My D has been accepted EA to several great LAC on the east coast. Last minute she threw in two bigger state schools and has found out she’s accepted at UK.
We have not visited, I don’t know all that much about it but as she’s an avid equestrian and she’d be in the heart of horse country, I think she might like the location. However, what is it like academically, anyone with any experience to share?
She’s a NHS student, going in undecided. My biggest question is how does a much bigger school help an undecided student find their path?
Former VA and former Lexington resident here.
“Horse country” means ‘race-horse’ in KY. It is a completely different world from what Virginia people think of as horse country! UKy does have several teams (dressage / eventing / etc), but she should do some investigating to see if they compete at the level she is used to. If she is interested in equine fields (esp medicine!) UK is as good as it gets.
If she really has no idea what she wants to do it will be harder- but that will be true anywhere. If she is a go-getter (willing to take initiative, to talk to profs, ask questions, figure the systems out), she could be the kind of star that gets all kinds of support. I have known 2 UKy students who were in that position, who went on to do advanced degrees and were quite happy with their experience. I know a 3rd who got a bit lost and took a while to find herself again.
It is a big sprawling campus, with huge school spirit (basketball is nearly a religion). Lexington itself is a tiny dot of blue in a deep-red state, and 70% of students are in-state.
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I don’t know how UK compares to LAC’s, and I’m not familiar with the inner workings of the university, but I can give you perspective as a UK alum and parent.
The campus has been remade in the last 15 years. New dorms, academic buildings, student center, rec center, cafeterias, and on-campus research hospital. The facilities are as nice as I have seen. Also, a nice Kroger nearby for cooking ingredients, if a student is so inclined.
North campus is near downtown Lexington, and has an urban vibe. South campus is a little more spread out with more green space and a suburban feel. I don’t know anything about equine studies, but am guessing those may be off-campus. Probably not too far away, as Lexington isn’t huge (300,000 people). Compared to a place like Ohio State, UK has a much smaller feel.
Academically, UK will be what a student makes of it. It’s not going to have the highest incoming test scores compared to other flagships, but a lot of that is reflective of KY being fairly rural and poor, with many students not having as much incoming preparation. They are just a little early in their academic development, IMO. But plenty of future doctors focusing on GPA and MCAT prep.
I don’t know any specifics of what UK may offer to undecided students, but there is a wide array of options and forced mixing with other students to help the process.
Financial aid has dramatically shifted in recent years from mostly merit-based to need-based. Historically, there have been many students from Ohio, Chicago area, and Atlanta area, but I haven’t tracked to see if those numbers have gone down with the financial aid strategy shift. If you’re curious about this, or any other data: Student Data | Institutional Research, Analytics, and Decison Support
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This made me chuckle a bit. D20 attends a SLAC in the northeast and also went in undecided. She loved the idea of sampling different departments. So far, she has wanted to be an English, Econ, Anthropology, Int’l Relations, museum studies and history major. The problem is she has to formally declare her major and choose an advisor in 18 days and she is no closer to making a decision today than she was in August 2020. Don’t convince yourself (or her) that a LAC helps an undecided student find their path because the bottom line is that responsibility will always fall to the student.
Not sure if the size of UK will help your daughter decide on a major, but I was very impressed with the school. Didn’t know much about the school before my DS and DD both applied, and were accepted, but did at least 3 campus tours and had discussions with advisors. Came away convinced the school is committed to their students and provides very good guidance and support. The honors college was a big draw for us as well with many professional development opportunities.
UK finished as second choice for both of my kids (ended up at U Michigan) but would have been thrilled if they chose Kentucky. I have two friends with children attending now and they are both very happy.
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