<p>lealdragon:</p>
<p>Check as well what GPA needs to be maintained in order to retain the scholarship. If the GPA is set high, it can create major stress for the student and family.</p>
<p>Good point, thanks!</p>
<p>Son and I are going to visit later this month. We'll write a trip report when we return.</p>
<p>You're going to Westminster??? Were you already planning to do that? What attracted you to it? Please do let me know what you find out!</p>
<p>What attracted my son to it? LOL. First was the location. S is a skier and being close enough to ski on at least weekends was mandatory. Second he didn't want to go east so that left California, Utah, Idaho, New Mexico, Montana, Washington and Colorado with mountains big enough to meet his criteria. The intellectuals on this board are probably rolling their eyeballs at this rationale for college selection! Second was size. Son did not like any colleges that had "roads with cars running all around through them". Would not get out of the car at several large state schools we visited so Westminster had the right "size" factor. Third he wanted a school where he felt/perceived there was a support system. i.e., that the administration was engaged, that the profs were engaged etc. and lastly he wanted a school that had a connection to the "world" i.e., either through a capstone project or through co-op or internships and lastly he liked the "May Term". Now, how he'll feel after he actually steps foot on campus is anyone's guess. But that's how this one "made the list". It made the parent list for all the reasons above plus it is a reasonable price. For a couple years S has toyed with the idea of becoming a high school teacher. He would actually be a good teacher I think. That means most likely graduate school for at least an MA so in his dad's and my mind, undergraduate school is only the first step and he should go where he wants to, where he'll be happy, where he can succeed and where he'll finish....afterall that's the operative word....finish.</p>
<p>So, are you folks sure you mean Westminster College-Utah, or do you mean Westminster College-Pennsylvania? The Pennsylvania school is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church.</p>
<p>There is also a fine school in Missouri by the same name . Westminster College, Fulton, Missouri. Very good on merit aid. Really friendly school.</p>
<p>This is the one in Utah.</p>
<p>Thanks for the info - I'll look forward to hearing how it works out.</p>
<p>Lots of Westminsters. LOL. The one in Salt Lake City - like the one in PA - was affiliated with the Presbyterian Church although I don't believe they still are (affiliated with the Presbyterian Church).</p>
<p>I think this offer for your son is great and a good example of how smaller schools are addressing their longing to have a more diverse student body and to broaden the publics' awareness of schools of this size and potential. It sounds like your son will have an array of interesting offers but I hope he will look closely at this one because it sounds like it could be a great fit. You could probably inquire whether the school would help with travel costs for a visit. Schools often have some funds to help recruited students do this. Good luck with the process and congratulations on your son's accomplishments.</p>
<p>lealdragon, This may be a bit besides the point but your son sounds like an excellent candidate for Franklin Olin College of Engineering in Massachusetts. All admitted students recieve full tuition scholarships and the school is looking for well-rounded studnets with strong interests in the humanities.</p>
<p>The admissions director called our home last night to congratulate my son and offer him a free visit. The school actually sounds good; at least worth considering. I think it would be a good experience for my son to go, so if he wants to, well, why not. We'll see what other offers he gets.</p>
<p>The main problem with this school isn't so much the school but the city. He is very much into music (of the heavy metal variety) and I doubt that there's much of a music scene in such a conservative city.</p>
<p>I'd never heard of Franklin Olin College of Engineering. I think he's decided against engineering, but we'll check it out. Thanks!</p>
<p>Olin is only a few years old. From what I recall Olin was a tough school to get into, high stats (75% students have SATs over 700), also very small (less than 300 total undergrads) but also very highly rated. They do have a combined EE/comp eng major.</p>
<p>Leal...I think there is a poster on these boards at Westminster who is into music. Not sure what kind (of music). He might be able to give better insight into the "kinds" of kids that go to this school. I was reading his posts to get information about Westminster before I booked the trip to Salt Lake City. I think his screen name is Griff311. If I get a chance I'll try to find some of the posts and put links here. I'm sure he would be open to any questions you or your son might have. I know very little about Salt Lake City, but I've heard that Westminster is in a "hipper" area of the city called Sugar House. I guess I'll find out in a week or so.</p>
<p>Thanks again for the info! I will search for his posts. The admissions officer called to talk to my son. He's going to see if the scholarship is still good for 3 years instead of 4 (since my son would be a transfer). He admitted that it would be really silly if they were willing to pay for 4 but not 3 years.</p>
<p>edit: I just searched for Griff311 but it didn't find any.</p>
<p>Olin is new, tiny, and a really awful school. No one should apply there. Forget it. Really -- just don't even think about it. The professors are all meth lab operators and make the students do their production.</p>
<ul>
<li>Rick "Father of a student applying to Olin" Tyler</li>
</ul>
<p>leal....sorry it's 311griff, here's a link from a previous chain</p>
<p>There's plenty of heavy metal in SLC, a good "underground" music scene. When my bro lived there, he was a faithful visitor of the Heavy Metal Shop dowtown. In SLC, there's a good number of conservative Mormons but also a good number of outdoorsy hippy types who came for the mountains and never wanted to leave (In fact, two them are my parents! ;) ). Wetminster is an excellent, excellent area of the city, too. PM me for more info, if you want...</p>
<p>thanks! It's looking better & better!</p>