This is an interesting article on why some LACs are struggling with enrollment, most LACs lag R1s on yield

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Add some others -

1. Too small
2. Doesn't have name recognition
3. Remote Locations

My '26 DD - who had no interest in the rah rah state flagship experience - also had no interest in a SLAC.

They are a "normie" but their concerns were:
1. Social divide between athletes and the quirky students - she wasn't going to be an athlete and was worried that would limit her friend group especially if athletes mainly stick to other athletes.

2. She wanted something a larger than her high school.

3. She wanted a cute town that was within walkable distance.

4. She felt the SLACs just didn't have the name recognition

She is going to a mid-sized university in the fall. I do think the mid-sized schools will be getting more students that are like my daughter.

I see some of the SLACs that would probably be put in the struggling category and I am seeing a lot more "diner goth" type students than at other schools. The more "diner goth" type students, the more "normal" type students wouldn't find that school to be a good social fit and the death spiral continues.

OMG that's what's been so off-putting for us when touring or going to admitted days at so many LACs. It's the very noticeable diner-goth aesthetic that was weirding my kid out at Wes, Vassar, Amherst, Claremont colleges, Haverford, Bryn Mawr, Smith etc.

Medium schools like Northwestern, Tufts, WashU had a better mix of normies from my kid's perspective.



+1

I have been on campus at six of the seven schools in the past two years and your "dine-goth" comment is wildly incorrect. Most likely you haven't visited any of these schools. The kids who dress in this manner just aren't a significant part of the population at any them, no more than you would see at any large HS or public college. In most cases there are far fewer. If you don't want to attend a SLAC, don't but stop just making crap up.

NP. I have a junior and we are doing college tours now. I hadn’t put it together but the comment isn’t wrong. When you are touring some LACs, there’s on average a larger percentage of kids you see that, to be totally blunt, look like they would be annoying and exhausting classmates based on gross stereotypes.

I am not saying they would actually be annoying and exhausting classmates, to be clear. I do not buy into the stereotypes. My kid is going to apply to some LACs and does not think that way. But I see what the PP says. As a percentage of kids you see, the visual diner goth types are over represented on LAC tours.

Don’t walk back on your comments you think they’re annoying and exhausting and make fast judgements and stereotypes about children.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Add some others -

1. Too small
2. Doesn't have name recognition
3. Remote Locations

My '26 DD - who had no interest in the rah rah state flagship experience - also had no interest in a SLAC.

They are a "normie" but their concerns were:
1. Social divide between athletes and the quirky students - she wasn't going to be an athlete and was worried that would limit her friend group especially if athletes mainly stick to other athletes.

2. She wanted something a larger than her high school.

3. She wanted a cute town that was within walkable distance.

4. She felt the SLACs just didn't have the name recognition

She is going to a mid-sized university in the fall. I do think the mid-sized schools will be getting more students that are like my daughter.

I see some of the SLACs that would probably be put in the struggling category and I am seeing a lot more "diner goth" type students than at other schools. The more "diner goth" type students, the more "normal" type students wouldn't find that school to be a good social fit and the death spiral continues.

OMG that's what's been so off-putting for us when touring or going to admitted days at so many LACs. It's the very noticeable diner-goth aesthetic that was weirding my kid out at Wes, Vassar, Amherst, Claremont colleges, Haverford, Bryn Mawr, Smith etc.

Medium schools like Northwestern, Tufts, WashU had a better mix of normies from my kid's perspective.



+1

I have been on campus at six of the seven schools in the past two years and your "dine-goth" comment is wildly incorrect. Most likely you haven't visited any of these schools. The kids who dress in this manner just aren't a significant part of the population at any them, no more than you would see at any large HS or public college. In most cases there are far fewer. If you don't want to attend a SLAC, don't but stop just making crap up.

NP. I have a junior and we are doing college tours now. I hadn’t put it together but the comment isn’t wrong. When you are touring some LACs, there’s on average a larger percentage of kids you see that, to be totally blunt, look like they would be annoying and exhausting classmates based on gross stereotypes.

I am not saying they would actually be annoying and exhausting classmates, to be clear. I do not buy into the stereotypes. My kid is going to apply to some LACs and does not think that way. But I see what the PP says. As a percentage of kids you see, the visual diner goth types are over represented on LAC tours.

Please do tell which of these schools has a surplus of “diner goths”? It’s so funny hearing this after the constant drone of too many athletes.

[Anonymous]

MIT only has about 1100 undergrads per class...

[Anonymous]

Oh come on people, no more diner-goth sightings to report? Anyone?

This board gets so serious around May 1!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Add some others -

1. Too small
2. Doesn't have name recognition
3. Remote Locations

My '26 DD - who had no interest in the rah rah state flagship experience - also had no interest in a SLAC.

They are a "normie" but their concerns were:
1. Social divide between athletes and the quirky students - she wasn't going to be an athlete and was worried that would limit her friend group especially if athletes mainly stick to other athletes.

2. She wanted something a larger than her high school.

3. She wanted a cute town that was within walkable distance.

4. She felt the SLACs just didn't have the name recognition

She is going to a mid-sized university in the fall. I do think the mid-sized schools will be getting more students that are like my daughter.

I see some of the SLACs that would probably be put in the struggling category and I am seeing a lot more "diner goth" type students than at other schools. The more "diner goth" type students, the more "normal" type students wouldn't find that school to be a good social fit and the death spiral continues.

OMG that's what's been so off-putting for us when touring or going to admitted days at so many LACs. It's the very noticeable diner-goth aesthetic that was weirding my kid out at Wes, Vassar, Amherst, Claremont colleges, Haverford, Bryn Mawr, Smith etc.

Medium schools like Northwestern, Tufts, WashU had a better mix of normies from my kid's perspective.



+1

I have been on campus at six of the seven schools in the past two years and your "dine-goth" comment is wildly incorrect. Most likely you haven't visited any of these schools. The kids who dress in this manner just aren't a significant part of the population at any them, no more than you would see at any large HS or public college. In most cases there are far fewer. If you don't want to attend a SLAC, don't but stop just making crap up.

NP. I have a junior and we are doing college tours now. I hadn’t put it together but the comment isn’t wrong. When you are touring some LACs, there’s on average a larger percentage of kids you see that, to be totally blunt, look like they would be annoying and exhausting classmates based on gross stereotypes.

I am not saying they would actually be annoying and exhausting classmates, to be clear. I do not buy into the stereotypes. My kid is going to apply to some LACs and does not think that way. But I see what the PP says. As a percentage of kids you see, the visual diner goth types are over represented on LAC tours.

Can you be specific as to which LACS? Bc many give preppy athlete vibe vs what you are describing.

[Anonymous]

My kid is at Conn College and all I have to say is that the faculty has been superb, faculty engagement and class size amazing, career support fantastic. You can see the liberal arts in action in these kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid is at Conn College and all I have to say is that the faculty has been superb, faculty engagement and class size amazing, career support fantastic. You can see the liberal arts in action in these kids.

+1

Have seen the same results over my kid’s 4 years at a different (non-NESCAC) northeast LAC. Hands-down got incredible support and mentorship from faculty. They’re the kind of kid who likely would have struggled to reach out for these opportunities early on at a large or even mid-size R1. There are always trade-offs, but their LAC has made a huge difference at least in this one area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This trend is due to STEM being pushed in grade school and high school. Now that is slowly reversing, so the tide will turn again.

I don't see the STEM trend reversing. More students are going into business and the healthcare industry, not English and History.

I think it's mostly due to what a PP posted:

1. R1 have better research funding
2. larger universities have better preprofessional programs, and more and more students (majority now) are thinking about a career and jobs after college rather than a liberal arts education.

[Anonymous]

This is a trend that’s going to change in the age of AI. Every major AI company is saying we need people to study the humanities. We need thinkers, strategists, communicators, creatives more than ever. We need people to understand how to guide and control and make the most of AI and we need liberal arts schools to help develop these skills in a generation of kids who have actually not had these skills developed as much as previous generations (hello screen time).

[Anonymous]

That R1 research funding is drying up faster than the rate of global warming under the current administration. SLACs are feeling little to no effect and their large endowments (for those that have them) are being spared. Much better time to be at a SLAC, at least for the next few years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That R1 research funding is drying up faster than the rate of global warming under the current administration. SLACs are feeling little to no effect and their large endowments (for those that have them) are being spared. Much better time to be at a SLAC, at least for the next few years.

+ 1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oh come on people, no more diner-goth sightings to report? Anyone?

This board gets so serious around May 1!

William & Mary seems to be diner - goth central in this area.

Runners up: UGa in Athens, U of Oregon and U. Wisconsin, Madison.