Roanoke College or Bust

If you've been reading SisIggy's blog by now you know that Heir II had decided Roanoke College will be his home for the next four years. And if this is the first you're hearing about it, pull up a chair and see why.

The heir had already been accepted via early admission and had even been given a substantial financial aid package for the school. But with college expenses expected to be almost $40,000 the first year we told him that unless he was able to get a full ride, we wouldn't be able to help.

He had applied site unseen. RC had an open house last Saturday and with the help of the grandparents, we drove to Salem Saturday to check out the campus. The pre-dawn trip was very rainy and we arrived just in time for Heir II to visit one-on-one with a computer science professor who did a little personal recruitment.

We also attended a financial aid session that was tops (Lord knows we need financial aid) and then it was time for brunch.

I had expected watercress sandwiches and tea with maybe a few cookies sprinkled in.

What we got was a weekend brunch in the school's dining hall that was heaven.

Real scrambled eggs, hard-boiled eggs, bacon, biscuits and gravy and even omelets. Fresh fruit, a salad bar and the best compote I have ever eaten. And to hear our tour guide and even a Roanoke recruiter tell us the weekend food was sub-par to the rest of the week.

"Lobster Newburg, shrimp, prime rib and even Leg of Lamb with mint jelly," both told us. "Our chef's are graduates of the Culinery Institute of America. How many schools can say that?"

Yet Heir II wasn't sold on that alone. He was really impressed with the bank of cold cereal he saw once we entered the facility.

"I'm coming here," he said. "If nothing else, I'll be the new mascot."