<p>The title says it all. Doing our final due dilligence. How would a wholesome, yet somewhat quirky kid fit in at SLU. He is clean cut, and likes his sport, but not really preppy in the popped collar way. He loves filming and creating. I would especially appreciate hearing from current students, recent grads or parents of either. Thanks.</p>
<p>I am interested in the same thing. My DS could be summed up the same way. He is VERY outdoorsy and physically fit, but not in the least bit preppy. He loves intellectual conversations and sharing if ideas… not really into the drinking scene… but doesn’t really care if anyone else is. Outgoing, friendly,and loves to be involved in many things…</p>
<p>5boys, is your DS a senior? If so, maybe we have two peas in a pod?</p>
<p>kiltdad… no my S is a Junior… but I have seen your posts and it looks like your S has almost the exact list as my S will probably have next year. What are other schools is your S applying to besides St. Lawrence and UVM? I always think of my S when I see your screen name because he has a kilt and he LOVES to wear it. I think it is the Irish/scottish blood coursing through his veins.</p>
<p>So far my S has on his list… UVM, St. Lawrence, Sewanee, Whitman, Colorado College, all the Maine schools, Midd, and Hamilton… maybe a few more that I can’t remember. My S LOVES outdoor stuff and has found it difficult to find people his age to do stuff with here in CA. He just thought that the vibe of New England and upSTATE NY was what he has been looking for. My S is very bright… 2100+ SAT scores but so-so grades… he did visit Dartmouth and wished he had turned in his homework so all of his B+'s would have been A’s…sigh.</p>
<p>SLU is very remote and great for outdoorsy kids. While there is a lot of drinking, students who don’t drink a lot still seem to make social connections. My daughter loves it, and likes the size and the campus. She chose SLU over more competitive schools for a variety of reasons (sizable merit scholarship did not hurt)–coming from a smaller public hs, she thought she’d feel more comfortable and less pressured than at some of the other schools to which she was accepted. Hamilton seemed too preppy, Carleton perhaps too far away and intellectual for her, UVM too spread out, and she didn’t get into Dartmouth, etc. She is a bright, athletic, social non-drinker. She loves going to hockey games and parties, but works very hard (multiple lab sciences and on a team). So far, she is happy with her choice. I personally loved Hamilton and one of the Maine schools to which she applied (you know the ones) but she hasn’t looked back for a minute. I greatly appreciate the merit scholarship and think the FY program is outstanding. Good luck with your search process!</p>
<p>I’m a senior here at SLU and work in the admissions office, live in the greenhouse (a low-impact living theme cottage), and am active in the outing program. I would say that SLU draws a lot of different students. I don’t think I can say most of the kids are preppy, or crunchy or jocks etc. I like SLU because you can do and be interested in many different things and don’t have to funnel into one cliche. I chose SLU because of the outing program and study abroad options. I am very interested in the outdoors, I love to telemark ski, hike, camp and anything outdoor related. I have also been abroad twice during my time at SLU, once to Kenya and once to NZ and I still seemed to finish all my credits! There are lots of opportunities here that are easy for students to take advantage of. I can’t really say there is one type of person here at SLU, but I would say that SLU kids are motivated and interested in getting involved and being a part of our community. There are also lots of opportunities for club and intramural sports if not interested in one of the varsity sports. Students here are generally very motivated and active! It sounds like both of your sons would fit in well. I would say that drinking definitely exists at SLU, but I wouldn’t say it takes over and there are other things to do that don’t involve drinking. I applied to a lot of the schools you all have mentioned on your lists, but I liked SLU for the unique opportunities it offered as well as the welcome community feeling I got when I visited. I haven’t been disappointed! Let me know if you have any other questions. Also, we have students blogging on the admissions website on a regular basis about what they are up to. You can check it out at [St</a>. Lawrence University: Admissions and Financial Aid](<a href=“http://www.stlawu.edu/admis/networking/]St”>http://www.stlawu.edu/admis/networking/)</p>
<p>^^My son is also an outdoorsy person and athletic and preppy…and he has an artistic side as well! So St. Lawrence sounds like it could be a great fit. He was very interested when he saw the Outing Club. Dartmouth is on his list, but it is a reach (of course)! Is is possible to be on an athletic team (maybe two - fall and spring) and still participate in the Outing Club? He hikes, backpacks, skis, canoes, kayaks, etc and hopes to get into some rock and ice climbing. Also, how is the theater department? Is there an opportunity to paricipate on a more “recreational” level (student-directed productions, one acts, etc.)?</p>
<p>Thanks for the feedback everyone. My son decided to push his chips “all in” and switched his RD to an ED for SLU. While he is waiting on the official letter, we understand from his sport coach that it is a mere formality and that he will be getting some nice financial assistance to boot. He’s happy, his mother and I are happy and it sounds like SLU is happy. If only all of life were this easy!</p>
<p>Hmmm…what is the ED deadline? I feel like my son’s GC said they had rolling ED or something like that? My son is also recruited…maybe he should switch.</p>
<p>Congratulations to your S Kiltdad!! Maybe my S will join him next year… the school sounds perfect for him…</p>
<p>keylyme… Our S’s sound alike:-)) My S also likes to do all those things… Outdoor Clubs are a big factor in his college choices. My S also like theater…</p>
<p>SLU… love your post… the greenhouse sounds awesome and something my S would definitely be interested in. The study abroad opportunities would also be of great interest to my S. We will be visiting this summer…</p>
<p>Thank you for the congrats (although until the letter comes in it is not official). </p>
<p>Keylyme, I think your son’s GC is effectively correct; that is, while there is no formal statement of rolling ED on the website, if there is mutual love, the school seems to permit the late switch. As for switching to ED, my only suggestion is to do it only if there will be no regrets or you think there is a risk that ED is the only way in. If neither are true, way not wait?</p>
<p>5boys, good luck in the search and decision process. If your S does visit SLU next year, feel free to shoot me a seperate email and I will get it to my boy.</p>