<p>Not that it isn’t obvious, but I’d still try the “go with an open mind” admitted student day thing. S1 was admitted to UVM Honors College EA. Still waiting for aid info to be able to make a decision. We attended the Fall Open house.<br>
IMHO campus “felt” much smaller than its stated size. Very friendly, down to earth. Lot of fun loving people. I would think the feel of UVM is quite different than the feel of a very Catholic campus (but I wouldn’t know )</p>
<p>Whether UVM was a safety, match or extreme reach is immaterial - he’s IN. Many congratulations!</p>
<p>UVM is an inceasingly popular school . We have a friend’s son who is there as a graduating senior, and loves it. He is pre-med and has had outstanding opportunities at the Medical Center and is hopeful to be accepted for med school there. Burlington is great, only 2 hrs or less from a weekend in Montreal… Jet Blue flies there, skiing, nice campus…I am confused about the waitlist school - Providence College or Bryant-two very different schools in the same city.</p>
<p>CTMom, your S sounds like he didn’t find his academic mojo until junior year, much like my D. Speaking from experience, I’d guess that by now, he has moved on SO far from where he was as a 9th or 10th grader that he doesn’t even remember that person. This may be why UVM felt like a safety for him. My D has a similar feeling about her safety - just has NO interest in it.</p>
<p>I’d urge him to visit and stay overnight at UVM, rather than stay with your other son on another campus. So much of how kids feel about a place is related to whether they feel like the other kids there are “their kind of people”. He may have a great experience, make lots of new friends on an overnight and really turn this around.</p>
<p>The other thing I wanted to mention is that perhaps this isn’t for 4 years…people do transfer. Perhaps another solid academic year will make those other schools more interested?</p>
<p>My son’s good friend from high school is at Bryant. He loves it. It is a totally different feel than UVM or PC. Since it is a business school, there is that aspect to consider. He may be very comfortable there since he is considering business as his major. The campus is suburban and modern. It is not far to Providence as you know. I agree with a visit to Bryant and to UVM. Now is the time for him to see where he is most comfortable. Any of his choices would be a fine choice.</p>
<p>I always tend to consider flagship state schools as having more prestige than similarly ranked privates. This is because many, many top students in a given state attend their flagship state unis due to cost and locale considerations, regardless of its “rank”. UVM is probably chock full of valedictorians for this reason, whereas similarly ranked privates are most likely not. </p>
<p>Why? Well if they could afford a private, they’d likely have applied to and gotten into better ones, and would choose those instead. </p>
<p>I am not saying NO top students go to Providence or Bryant, that’s not true for sure. Some top students, of course, would choose an equivalent private over a state uni due to size considerations (state uni is too big) if they received, for example, a scholarship, but could not receive said scholarship at a more prestigous private. That seems to be a more specific minority however.</p>
<p>I’d generally imagine a higher percentage of students at UVM were top performers in high school for that reason.</p>
<p>I know many Providence College alumni and my impression is extremely favorable; so much so that I dare say they are among the most impressive group of graduates of any particular college who Ive met. Most went on to medical, law or business school and they are highly successful members of the local community. </p>
<p>The environment seems very supportive lots of engagement between professors and students and a big commitment to service projects and school activities. The student body is extraordinarily engaged in college life. I know several current students at PC and it was clearly their top choice school not a back-up school at all and it is evident that they absolutely love it. Most of them were at the top of their high school class and they are all motivated, engaged kids.</p>
<p>There is a strong faith-based culture at PC, and Im not sure how this would feel for a non-Catholic, but if your student feels that is a good choice, he would probably be very happy there.</p>
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