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

[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.

[Anonymous]

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

Anyone with half a brain a) would not have this opinion, and b) even if they had this opinion, would not voice it with such confidence.

I think a good determinant of class and intellect is how one feels about SLACs. I find that it is ignorant low class striver types who are really hateful towards SLACs. They don't get the value of a liberal arts education. It is all "you must be a finance or engineering major or pre-med." I think there is likely a political divide on this as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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

Anyone with half a brain a) would not have this opinion, and b) even if they had this opinion, would not voice it with such confidence.

I think a good determinant of class and intellect is how one feels about SLACs. I find that it is ignorant low class striver types who are really hateful towards SLACs. They don't get the value of a liberal arts education. It is all "you must be a finance or engineering major or pre-med." I think there is likely a political divide on this as well.

Yes, true.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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

Anyone with half a brain a) would not have this opinion, and b) even if they had this opinion, would not voice it with such confidence.

I think a good determinant of class and intellect is how one feels about SLACs. I find that it is ignorant low class striver types who are really hateful towards SLACs. They don't get the value of a liberal arts education. It is all "you must be a finance or engineering major or pre-med." I think there is likely a political divide on this as well.

The top SLACs have very meh yield for a reason. Amherst is at an abysmal 39%, williams at 43%. Pomona barely better at 50%.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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

Anyone with half a brain a) would not have this opinion, and b) even if they had this opinion, would not voice it with such confidence.

I think a good determinant of class and intellect is how one feels about SLACs. I find that it is ignorant low class striver types who are really hateful towards SLACs. They don't get the value of a liberal arts education. It is all "you must be a finance or engineering major or pre-med." I think there is likely a political divide on this as well.

The top SLACs have very meh yield for a reason. Amherst is at an abysmal 39%, williams at 43%. Pomona barely better at 50%.

"They don't get the value of a liberal arts education. It is all "you must be a finance or engineering major or pre-med."

Yea, terrible to want to be employed in a good job during a tough economy. Imagine being an english or philo major at any of these SLACs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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

Anyone with half a brain a) would not have this opinion, and b) even if they had this opinion, would not voice it with such confidence.

I think a good determinant of class and intellect is how one feels about SLACs. I find that it is ignorant low class striver types who are really hateful towards SLACs. They don't get the value of a liberal arts education. It is all "you must be a finance or engineering major or pre-med." I think there is likely a political divide on this as well.

The top SLACs have very meh yield for a reason. Amherst is at an abysmal 39%, williams at 43%. Pomona barely better at 50%.

"They don't get the value of a liberal arts education. It is all "you must be a finance or engineering major or pre-med."

Yea, terrible to want to be employed in a good job during a tough economy. Imagine being an english or philo major at any of these SLACs.

You're proving the OP's point. There are lots of jobs out there beyond engineering and banking. Consulting firms love these types. And there are many jobs in corporate America (the horror!) that also value the ability to communicate. I work at a big bank and as long as a kid shows some basic quantitative skills, I love hiring liberal arts majors.