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Atlantic article on LACs
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Anonymous
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https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/2026/01/liberal-arts-college-war-higher-ed/685800/
Written by a WashU professor trying to make the case for LACs, especially in the Trump era. Specifically highlights Amherst and Davidson |
Anonymous
| Students interested in engineering and undergrad business look elsewhere. |
Anonymous
| A gift link please? |
Anonymous
Engineering yes, other than Mudd and Swarthmore. But plenty of LAC grads majored in Econ, secured high-level internships etc. |
Anonymous
https://archive.ph/2026.01.29-140147/https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/2026/01/liberal-arts-college-war-higher-ed/685800/ |
Anonymous
Thank you! |
Anonymous
Have you read Jeff Selingo’s “Dream Schools”? Amherst has a clear bias towards recruited athletes, who comprise 50% of the class. It makes life harder for regular students. |
Anonymous
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I thought it was worthwhile. It is absolutely true that research-focused university ecosystems have been damaged, so on relative terms an education-focused university will be doing better.
And I don't disagree that a teaching-focused university might be better at getting at AI-related failure to learn than a large university where students are being churned through in large numbers. (Might. Nobody seems to have seen where this whole area of work and learning is going to land.) |
Anonymous
My NARP kid is happy as a clam at Amherst. There aren't many athletes in his classes (not doing Econ) but said the ones he's met have been fine. I'm sure the dynamic varies by class but he's not aware of any particular problems. |
Anonymous
Yes. But, most LACs don't offer accounting. Which is fine, of course, just limiting in exposure. |
Anonymous
Go to CMC or Bucknell or… just do some research. |
Anonymous
| Two of my kids attend SLACs, and I really love the education and individual attention they gett. My youngest is leaning toward a flagship, and after seeing the SLAC experience, it feels like they’ll be missing out in some ways. I agree with the argument that these schools are somewhat insulated from attacks on universities because they aren’t as dependent on federal research funding, but the reality is that most families just can’t afford them. At $90k+ per year, the cost puts these schools out of reach for the vast majority of students, which results in largely wealthy student bodies. I wish more SLACs offered meaningful merit aid to a broader range of families, because as it stands, once again it’s wealthier families who are insulated from the consequences of Republican policies and the Trump administration. |
Anonymous
Point is that students who don't know what they want and choose an LAC for just this reason may unknowingly be cutting off possible career paths. |
Anonymous
| LAC app numbers are often propped up by international apps. |
Anonymous
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I get that the author is frustrated by his university (WUSTL)'s reliance on federal funding ($731 million from NIH funds alone). But why not consider a thriving research university just north of the border instead (UofT or McGill or UBC or Waterloo or Queen's or Western) instead of resorting to a SLAC.
Many kids want more. Larger student population, location in a thriving city or larger college town and a population that is not 30-50% recruited D3 athletes. SLACs are lovely for a certain kind of person who wants to learn in a bubble. My DS rejected it as secluded "summer camp" or "boarding school" vibes and not like a real university experience he is seeking. |