UPS Experience

<p>Hi
My daughter was recently admitted to the U Puget of Sound and is quite pleased.
We are not from the area and look forward to visiting the campus in April. I would appreciate feedback from those of you who have children studying there. Are you happy with the academic experience? How about socially? There is a larger number of women students than men. Is that an issue? Is there a reason for that? Would you make a different decision now?
Some of my D's other choices in the NW area are U Portland, U of O, Willamette and Gonzaga.
Thank you so much. This is such an important decision and your experiences will help.</p>

<p>My son is a freshman at Puget Sound-- he loves it! He finds it challenging academically but is doing well so far. He has not declared a major yet, but is thinking of exercise science. He has been able to take a wide variety of classes this year as a freshman (typical of most LACs I think) Even though there are more women than men at the school he said he doesn’t notice any imbalance. He is on a coed hall with equal number of women/men, and also on a team with close to equal number women/men. I think most LACs have more women than men, at least the ones my kids looked at. He loves the area-- if you haven’t visited it is in a residential area of Tacoma. Easy to walk to most places, or a good bus system if you want to go farther and don’t have a car. He said he is positive he made the right decision and would pick UPS again. From your list, Willamette would be the most similar to UPS (daughter goes to WIllamette). U of O would be the most different (large state university)</p>

<p>Thanks IdahoMom!
I appreciate your thoughts and the time it took to respond. Any and all information is so helpful to us. One other question - has your son met friends from all over, or is he finding that most of the students are from the Northwest?</p>

<p>Hi-- I looked back at the class info sent and for his class there are about 33% of the students from the Northwest (WA and OR). Also about 30% from CA, so that leaves about a third from other places. From his personal experience he has friends from all over, including Colorado, New Mexico, Macedonia. He said that most everyone stays on campus on weekends, even students who are from the northwest. He is on a sports team, and most of his friends are also on the team, so it might be that they tend to stay on campus more due to practices. One interesting thing I didn’t know before he went-- although I’m sure it is in some information sent-- UPS owns about 60 houses around the edge of campus. A few are special interest houses, but most are available for all students from sophomore year on. He and his friends will be living in one next year. They are all furnished and the lease is just for the academic year, like a dorm room would be. But there is more space, a kitchen, and other nice features you would get living in a house. I don’t know of other schools with this many houses available</p>

<p>I was under the impression that as a LAC goes, there are far more men than at most! 42% male isn’t anything to sneeze at!</p>

<p>I know someone whose daughter goes to UPS and I had emailed her( i knew her daughter liked it when she was a freshman but wasn’t sure a year later!). Here was her response:
I am so excited for him! It’s the most perfect for my sophomore daughter,
who has made great friends, loves her professors and classes. They are all
so personal and I love all the family involvement they have. She also loves
the area for walks, snowboarding, etc. and gets excited when it snows there.
She is home now for spring break trying to soak in some sun before she goes
back. If you,or your son want to talk, give us a call at:</p>