Posted on 03/30/2006 2:42:25 PM PST by Katya
Hello everyone, Bear with me on this vanity, as I don't post many.
I'd like some personal opinions based on freepers experience, attending the following institutions: Clemson, Virginia Tech, Binghamton University, and University of Vermont.
These are the final choices we're making regarding college for my son next year. We have to make a decision as to which one, by the end of the month. There is also a possiblity that he will transfer out of one of these colleges for his junior year to an Ivy. Any insights to these schools would be appreciated. You can only learn so much on their tours, which are obviously also a bit of marketing.
Whatever you do, don't send him to Vermont.
I don't know much specifics about any of those, but it would help if you were to identify what your son plans to major in and other interests.
I didn't attend any of these but I do have current and former coworkers that attended Virginia Tech. They are all chemical engineers.
They are all top notch people in their field.
I'd go to each schools web page see if they have any obnoxious pre requisites or primer courses to indoctrinate freshman. Check the towns see what the crime rate is dig a little. Have him help make it a family project.
If your son is really interested in Ivy League, then why not go now? If he can't get in now, that probably won't change much in 2 years. IMHO Ivy League is overrated, and definatly not worth the money. I got lucky because the University of Illinois one of the best schools in the world for the major I'm taking, and its instate tuition!
Virginia Tech is a good choice. I live in Blacksburg. Small town dominated by a university. Almost no crime. Fairly conservative for a university.
My niece and nephew both graduated from Va. Tech and loved it.
Both are well grounded and recieved a great education.
My son was accepted there also but opted for Ga. Tech. My son could not be any happier.
Have a cousin who is a mech engineering prof at VA Tech; she's been there a while and speaks highly of it.
Especially so if your getting a B.S. degree.
;)
Save your money. College is a waste.
I've only seen Binghamton several times.
Good school, but ugly 60s campus.
Transferring to an Ivy isn't necessarily the easiest thing in the world, with the exception of Cornell, which is very receptive to transfers (upwards of 500 of them a year, many excellent students from Junior Colleges.) The other Ivies, unless things have changed, don't encourage transfers.
U. Vermont is one of a handful of "Berkeley's" of the East. Run. Run fast.
Having worked alongside a number of Ivy League grads for 20+ years (at a major Boston hospital) and having talked with many of them at great length,I can attest to the fact that a degree from an Ivy League school is as close as you'll ever get to a guarantee of a very secure and very "prosperous" life.
But then,you may well know that already.
Clemson and Virginia Tech are both "land-grant" universities. Tech has excellent engineering and veterinary programs.
}:-)4
That's true,but UVM is regarded as one of the best state schools in the country.
Great place to major in the uses of sagebrush and animal manure.
What's his major going to be?
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