Girlie AGDee's College Search Thread

[tootiepie2]

Tulane and Loyola are doing great after Katrina. Daughter has a few friends that go to there. Very different vibe than LSU or most big southern schools. Her friends say that most students are from out of state. Not sure if that is northern states. Seems like when she was looking at those schools they actually had the breakdown somewhere on the website.
New Orleans is a wonderful city but I would be afraid there would be way to many distractions. They culture in New Orleans is all about partying and I would be afraid it would be very easy to get caught up in that lifestyle.

[AGDee]

Originally Posted by alum

Ivies and many other private schools do not give out merit scholarships, only need-based. They also use the CSS Profile when calculating the Estimated Family Contribution. Unlike the FAFSA which only considers the custodial parents' income, CSS Profile will assess the non-custodial parent's income in addition to the custodial parent.

Quite a few colleges have EFC calculators on the admissions portions of their websites so that the applicant can get a rough idea of how much aid will be likely.

Right. Our advantage at the moment is that the non-custodial parent has been unemployed for 22 months now. The Ivies and most of the privates she is interested in will cost about the same as Michigan either way and for some of them, it is a "no loans" guaranteed package.

[alum]

Originally Posted by AGDee

Right. Our advantage at the moment is that the non-custodial parent has been unemployed for 22 months now. The Ivies and most of the privates she is interested in will cost about the same as Michigan either way and for some of them, it is a "no loans" guaranteed package.

What's nice about the schools with large endowments is that they can afford to offer financial aid in the form of grants-only. A big point in your daughter's favor is that you all are from Michigan as schools do want geographic diversity.

You may want to peruse the forums on College Confidential, especially the Parents' Forum. There are a couple of current GCers who are on CC as well. I didn't discover CC until after my oldest was already admitted but have certainly used it ever since.

[DubaiSis]

I'll address Iowa. It is NOT more of a party school than any comparable size school, and less so than a lot of others. It's certainly no Wisconsin. The Writing Program at Iowa is phenomenal, but I wouldn't choose Iowa as an undergrad just for that. There are great summer programs, and the Writer's Workshop really isn't a degree program. However, for a good solid liberal education with a Great English department, I think it's a great choice. It just seems like an odd next choice after the list you've given. If she's overreaching on her choices and has to end up at a state school (nothing wrong with that AT ALL, but she may feel that way) she can at least hold her head high because of the prestigious writing program there.

As far as majoring in Journalism, as a person who did just that, I will both agree and disagree. I think learning the journalistic style of writing is helpful in a lot of careers because it teaches you how to write in a clear and succinct way, which is extremely helpful in all career fields. It's also a common undergrad for people going on to Law school (at Iowa, anyway). But you would get a lot more help in becoming a professional news writer by working for the Daily Iowan. If you have specific questions about Iowa, PM me. And I can probably get you in touch with a recent grad who can address the current climate there.

Go Hawks!

[PeppyGPhiB]

Originally Posted by DubaiSis

As far as majoring in Journalism, as a person who did just that, I will both agree and disagree. I think learning the journalistic style of writing is helpful in a lot of careers because it teaches you how to write in a clear and succinct way, which is extremely helpful in all career fields. It's also a common undergrad for people going on to Law school (at Iowa, anyway). But you would get a lot more help in becoming a professional news writer by working for the Daily Iowan.

This. If your daughter is interested in becoming a journalist, I recommend a major in communications - it doesn't have to be journalism specifically, but a journalistic style of writing is completely different than the literary style of English majors. Even if she changes her field post-graduation, she still will have picked up a writing style common in the business, law, political and journalism worlds. Many professions use more of a journalistic/Associated Press style of writing. I work in PR, and I constantly have to re-write press releases, Op Eds, bios and articles written by English majors. Most of the English majors I knew in college wanted to be teachers.

[XAntoftheSkyX]

Originally Posted by AGDee

Emerson: Any info is appreciated. Not familiar with the school at all.

Emerson is really known for it's film and theater departments, but it's English program is good from what I've heard/remember. Boston is also a great college town because there are so many great schools there. If she's set on Journalism, she may want to check out Boston University, they have a really good Journalism program too.

[KSig RC]

Also, if she's dead-set on an "urban" campus life (like, she actually wants to experience city life in that city), Northwestern and UChicago are notoriously NOT that, at least not in the way you might expect. Northwestern is very suburban and well over an hour away from Chicago proper via public transportation - it's very self-contained, although the campus is neat (almost to the point of "cute" honestly). U of Chicago has a long and storied reputation as a "marriage factory," with an insular campus lifestyle based around itself/students rather than going out into the city.

Obviously, undergrad is what you make it, but from friends who have attended both, that's sort of the vibe.

Similarly, Emerson is probably the least 'urban' of the Boston schools. It's a fine school, but it's very much the stereotype of "Liberal Arts" school. Again, considered to be insular* to an extent - it's a smaller campus, although it isn't far at all from Boston landmarks etc. BU, Suffolk, and even MIT/Harvard/BC (even in the suburbs) have a much more "Boston" feel. Maybe even Tufts. That doesn't mean Emerson is a bad choice - she just needs to know it's very much a small LA school, even in Boston.

With that said, if she wants an urban, liberal-arts atmosphere, she should seriously consider the Boston and Philadelphia schools - there are some fine ones that can offer her what she wants, while still having options if those wants change later.

*By way of example ... we mixed with an Emerson sorority, and they were astonished at essentially every portion of our mixer, from having a sound system to having officers with 'jobs' to perform/set times to perform them to everything being paid for. The campuses are a 20 minute walk apart, but that walk was across the Collegiate Sea, apparently. It was a fun mixer though.

[XAntoftheSkyX]

Originally Posted by KSig RC

Similarly, Emerson is probably the least 'urban' of the Boston schools. It's a fine school, but it's very much the stereotype of "Liberal Arts" school. Again, considered to be insular* to an extent - it's a smaller campus, although it isn't far at all from Boston landmarks etc. BU, Suffolk, and even MIT/Harvard/BC (even in the suburbs) have a much more "Boston" feel. Maybe even Tufts. That doesn't mean Emerson is a bad choice - she just needs to know it's very much a small LA school, even in Boston.

Yeah, I'm personally familiar with the BU, MIT and Harvard campuses, but I wasn't sure on Emerson. It also isn't that hard to use the T to get around the city to visit places, assuming you know where to go.

[deadbear80]

Originally Posted by KSig RC

Northwestern is very suburban and well over an hour away from Chicago proper via public transportation - it's very self-contained, although the campus is neat (almost to the point of "cute" honestly).

Buddy, I know you're from Boston, but what kind of public transport did you take in Chicago when/if you were ever here? I grew up in Evanston and I live in Chicago now--"Chicago proper" is Howard Street--a mere 4 stops away via the Purple Line L (read: no more than 20 mins.). If you're thinking about the Loop (downtown)--yes, that's further. But again, only about 45 mins. via the L. Even if you have to change trains from the Purple Line to the Red Line it doesn't take an hour to get downtown.

Evanston has really changed over the years--in some ways for the better, and in some not (but that's really just nostalgic me who remembers when the Fountain Square building was the tallest in Downtown Evanston and there were no high-rise high-end condos there). I will agree, however, that it's fairly self-contained. There's plenty to do in and around campus that a lot of kids don't venture into Chicago often. However, if you want to for concerts, sporting events, or shopping, it's all quite easy. My niece goes to Northwestern and really loves it. There's definitely a strong Greek Life aspect to the school, but it's not necessary to be in a sorority. Their row is really cute though...(having gone to a school--see above--where all the chapters were unhoused, I loved going to visit friends at NU and seeing all of the houses).

[KSig RC]

Originally Posted by deadbear80

Buddy, I know you're from Boston, but what kind of public transport did you take in Chicago when/if you were ever here? I grew up in Evanston and I live in Chicago now--"Chicago proper" is Howard Street--a mere 4 stops away via the Purple Line L (read: no more than 20 mins.). If you're thinking about the Loop (downtown)--yes, that's further. But again, only about 45 mins. via the L.

I was thinking to the Loop, and most of my experience is on game days (I went to school in Boston, but I'm from the Midwest - so I've been to Ryan Field 4 times watching my hometown team) or rush hour. Obviously I'll defer to natives.

I didn't mean this as anything negative toward the campus - Evanston is awesome, but it's in Chicago the same way Hofstra is in New York.

[Munchkin03]

For what it's worth, I come across my college classmates who have pursued careers in writing/journalism ALL THE TIME. Were they English or Comp Lit majors? Some were, but most weren't. The important thing was that they were active in the school papers, had great internships, and developed amazing connections while they were in school and immediately afterwards. It's harder to get national level (or international level) connections at a regional school. I'm sure everyone has stories about someone who went to Podunk State College and is now vice-president of international markets at UBS, but that's really the exception and not the rule.

As someone with a liberal arts undergrad degree, who now works in a technical field , I've noticed that my colleagues who have professional bachelor's degrees are extremely competent, but are not as well-rounded as those who have liberal arts degrees who went to graduate school for their professional educations. The liberal arts folks are also much better writers and public speakers.

Oh, and College Confidential really creeps me out.

[groovypq]

My husband (a journalist) would tell her not to major in journalism. Newspapers are struggling right now. He gets furloughed 5 days a quarter.

I read some good advice (in Dan Patrick and Keith Olbermann's book "The Big Show," no less - from back in their Sportscenter days): If you want to go into communications, don't major in that alone. Double major or minor. They said political science is a good major. The important thing is to get experience, so as was suggested earlier, get on the campus newspaper or literary magazine staff.

I was a mass communications major in college, meaning I got to pick and choose between journalism, PR and broadcasting courses. That turned out to be SO helpful, because in my career I've gone from newspapers to web to public relations. It's helped me be adaptable in writing style.

BTW, if she's interested in creative writing, Susquehanna has an excellent program. :-) (but we're a small school in the middle of nowhere, so I guess she wouldn't dig that.)

ETA: On the other hand, we're an hour from Harrisburg, 3 from Philadelphia, 4 from Pittsburgh, 5 from NYC and you can make Baltimore or DC in about 2.5-3, depending which side and on traffic.

[AGDee]

She decided to create an account herself so she can have this conversation with y'all. Stay tuned.

*she has to wait an hour to post so we're getting dinner first*

[hypoallergenic]

Hi guys, daughter-in-question here. I felt like there were a few things my mom didn’t express very well in the initial post, so…I’m gonna clear things up.

1. A major concern is academics. My main priority isn’t to get prepared for a job, it’s to learn and explore things I enjoy or couldn’t in high school (which, granted, is probably naïve, but with the job market requiring college for even below average students, I don’t want to be shoved into a group of kids who are just going out of obligation. I’m nerdy, learning is fun.) That’s part of the reason I’m looking at Ivies and sub-Ivies, because I want a college where people are driven and passionate.

2. I don’t necessarily want an ‘urban’ campus life. Mainly, I want diversity. Coming from a tiny, everybody-knows-everybody kind of town, I want to meet new people with lots of different interests and personalities. That’s why I’m primarily looking at universities with strong liberal arts programs, rather than just liberal arts schools. I also like the idea of research universities with strong liberal arts programs, although I don’t really know what’d I’d research…it’s just intriguing. :P

3. I’m not concerned about prestige in the typical way. I would like a college that is well-known to potential employers and grad schools, but I’m not looking for a college that makes me look “smarter” when I casually mention it to friends and family.

4. Iowa was mainly a safety that I kept because I couldn’t figure out anywhere else. I would like to pursue creative writing in college to some extent, but there are so many things I’m also interested in, I’d rather not go to one college for a great writing program. Having said that, any suggestions for safety schools (that fit the above requirements to some extent)?? I feel like it’s impossible to find one where I’ll fit in, but my test scores are low (1870 on the SAT, retaking in October, but I got a 2010 on my PSAT so I know I can do better). I’m scared I’ll get rejected from all of these schools I’ve invested so much time in, and I won’t have a SOLID safety school to fall back on.

5. I don’t really want to go into traditional journalism. If I did choose journalism, it would be either writing for magazines or some kind of editorial work. I would really enjoy going into editing and publishing, though, or…well, my dream at the moment is to somehow work for the UN. Dunno how that’d happen, but we’ll see. So, another question, what would be my best bet for majors? I’m pretty sure what my mom said was on par, I just want to make sure I’m not going for the wrong things.

I think that’s all. :P

[BuckeyeTriDelta]

Originally Posted by hypoallergenic

Hi guys, daughter-in-question here. I felt like there were a few things my mom didn’t express very well in the initial post, so…I’m gonna clear things up.

1. A major concern is academics. My main priority isn’t to get prepared for a job, it’s to learn and explore things I enjoy or couldn’t in high school (which, granted, is probably naïve, but with the job market requiring college for even below average students, I don’t want to be shoved into a group of kids who are just going out of obligation. I’m nerdy, learning is fun.) That’s part of the reason I’m looking at Ivies and sub-Ivies, because I want a college where people are driven and passionate.

Any college/university you attend will have students who are driven and passionate; not just Ivies or sub-Ivies. There are kids going out of obligation to those schools as well. Not trying to be snarky, just trying to get a point across.