<p>We are from Virginia where the state schools are fine, but none of them are really a good fit for a son who really would thrive in a smaller school atmosphere (who wouldn't?).</p>
<p>Online, Muhlenberg looks like a real possibility, and we are willing to make the drive and give it all the attention it deserves, including following a student, class visitation, interview, etc.</p>
<p>His stats are:</p>
<p>3.14
SAT's: 580(M) 690(CR) 690(W)
AP U.S. History from Junior year: 4
Senior year course load: AP Eng, AP Bio, AP European History, AP Gov, Calculus (nonAP)
Music is his main extra curricular activity. He focuses on guitar, piano, and voice, and made all-district as a base II singer. We're hoping for some more accolades in music here shortly as he tries out for Va. Honors Chorus and All-District Chorus again. He composes quite well and plays mainly jazz. He has had years of private music lessons, but is not classically trained, nor is he looking for a conservatory-style approach, but he would like there to be a decent music scene on his college campus.
He is a relaxed B student, I admit, but he is better academically trained than his GPA lets on. He has gone to an excellent private school that is hard and has really trained him well to think analytically, to write expressively, and to study purposefully throughout the day (study halls help accomplish this).<br>
Do you think Muhlenberg is a possibility for him? We will need some financial aid. Can't pay full freight to these private schools...not anymore.</p>
<p>If anyone knows anything about Allegheny College, please let me know. Would love to know of other colleges in PA that are possibilities.
He is an avid reader, and that is why his standardized reading and writing scores are so good.</p>
<p>Based on your summary, I recommend building a solid case for his musical skills and ensuring that the quality private schooling is noted to account for the GPA. If he boosts his Math SAT, he may be eligible for a merit award.</p>
<p>Try to get to the Senior Open House on Oct 20. (+ Fall visiting is MUCH better than winter visiting!)</p>
<p>Muhlenberg would be a great fit for your son. It has a very strong arts culture. Make sure your son interviews either while you are visiting campus or arrange for an interview when your area representative is down your way. Muhlenberg, more then most schools, puts an emphasis on “getting to know” potential students. The more opportunities your son has to interact, the stronger candidate your son should be. One other consideration is applying Early Decision. A very high percentage of the accepted students comes through ED. Ask at financial aid how applying ED would work for you, given that you are hoping for some help from them. Good luck!</p>
<p>PA has three gems for what you are looking for!
Muhleneberg,Allegheny, and Lafayette
Juanita and Ursinus are up there too.</p>
<p>I think any of the above would be great for A+ students too.
haverford and swathmore also have a niche but are for a very small sub segment of really good students (IMO)</p>
<p>You guys were great. Thank you for your fast and thorough replies. Whenever you look at schools outside of your own state, you can’t rely as much on the “inside scoop” the way you can with your in-state schools. I know the schools in Virginia backwards and forwards because I have lived here my whole life and have had friends and children of friends go to all of them. </p>
<p>Thank you for your information on Pennsylvania. I think my son would be happiest at a school that doesn’t have such a dominant Greek scene. For which of these colleges would you say that is true–Muhlenberg, Allegheny, Lafayette?</p>
<p>I also prefer schools with as little “greek” life or better yet no greek life at all. it changes the social setting of the school when they dominate the school and attract a different type of student.
I have read lafayette’s greek scene has been shrinking. muhlenberg I think is not dominated by them. another school that is amazing is hendrix college and has no frats.
muhlenberg should be a top choice(IMO) and one other school to look at is college of wooster in ohio.</p>
<p>Greek life does not “dominate” any of the three colleges you specified. The percentage of undergraduate men who are members of Greek organizations runs from 16% at Muhlenburg to 25% at Allegheny. Lafayette, from which my daughter graduated this year, once had a thriving Greek scene, a vestige of its roots as a men’s college. Today there are only 4 or 5 fraternities left on campus.</p>
<p>I’m a big fan of Pennsylvania’s liberal arts colleges. I have another daughter at Franklin and Marshall, which might be worth your looking at along with Dickinson and Gettysburg. The GPA may be a bit low but if earned in a rigorous curriculum it shouldn’t be a deal breaker. Susquehanna is another possibility.</p>
<p>Regarding Early Decision: Stay away from it unless your son is certain Muhlenberg is choice #1 and you are certain you can afford it. Since it sounds as though you require financial aid and Muhlenberg does not claim to meet 100% of need I’d be extremely wary of going that route.</p>
<p>zobroward – Lafayette’s Greek scene HAS shrunk. There’s no debating that point at all. From 19 fraternities in the 1970s to 4 last year is pretty major shrinkage.</p>
<p>I agree with Hudsonvalley, about looking at Dickenson and Gettysburg and some other schools in this are a too. Muhlenberg has become a popular choice around here. My neighbor’s daughters both went there and had great experiences. Usinus, Susquehanna, Juniata are also some nice schools to examine and they tend to have some nice merit money too. Catholic schools usually do not have Greek life, and so looking at some such choices may be a good idea too. Loyola, Villanova, St Joseph’s are some popular choices at our sons’ high school.</p>
<p>I am still checking back to see your continuing replies. Thank you!<br>
He has had a rigorous curriculum throughout his four years of high school…four years of math, culminating in non-AP Calc; four years of history/social studies, including AP US, AP European History, and AP Gov; four years of science (Bio, Chem, Phys, and AP Bio); and four years of French. He has three C’s on his record (no D’s or F’s), an upward trend in grades, and an upward trend in in course difficulty.</p>
<p>I’m glad to hear the Greek scene at Lafayette is less now than it used to be. That means we can check it out more closely. It’s not that we hate Greeks. I was in a sorority in college. It’s just that it’s not right for some people, and I think my son would feel awkward and excluded if it were too heavy on a college campus. He’s pretty cool and relaxed in some ways, but not in the way that attracts fraternities. </p>
<p>nell… your S seems similar to my S… although add theater. He is a Junior and Muhlenberg is high on his list if he decides to go the BA route instead of the BFA route. He is also heavy into music and singing. He is also checking out Lawrence in WI, ST Olaf in Minnesota, and Skidmore in NY… all supposedly good for the creative/ artsy type… I don’t think there is much of a greeek influence at any of these schools… if his SAT’s are high( haven’t gotten any testing under his belt yet) he might also look at Kenyon and Oberlin.</p>
<p>Lawrence University has a fraternity scene similar to that at Muhlenberg and Lafayette. About 18% of men join 4 fraternities. Kenyon has a much larger Greek presence despite its public image. About 38% of men join a fraternity at Kenyon. The percentage of women joining sororitiesw is much smaller. That said, I’ve never seen a lot of wearing of Greek gear when I’ve been on the campus and I suspect the average Kenyon fraternity man is not the stereotypical “frat bro.”</p>
<p>Someone stated ED may not be a good decision for Muhlenberg because they don’t promise to meet 100% of need. I went to the financial aid seminar at the open house October 20th, and I’d like to explain some of the things I learned there.</p>
<p>If you/your son go(es) on College Board, I’m sure you’ve seen that they meet 94% of need.
At the seminar, someone asked, “What percentage of need is met for financial aid in Early Decision versus Regular Decision?”
I don’t remember what was said verbatim, but the answer debunks the myth of not getting efficient aid when applying ED. The speaker said that 98% of Early Decision applicants get 100% of their need met. The percentage for Regular Decision was somewhere in the high 80s%. I don’t remember the exact number, but I did some math and the number I got was actually 90% (because 90 +98 divided by 2=94). I could be wrong, because I suck at math.</p>
<p>So, your prospects for financial aid at Muhlenberg would be much better as an Early Decision student given that they don’t promise to meet 100% of need. But if you don’t/your son doesn’t feel that Muhlenberg is a top choice, you shouldn’t just apply ED for the hell of it just to get better financial aid. I wouldn’t discourage RD, though. You can always decline an acceptance if you don’t like the financial aid!</p>
<p>Also, they talked about something else they did that was really cool. Since so many people are concerned about applying ED, not getting sufficient financial aid, and being stuck at a school they can’t afford, Muhlenberg offers the option of giving you an “Early Read” before you sign your Early Decision form. They can * estimate <a href=“emphasis%20on%20estimate”>/i</a> the amount of financial aid you will receive if accepted. I’m not 100% sure how it works (I’m saving that question for my interview on Thursday!!), but I know I’m going to take complete advantage of it since I love the school as a top choice but will have to give it up if they don’t give me sufficient aid. If Muhlenberg is a top choice (as it should be— it’s a hidden treasure) but you’re worried about aid, call them up and ask how the Early Read works.</p>
<p>The Early Read came up in my daughter’s interview. The gist I got is that it is not a casual inquiry to be entered into lightly ‘just to see.’ You need to sign some sort of document indicating M as your top choice, and the only barrier between you and the ED application. I’m sure I’m not wording this well – the info is through my daughter’s filter and passed on to me.</p>
<p>btw, Kittycatwindow, my comments about the early read were just informational, not directed at you - it sounds like a perfect opportunity for those who want ED. My D loves M, and will be happy if that is how things work out, but doesn’t feel like she wants to apply ED. We wish she did, as I was <em>very</em> pleased to learn about the early read and also love the school!!</p>
Yeah, I didn’t expect it to be as easy as just asking for one. Then people who didn’t even want ED would pretend they did just to see how much they are expected to get. </p>
<p>
I don’t blame her. ED is a HUGEEE decision, and even though my only qualm toward it was the issue of financial aid, which the Early Read can alleviate, I’m still apprehensive toward it even though I’m 100% sure that Muhlenberg is my top choice. If she’s a good enough candidate, she shouldn’t even need to think about increasing her chances of acceptance with ED, though. It’s best to refrain from making the commitment if you can. (My main reason for wanting to do ED for Muhlenberg [besides it being my top choice] is because my SAT scores are a bit below average in comparison to the Muhlenberg averages, and over 70%, as opposed to the 43% overall, of ED students are admitted. It’s a good way to increase your chances for a top choice if you are a bit below average.)</p>
<p>My parents are in love with the school, too. My dad said he didn’t want to leave! Too bad he’s not the one who will be living there for four years…</p>
<p>Good luck at your interview & fingers crossed for you! It is in DD’s top 3 choices and they are all equal in terms of her interest. M has made such a strong statement about better fin aid for ED (in addition to admission) that I can’t refrain from some good natured campaigning. :)</p>
<p>One word of caution about Gettysburg. They have a very active Greek scene compared to the other schools that were discussed. It doesn’t admit during the first year but it involves a large percentage of students and dominates the social scene there. If you don’t mind Greek life, all is good. If you aren’t a fan of Greek life, go in with your eyes open. Best of luck.</p>
Thanks! I had to change it to Friday because it’s supposed to snow between here and Allentown Wednesday night/Thursday morning.
I’m so excited, though. I can’t wait to be back there!</p>
<p>
Thanks for posting this! I didn’t know that, and Gettysburg is my second choice (below Muhlenberg) as of right now. After hearing that, I might want to reconsider it, just because Greek life irks me, and I definitely wouldn’t fit in at a school where it dominates the social scene.</p>
<p>Sure glad I started this post. This has been very informative for all those who are interested in Muhlenberg this year. It sounds like a great school that tries hard to treat the students and the applicants right. </p>
<p>I believe they deserve the positive press they are getting in this thread. Thanks so much!</p>