<p>My son is planning on applying to St. Lawrence University, although he hasn't visited. We're are from coastal California, so he's never lived in snow. He has played club hockey for 11 years and loves to ski, so winter sports are a plus. He was impressed with his alumni interviewer, the admissions staff there and all he's read. However, he just talked with a college counselor who said that the St. Lawrence location was like the end of the earth and truly abysmal. Any other opinions out there?</p>
<p>We live, during the summer, not too far away from where the school is located. That “during the summer” part is important because the area is often very cold and gets lots of snow in the winter. We live in SoCal for the rest of the year.</p>
<p>That being said, I have known a few people who went there for college and they don’t regret it. Years ago it seemed a bit jockcentric, although that may have changed. There are other colleges nearby and I think the students probably form close relationships due in part to their shared situation.</p>
<p>I would say apply and then visit if accepted. Do the visit as far into the year as possible because it doesn’t get warm there until well into spring.</p>
<p>Highlights would include the St. Lawrence River, Canada just north and lots of winter fun nearby. Keep in mind that the upstate NY region is completely different than downstate. I would call it “economically challenged”, but the local people are very friendly and many have been in the area since forever.</p>
<p>I don’t know about today, but I always thought of the type of student that would go to SLU as bright and athletic. Could be different now. And hockey is HUGE in this part of the world. Could be a real unique experience for a kid from CA.</p>
<p>I would suggest visiting though. Flights from LAX to Syracuse are pretty inexpensive. My wife did a few last year through US Air (I think) to Syracuse and paid between $200-$250 round trip. Rent a car at the airport and take the I-81 north towards the Thousand Islands Bridge. Turn right before you get to the bridge onto Route 12 and take it to Canton along the river. It’s a two to three hour drive and very pretty if the sun is shining. Good luck!</p>
<p>Thanks, squidgerwinks (there must be a story there!), for all the excellent information and sound advice.</p>
<p>My grandmother graduated from SLU in, well, 1930. She remembered causing a great stir by going to a class in --gasp!-- pants. So I’m not very up to date! But she loved it, fervently-- and she was never athletic or much of a cold weather person. So, FWIW, I am reporting.</p>
<p>I can’t add much other than when DS#1 was applying to schools, my brother and sister-in-law recommended he look there. They know several graduates (all highly successful adults!) and DS reminds them of the people who went there–outgoing, smart, athletic, the all-around “great guys”. It is difficult to get to, but certainly worth a look, I think.</p>
<p>Don’t have much to add. St. Lawrence was very popular at my Western NY private school as a destination for social, jocky kids who were perfectly smart but not necessarily completely focused on academics. Lots of sports (team and individual), lots of sports participation, lots of outdoorsmanship, lots of drinking. They tended to like it a lot. I would have described Hamilton the same way at the time, so things could have changed quite a bit.</p>
<p>As you may be able to tell from the directions, that part of New York is VERY isolated. Being three hours north of Syracuse is being a awfully long way from anyplace you would care to be. The closest interesting cities are probably Ottawa (60 mi.), Montreal (90 mi.), and Burlington VT (75 mi., but farther to drive if you don’t ferry across the lake), but none of them is really easy to get to.</p>
<p>In terms of weather, Canton is at about the same latitude as Minneapolis. It gets cold in the winter.</p>
<p>Thanks to all of you. Obviously there are plusses and minuses, in many respects it sounds perfect for him, in others not so much. He’ll have to visit if accepted and weigh all the issues.</p>
<p>You can send me a PM, my D just graduated from there & I am originally from Northern NY. Wonderful opportunities via SLU’s vast alumni networking. Easier to fly into Ottawa and drive, most students & faculty do, only about 1.5 hours from Ottawa. Need a passport of course. </p>
<p>There is only one fraternity left to my knowledge. (lost their charters) So not much of a “fratty” atmosphere. Great financial aid, the professors care about their students, study abroad programs, wonderful athletic facilities. Their hockey teams are Division I, both men and women’s. Rest of teams are Division III.</p>
<p>Canton has a few nice restaurants, a movie theatre & a Wal Mart opened up between Canton and Potsdam. Canton has SLU & SUNY Canton. Potsdam (about 10 miles away) has SUNY Potsdam & Clarkson University. My D never complained about the winter, but we live in a New England state & she loves winter sports. SLU has its own golf course, so people cross country ski there in the winter. </p>
<p>I was deeply touched at graduation when the grads recessed and the profs then stood on both sides and applauded for them. Especially when profs near me were hugging their students & urging them to stay in touch with them via email etc. It was very moving.</p>
<p>And to echo what I <think i=“”> tried to say earlier–just found this on another thread (about well-known schools that are relatively easy admits):</think></p>
<p>“St. Lawrence University – great campus spirit, upstate New York near Canadian border, very supportive of its students, high quality education, outdoors life, tends to the jockish and frattish but everyone can find a place”</p>
<p>SLU usually hosts an Accepted Students’ Day in the Spring.</p>
<p>I’ve known several kids who’ve attended SLU who have enjoyed the school experience itself but all have had complaints, after the fact, about the transportation issue. It is a LONG way from Syracuse and that part of NY gets more snow than most people can imagine. You can wake up to a sunny day and a half hour away, 81 is closed and the snow is coming down at an inches per hour rate. This is not unusual. Travel to and from California during the winter for the holidays has a good likelihood of being a problem. The possibility of this type of problem may be worth it to some students but it shouldn’t be discounted. The closest ski area is probably Big Tupper which is going to be well over an hour’s drive from Canton. Check what airlines fly from your area into Syracuse and maybe even Ottawa, although that option presents other issues, and see what the frequency of flights is, the connections required, and calculate when you add on a very long commute to the nearest airports (and maybe research how kids even get to and from those airports) to figure out how that would work, not only with holiday trips home but at the start and end of every year transporting belongings. Good luck!</p>
<p>Hi SLUMOM, I tried to send you a PM but I obviously failed. I appreciate your input! Alwaysamom, thanks for a very good reality check.</p>
<p>Oh that’s OK, bopambo, I hope your S applies to SLU, it is a wonderful school, “A Candle in the Wilderness” as they say. There is a book by that title about the history of SLU.</p>