<p>My daughter is deciding between Wheaton College (MA), St. Mary's College of Maryland, Allegheny College (PA) and UConn. After taking into account merit awards, all of these schools are within our tuition budget. All of them involve a few hours of travel, with Allegheny being the longest drive from home (although this would not be a deal-breaker). My husband and I want her to choose, but she is having a hard time.</p>
<p>She is an undecided major. Her interests are on the humanities side: English, history, political science, sociology, journalism. She is not a STEM kid. </p>
<p>When she began her college search, she wanted a small LAC. However, later in the admissions process she decided to apply to a few big schools because her high school is about 1,200 kids and she feels somewhat limited socially. </p>
<p>She is a deep thinker, an excellent writer and a serious student. She also wants to have fun, make friends and be part of a school community. She is drawn to the LACs but she also likes the idea of the school spirit and social possibilities offered by UConn. </p>
<p>We would greatly appreciate any thoughts or suggestions. We have visited all of these schools, spoken to regional reps and alumni, etc. but she is still struggling with her decision.</p>
<p>I live by St Mary’s. It’s a beautiful campus, which you know. Kids who go there LOVE it. I’m friends with several people on the faculty who all seem very bright and dedicated. Not sure about school spirit, and for sure you are out in the boonies. There is not much surrounding the campus. Sailing is huge there. I imagine getting there must be difficult - the closest airport is Reagan or BWI, and you are about 2 hours from them.</p>
<p>Thanks, eyemamon! Your observations agree with our experience at the accepted students day last week. We were very impressed by the relaxed, friendly feeling of the campus and the commitment of the faculty and administration. It is truly a beautiful and unique place.</p>
<p>It will be a hard decision I would think. DD goes to St Mary’s but we are in state with a partial scholarship so it was a no brainer for us. She loves it because of the water views. She having fun and is being challenged enough. Good luck with your decision.</p>
<p>I’ll just chime in that St. Mary’s is very nice–my son went to a summer program there, and the facilities were impressive. it is off the beaten track, though.</p>
<p>The only one of these colleges that I know much about is St. Mary’s. My niece graduated a few years ago. She had a great experience there–loved the professors, the students, her classes. However, it is isolated. There isn’t easy access to the variety of volunteer experiences and part-time internships that a student has in a more easily accessible location.</p>
<p>My S is a senior at Allegheny, and he’s had an incredible experience. D was accepted there for class of 2016, but has decided to attend Kenyon. S found Allegheny professors very approachable. Great May-June overseas experiences for kids who don’t want to be off campus during school year (he went to Turkey one year and Ukraine another). Friendliest campus we’ve ever been to-everyone makes eye contact and says hello. S says it’s not just for parents-everyone is like that all the time. College has been putting a lot of effort and $$ into beautifying campus and surrounding area. S and we as parents have had nothing but positive experiences there.</p>
<p>Thank you, gaelicbred. It seems like every description of Allegheny mentions the very heavy workload. My daughter has worked incredibly hard in high school. While I know she will continue to be a serious student, I also hope that in college she will be able to have a better balance between academics, socializing and extra curricular activities. What has your son’s experience been like at Allegheny with regard to workload? Has he been able to join a new club or play sports in addition to his studies?</p>
<p>Again, many thanks to all who have replied to this post. We really appreciate it.</p>
<p>S works hard at Allegheny but has found plenty of time for fun. He has played club volleyball all 4 years. For the last 3 years his student job has been helping coach the women’s vball team. His friends all seem to be involved in sports, music, dance and/or clubs. We’ve never heard a complaint about workload precluding other endeavors.</p>
<p>Any comments about UConn would be greatly appreciated! How has your experience with the advising system been? What do you see as the advantages/disadvantages of attending a big school such as UConn?</p>
<p>The problem is: your daughter has a great list of schools to choose from. You say she’s Undecided as for her major. I’m aware that Allegheny requires a student to choose a minor in an unrelated major–something my son and I actually liked. What else does she enjoy? Any extracurriculars?</p>
<p>I don’t know much about any of the schools you mentioned. I do have an idea on making a decision though. Have your d decide just for today (or just for tomorrow) that she is going to one of the schools. Have her tell some of her friends that is what she decided. How did it feel?</p>
<p>Then the next day, decide on the other school and spend the day with that decision. How did that feel compared to the first one? </p>
<p>Go through the list until she has spent a whole day thinking she has picked one school and talking about just that one with her friends.</p>
<p>It may help her either eliminate one or decide on one.</p>
<p>She writes for her school newspaper and is interested in journalism and political science; she could pursue these interests at all of these schools. She’d also like to participate in intramural sports. I think her main dilemma right now is deciding whether she’d like to attend a big school or a small school.</p>
<p>I will tell you from personal experience that these two schools listed below will NOT give you any more institutional aid if a parent loses a job during the school year & you ask the school to revise your FA package: </p>
<p>UCONN
Wheaton </p>
<p>So if you think that there is the remote possibility of a job loss, reduction in income, loss of overtime, etc. over the course of those 4 undergrad years, then these two schools are NOT a safe bet financially. If your family is full pay, then not a problem, obviously. </p>
<p>That may be something to consider if your family is under financial stress already.
Best of luck in this decision making process!</p>
<p>A interesting tidbit about Allegheny. D is attending Kenyon, so she send in her “decline” paperwork to Allegheny last Monday. Today she got a letter from Assistant Admissions Director congratulating her, saying Kenyon was lucky to get her, and saying that if she changed her mind at any time in the next 2 years her acceptance would be reactivated (including guaranteeing her merit scholarship). Just one more confirmation to our family that Allegheny is a class act.</p>
<p>All great choices and she can’t lose. I like LACs and my choice would be between Allegheny and St Mary’s because I know both schools well, and people who have gone to them. They all seem to have enjoyed the experience, parents and kids alike.</p>