<p>I’m looking for some current student’s opinios of campus life and academics at Assumption. I’ve been reading some reviews from students on various websites and this is what I’m getting:</p>
<p>courses aren’t challenging enough
very ‘cliquey’
nothing to do on campus on the weekends
off campus transportation only Fridays and Saturdays
secluded campus
unsafe (assault? sexual assault?)
kids only go here because they are getting alot of merit $
no school spirit
low attendance at athletic events</p>
<p>So far, this is the only college that is looking good, financially, for my D. But we can’t base it only on the cost…we’d be willing to spend a few thousand $ more/year if another school (Stonehill, Roger Williams, Fairfield) could give her an equivalent or better academic experience along with better campus life/activites, IF the above comments are true!
If there are any current students or parents of current students who can answer, please do! Thanks!</p>
<p>No I didn’t. But, my daughter went and shadowed a student in April. It was the deciding factor, to NOT attend Assumption. The girl she shadowed talked a lot about the partying that happens there, how they were making t-shirts to attend a school activity and they were writing on the t-shirt “Consumption Assumption” and “Don’t come with a hangover, come drunk”. Now my daughter is not a stick in the mud, and enjoys having a good time, but she is not a big partier. Of course she knows that every college campus has a party scene, but felt that this blatant conversation from a student ambassador was not right. Another thing that disuaded her attending was there wasn’t a daily shuttle off campus, just weekends and possibly Thursdays. She did not like the idea of being ‘stuck’ on campus. Although it was a beautiful campus, she thought the number of students attending a little low (~2000). Another factor was that it didn’t seem that there were enough activities to attend on and around campus on the weekends. She decided on Fairfield University and we all feel it is a perfect fit. Division 1 sports are well attended, mandatory on campus activites every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights, daily shuttle bus to Fairfield town and malls, easy access to the train to NYC, about 4000 students, great student support, professors, etc. Have you commited to Assumption for this year or are you looking for the future?</p>
<p>Lynn, thank you for the detailed review. We’re looking for a school for my son, who is a rising senior. But he has one big stake in the ground - he wants a chance to continue playing baseball in college. However, at 5’9", 145 lbs. and not quite Dustin Pedroia skills (;)), we realize that he’s not a D1 prospect. Unfortunately, like your D, he enjoys a thriving campus life and well-attended sports -things that aren’t easily found at D3 schools. So he’s contacted some D1s, but is focusing on D2/D3. He’s been to a couple showcase already this summer, with a couple more upcoming. It’s a frustrating search though. The majority of D3 schools that do have more students (4000+) are CT/MA state schools. Now, we don’t turn our noses up at all state schools… our D just finished her freshman year at URI (we live in RI) and she was 10th in her class of almost 300 and scored 2100 on SATs (600/700/800). But schools like Stonehill, Roger Williams, Quinnipiac only offered her $10-14k in merit aid and 0 financial, so she’s at URI and had a great year and it’s a great fit and balance between living away and the ability to come home once a month or so.</p>
<p>If you don’t mind me asking, how was Fairfield w/ merit aid? Also, do you know if their D1 baseball team is “upper”, “mid”, or “lower” (I’ll try to find that out myself too).</p>
<p>We are neighbors We live in Seekonk, MA!
Unfortunately, I don’t know anything about the baseball team at Fairfield. But here is a link to Fairfield’s Baseball team page from this past season: [Fairfield</a> University](<a href=“http://www.fairfieldstags.com/index.aspx?path=baseball]Fairfield”>Baseball - Fairfield University Athletics)
Has your son considered ‘Club’ sports? They compete with other colleges and universities club teams and/or Division 3 sports teams. My daughter was not at all interested in the commitment of playing on a Division 1 team, nor was she at that level, but is interested in possibly playing club soccer at Fairfield. </p>
<p>As far as merit aid there…three of my daughter’s good friends were offered the ‘Magis Scholarship’ which was 20K/yr, for 4 years…which then was increased to 21K for at least 1 of the students! Their stats were very high…top 5% of the class, SATS 2000-2100, highly involved in co-curricular activities, etc.etc.etc. My daughter’s SATs were 1860, top 15% of class, 4yr/3 season athlete, a few clubs that she was commited to for 4 yrs, and she got $7800. I think there is one other merit scholarship they offer which is around 12K. BUT, they do give very good institutional aid. We were pretty impressed with the grants she was given.</p>
<p>My daughter was also accepted to Stonehill and Quinnipiac, and did not receive as much merit OR financial aid. They are both known for not giving much financial aid. If I knew then, what I know now, there is so much I would do differently. Try checking out collegedata.com. I learned so much from that website. A couple of other resources are a book called ‘Paying for College Without Going Broke’ and Princeton Review’s ‘Best 373 Colleges’ which gives the student’s perspective on schools, as well as their rating in various important categories. Also, strongly encourage him to apply Early Action! Showing early and strong interest in a school really made a difference, I think, in how much merit aid she and her classmates received. </p>
<p>So far we have all loved everything about Fairfield and are anticipating a great educational experience, as well as an exciting campus life for our daughter! Let me know if you have any more questions about anything, and good luck!</p>
<p>He’s considered club sports, but prefers the varsity aspect. He doesn’t mind the commitment of D3, but maybe not D1 (or upper D2 even). He does realize that he’ll be going to college to get a DEGREE and a career, and not major in basket weaving while playing ball. ;)</p>
<p>What is “institutional” aid? Financial/need-based?</p>
<p>Thanks for all the info and good luck to your D at Fairfield.</p>
<p>What I meant by institutional aid is grant $ given directly from the university, that is need based. Fairfield’s ticket price is high, but with Federal aid, institutional aid, and merit aid, it brought the cost almost to our EFC, so they almost med full need. Stonehill and Quinnipiac did not get that close with their offers. Good luck to you and your son!</p>
<p>as far as NE schools go, Fairfield’s baseball schedule is good as any - St. John’s, UCONN, Stony Brook as well as some very good southern schools. </p>
<p>If not heavily recruited by DI schools it may be a reach.</p>
I went to AC from 2000 to 2004, and hope I can help. I was accepted to Monmouth in NJ, Jacksonville U. In FL, and Assumption. The city of Worcester and the music scene influenced my decision…kind of juvenile I know. Anyway, I was being recruited for football and visited these schools and attended a philosophy, history, and biology class at these schools to compare. I found AC’s more challenging than JU and Monmouth. I went to H.S. in GA and flew up. I chose AC and found some classes very challenging and some I did not. It depended on the Professor. The Philosophy, Theology, and History classes did challenge me and permanently shaped me and my thinking. Also, the Political Science Professor Paul Mahoney is brilliant and proved not all Conservatives are ignorant. The staff may be different today and remember my favorite teacher leaving who gave me a library pass to research at Harvard where he last taught for my historiography work. When I wasn’t showing up at class, the Professors would call ask if I was okay.
Socially, most students backgrounds were similar, and I didn’t think if myself as a “Protestant” until there. Also, I can understand the cliqueness…
My “clique” spent nights debating the existence of God, morality, and politics…and while drinking. We weren’t chasing girl’s and bored them usually. I did have another “clique” that duscussed literature, music, and watched films. I played in a rock band and played in Worc. and Prov. frequently. My friends back in GA only took 4 classes a semester, while I took 5 and wasn’t training for a career. I’ll cut myself off…the most financually successful guy i went their with us a Political Science major and is an Accountant. A band mate Philosophy manages exports. A friend went to law school at Fordham. 2 friends have PhD’s in Philosophy. My lady English major worked in Politics. Managed property in Cambridge and now teaches with a master’s. I work in mental health as a History major/law school drop out.
I graduate from Assumption in 2013 with a B.A in History in Philosophy. I could not have been happier with my choice (my brother is graduating from Assumption this May 2016; i liked it enough for my folks to send him there too). It allowed me to refine myself as both a student and a person. Most courses were rigorous and challenging, but wonderfully fruitful and enlightening. They say that if you had to name 5 people that have influenced you the most in life (not including relatives) that a teacher is bound to be up there. I can honestly say that 2 of those top 5 would be professors I had at Assumption; one in History - who just received tenure - and another in Philosophy who unfortunately was snatched by another college with an open tenure-track position (can’t blame him). I know that my experience is not much different from many of my friends from Assumption. With small classes, (mostly) friendly professors, an administration that genuinely seeks the development of its student body, Assumption is truly a wonderful community and great place to attend college. So, if you’re a student thinking about Assumption, what are you waiting for?
For the parents, hopefully some of your concerns can be put to ease by me telling you that all of my friends from Assumption - whether they majored in the humanities, sciences, or business, etc - we are all employed or in grad school. Some are in social work, some are teachers, some in law school. Some are now in marketing and government. Personally, I am in graduate school for History, finishing up my M.A in Modern European History this May.
could not have done it without Assumption.
Go Hounds.
We live in Seekonk, MA!