Well, do you like it there?

<p>Redlands keeps sneaking to the top of my senior's list. Anybody care to comment about their/their child's experience with this school?</p>

<p>We visited in the fall, she's been accepted, and so many things seem to be a great fit for her. Yes, she's gotten into schools with more name recognition, prestige, etc., but she keeps whispering "Rosebud" er, I mean, "Redlands." Before she signs on the line, I'd love to have a little more input from current families. How are the profs and classes? Are kids bored or busy on the weekends? Are the students engaged and excited about their classes? Blase and complacent? Drunk and sleepy? Just asking....</p>

<p>Thanks...</p>

<p>My son was accepted as well and will go on an overnight visit in a couple of weeks. So far Redlands is his top choice. I’d be interested in hearing from current students also.</p>

<p>I just returned from visiting a friend who attends Redlands, and I kinda fell in love with the place and the people so I’m definitely applying there for transfer (currently attending CC in MD). The environment is relaxed but people still care about their studies and classes. Most of the classes are discussion based rather then lectures so it makes classes more interesting and every student can contribute some input and ideas.
Although the campus is small and the city of Redlands is small there is definitely a lot to do on the weekends.
Just remember that schools with name recognition do not always mean happy students. If she likes it there and find it socially fitting than why not?
Hope this helped!</p>

<p>Thanks for your post, 45days.</p>

<p>I’m going to put you on the spot: do you think there is a “typical” Redlands student, and if so, how would you describe him/her? Did you get the sense that students are excited and engaged in class, and that they are serious about school? Do you think students are proud to be going to Redlands and feel good about their educations? We’ve visited, so I think I have a pretty good picture of the surroundings, although we didn’t spend any time in the town. Did you? Do students go into “town” for any reason, or tend to stay around campus? Did you find enough to do on the weekends to keep you busy? </p>

<p>I guess what I’m hoping for is a bunch of kids who care about school, and also have some outside interests that keep them occupied on weekends: sports, either through the school, or outdoor interests like skiing, hiking, etc., or music, either performing or making an effort to hear good music, and so on. We were only there for a morning, and while it felt right, it’s so hard to judge in such a short visit…</p>

<p>I agree with you 100 percent that name recognition is meaningless in comparison to simply spending four years in the company of friends and teachers who challenge, inspire and just accompany you through the undergrad years. Congratulations on matching at Redlands. </p>

<p>I appreciate any other thoughts you might have. Your impressions are as relevant to me as anything I’ll ever find on the website :)</p>

<p>I spent most of my time on Johnston complex (Johnston is Redlands’ design-your-own-major program), but still I got to meet so many types of people. I guess a lot of them were the indie/bohemian type, but there are certainly many people from other walks of life. Still, everyone is very open to meet new people and to make new connections.
Most of the students I met, especially sophomores and upperclassmen are very driven and know what they want from their education. As I said, most classes are small discussion-based classes so they truly give an opportunity for every student to engage in class, share opinions, and grasp the material. Students there are definitely happy to be going there.
As far as surroundings are concerned, there are many restaurants and several shopping centers that can be reached with the campus shuttle, so it is not much of a problem. Students tend to go to town in the evening, thursday night is probably the busiest night there because of market night (they have the best strawberries!). There is also a farmers market every other saturday morning right next to campus.
Students usually only travel on the weekends. Some even organize skiing and hiking trips. If you have a car you can drive to the beach (about 1.5 hours away), or even Vegas (3ish hours?, not sure) but that doesn’t happen that often. From what I heard there are some intramural sports, as well as teams -they are division III though. When I went there there was a small concert on campus of a few good bands, and the night after we went to see a band from the school play in a bar in Riverside (15 minutes away). Some people go as far as LA, and San Diego to see some good bands.
A small thing that did bother me a little was that there was a lot of smoking going on on-campus). Drinking: a little on the weekend.</p>

<p>45, thanks so much. You know, its funny you’d mention the smoking- I saw a couple of girls smoking cigars (big stogies!!) while we were visiting. I always chalk that stuff up to freshman experimentation, but maybe it’s a more serious trend…</p>

<p>Everything else you’re saying about Redlands fits with our impressions- I like the “indie-bohemian” description. That kind of describes my daughter, and that’s probably why she felt so at home there. She didn’t have time to sit in on a class, and that’s why I was most curious about the classroom vibe. Just wanting to make sure there’s something under the surface. </p>

<p>Aside: she did not feel a fit at Chapman or Loyola Marymount, maybe because more of the students were more typically wearing uncomfortable shoes and looked like they were on their way to some sort of audition…not her type at all. I hate to generalize too quickly, though, because these impressions are based on such a limited amount of information.</p>

<p>Thanks again for taking the time to write a Why Redlands? essay for me. I appreciate it.</p>

<p>My son is currently a freshman at Redlands. He enjoys the size of the school and access to the profs and advisors. This was a key factor in him deciding to attend. He did have trouble getting his class requests for Spring Terms but was able to speak with his advisor and offered suggestions. He was even allowed to take a 300 level class. That speaks volumes as a parent. Redlands offers a wonderful outdoor program to get involved and meet others on the weekends. If you love the outdoors, and like small classes with access to profs. and advisors this may be what you are looking for.</p>

<p>Thanks for the posts, 45days and lohiker.</p>

<p>Son graduated from Redlands in 08 and is now a grad student there. He is a music performance major.</p>

<p>Husband was with son at Redlands for his first tour and interview when he was HS senior. I remember H calling me at work and saying “he likes it”. I had encouraged son to schedule Redlands visit early in process so that it would be a practice for other interviews. He liked Redlands and they liked him. Husband was surprised that they call parents into the interview at the end. </p>

<p>Son has had great experiences. He has been to countless professors homes for dinner etc. We live close enough to attend his performances. The school is still small enough for many professors and staff to know which parents belong to which student. I do not believe son has ever had a problem getting a class, but the school is getting larger with each year. </p>

<p>Food is pretty good, choices nice. The city is full of U of R alums and fans. Son had never had a problem finding something to do or someone to hang out with. He has met some great people. He has stayed long enough to see good and bad–it is the real world and “politics”, etc are involved in the real world. We usually go to cafe for coffee before performances. The students seem to be nice, can’t remember any rude kids. There is alcohol, but my guess it will be found every campus. I will have to look for smoking next time. Son has several Johnston friends and I think he would have fit in there well.</p>

<p>I found the Univ to be nurturing. Soph year son sent me email that he had been to health center, had bronchitis was going to check with professor, get RX and oh by the way…his phone was broken. I couldn’t contact him via land line but I was able to contact health center. Health center couldn’t give me info but they were able to contact son and get permission to let me know his condition. Health center also had son call me. I don’t know if the school is still small enough for this, but I do think the staff is still dedicated to the student.</p>

<p>Redlands community hospital is close and most students are sent there when health center is closed. Loma Linda Medical Center is close for anything really major.</p>

<p>Feel free to pm me</p>

<p>At last! The conversation I’ve been hoping for … this forum had been quiet for so long that I’d stopped checking it. My daughter has been accepted at Redlands and is very interested. She had a great visit with an admissions rep at her school and came home quite jazzed about it.</p>

<p>Has anyone received a merit award? We’ve heard nothing from them since the single page acceptance letter arrived in December. She also applied for a scholarship and nothing about that either … Her other schools have been much more attentive.</p>

<p>riverrunner, my D also considered Chapman and LMU and eliminated them based on fit worries, as well. Thanks for starting the thread and thanks to all for the information offered. Very helpful. We’ll probably visit in April.</p>

<p>My son received the Achievement and Presidential awards. The admissions rep had originally told him that award letters would go out two weeks after admission letters, but it turned out to be more like a month. There’s another CC mom whose daughter is still waiting on hers, and her admissions letter was received before my son’s if I remember correctly.</p>

<p>My son was accepted at Chapman and Whittier, but has doubts about both of them, fit-wise. Redlands seems like a good place for him. He’s going to do an overnight there in February during his President’s week break.</p>

<p>Another school he’s applied to (seeing as you’re from the Seattle area) is University of Puget Sound. He hasn’t visited there yet.</p>

<p>We’re waiting on UPS as well. We went to a fall admissions event there and were quite charmed by it.</p>

<p>Well just a note. Son’s graduate recital is in a few minutes. Univ president & wife stopped by. They know son and wanted to support him. They are staying. Don’t know how many univ you will get that.</p>

<p>lamom, that is wonderful. I wish there was more buzz about this school.</p>

<p>Hope your son’s recital goes (went) well!</p>

<p>about merit aid: my daughter got the acceptance a couple of weeks ago, and then the merit award a few days later. Same awards as vballson. If they both end up at R, we may need to orchestrate something.</p>

<p>D is still waiting to hear on a couple of admissions departments, but Redlands just seems like the place for her. She loves to hike, ski, rock climb, play her guitar, and is a very good student. She also loves warm weather and friendly, unpretentious kids. We had a very positive visit, and she had a relaxed, encouraging interview. Acceptance letter included a personal note about her primary essay. This is our family’s second time through college match, so my intuition is improving. I’m impressed with Redlands, both as a match for my daughter, and in their attention to detail and concern for current and prospective students.</p>

<p>I like the academic schedule- looks like lots of opportunity for enrichment through travel or intensive seminar learning in the late spring block. I like the freshman advising on coursework that takes place after they arrive on campus: no expectation that they’ll know exactly what to take first semester, without guidance. Also like the culture of most/many students living on campus all four years.</p>

<p>Unexpected bonus: we had some time to kill before our on-campus appointment so we drove 15 minutes to the State Park on the way to Big Bear. We stopped at the ranger station to get a map and find out about local hiking. Met the NICEST park ranger ever, who understood D was a prospective Redlands student and talked at length about easy access from the school, and also about some joint programming between the park and the school. This was sort of a “seal the deal” moment for her…</p>

<p>digdig, I expect it will get discovered soon enough. I had read about Redlands in Fiske a couple of years ago, and was intrigued. It’s one of the few western LACs they ranked highly.</p>

<p>lamom, I’m enjoying your posts. Love to hear the admins know the students. Very good sign.</p>

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<p>I can just hear vballson’s eyeballs roll back in his head as he contemplates the possibility of his mom setting him up.</p>

<p>^^vball, it’s very important that we keep them off balance as long as possible. If they begin to think they are in control, all is lost :)</p>

<p>Recital was great. Husband is always a basket case when son has solo performances. The recital is really a formality, pre-recital is where they decide if you are progressing and will be allowed a recital.
It was rainning rather hard at times last night. Husband was worried about turnout. It was well attended on a rainy Tuesday evening. A few other professors attended. The students are all very supportive of each other. Son introduced me to a feshman trumpet student who reminded me of my son as a freshman. Eager,sweet excited. It was great seeing students we have known for the past 6 yrs- some grads came last night. Got lots of hugs and caught up on good news–jobs, update on other parents. It was exciting president and wife came- they are so nice-complimented us on son, seem to know the students by name. Redlands has been a good fit for son.</p>

<p>I think I lost control somewhere around their freshman year of HS, but thanks for the thought, riverrunner :)</p>