<p>Now that the decision date has passed, give some input as to why you chose Villanova. Who did you turn down?</p>
<p>hate to start this on a down-note, but i picked nova mostly because I was waitlisted to my top choices...</p>
<p>I did turn down BC and penn state schreyers though, Nova's draw was definitely Philadelphia, I've been looking to get out of MA and PSU is a bit too "middle of nowhere" for me</p>
<p>My D turned down Holy Cross, Miami of Ohio, Marquette, Tulane, Lehigh, Santa Clara, and Providence.</p>
<p>Villanova had the right combination of size, proximity to a major city, and very warm kids who seemed to have a strong sense of service and community that appealed to her. Also, as she is coming from a large midwestern city she liked the fact that not everybody would be from her high school. The greek system (present but not a driving force) and the class sizes were also a draw.</p>
<p>My son accepted VSB over NYU Stern, BC, BU, Fordham, UConn and UFlorida. He thought VSB was a good fit and we were both impressed at accepted students' day in February.</p>
<p>I was accepted to Villanova, but chose CUA instead. The University of Delaware was my 1st choice school - but I was waitlisted by them. I was lucky enough to be removed an accepted by UD so that is here I am going.</p>
<p>I liked Villanova, and was so grateful that they accepted me and offered a nice merit award, but CUA seemed a better fit initially since I was waitlisted by UD.</p>
<p>I decided to choose Villanova because i was waitlisted @ my #1 school- Wash U and I haven't heard anything from them. Plus Villanova paid my entire tuition, so no loans for me!!!!!!!!!!!</p>
<p>My D has suddenly gotten interested in Villanova, after seeing her second cousin (my cousin's daughter) at her HS grad party. Cousin is going to Villanova for engineering (biomedical, I think) - turned down a bunch of others, including Duke, Johns Hopkins, Maryland, Columbia, Notre Dame, Carnegie Mellon. The only one she liked better was Notre Dame, but it offered no merit aid and the distance was an issue (she's from near Baltimore). </p>
<p>Anyway, my D's interest in getting some visits done was spurred, and Villanova is one that we have set a visit to in a couple of weeks. We've already done 8-10 visits and have learned some of the things she likes or doesn't like. She is looking for a medium size of 4,000 - 10,000 or so, likes suburban/small town/rural and definitely does not want urban, not stuck on status symbol value of the school's name (sort of anti-Ivy and Ivy wannabes) but instead is most interested in a good fit. She is unsure of major, perhaps communications/journalism, perhaps some sort of engineering or math or physics, or perhaps something else that she learns about once she gets there. In other words, the school needs to have a wide variety of good programs so that she has options, which her mother and I completely agree with. So, unless she has an epiphany over the next few months, engineering schools (RPI et al) and small LACs are probably out.</p>
<p>Villanova sounds like a good fit (except for the cost!). I just want to get some perspectives on it from current students, alums, parents, etc. What is great about it? What is not so great? What about Villanova turned out to be as you thought it would be? And what surprised you, both negatively and positively? </p>
<p>Thanks for any info you can provide!</p>
<p>i just finished my freshmen year at villanova
i chose it - and now i love it- because of the students
there is a great sense of community and everyone is harworking but knows how to have fun
there are so many activities there will be something for everyone
i have friends who do the paper, cultural clubs, campus activities team, liturgical ministry, service trips, greek life etc
villanova has something for everyone and i couldnt imagine going anywhere else</p>
<p>I love Villanova for a variety of reasons. First of all, I love the students. They are extremely mature and accepting of others. I love the fact that Villanova is not 100% party school, but not 100% focused on academics either. The students at Villanova know how to have fun, but they know when it's time to buckle down and do some serious studying as well. Everyone seems very accepting of other people's lifestyle choices as well. If you do not want to drink - there is no pressure. If you have a test you need to study for and there is also a party going on - there is no pressure to go to that party. The students I have encountered throughout my first year there were very welcoming, understanding, and accepting. I also love that Villanova is so service-oriented. I've always dreamt of having a job that would enable me to help people, and hopefully, change someone's life for the better. Villanova helps me to do this. With their amazing programs like Rays of Sunshine, Bigs & Littles, and Habitat for Humanity, you are given a plethora of opportunities ot help people of all ages. I was also impressed that when Spring Break rolled around, a lot of the students opted to go on mission trips to places where poverty had struck very hard to help replenish neighborhoods & communities as opposed to drinking on Miami Beach. As far as academics go ... they are superb. I am an undeclared major in the Liberal Arts college, so I know how your D must feel. There are SO many options at Villanova. Not only does the Liberal Arts college offer over 30 majors, minors, and concentrations, but internal transfers are very doable! (By internal transfer I mean being a student in the Liberal Arts college one year, and transferring to the college of nursing the next) ... I also love the school spirit. While basketball is by far the most popular sport on campus, it's also fun to go to other sporting events as well! There is never a boring day at Villanova. I love how I feel very safe & secure in the quiet suburban setting of Radnor Township, but I am only a trolley ride away from Philadelphia where there are many places to eat, shop, be entertained, etc. (I'm sorry I am rambling but I grew up surrounded by Villanova alumni - so this stuff has kind of been branded into me since birth) ... I am also a very big fan of freshman housing. It's true that other colleges allow you to live in suites your freshman year, or even pick which dorm you would like to reside in, but I find those situations very impersonable. Villanova houses the vast majority of freshman together on South Campus. I was in Katharine Hall my freshman year and was very pleased with the living arrangements! They also have something called "Learning Communities". Learning Communities basically put people who have the same interests on the same floor in the same hall. They also are in the same ACS class for the fall & spring semesters. (ACS is the required freshman seminar class). The Career Services department is also TOP OF THE LINE! My sister just graduated from Villanova in 2007, and she had nothing but good news about Career Services. They really prepared her for the "real world" and even got her a killer internship with Goldman Sachs! Sorry about the ranting! Best of luck!</p>