<p>My son (a junior) is looking for a small LAC with small classes and a warm,welcoming vibe. He is interested in Creative Writing. We plan to visit the college in the spring, but I would appreciate any insights from others who have experience with Goucher.
Thanks!</p>
<p>Shulamit - You are sure to appreciate the small class sizes, the friendly vibe on campus and the gorgeous setting. Professors are easy to talk to you, and easily share advice and support. Our daughter is a Junior Biology major with a strong interest in dance. She really enjoys the Goucher community and also enjoys Towson and Baltimore. We are from Massachusetts and enjoy the weekend visits, with plenty of things to do, with great restaurants and inexpensive hotels. Good Luck!</p>
<p>Warrior, what do you think of the sciences at Goucher? Did your daughter go abroad this year? Love to hear more about the peer group.</p>
<p>Warrior123,</p>
<p>Thanks for your feedback. It is good to hear. Goucher sounds like the kind of school that would be a good fit for my son. I am looking forward to taking him for a tour. 
Shulamit</p>
<p>PS Can you recommend any of those restaurants or hotels?</p>
<p>My daughter is a junior studio art major. She’s very happy at Goucher and has enjoyed just about all of her professors. It is very easy to get involved in the school community. Some of the things my daughter has been involved in are set design, costume design, hosting her own campus radio show, performing in a student production, programming board (planning Get Into Goucher Day, etc.), and writing for the Q (school paper). Because it’s so small you can really make an impact.</p>
<p>Thanks njmom04.</p>
<p>Our daughter is a Biology Major and has taken many science courses. The class sizes are small, the science lab is good, the professors are great. She chose Goucher because she wanted to pursue a degree that would allow her to enter the medical field and at the same time wanted a strong dance program that would allow her to continue her passion for dance. Many colleges with dance programs at the top level, only allow dance majors to take class or audition for performances. Goucher’s program is of the highest level, and they allow students like our daughter to take classes, audit classes and audition. While it is possible to double major, the work load for a Biology and Dance double major is more than our daughter could handle, though a very close friend of hers is taking on that double major and succeeding. Our daughter also wanted a college nearby a nice city.</p>
<p>The Sheraton Baltimore North is the most convenient hotel to Goucher, literally abutting the campus. Rates are much better at Best Western’s Towson Inn and Suites, which is just 5 minutes away from Goucher. If you prefer a higher end hotel, you’ll find very nice options in Inner Harbor, about a 15 minute ride from Goucher.</p>
<p>Seven West in Towson is a great place for lunch or dinner, and very convenient to Goucher. If you are into sports the Green Turtle is a fun place for a burger or ribs and also very convenient. Each table/booth has it’s own flat screen showing the big game of the day/night. Each time we go to Baltimore we use restaurant.com to purchase gift certificates at reduced rates. Baltimore has so many restaurants participating with the website, and it’s a great way to find places to eat and save money. Supano’s on Water Street is a great place. Phillip’s Seafood is excellent. </p>
<p>Fells Point is a neat little area to visit, as is Inner Harbor.</p>
<p>Goucher’s Athenaeum building is terrific. Our daughter spends a great deal of time there studying. It’s convenient to all dorms, and provides the perfect conditions for working/studying in a pleasant atmosphere.</p>
<p>Good luck to all those waiting on their envelopes!</p>
<p>Hey, thanks for all the details. My DH and I are both JHU grads, so we know Baltimore pretty well, or we used to. I used to take Russian on the Goucher campus, took the Blue shuttle bus three times a week. Did your dd take any classes at JHU?</p>
<p>Thanks for answering the science question. Some people think LACs aren’t good choices for Physics/ Matg because the course offerings arent extensive enough and the labs are not as high end. I suspect there are tons of research opportunities in the area - did your dd engage in outside research?</p>
<p>D hasn’t had the need to take any courses at JHU. Goucher has met all of her needs with offering the required classes that fit her schedule. She did not take Chemistry her freshman year, therefore she had to catch up by taking Organic Chem I and II last summer at a state college nearby our home (Massachusetts). Taking a semester abroad is near impossible with for a Biology major, if they wish to graduate in 4 years time. For this reason she will take a summer session abroad, likely a six week session. Many science majors fulfill the abroad requirement during the January winter break or in the summer. Unfortunately this adds to the cost of her college education.</p>
<p>Goucher’s Interinstitutional program opens up the opportunity for students to take courses and transfer credits in, from several colleges and universities in the Baltimore area. </p>
<p>What other colleges have peeked your son’s interest?</p>
<p>Thank you warrior123, that is great information! My son is also interested in Skidmore, Muhlenberg, and SUNY New Paltz. I also want to show him Ithaca.</p>
<p>Hi Warrior123</p>
<p>I appreciate the visit details as well. Admissions packet finally came yesterday so we will call to book a visit very soon. I have some genealogical research to do downtown so I’m wondering what is the best way to get back and forth from campus to Inner Harbor/Fells Point, thereabouts. Can you advise? Also, what to any current parents have to say about a) getting back and forth to BWI and b) the adviseability of a student having a car.</p>
<p>I know almost zip about Baltimore if it didn’t happen before 1850.</p>
<p>Thanks everyone!</p>
<p>Goucher gets two thumbs up on their shuttle service to BWI, which they offer on college breaks (Thanksgiving, Winter, Spring). They offer transportation to and from the airport at 10:00, Noon, 2:00 and 4:00, for a small fee of $10.00, usually two days at the start of break and two days at the end of break. </p>
<p>As far as transportation around Baltimore, the option is a cab (plentiful) or the College Town Shuttle: [Baltimore</a> Collegetown - Shuttle](<a href=“http://baltimorecollegetown.org/shuttle/]Baltimore”>Shuttle | Baltimore Collegetown Network) . </p>
<p>Our D did not have a car Freshman and Sophomore year, but has one this, her Junior year. Our thought was that if her schedule allowed it would be great for her to intern or volunteer at John Hopkins for experience in the field. She hasn’t had the time for such volunteerism, but may this semester and the car is essential for transportation back and forth. Parking on campus is not an issue at all, with plenty of parking lots for students.</p>
<p>Goucher also offers a zip car for students. My D has not used it, with friends having cars and the college town shuttle, and now her own car on campus she has not had the need for the zip car.</p>
<p>Our son goes to Loyola University and has used the collegetown shuttle often, to get back and forth to Goucher.</p>
<p>Within walking distance to Goucher is Towson Place Mall. This is the nicest mall I’ve ever been through. I’m not a shopper, but it’s great that students have the Apple store right near by and everything from Forever XX1 to Louis Vuitton.</p>
<p>Warrior123,
Thank you for the shuttle information. Part of the reason we are considering Goucher is the ease of flying to Baltimore vs the 5 hour drive. My son is unsure about being away from home, but none of the colleges near us are at all good fits for him, so he will have to decide between a college he likes that is far away, and a college his doesn’t really like, but is close to home. </p>
<p>By the way, how is the area around Goucher/Towson so far as safety? </p>
<p>Speaking of JHU, my sister went there many moons ago, but I can’t really remember much about Baltimore from my visits, other than the train station had the same name as the NY train station (Penn Station). Unfortunately, JHU is so pricey that I am not likely to show it to my son, and it would be a reach for him anyway. Goucher seems more to his tastes anyway, small, warm, and artsy.</p>
<p>Small, warm and artsy sounds about as far from JHU as you can get! </p>
<p>Good luck to your son, I guess it’s hard to find small warm and artsy near a major airport. Is that the criteria?</p>
<p>No, it’s not about an airport, but about being a reasonable trip either by car or plane.</p>
<p>Warrior123, my daughter is a hs junior this year. She currently attends a residential arts hs. Her first love is ballet but 2 surgeries (the last just a month ago) have discouraged her from the possibility of a professional dance career. She still would like to major in dance but also follow a strong science path with the hope of attending med school to be an orthopedist helping dancers such as herself. This is possible at Goucher? How strong is the ballet program there? I would love to hear more of your daughter’s involvement in dance at Goucher and her dance experience prior to college. Thanks!</p>
<p>We are also planning a Goucher visit in the near future. We have booked a room at the Sheraton Baltimore North. Does anyone have info on a reputable (and reasonable) car rental from the airport?</p>
<p>You can get good info on car rental discounts for most locations at a website called Mousesavers. It’s meant for WDW, but the codes are usually good for most areas. For instance, I just used one for a trip to Las Vegas. Previously I used one for Xmas week and saved a few hundred dollars using one of the codes. It just takes time to try each code at each car rental company’s webpage, but with cut and paste, it’s not hard, just time consuming.</p>
<p>We tried Costco travel and got a airport car rental with Alamo for $213 for nine days. That was well over $180 less than the next best rate that we could find.</p>