<p>So far, it seems that Skidmore might be a match for my D but we still need safeties. Geographically, Muhlenberg and Dickinson might fit her specifications--no more than 4 hours from New York City-- size also seems right. Especially attractive is the Communications major at M.berg.</p>
<p>Can anyone provide some details useful for assessing "fit" or "social /academic atmosphere" at these schools? She is seeking a friendly community without excessive emphasis on drinking, frats, etc.-liberal, tolerant and serious about academics. (Her SATs: V 750 M 620)</p>
<p>dickinson is known for its' language departments and for its' emphasis on offering a global education. i believe muhlenberg is about an hour to an hour and a half closer to n.y.c. than dickinson. i believe both schools attract similar quality students and i believe dickinson is a somewhat more highly rated school than muhlenberg. i believe both schools lack in diversity.</p>
<p>I'd need more information to comment fully but based solely on your daughter's SAT scores, I'd consider both Dickinson and Muhlenberg matches, not safeties. They are both pretty similiar to Skidmore in terms of their selectivity. </p>
<p>The "average" stats they list for their accepted students are somewhat deceptive - when you break them out, accepted female stats tend to be above the median, especially at Dickinson. Ursdad is correct in that both schools lack in diversity. Additionally, they have too many females and are trying to build their male student bodies and attract a more national student population, making it somewhat more competitive for white females from the northeast. As I said, without more information on your daughter's grades and curriculum I'm just guessing here, but based solely on her test scores, I would consider both matches, not safeties for her.</p>
<p>I liked Dickinson when we visited but my daughter found it too preppy for her tastes. You should also know that Dickinson has long had the nickname of Drinkinson --- from talking with others who have had kids do overnights or attend, I'd say that is probably an accurate name, although the administration has been trying to reduce the drinking culture. The student body and campus culture at Dickinson is also the polar opposite of Dickinson, in my opinion.</p>
<p>If your daughter is interested in Journalism, Susquehanna or Goucher would both be good solid safeties. Goucher has no frats/sororities and is conveniently located just outside of Baltimore. Goucher's feel and student body is similiar to Skidmore in many ways.</p>
<p>pyewacket would you mind telling me other schools your d likes specially reaches? because I have looked at skidmore and muhlenberg and liked both and I'm having trouble finding others I like. A school that is about 3.5 hrs from NYC, is Juniata which was really nice, that is much further, but it's similar to Muhlenberg and would probably be a safety for ur D.</p>
<p>You might also want to look at Drew in North Jersey, which is about a half hour from NYC</p>
<p>Thanks for your responses. Carolyn, we were thinking of Goucher too but have been put off by reports of crime statistics in Baltimore and even Towson. I know this may sound funny for someone who wants to be near NYC, but a city you know well on a neighborhood level feels "safer" and Baltimore's statistics are worse. D is not really from the northeast--she is an American (dual-national) raised in Europe with many family ties and frequent visits to NYC--don't know if that's a hook? BTW, you said, "The student body and campus culture at Dickinson is also the polar opposite of Dickinson, in my opinion." Did you mean to contrast Muhlenberg here as less preppy and drinking-oriented? My D. would be put off by an overly preppy atmosphere but would be fine in a mixed student body ranging from preppy to artsy with some in-betweeners. I gather that the "in-betweeners" are increasingly a URM these days?</p>
<p>SocksRule, so far reaches she is considering are Swarthmore/Wesleyan/Brown---all of these probably unrealistic reaches--except one legacy connection to B? Realistic reaches are: Barnard, Brandeis, Bryn Mawr, Mount Holyoke, Skidmore? </p>
<p>Matches: Drew? we visited there already and think it's a possibility--is it easier to get into than Skidmore? </p>
<p>Safeties: Goucher? if we decide it is "safe" in the campus/town security sense.</p>
<p>Other insignts and suggestions very welcome. We have a limited time for visits in the USA so we need to plan wisely.</p>
<p>My D. goes to Muhlenberg. It is a school we have been very pleased with. She has had great abroad opportunities and has received a challenging education. This is not a piece of cake school, as I know several students that have left because of academic challenges, which is ashame because the tutorial program is awesome. For the higher caliber student the Dana program is also available, my other D. just received an invitation to apply to it.
Many students a top LAC's have not gotten into M. They are quite frank about admittance saying if you really love it ED. substantially increases your chances there. My D. chose it over Skidmore, as that would have been her second choice. The student body is very similar there also, good looking privaledged kids, that frankly may not know how great they have life.
Money does abound. As it seems many college have kids with ridiculously deep pockets. The theater dept is legendary and it is very easy to explore multiple areas at once.<br>
The new president is trying his level best to deal with alcohol cultures that pervade the campus. Hard to say what to do, as policing drinking seems to drive kids off campus or to smoking pot which seems easier to sneak.
For the student with good grades and EC's, SAT's are optional. Very active and talented student body there.</p>
<p>asillad--thanks for your insights. Would a student who does not drink be socially isolated at M.berg? What about a student with adequate funds but relatively shallow pockets? Why did your D choose M.berg over Skidmore?
Would you mind giving the stats of your daughters? Thanks.</p>
<p>my D when choosing a school had an active, intelligent student body in mind.
She attended a private catholic girls school and had the unique experience of being "clean" thru high school. She was looking for fun without substance necessary. Honestly, I am sure there are kids out there with similar experiences, however, college really doesn't lend itself to staying that way.
My other D. dates a boy, who was TOTALLY commited to MADD and was an advisor at the camps etc. He now is in college and his social life revolves around drinking. Not to the degree of others but yes he parties now. I think most parents with honest relationships on this board will tell you all schools have vices... some have outlets that try to help you deviate from the party scene.
M. is trying... in fact the President just sent home a letter concerning speaking with our students about healthy choices for spring break.
We pay full freight for college... many at M. do. I believe in a shallow pocketbook as a means to foster a work ethic and foster better social choices many others with deep pockets may make. My D. is popular and active on campus and has not attended the wet t-shirt type of spring break scene.
The culture at M is a New York, New Jersey based culture with sprinklings of other states mixed in. Designer bags and clothes are popular. My D. tends to be artsy and creates her own look and does fit in....yet materialism gets to her at times. This you will find at Skidmore too and at startling rates at schools like Trinity. This is a culture of many schools where there is a decent economy and prep school attendees.
At the time theater and music was foremost on my D's mind and M. fit the bill for traditional Musical Theater... the commmunications dept. was also interesting as well as the large number of kids that major in science and the arts. A tough choice at alot of schools.
Moreover the campus was extremely caring and friendly. If you walk the campus, students greet each other warmly as well as visitors and students look parents in the eye and welcome them.
My older D. applied ED and kept her SATs optional...She had a 3.7 average UW.
My younger D.submitted her scores and has a 1500 SAT and very high average.
Both girls are exceptional musicians, and were leaders in their school activities.</p>
<p>Whoops sorry - brain freeze there. No, I meant Dickinson is the opposite of Skidmore in that the students there struck me as being more preppy and perhaps more conservative, while Skidmore attracts a more liberal and artsy student body. Muhlenberg probably falls somewhere in between.</p>
<p>RE: the crime at Goucher. The campus itself is very safe, although there has been a murder in a nearby shopping center in the past month or so (did not involve a student). I am not overly worried about the possiblity of my daughter going there - you really have to visit it to see if you would be comfortable.</p>
<p>My D, who's a senior, didn't consider either Dickinson or Muhlenberg (she applied only to musical theatre BFA programs) but both are very popular among kids in our area of the Maryland suburbs, just outside DC. Three friends of hers, all girls, have gotten into Dickinson, which is less than 2 hrs. from here. One's going for sure, while the other two haven't decided. All are outstanding kids, extremely strong students in our large, highly regarded public high school, and leaders in various school organizations and activities. They're all quite different from each other, too, though all are white, Christian and suburban! (My D fits only the suburban part of that description.) One's very preppy, one is about as non-preppy as you can imagine, and the third is somewhere in between. My main point is that at our HS, which is very familiar with Dickinson, even students like these three don't consider it a safety.</p>
<p>Muhlenberg, as I said, is also a favorite around here, but I'm not as familiar with it. The D of a friend of mine, who goes to another HS, was recently accepted there and is very excited to be going. She's deeply involved with music and theater but wanted to pursue it in a liberal arts context, and M seemed like a great fit for her.</p>