Beware of Small Liberal Arts Colleges if you're not on a sport

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is why Greek life existed in the past. It faded or was banned at many schools for good reason (binge drinking, hazing, misogyny) but it filled the social void for those not on sports teams, outing club, acapela groups, etc. At SLACs, nothing has really worked to replace it. I think a lot of kids would enjoy the UK “college” concepts, where you apply and are assigned to a residential community. Another alternative would be co-ed res communities that self-select after freshman year. But, whatever exists isn’t working. Kid is having same experience at another SLAC; the only bar that served underage kids shut down permanently, and now kids are trying to hang out outside in lawn chairs at 20 degrees. This one has some Greek life left, so that will eventually be an option… but it feels very broken.

Rice University has this. (And no Greek
Life) But they might be the only ones?

Notre Dame. No greek life AND required on campus housing all 4 years with the same people.

Yes, suggest ND to kids who don't want social life to revolve around sports!

[Anonymous]

ND does have a huge name recognition advantage over Rice and a tighter alumni network. Sports, especially football, are a big deal though.

[Anonymous]

My kids attend 2 different NESCAC schools. One kid is an (unrecruited) varsity athlete, the other does IM sports. Both have lots of other interests - for example, one is on the newspaper, the other works at the radio station. They both have athlete and non-athlete friends, but generally their closest friends are from their freshman dorm.

The biggest divide, as they see it, is caused by social-economic status. There are kids from very wealthy families who wear designer clothes, go out to eat all the time and go on fancy vacations, and then there are kids on 100% financial aid who can't even afford to go home for Thanksgiving. My kids are in-between and have friends in both groups, but the divide can make it hard to bring everyone together.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Has anyone heard of Rice here beyond seeing it on a rankings list? I haven't heard many positive experiences except from middle-aged white guys hooting it up (like the owl mascot reference?).
Enjoy Houston and the old oil $$ crowd if that is for you though!
Yes, it has a big endowment and will therefore continue to do well on rankings lists.

Huh? Yes, I have heard of nothing other than Rice, unfortunately. Looking for an amazing stem school that is somehow not cut throat competitive and has happy students? Literally everyone and their Uncle Mark suggests Rice. And it has been this way since I was in high school in the 90s. Not at all a helpful phenomenon when this is exactly what my daughter wants and I’d do anything to keep her out of Texas.

[Anonymous]

Why does Rice play Texas?

Yes, we know Rice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why does Rice play Texas?

Yes, we know Rice.

You are not thinking of the delicious carb?

If only SWAC football was still around, a lot more people would be familiar with Rice! This isn't meant to be a knock, but it is like WashU without the top med school that so many are aware of.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I see a lot of folks here don't really get the benefit of SLACs. Here's some food for thought: (1) Unlike the competitive club culture at Ivys, UCLA, Georgetown, etc. my DC is able to participate in almost any club he wants. In fact, he's welcomed with open arms. (2) Want to conduct research with a Professor? At Ivys, UCLA, Georgetown, etc., undergrads compete with graduate students for positions. My DC gets to do cutting edge research with amazing professors without having to worry about some grad student pushing him out. (3) Want to live with a D1 athlete even though you aren't one? Not gonna happen at the majority of large schools. At my DC's school, there are no frat/sorority houses. Nor are there dorms or halls for athletes. Everyone lives together. Period. (4) Enjoy fighting to get into Freshman classes with 100+ students? NO? Well, the average student:teacher ratio at DC's school is 9:1. That's pretty standard at top SLACs. And because DC knows his teachers, they are able to write recommendations for him. Cues up my last point... (5) Looking for real world work experience? DC was able to secure an amazing internship for summer 2024with an alum based on a rec from one of his teachers. He's a Freshman.
I went to a much larger school and had a very different undergrad experience. Do I think big/small/medium schools are for everyone? Absolutely not. But, I do know that SLACs can be life changing and that this purported NARP/athlete divide is not present for most kids. I visited for family weekend in October and was blown away by the happiness on campus. The kids love being there, mine included.

This is exactly what my DS is looking for. Do you mind sharing what college this is?

This is Davidson. DS has friends at Middlebury and Carleton having very similar experiences.
DS' roommate is a basketball player. They are planning to live together next year. I guess some people do not enjoy spending every waking moment with their teammates.

Like everything in life, there is no universal perfect school, I know a male upperclassman at Fabidson who wishes he chose a bigger school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I see a lot of folks here don't really get the benefit of SLACs. Here's some food for thought: (1) Unlike the competitive club culture at Ivys, UCLA, Georgetown, etc. my DC is able to participate in almost any club he wants. In fact, he's welcomed with open arms. (2) Want to conduct research with a Professor? At Ivys, UCLA, Georgetown, etc., undergrads compete with graduate students for positions. My DC gets to do cutting edge research with amazing professors without having to worry about some grad student pushing him out. (3) Want to live with a D1 athlete even though you aren't one? Not gonna happen at the majority of large schools. At my DC's school, there are no frat/sorority houses. Nor are there dorms or halls for athletes. Everyone lives together. Period. (4) Enjoy fighting to get into Freshman classes with 100+ students? NO? Well, the average student:teacher ratio at DC's school is 9:1. That's pretty standard at top SLACs. And because DC knows his teachers, they are able to write recommendations for him. Cues up my last point... (5) Looking for real world work experience? DC was able to secure an amazing internship for summer 2024with an alum based on a rec from one of his teachers. He's a Freshman.
I went to a much larger school and had a very different undergrad experience. Do I think big/small/medium schools are for everyone? Absolutely not. But, I do know that SLACs can be life changing and that this purported NARP/athlete divide is not present for most kids. I visited for family weekend in October and was blown away by the happiness on campus. The kids love being there, mine included.

This is exactly what my DS is looking for. Do you mind sharing what college this is?

This is Davidson. DS has friends at Middlebury and Carleton having very similar experiences.
DS' roommate is a basketball player. They are planning to live together next year. I guess some people do not enjoy spending every waking moment with their teammates.

Like everything in life, there is no universal perfect school, I know a male upperclassman at Fabidson who wishes he chose a bigger school.

Davidson, sorry.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Has anyone heard of Rice here beyond seeing it on a rankings list? I haven't heard many positive experiences except from middle-aged white guys hooting it up (like the owl mascot reference?).
Enjoy Houston and the old oil $$ crowd if that is for you though!
Yes, it has a big endowment and will therefore continue to do well on rankings lists.

It’s a great school for kids on the quirky side. Very social kids may find it nerdy. There is no one size fits all.

[Anonymous]

I don’t remember any of my friend’s joining clubs when I was in college in the late 90s. Is this new? We made friends with our roommates and the girls in our hall.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:New poster but neighbor just complained about this with her child who is in a selective Liberal Arts college who doesn't play sports, isn't into theater or music. She said it is even harder to make friends if your child is not religious. There were fraternities for jewish students, several Christian clubs, Catholic group, etc. Her child is looking to transfer to a flagship state school.

They didn’t do their homework before attending.

Parents are ridiculous sending kids to these schools.

This is not my kid's experience at a selective midwestern SLAC--they don't play a sport or have a group like theater/music. They just have friends and a pretty solid social life.

Perhaps because it is in the Midwest....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It might just be people trying to get others to not accept offers at the SLACS because of the small number of spaces offered. So, don't always believe what you read on the net.

It’s definitely something that is discussed online. I think SLACs offer tons of good opportunities. But BIPOC, non-wealthy, and/or non-athletes have described not fitting in some of these schools. So it’s definitely a consideration for those of us researching them.

Oh for Pete’s sake. You people need to get lives and stop living weirdly through your kids. It’s creepy and ridiculous.

Just what made you think that the PP was trying to live "weirdly" through their DCs? The comment seemed eminently reasonable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It might just be people trying to get others to not accept offers at the SLACS because of the small number of spaces offered. So, don't always believe what you read on the net.

It’s definitely something that is discussed online. I think SLACs offer tons of good opportunities. But BIPOC, non-wealthy, and/or non-athletes have described not fitting in some of these schools. So it’s definitely a consideration for those of us researching them.

Oh for Pete’s sake. You people need to get lives and stop living weirdly through your kids. It’s creepy and ridiculous.

Just what made you think that the PP was trying to live "weirdly" through their DCs? The comment seemed eminently reasonable.

It’s the “we.” That is very weird. As is being overly involved in adult child’s social life. The fact that they are posting here perseverating on “our” college experience suggests that they are way too involved and need to give their child some space to be resilient in the face of a very common challenge for college freshman to find their social footing.

[Anonymous]

Tufts is a good choice for a student who wants a liberal arts vibe without sports dominance of campus life (I’d go so far as to say sports play zero role in campus life, unless you personally are on a team). It is larger than a typical slac (it keeps growing its student body and I’d guess the uni powers that be desire to reposition it as a smaller uni), but I’m an alum and have a current student and we both think it still feels like a small slac (compact campus, few dining options where you run into folks you know every time you eat, etc).

Tufts appeals to quirkier more serious students, not a party atmosphere at all, but has a very friendly student body and lots of vibrant clubs and activities (most open to all) in which one can make deep connections.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One truth about almost all colleges, whether it's a selective LAC or a big university: You can't rely on your classes or your dorms as place to make friends. Especially as an undergraduate, and you're coming into a new place where you don't know anybody.

You've got to do something outside of class, whether it's a sport, a theater group, the school newspaper or radio station, or even just a regular boardgame night or movie-watching club. It took me a while to realize this (at my big state school), and college life was much more comfortable once I started doing regular extracurriculars.

This is the best advice.