As others have stated, this article puts down the University of Dayton for no reason. I just finished my freshman year there and loved it. Sure, roommates aren't perfect...but that's the same at every college. I have friends who picked their roommates before freshman year and ended up hating eachother. It's not even about being randomly placed with someone, it's just being able to live so closely with anyone at all. I feel strongly that UD is a place where everyone can enjoy their college experience while getting a high-quality education. It sounds to me that this case had a lot of drama. I have several friends that switched rooms throughout the year and it took nothing more than an email to the housing department. Nothing close to "much threatening and many, many phone calls."
This article wrongly singles out one university and creates an image of it that is, in my opinion, completely false. If the student's name could be changed in writing the article, why not the University? There is no benefit to including the specific University when writing this article. UD specifically is not relevant to the points made throughout.
Finally, just to comment on the schools included in the Top 26, I notice that many of them are top-tier academic schools. To me, it seems obvious that their students return. If you work hard enough to get into that school, I would imagine you'd take pride in being there and doing well. In my own opinion, the best way to find the "happiest" freshmen is not by retention rate. To do so would require visits to schools and talking to the students. The only thing the list of "highest freshmen retention rate" proves is the colleges with the highest freshmen retention rate. To turn that into "happiest" freshmen skips too steps. Again, that is just my opinion.
Your article is all well and good, but why don't you list some schools that MOST kids can get into. You listed all top tier, if not Ivy League schools. You mean to tell me that kids who are not brilliant are not happy at college?
I just wanted to point out that in 2009 the Princeton Review ranked UD as number 13 for happiest overall students. My guess is that Samantha was one of the few students who attend UD and discover that it is not for them.
As a recent graduate of the University of Dayton, I am thankful to the school for providing me with a great education, lifelong friends, and so many fond memories. I can already say that I will be a proud alum for the rest of my life, hopefully making many return visits and donations to the university.
When I saw this article, I was completely dismayed to see the University of Dayton used as an example of the "bad" college choice. Please do not let one girl's bad experience be a guiding factor in making a decision about UD. I have heard many say that they came to tour UD and "fell in love with the school". I had the same experience and I wouldn't trade the past 4 years for anything.
I just wanted to point out that in 2009 the Princeton Review ranked UD as number 13 for happiest overall students. My guess is that Samantha was one of the few students who attend UD and discover that it is not for them.
As a recent graduate of the University of Dayton, I am thankful to the school for providing me with a great education, lifelong friends, and so many fond memories. I can already say that I will be a proud alum for the rest of my life, hopefully making many return visits and donations to the university.
When I saw this article, I was completely dismayed to see the University of Dayton used as an example of the "bad" college choice. Please do not let one girl's bad experience be a guiding factor in making a decision about UD. I have heard many say that they came to tour UD and "fell in love with the school". I had the same experience and I wouldn't trade the past 4 years for anything.
My name is John Spellman. I am an alumnus of the University of Dayton. My daughter Kathie is an alumna.
Dear Lynn,
Let me get this straight.
The major indicator posited in this article for determining whether a university has "happy freshmen" is the retention rate for returning freshmen. The University of Dayton has an 88% ("above average") retention rate. Doesn't that make the case?
It seems disingenuous to set a standard, to admit that the University of Dayton meets that standard ("above average"), to present a single case of a person in the 12% minority who had an "unhappy" freshman year, to fail to present a single conter-balancing opinion from one of the 88% of students who (by the standard set) had a "happy" freshman year and to expect that the article would have any journalistic respectability.
While I take issue with the standard (there are so many intangibles to consider, including social relationships which last a lifetime), once it is posited and met it does not seem honest to lead a reader through a single case study to a point of predictable incorrect extrapolation.
My daughter and I loved (and still do) our university. We would recommend it to anyone. Go visit. Make your own decision. Don't be dissuaded by a single complaint email of an obviously disappointed parent. I'm a happy one.
I agree that the University of Dayton was not a good example. As a private college counselor, I have sent quite a few kids to school there and they have loved it. One of my daughters also went to Dayton and had a wonderful experience. She was the only one of my five children who was never homesick and fell in love with the school from the first day. I know there are other schools that you could have used, but Dayton should not have been one of them. I have had a relationship with the university for more than twenty years and have never heard of anything even close to what this mother is reporting. It sounds like "Samantha" had some issues of her own if she had to switch dorm rooms two more times and things still didn't work out. This is a good example of how one student can ruin the reputation of a school. All parents need to read is that anecdote and they cross the school off a a potential college choice.
I agree the the University of Dayton was not a good example. As a private college counselor, I have sent quite a few kids to school there and they have loved it. One of my daughters also went to Dayton and had a wonderful experience. She was the only one of my five children who was never homesick and fell in love with the school from the first day. I know there are other schools that you could have used, but Dayton should not have been one of them. I have had a relationship with the university for more than twenty years and have never heard of anything even close to what this mother is reporting. It sounds like "Samantha" had some issues of her own if she had to switch dorm rooms two more times and things still didn't work out. This is a good example of how one student can ruin the reputation of a school. All parents need to read is that anecdote and they cross the school off a a potential college choice.
This is a pretty ridiculous list of schools. As noted above, the schools are very selective top tier schools. I doubt that most students who have worked so hard to get into these schools are going to throw in the towel after just a year, no matter how miserable they may be. Better to go to a college rating site where you can read comments from real students. The respondents may be self selected but at least you will get a wide variety of comments, even from those who were miserable for four years but stuck it out.
This is a pretty ridiculous list of schools. As noted above, the schools are very selective top tier schools. I doubt that most students who have worked so hard to get into these schools are going to throw in the towel after just a year, no matter how miserable they may be. Better to go to a college rating site where you can read comments from real students. The respondents may be self selected but at least you will get a wide variety of comments, even from those who were miserable for four years but stuck it out.
Did no one no else notice that the student switched dorm rooms THREE times. While I don't condone the behavior the student told Mama occurred, it appears that the daughter may have issues. Four sets of room mates and none were acceptable? I suggest a private room at her next college.
Wow, I am amazed that this author used U of Dayton as her "bad example." Poor choice, Ms. O'Shaughnessy. While this one student may have had a negative experience, I can assure readers that this is not the norm at UD. My youngest son attended UD, and my oldest attended one of your Top 26 "Happiest" schools -- and, believe me, UD provided the happier and more socially-healthy experience of the two. Parents of high schoolers, please do not let this one story dissuade you and your child from considering UD. It's a great place -- and as a parent forking over $30-$40K+ a year for college tuition, etc. -- I honestly believe I received the better value at the University of Dayton.
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This article wrongly singles out one university and creates an image of it that is, in my opinion, completely false. If the student's name could be changed in writing the article, why not the University? There is no benefit to including the specific University when writing this article. UD specifically is not relevant to the points made throughout.
Finally, just to comment on the schools included in the Top 26, I notice that many of them are top-tier academic schools. To me, it seems obvious that their students return. If you work hard enough to get into that school, I would imagine you'd take pride in being there and doing well. In my own opinion, the best way to find the "happiest" freshmen is not by retention rate. To do so would require visits to schools and talking to the students. The only thing the list of "highest freshmen retention rate" proves is the colleges with the highest freshmen retention rate. To turn that into "happiest" freshmen skips too steps. Again, that is just my opinion.
As a recent graduate of the University of Dayton, I am thankful to the school for providing me with a great education, lifelong friends, and so many fond memories. I can already say that I will be a proud alum for the rest of my life, hopefully making many return visits and donations to the university.
When I saw this article, I was completely dismayed to see the University of Dayton used as an example of the "bad" college choice. Please do not let one girl's bad experience be a guiding factor in making a decision about UD. I have heard many say that they came to tour UD and "fell in love with the school". I had the same experience and I wouldn't trade the past 4 years for anything.
As a recent graduate of the University of Dayton, I am thankful to the school for providing me with a great education, lifelong friends, and so many fond memories. I can already say that I will be a proud alum for the rest of my life, hopefully making many return visits and donations to the university.
When I saw this article, I was completely dismayed to see the University of Dayton used as an example of the "bad" college choice. Please do not let one girl's bad experience be a guiding factor in making a decision about UD. I have heard many say that they came to tour UD and "fell in love with the school". I had the same experience and I wouldn't trade the past 4 years for anything.
Dear Lynn,
Let me get this straight.
The major indicator posited in this article for determining whether a university has "happy freshmen" is the retention rate for returning freshmen. The University of Dayton has an 88% ("above average") retention rate. Doesn't that make the case?
It seems disingenuous to set a standard, to admit that the University of Dayton meets that standard ("above average"), to present a single case of a person in the 12% minority who had an "unhappy" freshman year, to fail to present a single conter-balancing opinion from one of the 88% of students who (by the standard set) had a "happy" freshman year and to expect that the article would have any journalistic respectability.
While I take issue with the standard (there are so many intangibles to consider, including social relationships which last a lifetime), once it is posited and met it does not seem honest to lead a reader through a single case study to a point of predictable incorrect extrapolation.
My daughter and I loved (and still do) our university. We would recommend it to anyone. Go visit. Make your own decision. Don't be dissuaded by a single complaint email of an obviously disappointed parent. I'm a happy one.