<p>I have recently become aware of this school--d is interested in a small LAC and is into studio art (especially ceramics) and biology/botany. She is politically liberal and has an activist bent.</p>
<p>We are from the south; will this be a benefit in the application process?</p>
<p>Any insights about Union's suitability would be greatly appreciated.</p>
<p>The Education Life section of the Sunday New York Times had a great article about the Minerva houses at Union College. </p>
<p>Sorry I can't address your specific academic questions.</p>
<p>Union does not give out merit aid, if that matters to you.</p>
<p>How happy would your D be with long winters that include heavy snow and totally gray skies for days on end?</p>
<p>I grew up 2 miles away from Union, and it is a very nice college. It's pretty, has caring professors. The negatives, however, are that it's in a city that is very economically depressed, and if you love warm weather and the sun, you won't get much of it there. Falls, however, are gorgeous due to the leaf changes. Just realize that Halloween is essentially a winter holiday in that part of the country.</p>
<p>despite the Minerva Houses, frat life is still a very large part of the Union College culture.Make sure your child would be happy with that .</p>
<p>Hey northstar mom! I'm from schenectady, too! </p>
<p>Is it just me or was anyone else kind of creeped about by the reference to the "annual sex night"? We're Bible believing Christians and I can't IMAGINE spending my hard-earned money for my kids to be exposed to that (or being made to feel uncomfortable if they didn't want to participate). Why do people feel like this kind of stuff makes them 'trendy' and 'hip'? It just cheapens and degrades them.</p>
<p>Momzie,
Small world!
I couldn't read about the Minerva houses because I forgot my NY Times registration password.</p>
<p>Actually, Union does give out merit aid. A friend's daughter received a sizeable grant (even though she applied ED), and my d also got a merit scholarship (she's going elsewhere).</p>
<p>Merit aid info on their web site:</p>
<p>"Union College does have resources committed for non-need based grants. We have been able to recognize the outstanding achievements of our top applicants. Last year we offered over a million dollars in awards based on students' academic performance. </p>
<p>At Union, there is no separate application. Faculty and Admissions staff review your admission application and decide based on the comprehensive data you have submitted to us, who may qualify for these non-need based funds. "</p>
<p>Concur with above posters about Union's assets. Wanted to also mention, if you are considering this "neck of the woods," that if your daughter is interested in studio art especially ceramics, she should also check out Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs. Strong program, great faculty, especially ceramicist Regis Brodie. And Alfred U, in Alfred NY(in the remote middle of upstate NY) has a world-renowned ceramics program.</p>
<p>I was going to second Alfred.</p>
<p>Also, what are Minerva Houses? I've heard them mentioned somewhere before.</p>
<p>This link on Union's website introduces Minerva houses:
<a href="http://www.union.edu/Minervas/%5B/url%5D">http://www.union.edu/Minervas/</a></p>
<p>My son applied to Union, was accepted and offered a $10,000/year merit scholarship with no minimum GPA to keep it. He really liked the idea of the Minerva houses - basically it seems the college is trying to take the best aspects of the frats (social opportunities & events, leadership opportunities, faculty advisors) without the negatives (rush & alcohol). I think the school is worth checking out. </p>
<p>My son eventually decided Union was his 2nd choice, and will be attending Lafayette this year. I'd suggest you look there as well, it's a small LAC with a similar curriculum to Union. Lafayette just opened a large studio art building, and offers a strong biology major. They don't offer a botany major, though.</p>
<p>Our impression of Union was positive, if my son had decided to attend I'd have been fine with it. We visited the school 3 times.</p>
<p>Union does give out non need based aid. My son was offered a presidential scholarship. He did not ask or qualify for financial aid. My understanding of the presidential scholarship is that it can be awarded in the amount of $5.000.00, $7,500 or $10,000.00 a year with no strings attached. I thought the school was wonderfulsmall, supportive and rigorous. But my son decided on Colgate which offers merit money as well. Another lovely school that I would suggest you consider is Dickinson College in Pennsylvania. We looked at it with one of our older children and were very impressed. Im pretty sure that they offer merit aid.</p>
<p>Wasn't Union College one of the schools who recently announced that they were getting off of the merit aid merry-go-round? I'll look for information on that, but I'd swear I read that in the news...</p>
<p>Union got off the SAT bandwagon, they are now SAT optional. I didn't hear anything about merit money.</p>
<p>Keep in mind that their comprehensive fee is 46,245, so even if you get 10k in merit aid and your student meets the criteria to keep it, you still will be paying 36k+. They meet 100% of financial need. All of this info is from the CB website.</p>
<p>Dg5052, my son will be a freshman at Union in September. I think the campus is gorgeous. Schenectady is not the greatest, but there is more there than most casual observers think, like any number of restaurants within walking distance and a brand new sixplex movie theater and Proctor's Theater (which gets broadway shows and concerts), also all within a 10-15 minute walk of campus. Still, there is really no way to describe Schenectady as particularly desirable. My understanding is that by and large, the campus is not particluarly political, although there are groups of kids who are. As for the weather, anywhere in New England or Upstate New York is going to be cold and gray during the winter. I cannot comment at all about the majors you mentioned.</p>