<p>Hey everyone i attended the Ursinus Scholars Day they presented on January 27th. Just thought i'd let prospective parents and students get an idea of how the school is based on what I experienced. Scholars day was set aside for students who were accepted Prioirty Select (and I think ED also but I wont promise that) who had strong records. There were a lot of people there. We filled up a whole auditorium, although many parents and even grandparents accompanied the students. There was a general check-in time at which we were given folders containing college guides' and other organizations' opinions of the school. There was also a sheet with grad school acceptances and another detailing their summer fellows program that allows students to remain on-campus over the summer free of charge to pursue a research project with a faculty member. We were given lunch and then attended a presentation by students and faculty in the auditorium (this is the packed auidtorioum I was talking about). The students who talked had all done some pretty nice things with one competing for a Watson fellowship, and another doing some interesting study abroad. After this we attended departmental open houses. I went to English/Creative Writing. They had a lovely faculty who seemed very excited about what they were doing. The students in the dept. all seemed pretty devoted to their major. The dept. also offered a lot of interesting courses that were not simply run of the mill type offerings. I went on the campus tour and everything seemed all right. The dorms were tiny but cozy nonetheless. Overall I would say that Ursinus is a school trying to become a name. It isn't Swarthmore but it certainly wants to be. Everyone i met was very kind and laid-back. There wasn't that certain level of pretention that one finds at the upper echelon LACs. Although I will admit if I make Haverford, Oberlin or Princeton I'll probably take them over Ursinus but I will say the place is still a fine school and if I wind up having to go there I don't think I would have any qualms about it. In terms of PA liberal arts colleges I would say if one can't make Haverford, Swarthmore or Bryn Mawr, or one wants a less bookish campus, Ursinus is the place to be. They're certainly attracting a lot of top-students now with that priority select app, the vast majority of students at scholars day applied to a lot of Little Ivies and there were some who also had Ivy League aspirations. Overall the students I met at Ursinus are seemed goal directed but also knew how to have fun as well. PS I had a scholarship interview and I'll say it was probably the most laid back one i've had. This was the first time the interviewer was actually impressed by what I had done instead of just sort of expecting that I would have done that (ala Oberlin). Best of luck to all those who apply!</p>
<p>I wish I had gone. But it was the last day of first semester, so I had to be in school. I actually like Ursinus a lot better than Swarthmore when I visited, and I didn't visit Haverford or Bryn Mawr. I absolutely loved it though. It's a small school but I agree, it seems so friendly, and laid-back. I couldn't help but smile the whole time, both times I was there.
As for the interview, Ursinus was my first interview ever and I felt liked I was hanging out with a friend for 45 minutes.</p>
<p>Never been to Swat just going off what I've haerd. I had my alumni interview for Haverford and it was laid back and they have this cool honor code and a lot of cross-registrations with other schools so I just find it a little more appealing but I really liked Ursinus when I was there. I wish more people knew about it, it's a great school.</p>
<p>I agree, but it's starting to gain much more recognition, especially because of the CIE. It's like the best kept secret, although that's not always good when it comes to getting a job. But still, it was the first school I looooooved.</p>
<p>CIE isn't exactly a best kept secret, the program gets very mixed reactions from people on campus and does prove to be mostly useless in real life. The best kept secret is the large amount of partying and Greek life which take over most of the campus at certain points of the year.</p>
<p>Can you describe the CIE in a little more detail? Thanks</p>
<p>In CIE you're assigned a number of books to read, many of them have religious or scientific ties, I'm not sure if they're still doing the Epic of Gilgamesh over the summer but we also read the bible, books on slavery, etc. Most of the books come at similar ideas from different angles, you meet to talk about the books in small groups then attend lectures and movies in much larger groups. There are LOTS of papers to write comparing the books, your feelings and what you've learned, can be tough if you get a teach who is used to higher level papers. The conversation is fun but the number of books and papers they give you to work on when most people are spending a lot of time settling in and learning what it is to be in college.</p>
<p>After my tour and interview I learned that I absolutely love Ursinus. The campus is beautiful and it just seems like an awesome community. A professor even high-fived my guide as we were walking from building to building. My choices for next year are Ursinus, Penn State & Rutgers. Big difference with the sizes but I think I'm the big-fish type of person. I'm visiting again for Scholars Day on February 20th and I'm so excited!</p>
<p>I going to UC tomorrow, Feb. 20th! And I'll be sure to come back and post what i think!!!</p>
<p>So where's the post, collegedudw? What did you think? Any info is greatly appreciated... ("I going?")</p>
<p>Mexioc,
I meant I'm going, and I am sure you could've figured that out!</p>
<p>1) There's an accepted students group on Myspace at <a href="http://groups.myspace.com/ursinus2010%5B/url%5D">http://groups.myspace.com/ursinus2010</a> </p>
<p>Go there and post stuff...people do a good job of answering quickly...</p>
<p>2) Mexioc- obviously ur thinking about Ursinus as your choice, but what about ur others? what grade are u in?</p>
<p>3) I LOVED IT!!!! The campus is really tight...as far as the people there. Everyone holds doors for each other, pick stuff up of the ground for each other....just all around polite! (You wouldn't believe how important that is)</p>
<p>4) The faculty there was really nice, and loved Ursinus! Sometimes they would talk and talk and talk but I didn't mind.</p>
<p>5) They have a top tier program in the sciences and others such as english and political science.</p>
<p>6) The campus is really nice....sculptures everywhere...plants, green grass.....its really beautiful. </p>
<p>7) Do you wanna know anything specific?</p>
<p>I would pick Ursinus over American U any day....Ursinus has a better Med program from wut I heard...</p>