<p>for my D. She loves Japanese, is interested in creative writing and wants a small-ish LAC. I, as a parent, love it because its out west. Thoughts on Willamette for students or parents? That would be much appreciated.</p>
<p>Thanks in adavnce...</p>
<p>Calmac, have you visited Willamette? My son is thinking about applying next year, but I don't know much about the school.</p>
<p>xtx- I have not. I know it rains a great deal... The campus looks lovely in pictures but thats about it.</p>
<p>My dd is a freshman at Tulane and spent her hurricane semester at Willamette. She LOVED it. </p>
<p>She had come close to going there in the first place and, after Katrina sent her home, she called all the colleges to which she had been accepted and ended up there. I cannot begin to tell you what a warm and personal experience we had, from the first phone call to the sad good-bye. The admissions office, the kids, the academics -- all terrific.</p>
<p>Many Tulane kids went to schools close to home for the fall semester and many of them had disappointing experiences. We took the opposite tack -- told her to get out there and go have a great college experience at a school that had always appealed to her. (Tulane is 1000 miles from home; Willamette, 2000.) No disappointment at all.</p>
<p>Definitely go and visit. We went the Augusr before her senior year because I was interested in Reed for her and her counselor said to take a look at Willamette. We also looked at Lewis & Clark which, as an outdoors person, I loved. One of dd's best friends is at Reed, but she decided it wasn't for her. Willamette is the only one of the three to which she ended up applying. She felt comfortable as soon as we set foot on the campus.</p>
<p>Thank you so much for your response. May I ask the $64,000 question? How was the weather? Did she mind the rain and grey skies? D would be going from sunny southern cal, so I'm curious and/or worried about how she might respond.
Thank you again..</p>
<p>The weather was fine last fall, but there was that period of something like 30 straight days of rain that started over the winter break. DD was gone but I know it was rough on her roommate, who is from southern oregon, and on a friend of mine who lives in Seattle. That
was one long stretch of rain across one long stretch of geography.</p>
<p>My d did an overnight there a few weeks ago. She said the campus was one of prettiest she has seen and that the food was good for her (a veggie who loves international food). The classes were solid. The dorms were fine. The school rose from being a "safety" to being a real contender.</p>
<p>Ok... What I think is important now is that no one say anything positive about Willamette until this time next year. We don't need any more competition making it tougher for my D to get in...
Now, about all that rain... LOL</p>
<p>In all seriousness - thanks for the note.</p>
<p>I visited with my D. It was her second choice, my first!</p>
<p>my daughter is a freshman and is enjoying Willamette as well. Wanted a small school, easy contact w/profs etc. Felt very comfortable there on her visit and feels the same way now. And we are from Arizona- she doesn't mind the rain much- it is so green and lush- that is the payoff. But you have to be realistic- sunny days are few and far between. Salem is a small town but has the essentials.</p>
<p>I applied for Fall 06 and was accepted recently with a scholarship.. details are in the mail currently :)</p>
<p>nhs041088: how recently? and by email or regular mail? Thanks.</p>
<p>The letter was dated March 13th, and I got it today March 16th. Via regular mail.</p>
<p>My child is a high-school junior, we visited a number of colleges over her Presidents' Week break. I was very favorably impressed with Willamette (my mental picture was 30 years out of date)--met several students. Did not visit a class as we were there on a Saturday. Our tour was early but kids were out doing and being. </p>
<p>There's a lot to do both indoors and out so the Great NorthWet shouldn't be a minus.</p>
<p>BTW, on the tour we talked with a lot of admissions officers. Most were bemoaning the INSANE number of colleges students were applying to--the record was 33! One child, applying to 33 colleges....that is going to make the "melt" -- the negotiation between acceptances, waitlists, and so on, just insane.</p>
<p>Last year, I spent a week on the Willamette campus as a part of Oregon Girls State. I also have a close friends who is a science student there. Willamette is definitely small. They have an incredible music performance hall, the campus is nice, and it's right across the street from the capitol building. The college is located in Salem, which is the capital of Oregon, and is fairly small. The beach is roughly an hour or two away, Portland is nearby, and the snow isn't far either. I know zilch about Willamette academics personally, but from what I hear, it's a tad elementary. I hear the food is great. My only complaints about my stay there rose from a) the train that plows alongside the campus eight times a day and b) the insects and the pollen are MISERABLE in the Spring. Come prepared.</p>
<p>In reply to RHansdcom's unsubstantiated comment on Willamette's academics being "a tad elementary," here is what a poster from another thread had to say:</p>
<p>"What??? Willamette not rigorous? What nonsense. We all have anecdotes and here is mine. A former collegue is a Willamette alumnus. He went on to Stanford Law, again got tops grades. Later worked in a top west coast law firm and then moved on to a prosecutor's job for the emotional reward of public service."</p>