<p>There's drinking everywhere - - but alcohol is certainly more of an on-going problem at some schools than others. And Just as artys students are presnet on every campus, not every sch has the artsy "feel" of, say, Oberlin. </p>
<p>Anyone would find jerxygirl62's account troubling (even though kathiep's S is having a better experience). I had been thinking of Roanoke for my D, but the posts reporting drukneness, large number of born-again Christians and the fact that urban quirkiness and liberal politics not ingratiating poster#33's D with most Roanoke students, take togehter suggest that this might not be a good mathch for D.</p>
<p>northeastmom - - Would love to hear your impressions, if/when you visit.</p>
<p>Well, we did visit. We really liked the surrounding area. It was clean, there are numerous buisnesses including coffee shops in the area. It did not seem overly exciting, but enough was there to make it livable. We only looked at the surrounding few blocks in Salem, and did not explore Roanoke because we were pressed for time. The admissions counselor met with our family and answered questions. On the day that we went there were several families and everyone met with a counselor individually and the meeting was with the parent/s. We also had an individualized tour. The campus was all brick. Everything was in good shape, and clean. What impressed us the most were the small classs sizes! We must have passed 5-8 classes in session and each one seemed to have no more than 10 students. I know that many classes are not that small, but we just happened to see a lot of small classes. Our tour guide seemed happy. She came from out of state. I asked her about how she heard about Roanoke. She knew several students (friends of hers) who attended and were happy at Roanoke. I did get the sense that she was challenged in classes, but she seemed to definitely have time to do things other than study. When one visits for a short time, one has a snap shot of what one sees at that time, for a very short period. During that time we had a very favorable impression of the school. For a small school they had a lot to offer. Also, for out of state students there is an airport close by.</p>
<p>Just want to clear a few things up. The dorm my son is staying in is full of lacrosse players. Why my son was placed there I don't know. I know that in another dorm the drinking is minimal and the kids seem so much nicer. My son has played volleyball with them a few times. Now the dorm he's in, volleyball wouldn't even be considered. The thing that has me so upset is the type of behavior that has happened in his dorm. College kids drink, this we know and my son doesn't care, the problem is what these guys have done in his hallway. They literally trash the place, sometimes twice a day if there's a party. Garbage is thrown up and down the halls and down the stairs. I will say, my son says it is cleaned up quickly by maintenance, but no one gets in trouble. There is one really horrible kid that is causing most of the problems, he actually was in a fight the other day in the dorm and I think had to go to the hospital. I can't understand why a kid like that does not get kicked out of school. </p>
<p>I don't think my son's experience should paint the whole picture for Roanoke. Some kids can rise above this and can get involved in other things. We are working on that with our son. I suggested he should go to the gym and his response, of course, was that that's where all the lacrosse guys hang out. I really think this next semester will be the deciding factor. If he meets some like-minded people, everything can turn around.</p>
<p>One more thing. Someone mentioned Born-Again Christians. This definitely is NOT a problem. My son is half jewish and does not feel uncomfortable at all around anyone because of religion. He does some community service work and some of them might be born-agains, but no one pushes anything on anyone.</p>
<p>I think that it is a shame if a student does not feel comfortable working out in the gym. I had this experience at college, so I know what it is like. My son has full use of equipment and facilities at his school, and feels very comfortable using it. I would not be too happy if my son did not feel comfortable using facilities that I am paying for when I write that tuition check. </p>
<p>As far as dorms, I understand it, they mix athletes and non-athletes at Roanoke. There should be students in his dorm that are not Lacrosse players.</p>
<p>As far as things getting messy within the dorm, my son experiences this at his school too, but only on weekends. He told me that on weekends it can get very dirty because someone comes in every weekday to clean the common areas, but not on weekends (at least not Sat. and Sunday). If my son says it gets dirty, believe me, it must be out of hand, LOL! He is not the type that would notice these things or care about it.</p>
<p>That is so unfortunate about being placed in a dorm where there is a cluster of jocks. For a southern school, 25% Greek is actually a low %. We are finding many schools that are running at the 50% mark. That is an issue for me and a reason why I like the Catholic schools. If you are in a dorm or around a lot of kids in frats and not included, it can feel very unwelcoming. Not the sort of intro to the college social scene I would want. Also, frats unfortunately too often live up to their stereotypes. </p>
<p>I know a nice young man at Roanoke who loves it there and is thriving. THe school is also on my son's list. I am hoping that Imajerseygirl2's son can get a transfer to a calmer dorm. That may make a big difference in his outlook on the college.</p>
<p>I hadn't thought of VA schs as being particularly "southern." Aren't close to half the kids at Roanokeare from oos, and isn't there was a large contingent of kids from the northeast?</p>
<p>Most of the kids come from Virginia. Though most of the other states are also represented, there are more kids coming from the states around Va. It is definitely Southern in terms of the type of kids. Not as much as some schools, and there is definitely a larger contingent of kids from the NE than in many similar schools, but it is not comparable in student geographics as a similar school in PA, for example, or even MD. But it is not as strong in the frat scene as many southern schools which for me was more of an issue than being southern. It can be hurtful and depressing to go to a school where you don't know very many kids, somewhat farther from home than most kids go, and then get rejected at your first social bid. Throw in a mood disorder and some other things going wrong, and you can get a pretty miserable kid.</p>
<p>My impression is that there are many kids from out of the area that did not know each other before they came to Roanoke. Actually, that's what my son told me after reading this thread last night. He also said that it's very easy to make friends. He was suprised to hear about I'majerseygirls's Son's experiences and said that moving dorms and rooms is easy after first semester when the slackers drop out. </p>
<p>He said the frat scence doesn't touch him or most of his friends, they just do their own things on weekends. Imajersey girl, my son said he would like to talk to your son so I'm going to have him pm you over the next couple of days. He felt really bad about what's been going on and had not known about a dorm with lacrosse kids. Last year one of his friends had a lacrosse player for a roommate. I guess when they committed to Roanoke they specified a certain dorm - maybe figured it out via facebook? Son said there was a bit of a housing shortage and with the renovation of one of the dorms there were freshman put in with upperclassman.</p>
<p>I don't want to 'jack the thread- - but since Roanoke is on DS's list, can any of you parents rec colleges similar to Roanoke in terms of size, selectivity, location amd diversity (kids from NE, about 5% black students)?</p>
<p>Funny you should mention that nyc. Last night my son said that he found out that many students at Roanoke had looked at Moravian College in Bethlehem - about 15 minutes from our house. I knew about it, of course, and know students who attend it but we never considered it because it was too close. We also looked at Juniata, Allegheny, Towson, MIllersville and Kutztown.</p>
<p>My friend's son was placed with upperclassmen at GW when he was a freshman. He had a tough time socially and was quite unhappy. It did not look like he would return the following year, but he decided to give it a try, even though he was filling out transfer apps. It made a world of difference that second year when he was with some kids he knew and saw around. He was planted that first year among a cliquish group of upperclassmen who were not mean or loud, but tunnel visioned when it came to other outside of their group. Most of them were good friends and had arranged to live together, and the few others were juniors also and knew them. They just were not interested in hanging with a freshman. </p>
<p>It is tough when you get put into housing where you the man out. That's why I dislike the Greek scene. It's not the kids who choose not to go greek that get hurt but ones who want to and participate in rush with a group of friends and their friends get in, and they don't. Sounds trivial and petty, but when they are at that time in life when they are trying to fit in and make this college their new home and make friends, it can be a hurtful blow. A lot of damage if there are other issues that are not going right either.</p>
<p>I think Randolph would be an iffy choice right now, particularly for a male student given their financial situation. They made many phone calls to my son and when he asked what would happen if the courts determined men should not be admitted - counselor stated she "guessed" they would honor their contract with him. Good school, but too many variables up in the air right now.</p>
<p>Yup. I think the problems will be resolved but I can appreciate not wanting to get in the middle of them. I don't believe any school has been legally forced to remain single sex after deciding to go coed.</p>
<p>Hey guys: i just so happened to be looking through different message boards and different opinion sites on roanoke college, and without a doubt this one has sparked my interest the most. Before going on with my post, i have to admit a few things. First, I am a senior this year at Roanoke College, meaning I was part of that notorious freshman class of 2004-2005. Secondly, i am part of a fraternity, which i will not disclose which one here online. Third, many of my brothers and friends are RA's, so i have a pretty good if not better understanding of ResLife on campus than most. Fourth, I too am from the north, in southern NY. Finally, I am an employee of the college in two different departments, one being Admissions so i definitely can tell you what the deal is.</p>
<p>First to jerseygirl, i would like to say that I am so sorry to hear that your son was not enjoying his dorm of his freshman year. Just by reading your posts, I have a great feeling that your son lives in the same dorm that I lived in my freshman year. In fact, im willing to put money it! It is known to be the party dorm for freshman, but like many others have said before that are plenty of other opportunities on campus. I experienced the same thing, i lived with a bunch of athletes, i believe 90% of my floor was athletes, and sports teams at roanoke are very similar to fraternities. Each team probably has a house of campus, and the entire team spends some part of their weekend there.</p>
<p>To everyone else, I have truly loved my experience at RC. Without a doubt choosing RC was the best decision i have made so far in my twenty-one years of life. Being from the suburbs, the transition was a little difficult, but by the middle of my freshman year i had gained enough friends and experience that I was in love with college. I dreaded fall and winter break because I had to go home. Not to say that I didn't miss my h.s. friends...but there is nothing like being on RC campus.</p>
<p>You can't beat the beautiful weather, or even on the rare chance that it snows the campus looks awesome in the winter time. If you have any questions that i can help you with please PM me. I would be happy to answer any of them, and I'm very knowledgeable on RC being a tour guide.</p>
<p>Nokeguy, glad that Roanoke worked out for you, but your post provides no facts (other than weather) that would assist others in deciding whether to consider the school.</p>
<p>Since this is a thread about Roanoke, any particular reason you encourage PM instead of open posting?</p>
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<p>Cptofthehouse (and others), how is Roanoke students "southern?" In my household, we all suffer from NE bias and "southern" suggests more conservative socially and religiously, less tolerant and more into frats/cliques than urban NE students. Is that what you meant? Is that an accurate "description" of the general campus culture?</p>
<p>iamajerseygirl62, I don't know if you still read CC, but I was wondering how your son ended up liking Roanoke now that he spent a year there. Did things get better? Does he like Roanoke any better? Roanoke is a school that my son is interested in.</p>
<p>I am a student who was just accepted to Roanoke. At first I was drawn to the campus’ beauty but as I read more and more on the campus life I was simply turned off. Many students who have similar views to mine (Agnostic) felt very uncomfortable being there. From what I have heard, the students on campus generally do not accept anyone who is not extremely christian in some form or another. Although I would like to believe in something, I cannot just say I do in order to fit it, I would have to actually believe in it. If I were to attend this school would I fit in with some crowd or another? or would I just fall into the classic “popped collar” and “natural Ice” crowd.</p>