These two are the last ones standing.
Poli Sci or Psychology major- pre-law interest.
Tulane is $6000/yr more expensive.
Biggest concern about Tulane is the BIG party focus-we have friends who attend-…and the city is quite overwhelming and …maybe “gritty” is the word my D used.
U Richmond seems kind of quiet and maybe small? (It WAS a Saturday)…
Is the “lake” at Richmond always muddy looking, and the grass kind of dead?
Just got back from a visit and, though it was very nice, it wasn’t as “pristine” as everyone here says.
The accepted student day seemed filled with kids who already know each other, so my daughter had a difficult time connecting.
Is that typical?
Can’t comment on Tulane, but re, Richmond, we attended an accepted student day that was on a Monday. The way they set up the program, the parents and kids stayed together pretty much the whole time. So, my S didn’t connect with kids either. He did sit in on a class though where all the kids actually talked to him and included him - a first for sitting in on a class. If he hasn’t, your S might look into this major if he’s interested in law - philosophy, politics, economics and law - my son came out raving about the class, major, and professors (2 in small discussion based class). We didn’t know about the major beforehand, but it made a huge impact on S (he’s a 5 yr mock trialer who’d been considering premed until he sat in on the ppel class). We thought the campus was very pretty (didn’t notice lake being muddy). But S wished he got a better feel for the kids. The ones touring just stuck with parents, as did my S. He wouldnt know a soul if he goes; I don’t think anyone from our state had attended Richmond, lol. How easily does your S make friends?
S and I attended an accepted students day last week at UR. @lalalander111, I really did find it to be pristine–aesthetically, everything seemed off-the-charts perfect. Our concern was that, even though it was a Monday, things seemed kind of quiet and low-energy. But I think that’s really a personal choice: One person’s quiet and low-energy is another person’s peaceful and nurturing. UR seems like a very fine place with much to offer.
@decision18 I’d also like to throw in there that typically, campus quiets down a bit more before finals. This week and the past week were final tests, projects, etc. and we have finals next week. A lot of times in the forum (across from the Gottwald Science Center) you will see events going on, and people are always tabling for clubs/events inside the Tyler Haynes Commons in between classes. It’s definitely a more mellow mood in my opinion before finals, but it’s never “too mellow” for me if that makes sense.
@havenoidea @lalalander111 I don’t know if they’ve changed the accepted students day a lot from last year, but when I went, we were divided into different groups with various color wristbands. We had 2-3 current students who played different icebreaker games with us, and we also asked them different questions about the university. I think that lasted for about an hour or so? As for the lake, it is beautiful when the sun shines on it, but you definitely do not want to swim in it lol. As I mentioned in the paragraph above, I think the vibe you may have gotten is a cross between finals being near and it’s a Saturday, which means people are either sleeping, studying, or were at one of the last parties of the year. Most likely a combination of both. I’d be more than happy to answer any questions you have about the university in general. UR does a wonderful job during orientation of helping new students meet their fellow peers, professors, administrators, upperclassmen, etc. I still talk to all of my orientation advisors and a lot of the people in my orientation group. If you decide to come to UR, definitely apply for the Roadmap Program. It is a unique experience. I participated in it, and I think it helped me connect with even more people. https://roadmap.richmond.edu/
My husband and daughter just returned to CA from the Richmond accepted student day.
They also confirmed there was little mingling between students except for the classroom experience-which was great.
Over-all, my daughter was impressed with the school and excited about the unique opportunities at UR.
I think she is ready to commit!
@lalalander111 sorry, meant your daughter…
They get a lot of kids from Jersey but for the most part, the student body is from everywhere. Very large number of kids the only one from their school. My eldest didn’t know anyone at admitted students day 4 years ago (we are west coasters.) My son went yesterday and he only knew his sister who sat in with him.
I know the weather has been kind of funky there. They had snow very recently which probably made the grass and lake a bit shabby. Generally, that’s not the case though.
I believe it is a quieter campus partially because it’s spread out over a lot of acreage. My eldest likes it and my son is committing when he gets home so he must like it too.
@ lalalander111 Another thing I’d say is that at UR the students have relationships with professors day 1. Very high touch (if that’s the term) school vs Tulane. For my kid, that attention drives him. And, there’s the 4K guarantee and lots of other perks. Also, if she’s thinking pre law, DC is 2 hrs by train, and kids do summer internships there. Each child is different though. You’re choosing between a liberal arts school (albeit with unique features) and a midsize university (in a party town).
Another observation my daughter had about UR is that the library was not impressive-she commented that it was on the level of our county library…not so good.
Apparently, she plans on spending a lot of time there.
Her guide told her that “people really don’t study here”.
I think she was expecting a more classic “collegiate” library feel.
Are there other cool places to study?
Are there plans to upgrade the existing library?
Definitely not a deal breaker but seems to be important to her.
@havenoidea what is ppel class and relationship to premed?
concern for Univ of Richmond: Is it too small where everything gets old after a year
how do to the fraternities work? how do the lodges work? do they go there daily or is it just an occasional outing? does each fraternity have their own lodge?
@lalalander111 I’m not sure why the library wasn’t impressive? Did she realize how many floors there are? There’s three main floors plus two basement floors for a grand total of 5 floors. Many of the books are in the basement (that’s where the rolling stacks are), so if she didn’t go down there, she didn’t get the full picture. This includes media and technology resource centers (with DVD collections and recording equipment), silent areas, and both individual and group study rooms that can be reserved. There’s also an extensive online collection, plus we have a separate music library with texts related to music, dance, theater, etc, plus music scores and CDs.
I can’t speak for @havenoidea but I think they were saying that sitting in on a PPEL class made their student change from premed to prelaw. As was mentioned above, PPEL stands for philosophy, politics, economics, and law, and is a very interdisciplinary major encompassing courses from all four disciplines. It is a popular major, especially among those considering law school.
Fraternities typically only go to the lodges at the end of the week, when they host parties. The lodges are specific to each fraternity but are non-residential. Students involved in Greek life live in the dorms, apartments, etc, with everyone else.
Someone else above asked about the lake. It’s usually really clear. It’s been raining a lot lately, along with it getting hotter, which has contributed to its muddiness. They do clean it every summer as well, so it’s approaching that time.
@lalalander111 just keep in mind that tour guides are generally just students who have their own perspectives on everything. It could be that He/she doesn’t use the library. My eldest is a senior Journalism major and uses the library constantly and with her friends. At times, she checks out study rooms alone or with friends. On a nice day, she studies outside and there are lots of nice places to do that. Middle child just committed to UR and didn’t have issue with the library.
As to whether the campus gets old after a year, I think you would find that after the first year the students start exploring and interning in the city more.
Our D applied ED to UR and EA to Tulane and was offered admission to both.
Since UR was her top choice, we were thrilled. Our family is familiar with the Richmond area and although it’s a long distance from our current home, we definitely think she made the right choice. She and I visited the UR during her high school’s Fall break during her senior year, and we were very impressed. Because we live so far away, we were unable to make it to the admitted student days.
She is completing her junior year at UR and is doing great. We recommend UR’s Roadmap to Success program for incoming Freshmen. It allowed our D to move into her dorm early and beat the crowds. My wife and I also participated in a Parent’s Orientation program while our D was in the Roadmap program.
My impression of the library was that it did seem much smaller than the others we’d seen at similarly sized schools. And, closing at 10pm, and earlier some nights, seemed odd to me.The common areas in the dorms were small as well, so that’s not where they study. Maybe they all have quiet roommates or go to the science building (open 24hrs)?
That said, I think my S is going to pick Richmond. PPEL and leadership studies are 2 programs not offered elsewhere. And with all the available internships, great faculty, roadmap and.close mentorship, and extra perks, plus being close to the Amtrak station (we live far away too, but he could visit extended family on breaks), it seems like a good fit.
Just want to clarify about the library. The second and third floors close at night. However, the main floor (and I believe also the basements… but you’d have to check) are open 24/7. You have to present your student ID to get in “after hours” though.
Most people study in their rooms or in their favorite academic building. The vast majority of the academic buildings lock at midnight, but majors and minors (plus some people taking classes in the subject) of the department(s) housed in that building have 24/7 card swipe access to the building, as well as door code access to specific rooms that are kept locked (makeup room, dance studios, computer lab, electronics lab, etc). Personally, because I am a math and CS major, and a dance and music minor, I have after hours access to jepson hall, most of the computer labs, both music buildings (ones under construction so we’re spread around campus), most of the modlin center for performing arts (including all the dance studios, the acting studio, design lab, and the script library), gottwald (the science building), and I had to recently turn in my keys (semester winding down) that I had that unlocked the recital hall, choir room, and the few pianos on campus that are kept locked (most are unlocked).
As others have said, Roadmap is a fantastic program and a great way for a frosh to meet “their people” The mini-class is an ideal way to target like interests so I highly recommend choosing a course where your kid thinks it most likely to meet future friends rather than explore an academic interest (those those two could well overlap). My kid loves music and loves to listen to and talk about music with friends, but had no intention of majoring in music. By choosing a Roadmap course about music he found himself surrounded by the people who became his core group.
Can’t say enough about his first year experience at UR. Really transformed him from a closed-off, face-in-the-laptop, AP machine to a socially self-confident, well-rounded and happy kid. I really hope that’s the kid who comes home next week for the summer.