Loyola 1/5 Bo children give it a thumbs up

Loyola University Maryland

Ok our second tour ever.  We were hesitant because of the location.  Though Baltimore like all big cities seemed to have its better areas and its seedy areas.  Safety on the campus was a big issue/topic.  Students telling us that going to town alone was not a good idea, though you could take the campus bus safely and easily.  

The buildings were beautiful.  When you walk in you immediately get the vibe of "so this is a 65,000 dollar a year school" .  Clubby over stuffed chairs, ornate architecture.   Our tour guide was not fantastic.  He had a world weary vibe (oh to be 21 and so knowledgeable of the ways of the world again!) .  He strongly emphasized the lack of any religious orientation at this Jesuit school. 

The campus was nice, but a bit small and I couldn't help get that locked in here and away from out there feeling.  As you can tell from the tone, I was not really feeling this school, though when I first went into the admissions building I was feeling more upbeat. The students their were welcoming and upbeat, the place looked really pretty. I just couldn't get a sense of identity from the school and the school spirit was a bit flagging.  But again that could have just been our tour guide. 

Though we had one fan, and it was one of our Juniors , it was taken off the list as just not a stand out in any way to us of course, I am sure many people go and they love it.  We were not seeing anything special in our potential majors (business and computer science) or in the school itself to justify its top price. 

Catholic University 4/5 Bo kids gave it a thumbs up

Now I love RVing, I do.  But not surprisingly not all of my teens are as enthusiastic a I am.  One I can quote as saying "RVing is for 5 year olds and old people"   Ah well what can you do.

So our first trip included Catholic university and Loyola.  This was done on our way down to Tennessee for a family action (Dolly Wood!  strange place honestly) This was this past summer so my memory may not be perfect

Catholic University 

We were new to the touring thing, so I went to the website for Catholic University and booked an information session and a campus tour.  I have learned that it may be more useful to directly email a department that you are interested in so you can find out more about the program you are interested in.  If not that see if they have an information session related to your kids possible area of interest.

Going into Catholic I had my hesitations.  I was a bit worried that the students would all home-schooled and from families of 10, though with a family of 5 who am I to judge, and not that there is anything wrong with homeschooling I just didn't think it would be a great fit for my kids.

The campus is pretty and if you didn't know Catholic is home to the largest Basilica in the East .  They were in the middle of building a brand new business building and as they will tell you it is Hogwarts on the outside and Google on the inside.   We did not get to see it, but a good friend said they did complete construction,.

It was nice that it was on the subway line of Washington DC while having so much acreage that you felt removed and bucolic   I did feel that the landscape looked a bit run down, but the buildings were in good shape

Our tour guide was awesome which helps and the information session was impressive.

Pros: 

It did have a warm vibe you would expect from a catholic institution
Location
Built in class to integrate students-required this was a plus as it wouldn't be pushed out of the schedule
In dorm support/counselor/ monk
Large variety of majors
Honors Program
Freshmen forms were average but laundry and bathroom cleaning is included
Weather
average sized dorm rooms
Impressive internships/employment upon graduation
nice area right outside of campus for food/shopping

Cons:

Possible long walk to classes 

expensive even with merit packages

No one can remember the cons anymore. I suspect that the detractor in the group was turned off by his parents and siblings enthusiasm 

Beginning our Touring Life

We have a huge RV, its a trailer that sleeps 10.  Its pretty unwieldy.  We also have 5 teens, two of which have begun the college hunt.

I don't know about you, but I had no college hunt as a high school student, it was here's a brochure choose a school.  Chose my school and my major site unseen and completely believed that it would all work out.
But even then, way back in 1984 that was the processes for some of my peers.  They were padding college applications, studying for the SAT and gearing up for the perfect college experience, not many did this but some.

Now in 2019 you are borderline neglectful and worthy of a call to CPS if you don't indulge in the college tours, pay for endless, intense SAT classes (and ACT!) hire an essay writer, maybe get a private college adviser.

I don't know how much of the above we can do, but we do have an RV and I love a road trip so the touring part I can do.  In fact we have toured several already and I loved it.  I love walking around campus, its entertaining, its free and we get time as a family so not so bad.

There are many sites that can give you stats and admission requirements.  I will provide links when I am not feeling too lazy.  But this is just a personal , up-close tour blog.  Please feel free to  comment.  and if I save one family from needing to tour that college in Kalamazoo I have indeed done my bit for the universe