Many of the colleges mentioned on this thread have summer open houses coming up. We went to the Admissions 101 program at Sewanee last summer and found it to be very informative, as well as useful for all of the applications our D eventually submitted. I think it particularly made a positive impact on her essay.
Here are dates for some of the schools, but check websites for any updates/changes:
Sewanee Admissions 101: June 12, July 10
Centre Open Houses: June 19, July 10, July 24
Wofford at a Glance: June 19, July 17
Discover Rhodes: July 13, July 14, Aug 3
Rollins has 2 programs in the fall: Sept 27, Oct 26
A couple months have passed since this thread died down, but I thought some contributors to the thread might like an update. D remains extremely excited (for her!) about the fall semester at Rollins. I can tell she is a bit apprehensive about entering a situation where she doesnāt know a soul. Character building, I tell her!
Details are falling into place. The assigned dorm was her first choice, and the room has a southern view to Lake Virginia and a sun deck a few doors down the hallway. (Lifeās roughā¦) Sheās lining up an on-campus work-study job. Her class schedule is not finalized at this point, but at least three courses are in place (chemistry, spanish, and an inter-generational communications class incorporating community service). Hopes to add calculus at her advising session during orientation to replace a psychology course she APāed out of.
So, no buyerās remorse at this point. Hope the same is true for everyone else!
@dadof1 Thanks for the update. Happy for your D! Good luck to you making the adjustment to empty nest this fall. Pretty sure that will be the hardest part of the entire process. But will be eased if you know she is happy. Does Rollins have an active Parents Group (closed FB or otherwise)?
With the addition of Calculus, her schedule looks challenging yet manageable. I would think (is she thinking possible pre-Med?) she would absolutely want to have Calc.
Thanks for the update @dadof1. We drove D down to Sewanee this past week. They have a program in which freshmen can arrive 10 days early and get a head start on one class. About a third of the entering class takes advantage of this. Another third arrives three days early for outdoor activities such as rock climbing, hiking & canoeing. These programs stagger arrivals so that there is no significant log-jam at move-in, and the students can begin getting to know each other before the semester officially begins. We were very impressed by the organization of the student housing office at check-in.
D loves her dorm, has a great roommate, lots of interesting activities so far, and was able to get into most of the classes she wanted first semester. Sheās very happy so far, and really looking forward to the semester.
BTW @dadof1, I recently learned that Fred Rogersāwho was one of my favorite people in the whole worldāwas a Rollins grad. He was an incredibly talented individual, great at so many different things, and a very kind person both on and off the screen.
@Midwestdad3 Yes, the world needs more people like Mr. Rogers. Occasionally, Rollins will have a bit about him on their media. I always enjoy seeing his smile.
Great to hear your D enjoying Sewanee! Of all the colleges D and I visited last college admissions season, itās still the one I would have chosen for myself. My family visited Ocracoke this past week, which reminds me of the vibe on the Domain. I still have fond memories of sitting on Stirlingsā porch on a beautiful summer morning.
@lots2do Rollins does have a parents council. Not sure I will join since it seems the main function is to raise money. D is a bio major at this point and considering following in my footsteps (research, not premed). Iām hoping Rollins broadens her horizon on this front, since this decision smells to me somewhat like a choice by default. She wants to take calculus ASAP so the concepts are fresh in her mind. Fortunately, math comes pretty easy to D. Move-in is only three days away!
Rollins is awesome. It is such a pretty campus. My dad lived in Winter Park for a while so I am familiar. My daughter also has a classmate attending there this fall. She is a great girl. !!
@dadof1 we are also moving our first year daughter into Rollins Wednesday. She is very excited. We arrived from NH last night and are making a family vacation out of the week.
So great to hear these positive updates. No buyerās remorse here either! We drove our D down to Southwestern about 10 days ago. She had a week of orientation, and classes start today. Taking Bio with a lab, Psychology, Modern Art, and a first year seminar on Race and Racism.
We were so impressed with the Parentsā Orientation (especially the cocktail party and everything was so well done. D has been having a blast. We all fell in love with Austin! What a great city. I think having the city 30 minutes down the road is just about perfect. Easy to visit on the weekends, but far enough away that its not a distraction.
I too would have chosen Sewanee I think (for myself), but she absolutely made the right choice for her. And as much as I loved Agnes Scott, she is just not a womenās college person. She has made a bunch of friends already - all but one guys.
Best wishes to you all for a successful first year!
After following your search throughout last year, itās great to hear the updates. Iām so glad everyone has had a successful launch and has a happy student!
I watched the live stream from Sewanee of the new students induction into the university ceremony, and the signing of the honor code today. It was beautifully done, and it really does look amazingly like Hogwarts there. Havenāt talked to D this evening, but she posted on FB a photo of herself and several classmates in front of the chapel, all dressed up and looking very happy & proud to be members of such a great community!
A post-first semester update. Overall, Dās college life at Rollins is as we expected. Some rough spots having to do with living with a roommate who is extremely quite and being away from home for the first time. She has overcome the homesickness in large part and is looking forward to her next semester. Did well in her classes which gives us a great amount of satisfaction! Her professors have been very accessible; she was surprised how much she enjoys going to office hoursā¦ just what we hoped a LAC would provide. Although she wasnāt interested in greek life before college, D is going through rush next semester and has an eye on one of the sororities.
Thanks for the update @dadof1! Great to hear your D is doing well. Her new interest in Greek life is interesting. So many on CC express that they are not interested in schools with a heavy Greek presence. Pretty sure my S eliminated some purely on the high Greek / preppy vibe on their web sites or mailings, and at least one from a visit.
This thread and the handful of visits we took were invaluable in his search for determining where to apply. Thank you for the account of your Dās journey.
A long overdue update! Our D is completely thrilled with Southwestern. One part of her experience, which we did not give as much weight to initially, has been the opportunity to be on a varsity sports team as a walk on. This provided her with a group of friends within days of arriving at school, and she really enjoys being a part of the team. They are all flying to Washington this weekend to play Whitman and Puget Sound. Then for Spring Break going to CA to play Occidental, Whittier, Chapman. Very exciting for her!
She is interested in joining a sorority next year, depending on how much time she has considering her commitment to her team. She enjoys her classes, and has one anthro/race studies professor she adores.
Its all good! Now starting to gear up for the next kid, our S who is now a Junior. He says he wants to stay in state and go to CSU or CU. Good schools, but huge. He doesnāt quite have the stats to get much merit at smaller private schools, but Iām still going to have him take a look.
Good to hear from you @4kids4colleges! Very happy to hear your D is liking Southwestern. Good luck to her team this year!
Like you, we are going through it all again. D2 is a junior now and also looking to smaller college in warmer climes than MI. My wife and she are on a spontaneous trip to TX as I write. Touring Trinity today and your Dās college tomorrow!
@dadof1, and here I thought based on your user name that you were āOne and Doneā! I am glad that I Bookmarked this thread and that the two of you return from time to time with an update.
@4kids4colleges, great to hear your D loves SU, and what a great perk to travel with her sports team and find her group so quickly. Does she make it in to Austin very often?
One of the greatest aspects of LACs I see is the opportunity to explore a variety of academic interests before committing to one or more.
Questions: How often did your Ds come home freshman year so far?
Are they finding other academic interests and changing their intended majors - or is it too early to tell?
Did you see on CC a reference to a substantial increase in tuition at Sewanee? Yikes! As I recall it is a favorite for those who visit. I donāt think it would have been a fit for my S, but I am glad we never visited.
@Dadof1, it is a good time to be in Texas if D2 is looking for warmer weather. Amazingly warm. Shorts and flipflops are in order.
@lots2do Yes, I suppose I didnāt choose my moniker wisely.
We have seen D three times since last August. My wife went down for Parents Weekend in October. D flew to Chicago for Thanksgiving where we were visiting family, and we traveled to FL for Xmas. She also has a grandmother in the Tampa area and has visited her a few weekends so far.
D is a bio major and has considered changing her major a couple of times, but is sticking with bio for now. Iāve made a career in biology and have mixed feelings about D following this path. She has no interest in becoming a health care provider. We shall see what happens.
Speaking of TX. My family has sent pictures of themselves on the Riverwalk in SA, and Iām extremely jealousā¦
@dadof1@lots2do Coincidentally, Iāve been to Trinity U, Rollins and Sewanee recently. I noticed some similarities between Rollins & Trinity: both gorgeous, well-maintained campuses in suburbs that are close-in to vibrant, tourism-oriented cities. Both have dynamic, new presidents. Great academics and great weather at each!!!
Regarding the price increase at Sewanee, in another thread I listed comparative sticker prices for some LACs that D was accepted to last year. Union College $62,274; Hobart & Wm Smith $62,260; Denison $58,860; College of Wooster $55,600, all for 2015-16; and Sewanee $54,500 for 2016-17. Yes, 10% is a big hike. But the merit scholarship amounts were also increased, and the 4-year price guarantee is still in effect. Comparatively, the price is still very competitive.
D has been back home twice (itās an 8-hour trip)āfor Thanksgiving, and for the holidays. Both times she was really looking forward to returning to her friends at Sewanee. She has found classes to be challenging, but manageable. Her professors have all been excellent, and very helpful. She has been camping out on the mountain, and is pledging a sorority & has a wonderful ābig sister.ā A couple weeks ago she and three other girls had breakfast with the Vice-Chancellor. Sewanee has been a great fit for her! I canāt believe the year is already 2/3 over.
@MidwestDad3, I should not have mentioned the increase at Sewanee, as I did not have all the facts. It appears they have been the same route as Hendrix in cost adjustment. Both seem to have found that what appeals to their customers is a higher cost and higher discount model. Both of these schools have tried having a lower cost overall than their comparable schools, only to determine that customers seem to prefer a higher cost/higher merit model.
Whatever they are doing, they seem to be thriving and only becoming more popular and selective. I really like the 4 year guarantee on cost of attendance. I think the idea of annual cost increase - and having no real control over that percentage is what worries my DH the most about private schools. Granted, public schools have increases as well, but when tuition and fees is in the $10K range, a 5% increase does not hurt as much as when the Tuition and fees are $40K.
I still want to visit Sewanee - for me, as I think it sounds like a magical, amazing place. Based on the reviews, comments and merit awarded last year to Southern LAC thread applicants, I knew without visiting that it was not an environment that would appeal to my S. So we have not made that trip.
Sounds like a great fit for your D - and shall I say - that is āpricelessā - but even better when you get a 4 year guarantee that the cost will remain the same!
and everything was so well done. D has been having a blast. We all fell in love with Austin! What a great city. I think having the city 30 minutes down the road is just about perfect. Easy to visit on the weekends, but far enough away that its not a distraction.