Seeking tie-breaker input: Muhlenberg, Gettysburg, Dickinson

Colleges and Universities A-Z Muhlenberg College
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<p>My D is caught up in analysis paralysis and can’t choose her college. </p>

<p>One minute she’s convinced she wants to go to grad school and get her DPT (Doctor of Physical Therapy). The next she wants other options, not to be nailed down…maybe Business. She definitely wants to forego a 3 + 3 DPT program in order to keep herself flexible. </p>

<p>Her choices and current opinions are (in no particular order):</p>

<p>Muhlenberg ($31,000): Known for pre-health, nice campus, far enough from home, but would Muhlenberg Scholar obligations interfere with study abroad?, less snobby than the other two, accidentally bumped into the track coach and he wants her</p>

<p>Dickinson ($38,000): “Greenest” of the 3, best library, beautiful campus but rundown fitness/athletics facility, building a new fitness center “soon,” track coach keeps calling, but no real suitable health major. (In fact, H and I wonder why this is still in the running.)</p>

<p>Gettysburg ($28,900): Offers BA and BS in Health Sciences, offers a robust business program, great athletics facility, a little too close to home (60 mins), not “northern enough” in the eyes of this 17 yo, (Wha? And the other 2 are???), track coach is interested in her, Greek dominance (this is good and bad to her), someone else from her HS class is going there (can’t tell if this is good or bad)</p>

<p>In other important factors such as freshman dorms, surrounding neighborhoods, dining halls, study abroad, etc., the schools are tied. With thanks to her great merit packages, all of these schools would be debt-free. </p>

<p>H and I like Gettysburg best…and not just for price. We actually think it would meet her academic aspirations best. D asked us which we like best, so we told her, and why, since she asked. She’s really trying to make a practical, not emotional decision. But, something is tormenting her here and preventing her from pulling the trigger. </p>

<p>Does anyone have any info that would help her decide? Even if it’s not in favor of G’burg, that’s fine. Just “unknowns” that would ease the decision. Thanks.</p>

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<p>Update: She just ruled out Dickinson. It’s now down to the other 2.</p>

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<p>Hi DougBetsy- I actually tried to PM you the other day when I saw your D was considering Muhlenberg. But your box was full. So I’m glad to get this chance to answer your questions.</p>

<p>My D is a freshman at Muhlenberg so I am biased. :wink: I really don’t know anything about Gettysburg. </p>

<p>It sounds like she has had a chance to visit both schools but would another visit help? Has she sat in on classes? My D’s second visit to Muhlenberg where she met with the head of the Theater dept, saw a rehearsal for a production and sat in on some classes really sealed the deal for her.</p>

<p>I don’t know if Muhlenberg Scholar obligations would interfere with study abroad but I doubt it since Muhlenberg is very supportive of study abroad. But that seems like a question that admissions should be able to answer for you.</p>

<p>Muhlenberg attracts lots of students from the NYC/NJ area but has kids from all over. And because of its strong theater, music and dance program its got a quirky arty vibe overlaying its pretty “mainstream” character. There are music/theater/dance performances every single weekend. </p>

<p>Academically it seems like D has been challenged but not overwhelmed. She is not in any of the scholars programs but is receiving a merit award for which she has to keep up her grades. She’s a theater/social sciences kid so I can’t speak to health sciences courses. But she has a couple classes in particular that she is really enjoying.</p>

<p>So far she has had a really positive experience and is really happy with her decision. But like your daughter she really struggled with the final decision. I think she wanted to smoosh her choices together into the perfect school. </p>

<p>Luckily your daughter has great options. Please feel free to PM me if you want more info. And I would be happy to put my daughter in touch with your daughter if you think that would help. I need to pay it forward since Teriwitt’s daughter was very kind to my daughter during this process. :-)</p>

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<p>A few points…</p>

<p>The best choice would be to find a professor who could be a great mentor. If you find that, go there. The rest of these points are minor, but posted to help identify some differences.</p>

<p>Study abroad - no conflict with scholars programs at Mberg. D is in scholars programs and going abroad.</p>

<p>Sports. All these colleges are in the same conference - she will be competing with the same people regardless of where she goes and will rank at whatever level she is. Muhlenberg has a nice new training facility. Not sure of Gettysburg or even if that matters a lot. Track is usually pretty open in the Centennial Conf Schools.</p>

<p>Location - Allentown does not seem like a hopping place, but the Lehigh Valley actually has a lot to offer. Gettysburg and Dickinson are more remote. Mberg to Philly AND NY is 60-90 minutes, both Gettysburg and Dickinson are 2 hrs+ to Philly and further to NYC.</p>

<p>Culture - They all have a lot in common. A starker comparison would be with Penn State or Temple. Mberg has the artsy/acting element and may have a slightly higher % of NJ students.</p>

<p>They are all great schools. Pick one and she will find a nice home there and feel it was the right choice.</p>

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<p>My daughter was a Muhlenberg Scholar and did a semester abroad in London. I think a lot of the scholar kids do a semester abroad. Since the number of kids in each scholar program is so small, they can work with you easily.</p>

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<p>Which of the remaining two schools did your daughter choose?</p>

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<p>She chose Gettysburg. </p>

<p>She made a list of 14 weighted factors and scored each school. Gettysburg won 107 to 103.</p>