Why are WASP so elite?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The hate on LACs I think is a reaction the ever-increasing want of a pre-professional college with a pre-professional major that has a moderate to well paying career waiting for their child at graduation. And while I understand that in economic times like these that ROI can be #1 on priorities for a college, I don’t believe in the bashing of LACs and the notion of “it’s a small college who cares?”

Contrary to popular belief some people don’t want a pre-professional education or are worried about ROI. And that’s okay. I think it’s perfectly reasonable to care about ROI but I also agree that education is important and what may work for others might not work for someone.

If your kid doesn’t like a small college in a rural area: that’s okay! It’s not for everyone. I rarely see LAC parents evangelizing LACs like I do university parents when an LAC is even mentioned. It boggles my mind that people get so worked up over a college that a stranger’s child goes to. Our kids are all getting an education. End of story.

The challenge for the haters is that the outcomes of graduates of these small under the RADAR (to the general public) schools does not reflect what they believe those outcomes should be. They find it inconceivable that a small group of tiny schools could actually provide superior outcomes into elite careers like IB and MBB than 3 quarters of the T20 schools to be outlandish! Top SLAC success rates into medical school are twice the national averages without weed outs? This is criminal! How dare they provide a better path to top law schools! This is insane and cannot stand!

Add in the fact that they are very hard to get into because they are tiny which is then made worse because they value things beyond those which some groups think should be valued (grades and test scores only please). The idea that these schools might prefer an athlete with high grades and test scores over a similar but non-athletic kid with slightly higher grades and test scores is wrong! It is racist and demands investigation! It feels like the door to this secret path is closed to them because they didn't know the secret code of training the "mind and body" which these schools still cherish.

Finally, the idea that their wealth and relentless focus on undergraduate education results in superior teaching and educational experiences is just too much. The haters have always striven to get to the Ivy league but now someone showing them something that is the equal of or superior to their "Northstar". It is just too much for them to handle.

The result is SDS or SLAC Derangement Syndrome.....easy to spot, hard to cure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I get the feeling this thread generally consists of the Bowdoin booster (wtf is WASP-B?), Colby booster, the infamous Holy Cross booster, the Middlebury hater, the Middlebury booster, and the Williams booster talking amongst themselves while the rest of us sit here laughing at them. Embarrassing indeed.

Pretty sure that this is a swing and a miss.

Sounds pretty spot on to me.

That says alot about you. None of it good.

Truth hurts, eh?

[Anonymous]

I opened this thread out of curiosity because it has pages of comments but it's nothing productive just seems to be a few defensive parents bickering with each other back and forth.

I'll see myself out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I opened this thread out of curiosity because it has pages of comments but it's nothing productive just seems to be a few defensive parents bickering with each other back and forth.

I'll see myself out.

Next time, do so without announcing your presence.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The hate on LACs I think is a reaction the ever-increasing want of a pre-professional college with a pre-professional major that has a moderate to well paying career waiting for their child at graduation. And while I understand that in economic times like these that ROI can be #1 on priorities for a college, I don’t believe in the bashing of LACs and the notion of “it’s a small college who cares?”

Contrary to popular belief some people don’t want a pre-professional education or are worried about ROI. And that’s okay. I think it’s perfectly reasonable to care about ROI but I also agree that education is important and what may work for others might not work for someone.

If your kid doesn’t like a small college in a rural area: that’s okay! It’s not for everyone. I rarely see LAC parents evangelizing LACs like I do university parents when an LAC is even mentioned. It boggles my mind that people get so worked up over a college that a stranger’s child goes to. Our kids are all getting an education. End of story.

The challenge for the haters is that the outcomes of graduates of these small under the RADAR (to the general public) schools does not reflect what they believe those outcomes should be. They find it inconceivable that a small group of tiny schools could actually provide superior outcomes into elite careers like IB and MBB than 3 quarters of the T20 schools to be outlandish! Top SLAC success rates into medical school are twice the national averages without weed outs? This is criminal! How dare they provide a better path to top law schools! This is insane and cannot stand!

Add in the fact that they are very hard to get into because they are tiny which is then made worse because they value things beyond those which some groups think should be valued (grades and test scores only please). The idea that these schools might prefer an athlete with high grades and test scores over a similar but non-athletic kid with slightly higher grades and test scores is wrong! It is racist and demands investigation! It feels like the door to this secret path is closed to them because they didn't know the secret code of training the "mind and body" which these schools still cherish.

Finally, the idea that their wealth and relentless focus on undergraduate education results in superior teaching and educational experiences is just too much. The haters have always striven to get to the Ivy league but now someone showing them something that is the equal of or superior to their "Northstar". It is just too much for them to handle.

The result is SDS or SLAC Derangement Syndrome.....easy to spot, hard to cure.

Well said!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I opened this thread out of curiosity because it has pages of comments but it's nothing productive just seems to be a few defensive parents bickering with each other back and forth.

I'll see myself out.

+1 this thread is filled with crazies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I opened this thread out of curiosity because it has pages of comments but it's nothing productive just seems to be a few defensive parents bickering with each other back and forth.

I'll see myself out.

What did you expect given the topic?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Midd boosters will counter with someone’s third cousin removed nephew is a Middlebury grad who is the President of the local bank. Lol

What did Midd do to you? Reject your kid? You need to move on, this is embarrassing for you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^+1. Midd has obviously slipped in the last decade with poor leadership, applications are stagnant and US News rankings decline. It is nowhere near Williams and Amherstto say otherwise is disingenuous. Colby is probably more of a peer as they are benefiting by strong leadership and infusion of lots of cash and facilities.

Midd has a terrific new president and it's coming back up in the rankings.

[Anonymous]

As predicted Midd boosters are selling swampland. Declining applications, little diversity and a half billion in debt. Colby is leaving it in the rear view mirror.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This thread is embarrassing.

Sure is embarrassing.

[Anonymous]

^middlebury has over $500 million in liabilities not debt Colby around $400 million in liabilties. Follow the money, Colby Capital Campaign has raised over $1 billion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As predicted Midd boosters are selling swampland. Declining applications, little diversity and a half billion in debt. Colby is leaving it in the rear view mirror.

They're back!

Colby has more long term debt than Middlebury and grew that debt at a rate twice that of Middlebury last year. Colby also has an endowment that is 2/3 the size of Middlebury's and they are drawing from it at a higher rate than Middlebury.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As predicted Midd boosters are selling swampland. Declining applications, little diversity and a half billion in debt. Colby is leaving it in the rear view mirror.

They're back!

Colby has more long term debt than Middlebury and grew that debt at a rate twice that of Middlebury last year. Colby also has an endowment that is 2/3 the size of Middlebury's and they are drawing from it at a higher rate than Middlebury.

Forbes also gave Middlebury a higher financial grade than Colby last year.

[Anonymous]

Middlebury is good at producing foreign language teachers.