<p>University of Maryland
University of Delaware
University of Connecticut
University of Vermont
Ithaca College</p>
<p>I have visited each of the campuses. I loved each college, although I never got that gut feeling that told me I had to go to a specific one over all the others- I can tell I'd be happy at any one of them. However, I would be very interested in hearing about the good AND bad aspects of these colleges from current students or alums. If you visited, go to or have gone to one of these schools, tell me how you liked it there. Maybe I'm just cynical but I'm especially interested in hearing the bad aspects. By the way, I am currently thinking of majoring in Biology, although I could definitly see that changing in the future. Thanks a lot.</p>
<p>I visited Ithaca, but not the rest of them. The people there seemed very nice, and I'm sure you know the school is strong with music and communications. The town is really nice too. If you go back make sure to have a meal at Benchwarmers on the commons. What I didn't like was that they did not seem very accomodating to undecided majors and switching majors.</p>
<p>I am a sophmore at UVM and find the education sufficent. My pet peeve is the enormous out of state tuition, which I do not think validates the education. I am politicial Science/Music majour and the upper division courses in the subject are quite good, I find the music program gravitates towards jazz. A biology majour at UVM is highly regarded, due in large part to the medical school and the amount of research.
Best of Luck!</p>
<p>DD is a junior at UD, in the Honors program, and loves it. In HS she was always kind of a square peg in a round hole, and was worried that college would be more of the same, but she's had no trouble finding plenty of like-minded people. The campus is beautiful, the dorms that she has lived in have been comfortable, the food is generally good, and there's always something to do if you're bored. She doesn't drink, by choice, and that hasn't been an issue for her. Her biggest complaint about the school is its lack of diversity, that and the fact that she views much of the student body as being "Abercrombie & Fitch clones", but she would have complained about A&F kids anywhere (she's not what you'd consider concerned with style). Academically, she's worked very hard and has been challenged fairly consistently. There have been a couple of profs she hopes to never see again, and several others that she thinks walk on water, but I expect you find that at most schools. I know that the Bio. dept. is excellent, one of her best friends is a bio major, but most of the UD science programs are well respected. If you'd have any interest in speaking directly with her, let me know and I'll pass on her contact info. Good luck in the decision-making process!</p>
<p>Marcyr, I noticed your message re. your D's experience at UD. My S. has been accepted and is waiting to hear whether he'll be in Honors (because it didn't come with the acceptance letter, he's feeling negative). Right now it's down to Beloit in WI and UDel. Two schools that couldn't be more different, but both have East Asian Studies. He too is a sqaure peg, thus Beloit is a great fit. But he's feeling like staying in the Mid-Atlantic near his friends who are all in schools in the vicinity (though not at UDel) is a better choice. What do you think of a quiet kid, who definitely isn't the Abercrombie type, and who may not get into Honors at UDel?? Thanks for your thoughts.</p>
<p>A lot of positives to U of Del. especially the Honors Program where you live your Freshman year in a beautiful dorm right on the center "quad". We visited and thought the campus was immaculate and the little town they can walk to was an advantage as well as the quick train ride to Phila., NYC, or D.C. I did hear a couple of negatives from a parent who had a son in a dorm where the partying was out of control and involved mid night pranks where HAZMAC crews had to come in. Our s was accepted into ther Honors Program w/ half tuition merit scholarship as an out of stae student but chose an urban environmnet instead but I though Delaware was an excellent school and worth consideration. After you get your acceptance letters attend the specail days for accepted students in April to get a better feel of the incoming class.</p>