning crews there are proud that the work for the college and like the students there unlike some schools I have seen. As for drinking, well, I doubt if they drink more there than at most colleges. That is a situation that occurs at all schools and I am not sure how one measures that element. I would have to say that my feeling is that schools with heavy Greek activity are the ones that tend to have the most drinking, and those schools with heavy sports activity. </p>
<p>This is a school that needs to be visited while in session by the student so he can visualize himself there because it does not fit the usual molds. </p>
<p>Some other favorites of mine off of the beaten track a bit are Wittenburg, Ohio University, Miami of Ohio, Wooster, Ohio Wesleyan, Denison all in Ohio, James Madison and Mary Washington in Virginia, College of Charleston in SC, UNCAsheville, Elon in NC, Rollins, Stetson, Flagler in Florida, York and Susquehanna in PA.</p>