<p>Thanks, Bruno. Since you have several friends there, what is your impression of Wheaton?</p>
<p>Also, which do you think it will be easier for him to get into vet school from, and which has the best academic support?</p>
<p>Thank you for the PM, SLUMOM.</p>
<p>From what I understand, vet school is even harder than med school to get in. So I’d say wherever he can keep a 4.0!!</p>
<p>Ursinus is known for science and pre med, so definitely check their post grad stats</p>
<p>I’m having a hard time finding stats for admission to grad school for Ursinus and Wheaton. Any suggestions?</p>
<p>I thought the first year program at Ursinus was better because all freshman have the same curriculum that focuses on the great works (both Western & Eastern) while examining 1. what does it mean to be human? 2. how should we live our lives? 3. what is the universe? and 4. how do we fit into it? Also, in Sept 2012, Ursinus & Columbia were awarded a Mellon Grant to support there continuing efforts for their First Year Programs.
[Mellon</a> Grant Supports Ursinus-Columbia U. Partnership | Ursinus College Press Room](<a href=“http://news.ursinus.edu/2012/academics/mellon-grant-supports-ursinus-columbia-u-partnership/]Mellon”>http://news.ursinus.edu/2012/academics/mellon-grant-supports-ursinus-columbia-u-partnership/)
However, I do not agree that all freshman are placed in separate dorms from the upper-classmen.</p>
<p>Whereas at Wheaton, the student chooses a seminar topic which can range from “The Guitar as Cross-Cultural Matrix” to “From Hell to Hogwarts” to “The Economics of Sports.” There are approx. 30 difference choices. </p>
<p>We attended the Capstone event on Friday and although, I am impressed by the CIE program, I am not so sure of the school overall.</p>
<p>pkdof13 - stats to grad school admission</p>
<p>Ursinus posts their graduate outcomes via this link
[Outcomes</a> - Career - Ursinus College](<a href=“http://www.ursinus.edu/netcommunity/page.aspx?pid=1012]Outcomes”>http://www.ursinus.edu/netcommunity/page.aspx?pid=1012)</p>
<p>As for Wheaton, I have not been able to find much data
This is a bit I found
[SILCS</a> Blog](<a href=“http://wheatoncollege.edu/silcsblog/page/4/]SILCS”>http://wheatoncollege.edu/silcsblog/page/4/)
[The</a> Launch - a portrait of the classes of 2007-2012 - Wheaton College](<a href=“http://thelaunch.wheatoncollege.edu/]The”>http://thelaunch.wheatoncollege.edu/)</p>
<p>This is also a question I have which I will be asking directly to the admissions office.</p>
<p>Ursinus College:
Freshmen Retention: 89%
Graduate in 4 Years: 79%</p>
<p>Wheaton College:
Freshmen Retention: 86%
Graduate in 4 years: 73% </p>
<p>Goucher College:
Freshmen Retention: 81%
Graduate in 4 years: 61.8% </p>
<p>Did not look up Hofstra’s, as it stands out as “one of these things is not like the others”.
(been a long time since I watched Sesame Street) </p>
<p>Always good to compare Freshmen Retention & 4 Year Graduation Percentages.</p>
<p>Thank you STAmum and SLUMOM for the links and stats. Ursinus is looking better all the time to me. What were your concerns STAmum?</p>
<p>Ursinus has a VERY impressive new President. If you haven’t already, watch his bio video on the website. Obviously there are no guarantees, but given the already very solid foundation (including the CIE), I’m guessing that Ursinus is on a very good, upward path.</p>
<p>I sent you a pm with my recommendations as to who to contact at Ursinus. Very has very who go onto Vet school, but the contacts I sent have enough experience to respond to your question (ie - they have been there a while).</p>
<p>If you want to learn more about Bobby Fong, do a Google search. Folks at Butler loved him. He is still “new” to Ursinus and is only the 2nd UC President to come from “outside.” These means some older alum have yet to form an opinion. Bobby is very approachable and his own kids went thru the college process not to long ago.</p>
<p>I can’t speak for @STAmom concerns, but I have friends with a HS junior - their concerns after a visit were related to Greek Life (kid does not want Greek life and they find it more overwhelming then the stats indicate) and that they felt the “sale” of the school could not live up to the delivered product. My alum status aside - I feel every school’s “sales” are geared to top students and not EVERY student. </p>
<p>My advice is to ALWAYS connect with a department of interest directly instead of just admissions. My son (who didn’t apply to UC) was not happy that I forced him to reach out to not only a prof, but if possible, students, in the dept. Students have a narrow view, but they also lack a filter. A good way to see if internships and research are truly available to ALL students.</p>
<p>That is good point, Longhaul, S preferred Wheaton as there is no Greek Life.
If a school had sororities and fraternities, he just was not interested. </p>
<p>My four children have contacted dept. heads via emails in their searches and always got prompt responses and answers to their questions.</p>
<p>Thank you for the additional info. DS now says he doesn’t want to go to vet school, but probably wants to do research in animal behavior/breeding/conservation.</p>
<p>My son has narrowed it down to Wheaton and Ursinus. Which one has the best academic support? Which one would have the best fit for a theatre kid who likes Pokeman video games and Dr. Who?</p>
<p>pkdof13 - You asked what my concerns were…</p>
<p>I went to the Capstone event very impressed with the CIE program and having read Pope’s book, I had high expectations but had still not decided this was “the one.” These are a few of the things that bothered me:</p>
<p>125 students in psych 101 - if there are so many freshman taking this class (supposedly because psych is a popular major), break it down. Ursinus cannot claim small classes when a class like this at a small liberal arts college is taught more like that at a large university with thousands of students.</p>
<p>study abroad - limited to one semester (more with advisor permission)</p>
<p>library - no macs on campus - our guide spent more time in the gym than in the library however perhaps we did not have such a great guide (she did walk forwards instead of backwards as most guides do at other schools)</p>
<p>freshman dorms - nothing to write home about - very institutional with small "walk in closet sized) kitchens and limited common space</p>
<p>The president’s speech was basically what is written in all of the literature whereas he had a chance to really sell the college to us. This was a bit of a let down.</p>
<p>limited access/transportation to Phili</p>
<p>greek system - I had mistakenly thought they did not have one</p>
<p>Wheaton has an admitted students day this week which we are hoping to attend. As it stands, my D is still leaning towards Ursinus (because she does not want to be in MA) as a back up with her fingers crossed that she comes off the wait list at her first choice.</p>
<p>STAmum, my son is now leaning more towards Wheaton, due to the class offerings and just the feeling he had when he visited both schools in August. Please let me know what you think of the Wheaton admitted students day.</p>
<p>pkdof13
Funny, now my D has flipped over to preferring Wheaton (Ursinus isolation and no freshman cars allowed are factors here). Need to visit again and will let you know.</p>