<p>isitworthit- I really dislike it when people lump all of the students as being catered to and spoiled rich kids. My daughter is neither of those, we are a family that earns $80,000 combined income, and I find that very disrespectful. My daughter was accepted to Wake and Elon, 3.8 unweighted GPA, 32 ACT score,but chose HPU and is happy with her choice. There are no “hidden fees” like on cruise ships, on the contrary, many things are free. Your “research” would confirm that. My D had $200 in her pocket for the entire year last year and returned home for the summer with $50+. Get your facts straight and quit generalizing.</p>
<p>My son has similar stats. 3.77 unweighted. AP credits for physics, calc and he took a college course at Stony Brook University in his HS junior year for a core class credit. He too was accepted into Wake, Marist, Binghampton and others but chose HPU. He loves it and already has had amazing opportunities. He is far from spoiled and certainly not rich. High Point was the right choice for him. It is sad that many feel to make negative comments about the student body as a whole. It is odd that isitworthit’s child even applied to this school if was so offensive, and I wonder if that student was accepted to any “selective” colleges. By the comments on the post, I don’t think so.</p>
<p>Isitworthit-My son was accepted to Wake and Elon as well… seems your generalization about the HPU student body is a bit off. I’m sorry your daughter did not receive a full acceptance to HPU. From what I understand, students who do not meet the admission standards at HPU are required to go to the summer program so they can prove themselves in a college setting. Based on the price of credits, plus housing, meal plan, and activities; 8K seems about right. </p>
<p>Also, your comment about hidden fees couldn’t be more off. After nearly one year, we are amazed our son hasn’t asked for money! (He doesnt have a job either!) The $38,000 tuition and fees covers everything including the small stuff like laundry and printing. We are very happy with the comprehensive system HPU has in place. </p>
<p>I’m no expert, but if I’m involved in a business (and yes, running a college is a business), I’m without a doubt using connections I can trust. So if Nido wants to use his daughters PR firm, I dont blame him. (apparently the firm is good because HPU is spreading like wildfire) If he wants to get loans from the #1 bank in the area that he sits on the board of… I don’t blame him for that either! But FYI, parents were just notified that Nido raised 12Mil to 100% fund the new student excellence center. Seems like things are running pretty well. No bank would give out a loan if the undertaker couldn’t pay it back. If he can raise 12Mil, I’m pretty confident he can pay back his business loans.</p>
<p>It’s amazing that a lot of people were shouting praises for High Point earlier and when their child didn’t get the scholarship money that they thought they deserved, they come on the boards and spew negativity and feel like they were deceived. The sense of entitlement is out of control these days. I see it in sports where if parents aren’t happy with their playing time or that their child isn’t offered a D1 ride to schools, they feel like they were wronged. The admissions standards to all schools have tightened up and the money may not flow as freely as it once did. Take a breath and look at your other options. The sky isn’t falling.</p>
<p>I noticed several on here posting their kids were accepted to wake. Can anyone please eloborate as to why they chose hp over wake? Was it the cost? did you guys get no money there and more from hp? We interviewed at wake, did the presidential scholarship at Hp were accepted at both, got a nice $ offer from HP, (none from wake). In the end my kid wanted to be closer to home and the programming at HP didn’t fit with her. If I had the choice between the two it would be 110% Wake. No matter what up and coming rep HP may have or if some are saying the NC employers are hiring HP kids. That has to be said double about Wake. They have national recognition as well as local. To me if your child could keep up there and you could afford it I would have sent her there had she been wanting to go as far as NC. I’d love to hear feedback as to what would make some choose the lesser known school with lower acceptance requirements. I still have a jr in high school that def WON"T get into Wake, or Duke! lol… I need to keep an eye on HP, he likes warmer weather!</p>
<p>My D didn’t like the vibe at Wake,(or the smell! I didn’t notice any bad smell) plain and simple as that. Staff and students didn’t give a welcome feel. She didn’t care about a better known school. It came down to Elon and HPU, and she chose HPU. BTW- she was offered $$ at all 3 schools.</p>
<p>Our S had a very similar feeling to luckydog’s D. Wake Forest had a very entitled feel to the campus and he just didnt like that. My son also liked the message of HPU’s business school more than Wake’s. More focus on real world application and internships/careers. Wake just didnt get him excited.</p>
<p>We were actually offered more money at Wake, but they are more expensive so at the end of the day, HPU and Wake were on the same level from a money standpoint for us. </p>
<p>Also, I don’t really believe in sending my student to a place just because of recognition to be honest. I believe you must send your child where they feel comfortable and can find success. HPU was the right choice for my son, and his first year has been amazing. Can’t believe the things he has done as a freshman, I know at a bigger school he would not have some of these experiences.</p>
<p>luckydog and maryandjerry, thanks for your responses. I do agree campus vibe is a huge factor. I didn’t get the sense of entitlement from wake (aka work forest) but there was a much more serious tone to the place. No so much the “kum bah ya” everyone is welcome tone we got at HP. I got the vibe that everyone was on their game and you won’t necessarily be anyone special there as everyone was on the same playing level. All in all NC was not in the cards for us. </p>
<p>Can you guys give me some specific examples of the opportunities your children have had that you are sure they would not have at other universities? Mine is at a flagship state school with what I’d call a good to very good ranking nationwide. (#55-75 depending on the parameters) I feel like hearing your kids experiences is one way I can truly get the feeling if what they get is something more than other schools. My second one is a totally diffferent student than my first so it’s a whole different ball game for him. I have many patients in business and recruiting positions that I come across. Naturally with where my interests lie having college age kids the subjects of schools come up often. In NJ HP is not on the radar of these people, like I said, in NJ. It’s all about what your resume can show so perhaps your kids’ experiences is what makes the difference? thanks in advance. :)</p>
<p>We visited Wake twice. The first time my son interviewed and we toured the campus. My son felt it was a little stuffy and tense. The second time, we flew down just to meet with two professors for my sons major. We made the appointments with both professors. One professsors was snobby and my son felt uncomfortable. She made him feel like he was wasting her time. The second professor completely forgot about our appointment and student phoned him to see what had happened. He was nice enough, apologized but my son didn’t like the vibe, too stuffy. My son felt like High Point was a good fit for him. Our family does regret his choice. He has made the deans list, is a university ambassador and a member of several organizations. In his freshman year he has recorded a music CD, fundraises at events, is traveling to Italy with the choir,there are many entrepeneur opportunies in the business department, he loves the holistic approach</p>
<p>thanks 10kaday, it’s so funny how those visits make a difference. D had a great interviewer at Wake and I even received phone calls from her asking for D’s application and follow up calls on her interest in the school. At HP our interviewer was a no show on the Presidential scholarship weekend. I guess it’s all in the timing. Is your child a music major or just a special interest? My d has tons of fun opportunities at her school too with over 300 student organizations on campus at her school. They even have an agricultural college on site, she has friends in this program and she even fed 8 hour old baby calfs! I want to know about specific special things within the majors that HP offers for this alternative to the mainstream program they offer. I hope your son enjoys the trip to Italy, sounds like fun!</p>
<p>I agree, the visits make a difference. My son is double majoring in business and vocal performance. He loves music and was involved throughout high school, so it seems natural to continue with his passion for music. Choosing a college is a personal choice, I believe it has to be the right fit.
OOpsAnd my above post, I meant to say my son does NOT regret his choice. He really does love it</p>
<p>lefty1, sorry for the delay in response, we were away from home for Easter weekend. HPU had a nice 4 day weekend so we took advantage of it! </p>
<p>I talked to my son a lot this week about his first year at HPU. I promised I woulnd’t get too specific on here so it’s not too obvious I’m talking about him! lol! But as far as what he has done this year: He joined a business club on campus that allowed him to participate in a variety of on and off campus events. He also went on a trip with the club that allowed him to network with students from all over the country. (I was surprised he was even allowed to go as a freshman). He also was just elected to a position of leadership in the club next year! 
He’s presenting at the big research symposium this weekend at HPU that is for the entire Big South Conference. As a freshman, this is amazing experience for things he is hoping to do before he graduates. It’s rare freshman have opportunities like this their first year when it comes to research and working with professors. </p>
<p>Outside of that, he has found the professors to be fantastic if he ever needs help. He met with his math teacher at the starbucks on campus because he was having a hard time with a concept that was on an upcoming test. They met for over an hour. I personally thought this was impressive on the profs part. He also utilizes the free tutoring in the library quite a bit. Honestly, he probably doesnt need it but he’s a perfectionist so he has really enjoyed the help when he needs it! So smart to offer free tutoring in every subject… </p>
<p>The little things at HPU go a long way. I know many small schools do similar things and have similar opportunities, but not in the same environment that HPU has. That is was set it apart for my son. It may not be for everyone, but it works for him and I am proud of his first year and proud to tell people he goes to HPU! </p>
<p>Lefty1, I hope you daughter thrives at her school and your son finds the perfect school for him. Good luck!</p>
<p>thanks maryandjerry glad you took advantage of the weekend! mine just came off spring break so I had to send her back last night. (tear) Thanks for the info, sounds like you have a great young man there. program seems to have much my daughter’s does but it also sounds like we both have kids that take full advantage of the tuition we pay for! I think that is one thing that makes the most difference, the opportunities are there if the kids seek them out! thanks for the good wishes, the same to your son and I’m crossing my fingers my son figures it all out! lol… :)</p>
<p>I agree with what 10KaDay and MaryandJerry said, choosing a college is a very personal choice. My D is a freshman at HPU and is VERY happy there. She had a very high ACT and GPA and was also accepted at UNC and Elon, in addition to other schools. She toured Wake but got a bad vibe there…when I asked what the vibe was, she wasn’t able to explain it. The “bad vibe” resulted in her not even applying there. I’m pretty sure that if she had applied to Ivy League schools, she would have been accepted, but she wanted to stay close to home. We have told her that while the school she attends is important, what she does while at the school is more important, and even more important are the personal connections she makes. She will be interning in a marketing dept at SAS this summer and this job was secured because of a connection.
That all being said, my D loves the day-to-day life at HPU. She is a business major but is very involved in the music program…she also made a CD this year and will be traveling with the music dept to Italy next month (10KaDay - I would guess that our kids know each other). The trip was made possible in part by the “travel abroad” money that came with her merit scholarship. She is also a cheerleader and in the Honor’s program. The university truly provides so many opportunities for the kids, both academically as well as socially. I have heard friends talk about the problems their college-age kids are having getting into their desired classes. My D has always been able to register for the classes she wants.
There are many aspects to consider when picking a college…aspects that will determine not only where the degree comes from, but aspects that will determine what type or experience will be had over the course of 4 years. My D is thrilled with her experience at HPU.</p>
<p>Orangestripe: Congratulations on your daughters CD release, I am looking forward to listening to it and downloading to itunes. Please post when it will be available. Our kids appear to be in the same circle of friends. They are so looking forward to Study Abroad in Italy. It is an exciting opportunity to tour in Italy and sing in St. Peters Basilica. HPU has exceded all of my sons expectations as well as our own.</p>
<p>Penn State does the same thing for their main campus, Univ Park. If a kid checks the box on the application “willing to attend summer program at Univ Park” they are more likely to get it AND of course it costs another $10k on top of frosh year tuition. Many schools are starting this to get more money. Other schools are also starting a Frosh year abroad so they can accept more than their capacity for 1st year students to make more $. At the end of the day, COLLEGE IS A BUSINESS.</p>
<p>Dr Quebin started the bank that eventually became BBT!</p>
<p>At High Point, 2010 - most recent available-stats show 20% don’t return after freshman year and less than half graduate on time. 95% of Wake Forest students return after freshman year and 83% graduate on time. You do the math…hey what’s an extra 40k in tuition for that fifth year???</p>
<p>stcorpmater, I think a good amount of those who don’t return are the ones that use the school to get their stats up and then move on, at least that is what I have read and heard from others in the past when I read the retention rates. I have also heard from some that left that is was too much of just partying on campus and not feeling like you could “get off the island” I guess everyone is different but retention rates are important as to the number of students who are happy and want to stay there for their degree. </p>
<p>As far as the number of years it takes to graduate… I can never understand this stat. I don’t care WHERE my kids goes to school… they have 4 years… period. I have seen great school and not so great schools have low numbers in this category. Maybe some change their majors… some take it slower to keep their heads above water. IMO… if you can’t keep up you shouldn’t be there… no matter how low the requirements may be. I feel the weight of this one falls on the student and the parents. As a parent paying 32K a year for my daughter’s education, (not at high point) I am constantly making sure my D is taking enough credits to complete her double major and minor in 4 years. Her advisors are amazing as well but ultimately I feel this one falls in line with the parents and student.</p>
<p>Lefty, I have the same view about the graduation rate number… we asked a counselor at a state school we visited why their rate was so low and they couldn’t answer us… I think it’s really hard to blame it on the school and there is no clear answer as to why it happens. The number changes quickly from one year to another too (especially at HPU as each freshman class gets stronger and stronger academically.) </p>
<p>My son also has an advisor that he meets with twice a year (like many schools) and she has helped him map out the next three years to graduate and take everything on schedule. I’m assuming all students at HPU use this too, so you are probably right about the issue being change in major, or not being able to keep up. I told my son I will help for 4 years of college, but anything extra is on him.</p>