Lafayette/Bucknell vs Nescacs

[Anonymous]

apologize in advance as seems like there has been a preponderance of SLAC posts lately lol, so here’s another! My athlete DC is strongly considering ED’ing at Lafayette, Bucknell, and several Nescacs with coach support, and trying to evaluate academic reputation and outcomes to compare options.

My tiering of Nescac based on these aspects is as follows: Amherst/Williams; Bowdoin/Middlebury; Wesleyan/Hamilton/Tufts: Colby/Bates; Ct College / Trinity.

I think Lafayette best compares to Hamilton in terms of tiering / academic reputation/ outcomes. Agree or disagree? And if DC was able to get $25k in merit at Lafayette, does that make it a no brainer vs Bucknell and Nescac peers? thanks all in advance

[Anonymous]

Lafayette College and Bucknell University are both fine to excellent schools.

[Anonymous]

Imo Lafayette and Bucknell are lower than Hamilton from academic reputation, but higher than Hamilton in terms of NYC business related (banking, consulting, marketing, etc) outcomes. So split decision on that. And would take $25k/year off sticker price at Lafayette vs full pay at Bucknell and all Nescacs except Amherst and Williams. Full pay there wins

[Anonymous]

I'd slot Lafayette at or just below the Bates/Colby tier. (But I also think "perceived prestige" should be, at most, a very small factor in anyone's matriculation decision.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:apologize in advance as seems like there has been a preponderance of SLAC posts lately lol, so here’s another! My athlete DC is strongly considering ED’ing at Lafayette, Bucknell, and several Nescacs with coach support, and trying to evaluate academic reputation and outcomes to compare options.

My tiering of Nescac based on these aspects is as follows: Amherst/Williams; Bowdoin/Middlebury; Wesleyan/Hamilton/Tufts: Colby/Bates; Ct College / Trinity.

I think Lafayette best compares to Hamilton in terms of tiering / academic reputation/ outcomes. Agree or disagree? And if DC was able to get $25k in merit at Lafayette, does that make it a no brainer vs Bucknell and Nescac peers? thanks all in advance

LACs deserve discussion & scrutiny due to their small size and, typically, isolated/rural locations.

Lafayette & Bucknell offer engineering and Bucknell also offers an undergraduate business degree which indicates that one's prospective major should be considered when selecting among all of these LACs.

[Anonymous]

Lafayette and Bucknell are second tier Patriot League schools behind Colgate and Holy Cross. Would take $25 k and Lafayette over Bucknell.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'd slot Lafayette at or just below the Bates/Colby tier. (But I also think "perceived prestige" should be, at most, a very small factor in anyone's matriculation decision.)

That's crazy talk.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd slot Lafayette at or just below the Bates/Colby tier. (But I also think "perceived prestige" should be, at most, a very small factor in anyone's matriculation decision.)

That's crazy talk.

In which direction?

[Anonymous]

Bates is in an unattractive location and Colby is ok but neither is anything special. Both are so far away from Amherst/Williams in prestige.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Bates is in an unattractive location and Colby is ok but neither is anything special. Both are so far away from Amherst/Williams in prestige.

Is anyone arguing to the contrary?

[Anonymous]

IMO, Colby is slightly ahead of Lafayette and Bucknell. Bates is at same level and campus is not appealing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd slot Lafayette at or just below the Bates/Colby tier. (But I also think "perceived prestige" should be, at most, a very small factor in anyone's matriculation decision.)

That's crazy talk.

In which direction?

Lafayette College is an excellent school and about 25% of students at Lafayette are majoring in engineering which is not a major at Bates or Colby. If comparing liberal arts majors, then my best guess is that each of the three schools has areas of strength and that Lafayette College is as solid as the other two in humanities.

[Anonymous]

Is DC being recruited? You mention DC is athlete and getting coach support but then say merit money? At Bucknell and Lafayette they can get athletic money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is DC being recruited? You mention DC is athlete and getting coach support but then say merit money? At Bucknell and Lafayette they can get athletic money.

Lafayette and Bucknell are D1 if that matters to you. My DC was recruited at the same schools. Lots to consider including where you want to be, size and $$. All good options. Congrats!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'd slot Lafayette at or just below the Bates/Colby tier. (But I also think "perceived prestige" should be, at most, a very small factor in anyone's matriculation decision.)

Agree with this on all counts