Finding LACs with intellectual vibe for balanced list

[Anonymous]

After a few visits, DC is narrowing preferences to LACs/mid-sized schools and likes an studious vibe with a friendly, collaborative, and unassuming culture where the students and faculty love to learn and are engaged in the classroom. Prestige does not matter to DC or us, though T20 seems to be shorthand to find studious vibe and challenge. Can anyone share how they assessed LACs/mid-sized schools for the studious vibe (other than selectivity/T10) as they went about building a balanced list with a variety of acceptance rates? Thanks so much!

[Anonymous]

The best way to tell is by visiting. Rice, Carlton, Pomona, and Amherst fit this description for us.

[Anonymous]

I’d add Vassar, Colgate, and Smith if applicable.

[Anonymous]

Studious and collaborative, Bowdoin and Haverford.

[Anonymous]

I’d add Hamilton to the list

[Anonymous]

Davidson, Midd, CMC for us.

[Anonymous]

OP here: thanks so much for the suggestions! Many of these are on our radar, so it’s good to see we are on the right track. DC is a strong student and applicant, but we all know about the vagaries of the application process and the accompanying uncertainties. Are there suggestions with higher acceptance rates or methods to assess LACs for this campus culture (before visiting) notwithstanding selectivity? We would also like DC to find likely-safety schools they love. There are so many excellent schools out there!

Appreciate the thoughts and input as we navigate the process!

[Anonymous]

I think it would be difficult to find a SLAC that didn’t fit this description. This is why kids choose SLACs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here: thanks so much for the suggestions! Many of these are on our radar, so it’s good to see we are on the right track. DC is a strong student and applicant, but we all know about the vagaries of the application process and the accompanying uncertainties. Are there suggestions with higher acceptance rates or methods to assess LACs for this campus culture (before visiting) notwithstanding selectivity? We would also like DC to find likely-safety schools they love. There are so many excellent schools out there!

Appreciate the thoughts and input as we navigate the process!

What major?

- look at your schools data; will tell you 90% of what you need to know.
-Demonstrated interest really matters at top SLACs- figure out how/which and create a chart for your top 5-10 schools
- Connect with regional AOs (esp if they come to your region for local events)
- apply early
- visit campuses during the school year

[Anonymous]

Definitely Grinnell, maybe Davidson.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here: thanks so much for the suggestions! Many of these are on our radar, so it’s good to see we are on the right track. DC is a strong student and applicant, but we all know about the vagaries of the application process and the accompanying uncertainties. Are there suggestions with higher acceptance rates or methods to assess LACs for this campus culture (before visiting) notwithstanding selectivity? We would also like DC to find likely-safety schools they love. There are so many excellent schools out there!

Appreciate the thoughts and input as we navigate the process!

Studious, collaborative, higher acceptance rates = then you have to go midewest.

Grinnell for one.

If a girl, consider Smith.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’d add Hamilton to the list

In this interview, a tenure-track professor at Hamilton makes a worthwhile distinction between simply "smart' students and students who truly engage in the pursuit of ideas:

As a grad student I taught at a big research institution, Stanford, and there are very smart students there as well, but they weren’t the ideal I had in mind, which was the engaged, enthusiastic liberal arts student who’s in it for the ideas, for the love of knowledge . . ."

https://www.hamilton.edu/news/story/faculty-jason-cieply-russian-studies

[Anonymous]

Look at Mac as a likely.

[Anonymous]

If you would like to consider survey-based information, Princeton Review sites may offer you ideas for colleges to research further. As examples related to your criteria, sites are available for "Best Classroom Experience," "Friendliest Students" and "Their Students Love These Colleges":

https://www.princetonreview.com/college-rankings/?rankings=best-classroom-experience

https://www.princetonreview.com/college-rankings/?rankings=friendliest-students

https://www.princetonreview.com/college-rankings/?rankings=their-students-love-these-colleges

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here: thanks so much for the suggestions! Many of these are on our radar, so it’s good to see we are on the right track. DC is a strong student and applicant, but we all know about the vagaries of the application process and the accompanying uncertainties. Are there suggestions with higher acceptance rates or methods to assess LACs for this campus culture (before visiting) notwithstanding selectivity? We would also like DC to find likely-safety schools they love. There are so many excellent schools out there!

Appreciate the thoughts and input as we navigate the process!

Studious, collaborative, higher acceptance rates = then you have to go midewest.

Grinnell for one.

If a girl, consider Smith.

Grinnell has an acceptance rate in the low teens. Higher than WASP maybe but by no means a soft target, especially in RD. OP should be looking at Oberlin, Kenyon, or possibly Macalaster as likelies. Demonstrated interest will still be in play.