Thanks for the report! Yep, the choosing can be rough, but it’s a high-class problem. My daughter agonized between three superb choices right up until just days before decision day. I remember telling her when she was really starting to lose it that last week that the good thing was there was no way to screw it up – they were all terrific options. Sounds like you might find yourself in the same position.
Still nothing from UPS for my S, but we remain optimistic. He’s off this weekend auditioning for a music scholarship at St. Olaf, actually, and apparently having a great time. He going to be facing a tough decision himself, methinks.
Thanks for the update @latetogame - we’ve managed to visit Puget Sound twice, both times without students (summer and winter break). We’ve yet to visit Willamette, trying to work that one out (I’m a CPA in the heat of tax season…).
How does Salem seem to stack up against Tacoma? We really like Tacoma, I wish the Proctor District was closer to campus.
We did manage to stay in the “wrong” part of Tacoma. My anti-pot daughter was horrified (but later amused) that our hotel was next to the Hustler Store and a pot dispensary…
@arc918
We barely spent time in Salem so can’t really say… wish we had had more time there. The campus is smack dab downtown though and I saw lots of students walking between campus and the capitol building at Willamette. They told me that 80% of the interns there are from Willamette… “if you want an internship just roll out of bed and ask for one.”
@rayrick
High class problems indeed For your son, we talked with several students in the music program and heard RAVE reviews. From the flyers posted around campus there seem to be lots of performance opportunities.
@latetogame Thanks for the descriptions! My daughter is visiting UPS next week. @arc918 I hope I didn’t book a hotel near the Hustler store! That may sway daughter and mom’s opinion! =;
One more thing… this might be totally par for the course, but it was news to me. UPS admissions told me that if students end up taking 5 years (which isn’t common, but happens) they, as a rule, extend the four year merit aid scholarship for the fifth year.
Latetogame said “He did say there was a ‘bro’ vibe and more of a party atmosphere than the other two, not a negative in his book.”
I noticed that UPS had some “bros” but also plenty of other types, from what I could see. I liked the fact that there were so many different kinds of activities, interests and passions represented on campus.
@latetogame, wow, that’s a very nice deal. And yes, music is a big factor for my son, and why UPS has risen to to the top of his heap relative to peer institutions of the sort you’ve been visiting.
And regarding the “bro” thing, if I’ve got your timeline right, he might possibly have been picking up on the difference between Wednesday and Thursday nights that’s pretty typical at a lot of colleges, I think. Thursday is a pseudo-weekend night at many schools, which may have contributed to a rowdier vibe.
When I went back with my wife, I knew exactly where NOT to take her. UPS is in a nice, residential part of town. There is indeed a grittier side to Tacoma, but it is easily avoided.
I believe our hotel in “less than prime” location was the Hampton Inn Tacoma Mall. The property itself was very nice, just the location left a bit to be desired. The other hotels 1/2 mile down the same street didn’t seem sketchy at all.
If I visit again, I’d probably stay at the Courtyard Downtown Tacoma or the Silver Cloud. But in a pinch, I know that Hampton Inn is fine.
@arc918 So off-topic, but your post just made me smile because I lived in Seattle as a child and the Silver Cloud was my absolute favorite place. I used to always try to go make waffles there in the morning when we had family staying there ;))
@susanrnmom :)) Perhaps not that extreme at UPS. Definitely no frosted tips.
Last report… Lewis and Clark. Went on a Saturday so wasn’t able to sit in on class or do a dorm stay or really interact much with students. The campus is really really pretty, nicest of the four. In terms of academics and LAC advantages, LC seemed pretty similar to UPS. Same size student body, similar programs, proximity to great urban area (short bus ride away - shuttle runs every hour), great food, etc… I thought it compared well, but for whatever reason, my kid thought the social scene was a little more cliquey. Between the two he preferred UPS, but, honestly, that was probably a result of tour burnout and very limited opportunities to really see campus life.
I really did look it up because even though in context I “got” it I wasn’t completely sure. My son is decided on UPS. We visited twice. It seems right for him. He’s not the least bit “bro” but I hope it’s a minority. I found the site Unigo helpful for getting a feel for the social side. Thanks for the updates!
@susanrnmom My son isn’t “bro” either (more of a theater and history geek) and although there was that vibe to some extent, it was definitely “bro” Pacific Northwest style. My best guess is he will end up at UPS as well unless the East Coast spring trip uncovers something that he likes better. Still waiting on a few colleges and final $$ letters.
@rayrick Sorry… I asked him and he didn’t get a clear impression from the people he met. I was surprised he didn’t get more information. Also curious to see if anyone else has heard anything? Waiting for our final FA letter.
For your son, we talked with several students in the music program and heard RAVE reviews. From the flyers posted around campus there seem to be lots of performance opportunities.
I really did look it up because even though in context I “got” it I wasn’t completely sure. My son is decided on UPS. We visited twice. It seems right for him. He’s not the least bit “bro” but I hope it’s a minority. I found the site Unigo helpful for getting a feel for the social side. Thanks for the updates!