where would top SLACs fall in an overall college ranking list?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I attended a WASP about 30 years ago — I met my husband there, and two of our children attended the same one (actually, one is there currently). I had no interest in applying to an Ivy. I visited Yale and attended classes with a friend. She was especially excited to bring me to a lecture class with a professor who I’m sure was world-renowned. The 200 hundred person lecture class paled in comparison to the three person language class I visited at the college I ended up attending (also with a renowned professor). Like my husband and our two children who attended the WASP, I had no interest in applying to any ivies after visiting. In my (admittedly biased) opinion, nothing beats the education you can receive as an undergraduate at a SLAC. Don’t assume that many students are Ivy rejects — while some are, there are many that never considered applying to them.

Certainly, there are positives and negatives about the educational experiences at both LACs and at National Universities. School selection should depend upon the particular preferences of a specific student. One, among several, aspects that cannot be denied are the greater breadth of courses, majors, and professors available at larger schools than at smaller schools. I attended a 2,000 plus student LAC and was limited by the lack of variety of courses, majors,and professors at the school. Additionally, the LAC suffered from a lack of perspectives available and shared by both fellow students and professors. To me, the LAC experience was somewhat suffocating and boring due the above mentioned limitations.

Some cautionary advice for those considering small colleges: Don't be fooled by departments which list a high number of professors and a wide variety of courses as neither is going to be accurate during a typical school year.

Most of the top LACs have ways to increase the course range (Five colleges, claremont colleges, wellesley-mit, tri-co consortium + upenn, etc)

Yes, but are these options actually used by small college students ?

And doesn't this just highlight that there is a problem ?

Agree that the Claremont Colleges consortium is an especially nice option since all 5 schools are within walking distance of each other.

Can’t speak for the others, but the tri-co is heavily utilized, especially between Haverford and Bryn Mawr.

[Anonymous]

back to the original question about where amherst williams and pomona should fall on an overall prestige list, I would say from the majority of answers that Williams would be T10 and Amherst/ Pomona would be T20. Think that’s the best ur gonna get from this crowd, with healthy number of outliers strongly disagreeing on both sides

[Anonymous]

Your question smacks of insecurity/status-seeking.

Please focus on your child and what they need. (Rather than what will impress others).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:back to the original question about where amherst williams and pomona should fall on an overall prestige list, I would say from the majority of answers that Williams would be T10 and Amherst/ Pomona would be T20. Think that’s the best ur gonna get from this crowd, with healthy number of outliers strongly disagreeing on both sides

No source shows Williams in t10. It's closer to the latter half of the t20.

[Anonymous]

As a professor, I'd put AWS and Pomona neck-and-neck with Top 10. It's nearly impossible for larger universities to replicate the pedagogical intensity of SLACs for all four years. Stats for the students coming into HYP may be on average slightly higher that PAWS (a Venn diagram would surely show a significant overlap in terms of student qualifications among the two populations), but the *outcome* in terms of writing, critical thinking, and ability to present complex ideas to peers and faculty after four years at the most competitive SLACs would be on average higher.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a professor, I'd put AWS and Pomona neck-and-neck with Top 10. It's nearly impossible for larger universities to replicate the pedagogical intensity of SLACs for all four years. Stats for the students coming into HYP may be on average slightly higher that PAWS (a Venn diagram would surely show a significant overlap in terms of student qualifications among the two populations), but the *outcome* in terms of writing, critical thinking, and ability to present complex ideas to peers and faculty after four years at the most competitive SLACs would be on average higher.

so would unemployment

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a professor, I'd put AWS and Pomona neck-and-neck with Top 10. It's nearly impossible for larger universities to replicate the pedagogical intensity of SLACs for all four years. Stats for the students coming into HYP may be on average slightly higher that PAWS (a Venn diagram would surely show a significant overlap in terms of student qualifications among the two populations), but the *outcome* in terms of writing, critical thinking, and ability to present complex ideas to peers and faculty after four years at the most competitive SLACs would be on average higher.

so would unemployment

weird comment - Amherst and Williams kids place incredibly well - probably because employers share the good professors view on the schools

[Anonymous]

I find it amazing/sad how people write here in such a self-assured way. It seems to be mainly the anti-SLAC crowd. I'm not sure why they are so strongly opposed to SLACs. What did they do to you?

It seems like there are more people "supporting" the SLACs who have at least presented some type of credentials/basis for their opinions, vs. randos with a bone to pick with SLACs who make opinionated snide remarks.

I'm not saying that SLACs are the greatest thing ever. I just get really annoyed by people who see the world as so binary, particularly those who likely know nothing.

[Anonymous]

Check the Forbes rankings, OP. They rank all the schools together.

[Anonymous]

I was a liberal arts/econ double major at an Ivy+ school. Several of the best writers I have interacted with during my professional career and in graduate school were alums of PAWS. Concise, crisp, really excellent - it jumped off the page. This is just a few data points but it really made a strong impression. I now work closely with a summa cum laude Yale liberal arts major who is an excellent writer, but not quite the same as the others.

I know there are those here who don't care about writing ability and only think that finance and engineering matter, but trust me, it makes a difference.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a professor, I'd put AWS and Pomona neck-and-neck with Top 10. It's nearly impossible for larger universities to replicate the pedagogical intensity of SLACs for all four years. Stats for the students coming into HYP may be on average slightly higher that PAWS (a Venn diagram would surely show a significant overlap in terms of student qualifications among the two populations), but the *outcome* in terms of writing, critical thinking, and ability to present complex ideas to peers and faculty after four years at the most competitive SLACs would be on average higher.

As a professor who attended HYP, I agree with this. My WASP-educated peers (+Reed) in a doctoral program were exceptionally well prepared for graduate studies compared to me. I'd love to think that it's changed, but HYP professors back in the day engaged very little with UGs. Pedagogically I agree it's night and day. My DC #1 will be attending a WASP college, aspiring to an Ivy(or +) for graduate school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a professor, I'd put AWS and Pomona neck-and-neck with Top 10. It's nearly impossible for larger universities to replicate the pedagogical intensity of SLACs for all four years. Stats for the students coming into HYP may be on average slightly higher that PAWS (a Venn diagram would surely show a significant overlap in terms of student qualifications among the two populations), but the *outcome* in terms of writing, critical thinking, and ability to present complex ideas to peers and faculty after four years at the most competitive SLACs would be on average higher.

My DC #1 will be attending a WASP college, aspiring to an Ivy(or +) for graduate school.

have to get in first guy

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a professor, I'd put AWS and Pomona neck-and-neck with Top 10. It's nearly impossible for larger universities to replicate the pedagogical intensity of SLACs for all four years. Stats for the students coming into HYP may be on average slightly higher that PAWS (a Venn diagram would surely show a significant overlap in terms of student qualifications among the two populations), but the *outcome* in terms of writing, critical thinking, and ability to present complex ideas to peers and faculty after four years at the most competitive SLACs would be on average higher.

My DC #1 will be attending a WASP college, aspiring to an Ivy(or +) for graduate school.

have to get in first guy

A kid who does well at a WASP college will have fabulous grad school options.

[Anonymous]

nobody cares about all these LACs. R1s are where it's at.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:nobody cares about all these LACs. R1s are where it's at.

Thank you for your contribution to the conversation. I’m sure you have many other important points to make.