<p>We just recently visited High Point University and were "wowed" by all we saw. After we left, my husband and I had an uneasy feeling that there's something going on behind the glitz. Is there a strong religious influence here in the teaching--sort of a "just drink the juice and all will be fine" kind of evangelism going on? Is it in the classroom?</p>
<p>Also, regarding reputation, I just can't get an answer about the success of their graduates: what graduate schools do students go to? What percent of graduates go? </p>
<p>Also, regarding religion, do non-Christian's feel welcomed and assimilated there? What is the jewish population?</p>
<p>If anyone can shed some light on these issues, we'd be very appreciative.</p>
<p>High Point has been on and off our son’s list - we keep hearing good things about the campus in terms of facilites, and how the academics are steadily improving, but…I don’t think this is a good place for a Jewish student. I contacted the Hillel advisor - can’t recall his name at the moment - and had a frank conversation with him. There are very few Jewish students on campus - maybe 50-60. He told me he had tried organizing a few events and virtually no one would show up - maybe 3 kids. Now, I’m not saying there is intolerance - but it does not seem there is anything close to an active Hillel. From what I have heard, HPU does have a Christian feel to it. We have taken it off son’s list for this reason.</p>
<p>thank you so much for this information. I think it’s Prof. Schneid who I have to speak with. When did you speak with him? I was told in the admission office that the names of the 150 jewish applicants and/or admits were given to Schneid–I’m wondering if he’s had any success in generating more jewish enrollment?? Also, I know they’re recruiting in the northeast and are continuing to grow their total enrollment to about 4500 in the next 2 years. I wonder if this will make a difference in the jewish population.</p>
<p>I know a lot of folks are being wowed by this school. They are certainly throwing a lot of money at kids. Someone, somewhere (maybe it was on CC?) who is a current student at HPU did post something about the school being like the Wizard of Oz with a very different story going on behind the curtain. They recommended that people look deeper before attending. I don’t know what they meant but it was interesting…</p>
<p>When I spoke with the Hillel advisor - we made the comparidon between HPU and Elon, which has actively stated they want Jewish students and has been steadily increasing the number of such. He said that HPU had not come to that determination - so if he was given the names of Jewish applicants/admits - that’s interesting.</p>
<p>One thing that concerned me on the website was the way you could purchase nicer housing. Instead of being random - it seemed that if you (your parents) wanted to make a larger “investment” you could be in a posh suite with a private room, instead of a more traditional dorm. Sounds like that would lump the wealthier kids together and the less wealthy would remain in the dorms.</p>
<p>My friend took her daughter to visit last year - and was kind of floored by the piped in music, the ice cream truck, the reserved parking space with their name on it, etc., but found it really weird. We do typically send 1-2 students from our school there every year - with mixed results. The girl who went last year has already decided to transfer - but it has more to do with a major she has chosen to pursue that they do not offer than anything bad about HPU itself.</p>
<p>As far as reserved parking in for the prospie student, we have visited several small schools who have done that. We visited another school in the south, and several in the midwest who did this. Several also put up Welcome Signs, naming the students who are visiting for that day and many also put the state that the student is from, next to their name. These signs were usually placed in the Admission Offices.</p>
<p>Son was scheduled for a tour of HPU last summer. It ended up being one of those “the kid won’t even get out of the car” schools. </p>
<p>First, the reserved parking wasn’t marked by a sign; it was marked by something akin to an electric marquee. Then, in an effort not to give up too soon, we drove around campus. WOW! :eek: Son said it felt more like a resort than a college. An outdoor pool with lounges and hammocks at the student union and gorgeous Georgian architecture are just 2 things that left impressions on us. </p>
<p>Aside from the posh feel of the campus, we remarked on how compact it felt. There was clearly a campus boundary and it seemed every square inch within the boundary was used or allocated. That’s not necessarily a negative. It was just a feeling we got. </p>
<p>It was beautiful. Absolutely beautiful. But, Son didn’t apply. We just don’t think it would have fit him. It felt very “Stepford” or Disney-ish or like a model home.</p>
<p>Wow, re: the electric marquee. It is funny, but I spoke to a non-traditional student who attends HP. She seemed to think that the reserved parking sign was really something special, because she made sure to tell me about it, as well as how welcome this school makes you feel. I guess this just goes to show how different people feel differently. The glitz for college is just not our thing.</p>
<p>I had never heard of this school until I wonderend in searching for info on Elon. So how does this compare? It looks nicer than Elon After visiting countless campuses we have concluded there needs to be some paid Hillel staff for it to be halfway successful. I am curious have any of you considered Elon? If you ruled it out what were the reasons.</p>
<p>Texasmother, yes, my son considered Elon. He applied and was accepted with scholarship. He ended up getting into Wake Forest, which is where he will attend. </p>
<p>A year ago the 3 schools were on Son’s long list with each one in a different reach/match/safety category. However, after the summer visits, only Elon and Wake ended up getting applications. Although they’re not really “related” the 3 do seem to share a “family resemblance” in terms of size, location, and demographics.</p>
<p>There was a time (50 years ago) when Elon didn’t have a very good rep. I think HPU is going through something similar now. I’m confident it will come through fine. But, for now, it’s working through growing pains and trying to win-over the skeptics. I think the reaction for my family was that HPU is trying too hard.</p>
<p>DougBetsy - what a fascinating thread! I read through the whole thing.</p>
<p>The debate over whether High Point is “glam over substance” is definitely an interesting one.</p>
<p>It seems that if your kid’s stats fit High Point’s, and you are looking for a small private LAC, it stands on very firm footing as a good choice. At least one poster said her D, who is a student, was actually embarassed by the over-active marketing, but still enjoyed her time there immensely. The business-man president seems a little “old boy’s-y” and sexist, but I don’t think that necessarily reflects on the quality of the education and the student experience. The student body also appears conservative and preppy…though that is the case for several big name institutions I can think of ;).</p>
<p>I think DougBetsy nailed it by saying HPU is trying too hard. There is a book about Elon - the title is something like “Transforming a College” and the author is George Keller. It describes Elon’s journey from mediocre regional collge to nationally recognized university. Elon’s strategy involved spending money on facilities and grounds - but also on hiring more faculty and a better qualify of faculty. They added majors - and became a university. Elon also really developed the engaged learning philosophy - which really makes it stand out. </p>
<p>It’s almost like someone at HPU read the first few chapters of the book and stopped. They are beautifying the campus, spending money on the grounds, they have a concierge service - but the director of “wow” might be taking it a bit far. I believe Elon is a far superior school - but to each his own. </p>
<p>Incidentally Texasmother - I really recommend this book to you. I am a big Elon fan and reading this book cemented my belief.</p>
<p>per each schools irs 990 non-profit filings…</p>
<p>total compensation of high point employees during the academic year ending in 2008: $21,545,582.
total compensation of siena college employees during the same year (siena is similar to high point in terms of size, selectivity and cost): $42,397,509.</p>
<p>given the limited resources of all but the wealthiest handful of colleges in the country, it really is a question of style (facilities) versus substance (faculty investment). high point has clearly invested heavily in facilities. that said, i still found this disparity absolutely shocking.</p>
<p>Eric, how does total compensation compare for employees at Guilford, Queens University of Charlotte, and University of Tampa (larger, but in the southeast, and invested heavily in facilities too)? Siena is in the northeast, so I don’t know that it is a fair comparison, but still, that is a whopping difference in compensation!</p>
<p>We visited High Point as an afterthought recently. It reminded me of a combination of a Disney theme park (Frontierland? Tomorrowland? Collegeland) and a rich oil sheik’s indulgence (I want a university! And I want it tomorrow!). </p>
<p>I was struck by how much of the school is directly derivative (read: stolen?) from other schools and imagery. The “great thinkers” statuary on benches around campus is just like the statues in Faneuil Hall in Boston. The largest building on campus looked like a Dillard’s department store. Even the school’s mascot, a panther, is rendered as a large sculpture that is a direct ripoff of Middlebury College’s bronze panther sculpture.</p>
<p>The President of the school is a professional motivational speaker who has a background in sales and marketing. It’s not difficult to see that he has taken those principles and applied them to marketing a college. High Point is all about pleasing the customer, delighting the customer, seducing the customer. Whether it’s about educating the student remains to be seen. And to me, that’s the creepiest aspect.</p>
<p>Okay, now I am convinced that this would not be the school that I’d want to send my child to, if for no other reason than I don’t want to pay for glitz, or for heavy marketing.
There are a lot people who do want all of this while they receive an education. Obviously this school found its market share as it is growing in popularity.</p>
<p>erica, those numbers couldn’t be more contradicted. Comparing the compensation of teachers working for a school in the northeast and a school in the south couldn’t be more off. Obviously, salaries in the northeast are more than in the south. Not just for teachers but for other professions in general.</p>
<p>Because a school pays out more money for its professors and faculty doesn’t mean they have better teachers and faculty. Are the numbers shocking? Yeah maybe a little, but not enough to make anyone think that HPU’s teachers are awful. </p>
<p>The Yankees pay out the most salary every year, but that doesn’t mean every year they have the best team.</p>
<p>Reason why I’m not impressed with this school: </p>
<p>I know a student who was accepted to this school. Honestly, if they accept the kind of kid that he is, I wouldn’t want my kid anywhere near the place. The kid is a punk. He’s been suspended numerous times. He’s definitely not a scholar–barely made it through one of the least rigorous programs in our public high school. He’s showed up to high school classes drunk and hung-over. He graduated with barely a “C” average while taking the bare minimum of courses. No EC’s (other than drinking in bars with fake ID, suspensions, fighting, destruction of property). The only reasons that I can see that he got into this school are that his parents could pay the costs and his physical appearance may “fit” with the perception that High Point wants to project. He cleans up well–tall, blond, blue-eyed, and looks great in polo’s and khaki’s.</p>
<p>I know my opinion is based solely on the little bit that I know about the school and this particular student. Based on this however, it appears that the school lacks real substance and may attract kids who couldn’t get into other schools but want the preppy private school environment.</p>