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A Visit to Jacksonville University
May 15, 2012
Jacksonville Campus
Location
Jacksonville University is located in a beautiful riverfront setting in suburban Jacksonville, across the St. Johns River from downtown and just minutes from the Atlantic Ocean. The 190-acre campus includes a half-mile of riverfront, oak-lined paths, and a mix of historic and new campus buildings. 3500 students
Demographics
Most JU students are from Florida and the southeastern and northeastern United States. They represent 45 states, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and 50 foreign countries. The male-female student ratio is about 1 to 1.
Colleges
The College of Arts & Sciences offers traditional liberal arts and science majors, plus programs in nursing, education, and pre-professional education. The College of Fine Arts has outstanding programs in art, dance, music and theater. The Davis College of Business occupies a new, technologically advanced facility.
Student Characteristics
Beginning Fall 2012, traditional freshmen can participate in Jacksonville University’s Four-Year Graduation Guarantee.
What is Our Four-Year Graduation Guarantee?
A guarantee for incoming first-year students that ensures their ability to graduate in four years provided they adhere to the stipulations of the agreement. If they are unable to graduate on time and have met the requirements of the agreement, the University will assume their tuition costs (minus any state and federal aid for which they qualify) until they graduate.
A Visit to Florida State University
May 15, 2012
FSU Fountain
Overall
- Tallahassee, Florida
- Beautiful, sprawling campus, lots of huge tees, downtown Tallahassee
- Tallahassee is the capital, students can walk right into the downtown area
- Lots of convenient internships
- 31,000 undergraduate, only 9% from out of state
- Sports oriented, Florida State Seminoles an ACC powerhouse
- Lots of fun traditions
- Great athletic facilities
- Frats and Sorriorites dominate the social scene
- Has been known as a party school
Academics
- Research University
- Top majors – criminal justice, finance and business, political science, hospitality, golf course management
Admissions
- 60 percent accepted
- 24-28 ACT
- 3.7 average GPA
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- Parked bikes at FSU
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- FSU Fountain
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- FSU Campus Grounds
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- Old tree on FSU campus
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- FSU Statues
- Wonderful location in a tourist town, four miles from the beach
- Students can walk to all the charming shops and restaurants
- 2500 students
- Good teacher education program, specially deaf education
- Great sports management
- Only freshman live on campus, the other students live around the campus or on near the beach
- No coed dorms
- Cars are allowed
- No Greeks
- Liberal arts college
- 90% study abroad
- Scholarship
- Excellence
- Openness
- Fiscal Responsibility
- Accountability
- Collaboration
- Diversity
- Service
- Fairness
- Courage
- Integrity
- Respect
- Collegiality
- Freedom
- Ethics
- Shared Governance
- Centrally located historic town
- New England type village with a village green, cute little shops, etc.
- Close to the Adirondacks, Utica, and Syracuse
- Many other cute little towns near by
- Malls are about 15 minutes away
- Syracuse Airport about 40 minutes away
- Residential campus, students live on campus all four years
- Truly a community, no need to leave campus
- 1800 students
- Creative, engaged fun students
- Became co-ed in the early 70s when Hamilton merged with all-female Kirkland College
- You will find all different types of students who all seem to get along
- Housing is a lottery
- No separate freshman housing, may be some floors that are all freshman
- Lots of unique housing options
- Housing is great because freshman are not put in a freshman dorm. They are not put in the worse dorm as is the case at other
colleges. They are mixed in with other students so nice housing for all students. - Liberal arts, all the majors are strong
- No distribution requirements or core curriculum
- Benefits are students are happy and engaged because they want to be in the classes they choose
- Advising system really good and personal
- Dynamic and organic experience, advisors ensure students get a broad education
- Course of study will be individually tailored and structured to ensure an experience to prepare students to reach their goal
- Faculty are committed to the open curriculum
- There may be a quantative requirement if students are not at the level they need to be, for example Stats.
- Hamilton is a writing intensive college. This means you don’t have to write tons of big papers, but smaller papers and several drafts to become a better, focused writer.
- Professors are here to teach, vast majority live within 3 miles of campus
- Professors know if you are not there
- Senior projects and some full year thesis available
- Pre-professional advisors for business, law, medicine, etc.
- Liberal arts train you for nothing but prepare you for everything
- 5 main off-campus Hamilton programs – New York, Washington DC, China, Spain, and France – 100s of others available.
- Opportunity to be involved in the arts are vast
- Opening an art museum and teaching museum
- Strong theater, a capella groups, jazz band, orchestra, etc.
- The New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) – most prestigious Division III conference, same conference as Williams, Middlebury, Amherst, Wesleyan, Colby, Bates, Bowdoin, Trinity.
- These colleges are overlaps
- Students can contact coaches themselves. Coaches prefer that over a box e mail bought from a company
- National championship womens lacrosse team
- Ham, the pig, is the mascot – dresses like a revolutionary war soldier
- Lots of school spirit!
- Lots of competitive club and intra-mural teams
- Hamilton will fund any club students want to start
- Pub for students over 21 on campus
- Greeks live in the dorms
- Career-Related-Experience (CRE) – every student has at least one before end of sophomore year
- Hamilton is in the top 1 percent for alumni giving of money, time, networking, connections.
- Great alumni network! For example a girl got an internship at MTV in NYC ( unpaid internship).
- The career center funded her summer internship expenses such as rent, food and fun. Very impressive program.
- Summer research opportunities with professors
- Internships open the door to that first job
- Great Names Series – impressive speaker series.
- Interviews recommeded. Students need to set this up on the Hamilton website. Alum interview available in the Twin Cities
- 50 percent of students on financial aid, still need blind
- Meets 100 percent of need
- No merit scholarships
- Hamilton, like all colleges, recommends families use the net price caculalator to determine if you will qualify for financial aid on the school’s website.
- All different kinds of students, 32 percent diversity
- 25 percent Jewish
- One of the biggest Hillel’s in the country
- Active GLBT group
- Study abroad
- 8 different Syracuse locations around the world
- Big campus, big quad
- Huge Carrier dome. Used for both football and basketball
- Up on a hill
- Mix of old and new architecture
- Bustling, lots of students
- Dorms – split doubles most common
- No freshman dorms
- Connective corridor, new project connecting the campus with the city with walking paths, bike paths, lights, trees, linking the arts and theater, shopping and restaurants
- Dinosaur Barbecue – most famous restaurant
- Interviews are optional and evaluative
- Students should indicate three colleges they want to attend at Syracuse. If not admitted into first choice such as Newhouse, will be considered for the other two.
- 3.6 GPA
- ACT 25 – 26
- Super scores SAT
- Admissions does vary from college to college
- Merit scholarships available
- “Scholarship in Action”
- Theater, BFA, strong program.
- First Year Players, a student-run theater program does a musical every year, for the non theater students.
- Direct entry architecture, 5-year BA of Architecture. Ranked in the top 5 in the nation. Need an art profile to be admitted.
- Newhouse School of Communication – new building with focus on multi-media. Number one communication program in the country. Eight different majors, biggest are radio, TV, and film.
- Dual majors with Newhouse and Whitman Business School
- Information School, has high tech majors such as global enterprise technology and web-based security and finance.
- For students who like technology, Whitman school of Business has a competitive direct entry program.
- School of Education, big focus on urban education and multi-culturism
- College of Visual and Performing Arts
- Also has a School of Music, housed in a gothic Hogwarts-like building
- Also has a music business program
- Most competitive programs are Newhouse, Whitman, Information School, Architecture, Theater
- Has a good Design program
- Engineering very good – 8 different majors
- New science building – state-of-the-art labs for study and research
- Big hospital right by campus for research and volunteering.
- College of Sports Management
- Liberal Arts College has a consortium with Cornell and other nearby colleges
- Lovely, historic campus located in the small city of Canton.
- Well maintained and updated facilities and grounds. Lots of quads, trees in a park-like surrounding.
- Spacious library with lots of interesting study places such as a tree house.
- New and bustling student center and a great book store with a boutique.
- I was surprised to see a Caribou Coffee, the first one I have seen in New York. Then I found out the co-founder of Caribou Coffee, Kim Puckett, attended St. Lawrence.
- The campus has lots of cute houses surrounding the college that are theme houses for the students.
- Housing is guaranteed all four years with many nice options.
- Loved dining hall
- Academics attracts faculty who love to teach, help students develop their academics passions
- Environmental studies is an impressive major.
- Johnson Hall of Science meets LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold Certification – meeting a stringent set of environmentally friendly and energy-efficient standards.
- Takes advantage of location by mountains. Environmental Science majors can go into public policy or field work.
- Over half of the students study abroad.
- Classic liberal arts and sciences
- Good geology, really good and unique rocks!
- Also good anthropology
- 3/2 engineering with Columbia and Clarkson
- Pre med is strong
- Pre law is strong
- 4 plus 1 MBA at many colleges
- International economics – new major
- Flexible core curriculum
- Semester system
- 40 percent accepted
- Syracuse or Ottawa airport, closest airport.
- Security will drive students to airports, also have shuttles
- 60 percent from out-of-state,
- Will start reviewing Early Decision applicants Nov. 1
- For Early Decision 2 applicants, the deadline is Jan 1 but will give students more time if they change their minds and decide to go Early Decision 2
- Test optional – want to see honors and AP classes
- They look for a student is well-rounded, curious, and likes to try new things
- Merit scholarships
- Overlaps - Hamilton, Colgate, Middelbury, U of Vermont
- Small Greek scene
- Off the beaten track creates a strong community, a bee hive
- Students love the outdoors
- Big outing club Close to Canada gives an international flair
- White Face Ski Area an hour and a half
- Other small ski areas closer by
- Weather – sunny and snowy, but not the lake snow affects which is more cloudy and drizzle
- Campus has varied architecture with an upper and lower campus. The buildings are spread out with lots of green spaces in between.
- Impressive science building.
- The humanities buildings featured seminar classes, all discussion-based with engaged students sitting around a conference table.
- Students were friendly, seemed free to be themselves, artsy.
- Good music department. Students do not need to audition for music or theater.
- No portfolio required.
- Students are interested in multiple things and tend to be unique.
- Social sciences are number 1.
- Students are opinionated, civic minded, like to do public service, and are politically active.
- When apply for early action, they make immediate decision. Unique!
- Test scores are optional.
- 30 percent accepted. Bard admissions is looking for students who are intellectual and independent and can handle the academics and take advantage of the opportunities at Bard.
- Vassar, Brown, Reed, NYU, Oberlin, and Carleton are overlaps.
- Students who have good relationships with teachers is what they are looking for
- They will take a look at students with high test scores and low GPAs if they see potential.
- Great college town
- Battle of Saratoga was fought here
- Saratoga Springs is a mineral bath town
- Ski school , close to the Adirondack Mountain ski area
- 850 acres of woods with plenty of hiking trails
- Big outdoorsy scene
- 3 hours from NYC
- 3 hours from Montreal
- Internships and airport at Albany, 20 minutes away
- 70 percent out-of-state
- 7 percent international
- Co-ed since 1972
- 25 percent diversity
- 2500 undergrad
- Professional track
- Business major available
- MBA program
- Direct entry nursing
- Education major with masters available
- Pre-med
- Pre-law
- Socialwork
- Exercise science
- No need to audition for music, theater, or dance
- All types of music, tons of opportunities
- Visual arts, wonderful art building with print making
- Juniors and seniors get their own studio space
- English
- Psychology
- International affairs
- Biology
- Many other majors
- Small class sizes
- No teaching assistants
- 60 percent double major
- Semesters system
- Four year core curriculum, lots of options
- Study abroad popular
- 48 countries
- Skidmore helps students find internships
- Big horse school, equestrian teams and equine studies
- Crew popular
- 94 percent retention rate
- Men’s varsity ice hockey – ECEA East leaugue of Divisition III
- Women’s field hockey
- Supportive healthy place
- Both “preppy” and alternative students
- Not “cliquey”
- All types of religions. About 25 percent Jewish.
- Not a bubble school, kids are politically aware and active.
- 40 percent acceptance rate
- ACT 27-30 average
- They super score
- Merit and talented scholarships available.
- Beautiful new music building
- Dance is a popular major. Students can do both modern dance and ballet.
- Great dorms. Suite style with single rooms for sophomores and doubles for the freshman with a shared bath for four students.
- All dorms are connected to the academic buildings and student center with covered walkways. See picture of tour guide Amanda under covered walkway. Best guide ever!
- Beautiful, compact and well planned campus. Only 40 years old. Original campus was in downtown Saratoga Springs.
- Juniors and seniors live in really nice apartments on campus.
- Skidmore mascot is the Thoroughbred, of course.
- One of the nicest dining halls I have ever seen. Open from 7 am to 11 pm.
- They have a separate dining room for students who have food allergies, which was good to see, as well as all the healthy menu options. There is also a unique make-your-own station where students can make their own stir frys, omelets and grilled sandwiches.
- Academic buildings, high tech, modern, all small classes
- No Greeks. Lots of traditions and social options
- Students at Vassar were diverse and from all over
- No core curriculum
- Can triple major
- English, psychology, biology, economics, political science are the most popular majors
- Lang requirement
- AP level will waive if you get 4 or 5
- 40 percent study abroad
- 1000 courses to choose from – can register for 7 then drop down to 4 so can shop around for best fit
- 2500 students
- Good advising for both majors and minors
- Field work is what they call internships – must do a normal and submit a paper. Vassar sets up field work in the area and provides transportation.
- Students can also intern in NYC who want to get experience working in museums, PR firms, businesses, medical institutions, law firms and on Wall Street
- There is a Metro Link to New York City
- 22 percent acceptance rate, most rigorous possible high school curriculum required
- Students reviewed from the context of their high school
- Students should take all 5 core classes, English, Math, Science, world language and social studies all four years, and take as many AP courses as possible.
- 3.8 GPA
- ACT with writing 30-33
- Will super score all test scores – send all scores
- Early Decision has a 10-15 percent higher acceptance
- Extra-curriculars important, looking for leadership
- 20 percent in Division III sports, the rest in club and intramural sports
- Students are assigned to one of 9 “houses”, they live in the same house for three years
- There are house fellows who are faculty families who live in the house
- Went co-ed in 1969
- Plan to expand sciences
- Fun fact, the barefoot monks are one of the hundreds of student groups at Vassar, they are a juggling club.
- Who does well at Vassar? Ones who have learned how to balance rigorous academics and their activities.
- Their library closes at 12 because they want students to go home and sleep!
- Poughkeepsie has 120,000 people in the area
- Students do not go into the city all that much, because Vassar has such a multitude of things to do on campus.
A Visit to Flagler College
May 15, 2012
Flagler Campus
Flagler College
74 King Street St.
Augustine, Florida 32084
904-829-6481
Admissions
24 ACT, 3.4 GPA, 40 percent accepted.
Cost
VERY affordable. No merit scholarships because of the low cost.
Cost of Attendance
| Tuition | $15,340 |
| Room | $4,070 |
| Meal Plan (Full) | $4,280 |
| Total Costs | $23,690 |
Flagler College Students
Students playing volley ball
Swimming Pool
A Visit to Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University
May 15, 2012
Florida A&M
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, commonly known as Florida A&M or FAMU, is the nation’s largest historically black university by enrollment,[3] is located in Tallahassee, the Florida state capital, and is one of eleven member institutions of the State University System of Florida. FAMU is also one of Florida’s land grant universities.
Overview
Founded on October 3, 1887, Florida A&M University (FAMU) is part of the State University System of Florida and is fully accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
Distinguished by lush foliage and massive oaks, FAMU’s main campus comprises 156 buildings spread over 422 acres atop the highest of Tallahassee’s seven hills.
The university also has several satellite campuses including a site in Orlando where the College of Law is located and sites in Miami, Jacksonville and Tampa for its pharmacy program.
Enrollment
Florida A&M University enrolls nearly 12,000 students from the United States and more than 70 countries such as India, Egypt, Trinidad, Netherlands, China, Bahamas, Jamaica, and Brazil.
Academic Programs
Florida A&M University offers 62 bachelor’s degrees and 39 master’s degrees. The university has 13 schools and colleges and one institute. The university also offers a juris doctor at its College of Law in Orlando. FAMU has 11 doctoral programs which includes 10 Ph.D. programs: chemical engineering; civil engineering; electrical engineering; mechanical engineering; industrial engineering; biomedical engineering; physics; pharmaceutical sciences; educational leadership; and environmental sciences.
Popular Majors
Marching band
Main article: Marching 100
The FAMU Marching “100″ under the direction of Dr. William P. Foster, was invited by the French government to participate in the Bastille Day Parade as the official representation from the United States. This event was held in celebration of the bicentennial of the French Revolution.
The Marching “100″ was named the “Best Marching Band in the Nation” by Sports Illustrated (August 1992). The band received national recognition in January 1993 when it performed in the 42nd Presidential Inauguration Parade by invitation of Bill Clinton. The band has also performed in the Super Bowl and in the 44th Presidential Inauguration Parade.
In 2011, a band member was beaten to death in a hazing incident. Since the 2011 death, a series of reports of abuse and hazing within the band have been documented. In May of 2012, 2 faculty members resigned in connection with a hazing investigation and 13 people were charged with felony or misdemeanor hazing crimes.
Top undergraduate programs are architecture; journalism; computer information sciences and psychology. FAMU’s top graduate programs include pharmaceutical sciences along with public health; physical therapy; engineering; physics; master’s of applied social sciences (especially history and public administration); business and sociology.
Admission Fees
Fees Per Credit Hour
Undergraduate residents: $124.01
Undergraduate nonresidents: $522.03
Graduate resident: $268.23
Graduate non-resident: $884.75
Law resident: $288.75
Law nonresident: $943.43
Other Fees
Rattler Card ID: $5
Athletic Fee: $11.30
Technology Fee: $4.43
Health Fee: $55
Transportation Fee: $59
Housing
Room rent (average): $2,025.47 per semester
Financial Aid and Scholarships
Grants, scholarships, loans and employment opportunities are available to help families meet the cost of investing in a FAMU education. For information, visit www.FAMU.edu/UniversityScholarships.
Demographics
(2008-2009)
|
Full-time |
10,509 |
|
Part-time |
1,339 |
|
Female |
6,940 |
|
Male |
4,908 |
|
Florida |
9,215 |
|
Non-Florida |
2,633 |
|
Black |
10,631 |
|
White |
596 |
|
Hispanic |
268 |
|
Asian |
141 |
|
Native Indian |
27 |
|
Non-Resident Alien |
131 |
|
Not Reported |
54 |
Florida A&M University Mission Statement
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) is an 1890 land-grant institution dedicated to the advancement of knowledge, resolution of complex issues and the empowerment of citizens and communities. The University provides a student-centered environment consistent with its core values. The faculty is committed to educating students at the undergraduate, graduate, doctoral and professional levels, preparing graduates to apply their knowledge, critical thinking skills and creativity in their service to society. FAMU’s distinction as a doctoral/research institution will continue to provide mechanisms to address emerging issues through local and global partnerships. Expanding upon the University’s land-grant status, it will enhance the lives of constituents through innovative research, engaging cooperative extension, and public service. While the University continues its historic mission of educating African Americans, FAMU embraces persons of all races, ethnic origins and nationalities as life-long members of the university community.
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University holds the following values essential to the achievement of the university’s mission:
A Visit to Hamilton
September 26, 2011
Hamilton College, Clinton, NY
After our visit to St. Lawrence, Tom and I drove down to the beautiful Finger Lakes area in central New York. We made our way to Mirbeau Inn & Spa named “Best for Romance, Cuisine & Yoga!” This inn became our home for three days as we explored the surrounding areas and colleges.
Here are my notes and observations about Hamilton College, in Clinton, New York.
Clinton
Campus
Hamilton College Dining Hall
Housing
Academics
Athletics
Extracurriculars
Career information
Hamilton College Walkway
Addmissions
Financial aid
What separates Hamilton from the others? The friendly, warm, welcoming atmosphere, centrally located, not shared with a major
city. – Sue Luse
A Visit to Syracuse University
September 21, 2011Syracuse University is located in the city of Syracuse where you find the arts, shopping, and restaurants. Lake Onondaga is about 2 miles to the north. About 40 miles farther to the north is Lake Ontario. 168,000 people live in Syracuse and 700,000 in the metro area. Syracuse is a private university with 10,000 undergraduates. It’s close to Hancock International Airport. Syracuse is working to re-invent the South Side. Syracuse University business and journalism students are involved in the effort.
Our tour guide from Michigan
Notes and Observations…
Campus
Syracuse Music Building
Admissions
Academics
If students are looking for a medium-sized university with many different colleges and majors available in an urban setting, Syracuse
would be a good option – especially if students are looking for big time athletics and legendary school spirit! – Sue Luse
A Visit to St. Lawrence University
September 20, 2011
Windy day at St. Lawrence Univ.
Tom and I drove through the beautiful Adirondack Mountains to the charming town of Lake Placid, home to the Winter Olympics. We loved Lake Placid even though lightening knocked out power to Lake Placid and our hotel. Oh well, better then a flat tire!
St Lawrence University, Canton, NY
Notes and Impressions…
Campus
Academics
An outdoor class
Admissions
Student workout area - amazing place!
Activities
Overall, beautiful campus, impressive facility, all kinds of students would be happy here. Great location by the mountains, somewhat
isolated, but happy students. – Sue Luse
A Visit to Bard College
September 20, 2011Bard College is located on the Hudson River in the tiny village of Annandale-on-Hudson in New York. This is a beautiful area, with lots of outdoor opportunities, and still close to New York City.
A Visit to Skidmore College
September 20, 2011
Sue at Skidmore
Skidmore College is located in Saratoga Springs, NY. In the summer during the racing season the population triples. Students move in after labor day, when all the tourists have left and have this cute town all to themselves. The movie Sea Biscuit was filmed here. There’s a big racetrack in town. Skidmore is a mile and a half from downtown. It’s surrounded by mansions and the North Woods, and close to the Adirondack Mountains. Beautiful campus, lots of trees and quads.
Here are some fun facts, stats, and my observations:
Academics
Arts Track
Liberal Arts Track
General
Admissions
Campus Tour
Amanda - best guide ever!
Skidmore is a good fit for our Midwest students. – Sue Luse
A Visit to Vassar College
September 13, 2011Vassar is located in Poughkeepsie,NY, about an hour and a half from NYC, on the Hudson river. The college campus is a combination of old and new architecture with a stunning library and performing arts center. We stayed in the historic town of Rhinebeck, about 20 minutes away.
Some notes about Vassar College:
For more information, check out Vassar’s website: www.vassar.edu
- Sue Luse