Illinois Wesleyan University visit...

[JFS in IL]

I am TIRED from six hours driving there and back again in one day, but ds is ECSTATIC and thinks he has found "the school!!"

Small, undergrad only, 2,100 students, stuck in the middle of Illinois at Bloomington-Normal. Lovely campus, most buildings old red brick or if new built to match the old. Lots of trees (the place is also an arboretum). DS loved the campus.

Dorms (we went in two) looked clean, tidy, and decent size. Dining hall was fairly large and clean, food was best we have had on a college trip so far. DS gave two thumbs up.

We got ds in for a 15 minute interview with an admissions counselor - after 35 minutes ds came out grinning from ear to ear as he had a great talk with the counselor. I got props, apparently, for NOT going into the interview with ds (all other kids had their parents go with them. When the counselor had
asked if I was going in with ds I had said "No - this is his show.") Counselor asked ds to come back in the fall to spend a day at the college, take some classes, etc. He gave ds a book recommendation (apparently their chat ranged over ACT scores, history channel programs, AP classes, autism, ROTC etc.) that ds wants me to get from Amazon so he can read it and write about it for the counselor.

Hubby went to the financial aid seminar while ds and I were at the admissions place - he was less happy (place is $40,000+ a year :glare:)

DS is in his room now pouring over the college catalog. To think two days ago he was "Whatever, Mom" about visiting this place. HA! :D

[Ria]

Great news! We had the same experience Friday with Franklin and Marshall College. Ds *loved* it, even more so than Dickinson, which had really impressed him. Gettysburg did not impress either ds or dh.

I understand the price shock....F&M is over $50K. Shudder.

Ria

[dirty ethel rackham]

My nephew went there and he was very happy there. After getting his masters at UCLA, he is now a PhD candidate at Northwestern in Applied Mathematics.

[LibrarianMom]

My sister went to Illinois Wesleyan and really enjoyed it. One of the great things about B-N is that it's right on the Amtrak line for easily getting back and forth. You would also fine lots of other Chicago-land kids for rides home on the weekend as well. As you indicated though, the price tag is very steep but not much different from other private institutions of its size and reputation.

[JFS in IL]

As you indicated though, the price tag is very steep but not much different from other private institutions of its size and reputation.


It sure is - ds knows that he will be applying to 6 - 8 schools with a few safety, cheaper schools thrown in (possible Eastern Ill. - haven't visited yet, but they do have an honors program that looks good). Ds knows that 1. he need to see which schools accept him and then 2. what financial aid is offered. Maybe IWU will take him and offer enough that we can manage the rest. I certainly am paying attention to everything I read on these boards about asking colleges for more money, etc.

When I was a transfer student coming out of cc I was accepted into a state U..... and USC. My dad flat out refused to even look at USC. :-(