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Seems like a really great school. Are there any ED's out there - favorable or otherwise that would like to share their stats and experience? Could anyone share their knowledge of this school and whether they have applied or intend to and why. Thanks.

By Renegade (Renegade) on Thursday, January 01, 2004 - 08:33 pm: Edit

My D got in ED at Holy Cross. Recruited athlete, roughly 3.9GPA; 1390 SATs; great recs; lots of ECs, etc. She's really looking forward to going.

By Golfdad (Golfdad) on Saturday, January 03, 2004 - 05:58 pm: Edit

Thanks. What other schools were being considered?

By Golfdad (Golfdad) on Tuesday, January 06, 2004 - 10:31 pm: Edit

Any one else out there?

By Ksolo (Ksolo) on Friday, January 09, 2004 - 03:01 am: Edit

Great liberal arts school. Prestigious. Small-size, etc. There are many benefits in attending Holy Cross, including housekeepers. There are very few negatives about the school. And these negatives are with its lack of diversity, the city its located in, and sometimes its size (as gossip tends to travel often). But there are many positives that clearly outweigh the disadvantages.

It's hard to give more information without specific questions to answer.

By Golfdad (Golfdad) on Friday, January 09, 2004 - 10:12 pm: Edit

My son recently applied and was accepted ED

What's there to do?
How will he pick a roommate?
Should we expect a tough curriculum?
How is it playing a varsity sport and still making the cut academicaly

By Renegade (Renegade) on Sunday, January 11, 2004 - 09:22 pm: Edit

Pretty sure there is alot to do on campus and the school, as a whole, is very supportive of their athletic teams. Heard the curriculum is quite tough and grades aren't "handed out." I think it all depends on what major you are in. My daughter was accepted for biology/predentistry. Heard it is quite tough and she will soon find out if she can cut it in addition to playing a sport. Crusaders, from what we heard, work hard and play hard. But the general concensus it that most students love Holy Cross.
As far picking a roommate goes, I believe they will be sent a form to fill out asking some very indepth and personal questions to try to get a good match. Other than that, I don't know too much, though.
Good luck to your son.

By Ksolo (Ksolo) on Monday, January 12, 2004 - 12:47 pm: Edit

In the city of Worcester, where Holy Cross is located, there isn't much to do. The city is quite boring. Although, there are a couple night clubs that HC students throw events at, which are fun. But this is not a regular thing. During the week, most or pretty much all Holy Cross students do not do anything outside academics. It's only on Fridays and Saturdays students get a chance to do things. And that's primarily going to the off-campus based parties.

Picking a roommate is done by HC, when the student fills out an evaluation form shortly after acceptance.

Should you expect a tough curriculum? You have better expect a tough curriculum, because that is what it will be for 4 years. It is not easy. The average student GPA/grade is around the C+ range, if that says anything. There are classes where students struggle to get just a C. And A's are given out to very few students in any course. Many students at HC come from high school as valedictorians, salutarians, etc... and are quickly humbled.

I wouldn't recommend playing a varsity sport, because the academics are a bit too demanding to make a good balance. One area will suffer more than the other. The student will either be great academically, but do poorly athletically, or vice-versa. But I think overtime some students get so used to the system, that they easily make a balance and do well with both. But most students wouldn't dare play sports unless they were exceptionally talented at it. And quite a number of students who do play sports, and even some who were talented enough to get recruited and possessed FULL athletic scholarships have quit their respective teams just to focus on academics. Playing varsity is doable, but something will suffer as a consequence.

By Golfdad (Golfdad) on Monday, January 12, 2004 - 08:34 pm: Edit

Similar to Renegade, I have heard that most students really love Holy Cross also. I suppose I will eventually find out if Crusader athletics can handle the academics part as well.

Ksolo - I don't quite understand where you're coming from on not recommending participation in a varsity sport. HC reports a 90 percent graduation rate, tied for second in the entire nation among I-AA schools, as announced by the USA Today-NCAA Foundation Academic Achievement Award program. I think this conflicts with your suggestion that just a few have this figured out.

By Ctkid (Ctkid) on Monday, January 12, 2004 - 09:14 pm: Edit

Sister goes there.

I know she picked her roommate at orientation.

Academics are very tough. It's tough to get a good grade.

By Ksolo (Ksolo) on Tuesday, January 13, 2004 - 11:35 am: Edit

Golfdad:

Sure, those playing sports can do both academics and athletics. But can a student perform well in both areas? Now that is the question. And to answer it, most athletes either fail in their attempts to do this, or some, while finding success, experience great difficulty doing so. The graduation rate of athletes does not reflect their average GPA, nor does it reflect the difficulty these students went through academically. Most students find it tough to do well academically, and this is without playing sports. HC is one of the few schools also, where you have some various recruited athletes leaving their respective teams to solely focus on academics. Not even to talk about the athletes that weren't recruited.

All of this does not mean that doing both well (sports and academics) is not doable. It's just VERY difficult to achieve. Many students have trouble balancing a simple work-study job with school as well (most notably freshmen). But also, as I said earlier, there are students who have adjusted so well to this system of being a student athlete, that they do really well in both. It's just that you won't see this often.

And yes, it's true, all students pretty much LOVE HC. Although you will hear some whine and complain, most wouldn't want to be anywhere else in the end. Students support the sports teams by the way, even when they suck (ex, the football team).

By Renegade (Renegade) on Wednesday, January 14, 2004 - 03:07 pm: Edit

To Golfdad:

Wow...I guess our kids will find out soon enough. My daughter's future coach is very proud of the way his athletes handled both academics and playing time, although he did tell us it was tough. But his team did manage to have several Patriot League scholars last season with gpas ranging from 3.87 to 3.3. I do know one player is changing her major from biology to something less intense so that she can continue to play and one player left last year to go ROTC, but those are the only negatives I heard. On my daughter's official visit weekend, the girls did tell her it was tough but they wouldn't want to be any other place.

My daughter is bright, but I am sure she will be humbled especially during the first marking period. Not sure if HC provides tutors for the athletes or not...time will tell if they can pull it off. There's no scholarship money involved on our end, so if she can't swing it, then there will be a vacancy on the roster, I guess. Her dream was to play D-1 and be a scholar-athlete at a great school. She thinks that Holy Cross will fulfill all those requirements. Let's hope so. Good luck!

By Ksolo (Ksolo) on Wednesday, January 14, 2004 - 04:27 pm: Edit

Renegade:

As long as she is dedicated and works hard, she can pull it off. HC does have tutors (but not for athletes specifically). There are tutors though for the more difficult courses, like Analysis, Physics, Organic Chemistry, and Biology I think. Also, there's a writer's workshop where students can bring their papers for correction and advice. Anyhow, there's not too much need for tutors because the professors are around A LOT. Usually, it is far more helpful seeing the professor than by going to a tutor. If necessary, they will bend over backwards to help a student who sincerely needs assistance and is actually putting in a good deal of effort. HC has a family type of atmosphere and sometimes you'll even run into Professors on the weekends during the day and late at night. I think this is why, no matter what, as long as a student is putting in effort, regardless of obstacles, they still thrive and achieve success. As long as she works hard towards her goals and remains dedicated, she'll do well.

By Golfdad (Golfdad) on Wednesday, January 14, 2004 - 09:48 pm: Edit

Your comments are most helpful. My S and I searched very long and very hard and met with coaches across the country, Patriot league included, who were extremely interested in offering my S Div-I slots with $$$'s to boot. Clearly my S's decision to apply ED to HC was based primarily on HC's reputation, credentials and the academics. No bucks factored in.

At the same time, my son's future coach was also a factor in choosing HC. His priorities were certainly knowing he was delivering a competitive roster. More importantly to us, was that he did express a sincere interest in knowing my S would succeed in getting an education first. This meant giving him a fair shot to get on the team, even if after taking a semester off the team, if needed, to catchup academically! Admitted to a college like HC, playing Div I, ok to take a semester break from the sport you love to sure-up on the academics?
Priceless.

By Golfdad (Golfdad) on Tuesday, January 27, 2004 - 09:48 pm: Edit

Anyone else accepted at Holy Cross?