The students who get into top SLACs and top universities don't seem to be picking the former

[Anonymous]

This is just personal experience, but I know of at least six students this year who had an acceptance from a top 5 SLAC but are turning them down for top universities.

It seems like students these days want to be in major metropolitan areas. and they prefer the university social life. A number of the admits above raised the concern that the LAC social life would feel "dead" by comparison. It seems sad that the hallmark academic and collaborative strengths of LACs seem to be ignored these days. I'm not saying a LAC experience is good for everyone, but I feel like they're admitting students in RD who have no real interest in going to one.

[Anonymous]

Sad? The truth is that SLACS, especially cold, rural ones, are out of style. They have no lay name recognition and are absurdly expensive with no opportunity to live off-campus later to save $.

[Anonymous]

I didn’t realize Williams and Amherst College had trouble filling their classes.

[Anonymous]

You’re starting a thread because you know of 6 students who chose a large university over Amherst/Williams etc? Really? Your title makes it sound like there was some study and a noticeable trend across the country. But you know 6 kids so it must be a thing.

Wow.

[Anonymous]

Could the larger universities also be cheaper than the LACs?

[Anonymous]

Which LACs are you talking about? LACs outside of the tippy top ARE struggling to fill their classes. Even ones I consider “good” (much better graduation rates than their public counterparts).

[Anonymous]

Are you the resident SLAC brasher? You don’t like them, we get it.
FWIW I know someone who turned down Harvard for Amherst. She’s doing quite well.

[Anonymous]

Regular Decision Yields (% of students admitted RD who choose to attend) of top 5 SLACs:

Pomona- 43.4%
Williams- 39%
Wellesley- 31.8%
Amherst- 29.7%
Swarthmore- 28.2%

Regular Decision Yields (% of students admitted RD who choose to attend) of selected top universities:

Dartmouth- 51.7%
Brown- 46.5%
Carnegie Mellon- 33.8%
Vanderbilt- 29.4%
Emory- 18.7%

So the Ivies do better but the yields are similar to other top 30 universities?

[Anonymous]

You know 6 kids who got into Williams, Amherst, Swarthmore, Pomona and/or Wellesley. And they turned them down for a large university.

So what?

[Anonymous]

Why are kids even applying to SLACS then?

Colgate had something like 22000 applicants this year. A few years ago it was 9000.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why are kids even applying to SLACS then?

Colgate had something like 22000 applicants this year. A few years ago it was 9000.

Why are kids applying to 10+ schools period? They are casting a wide net.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You’re starting a thread because you know of 6 students who chose a large university over Amherst/Williams etc? Really? Your title makes it sound like there was some study and a noticeable trend across the country. But you know 6 kids so it must be a thing.

Wow.

NP
OP, has a point.
There is a trend and people don’t have to bring study from “experts” for their random opinion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You’re starting a thread because you know of 6 students who chose a large university over Amherst/Williams etc? Really? Your title makes it sound like there was some study and a noticeable trend across the country. But you know 6 kids so it must be a thing.

Wow.

NP
OP, has a point.
There is a trend and people don’t have to bring study from “experts” for their random opinion.

Amongst my daughter and her friends they have definitely chosen large universities over SLACs. I think the large university experience is popular with genZ. Rising tuition costs may be part of it. If you are a genx parent, the college age population is way higher (both domestic and international) now. There are more kids applying to schools period. It has nothing to do with their popularity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You’re starting a thread because you know of 6 students who chose a large university over Amherst/Williams etc? Really? Your title makes it sound like there was some study and a noticeable trend across the country. But you know 6 kids so it must be a thing.

Wow.

NP
OP, has a point.
There is a trend and people don’t have to bring study from “experts” for their random opinion.

Amongst my daughter and her friends they have definitely chosen large universities over SLACs. I think the large university experience is popular with genZ. Rising tuition costs may be part of it. If you are a genx parent, the college age population is way higher (both domestic and international) now. There are more kids applying to schools period. It has nothing to do with their popularity.

The college age population is smaller than it has been in a very long time.

[Anonymous]

Could it be that you just happen to know kids raised in a city? I know that my city-raised Junior can’t fathom spending 4 years locked in a small town. Concerned the social life would revolve exclusively around alcohol and there just wouldn’t be enough off campus restaurants and activities to them happy for 4 years. Feels like a step backwards for a teen who has enjoyed exploring the city they live in. I do see much less interest in alcohol from Gen Z as compared to Gen X.