Hobart William Smith

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^Lol. I'll never understand the people on DCUM who come on here to shill the most random, no-name schools. There was a parent a few months back who was trying desperately to convince people that Hobart William Smith was where elite rich children went to, and telling us we were all plebs for thinking otherwise. LOL.

True. The original request was for just general info. Then this other guy comes in and questions what's publicly available on the internet, available for anyone to search if they take 5 minutes. Plus the ones above are private - there are hundreds of publics better off than HWS any any other school like it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I suspect it'll close doors in the next 15 years. Lot of underperforming, small liberal arts-type schools in the middle of nowhere have a long, difficult road ahead of them as the higher ed landscape continues to evolve.

You again? You who periodically comes around to make baseless claims that established colleges are going to close down because the “higher ed landscape continues to evolve”? Pray, tell, what about the evolving higher ed landscape will force these poor, little ‘ol schools to “close doors”?

Uh, what? I think you’ve mistaken me for someone else. But to answer your question: fewer and fewer students want to study in a small, remote LAC in an undesirable part of the country; same goes for quality faculty; and a tiny endowment doesn’t bode well for the school’s future.

This x100 - many small colleges without a niche or substantive following will be closing in the next 10-20 years. 74% of all schools were found to have financial issues - a 10 second search found that article on CNBC. For example, Ithaca is having money problems. Hampshire will likely shut down. Plenty of other named schools are in the same boat. I wouldn't touch HWS with $10 of my money - why bet on a school that probably has a 50% shot of surviving the next decade? There are 500+ schools in better financial shape.

A few seconds of google would have pulled up the Hobart financial statements

https://www.hws.edu/offices/business/images/financial_statements2020.pdf

There is the latest one. Show us the flaws and tell us which are the 500 schools in better shape, please.

See my latest post - come on, smart guy, make some magic happen for HWS - check out that loss of $4.6m in operating expenses, too.

Sorry my bad, I did not realize 284=500+. Must be the math I learned at Hobart. "Smart guy".

[Anonymous]

You peons have been predicting the closure of all these LACs for the last 10 plus years. It's always "soon" ... well where are the closures? Why didn't hundreds of LACs close their doors after or during Covid? Now it's "15 years out"? Oh, okay...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You peons have been predicting the closure of all these LACs for the last 10 plus years. It's always "soon" ... well where are the closures? Why didn't hundreds of LACs close their doors after or during Covid? Now it's "15 years out"? Oh, okay...

Ah, there's the Hobart parent again, calling us all peons. Ha. It's like someone working at Walmart angrily proclaiming they're elite and then unironically telling everyone else who dares say otherwise that they're a bunch of peasants.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I suspect it'll close doors in the next 15 years. Lot of underperforming, small liberal arts-type schools in the middle of nowhere have a long, difficult road ahead of them as the higher ed landscape continues to evolve.

You again? You who periodically comes around to make baseless claims that established colleges are going to close down because the “higher ed landscape continues to evolve”? Pray, tell, what about the evolving higher ed landscape will force these poor, little ‘ol schools to “close doors”?

You’re responding to me here. I’m clearly lousy at proofreading but I come in peace.

My assumption is that Hobart and William Smith has a good chance of surviving because, in spite of what other people here are posting, it’s really about as well-known as Grinnell or Lewis & Clark, which seem really strong; it’s in a pretty town in a beautiful area; and it’s fairly close to Rochester and Buffalo.

But all liberal arts colleges have to deal with the current war against the humanities; the fact that the number of U.S. children born each year has been shrinking; competition from much cheaper English-language bachelor’s degrees programs in Europe; and the sudden student fear of student loans. I think a lot of colleges have based their strategy on the idea that typical students would take out enough loans to pay about $55,000 per year, all-in, after nearly automatic discounts (“merit aid”), for a year of college.

My guess is that the real annual limit for typical donut-hole families is more like $35,000. That lower spending limit makes it harder for a private college to compete with state schools.

On the other hand, a lot of state schools seem to be cutting programs, and maybe that will help solid, medium-selective private schools like Hobart and William Smith stay in the game.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I suspect it'll close doors in the next 15 years. Lot of underperforming, small liberal arts-type schools in the middle of nowhere have a long, difficult road ahead of them as the higher ed landscape continues to evolve.

You again? You who periodically comes around to make baseless claims that established colleges are going to close down because the “higher ed landscape continues to evolve”? Pray, tell, what about the evolving higher ed landscape will force these poor, little ‘ol schools to “close doors”?

You’re responding to me here. I’m clearly lousy at proofreading but I come in peace.

My assumption is that Hobart and William Smith has a good chance of surviving because, in spite of what other people here are posting, it’s really about as well-known as Grinnell or Lewis & Clark, which seem really strong; it’s in a pretty town in a beautiful area; and it’s fairly close to Rochester and Buffalo.

But all liberal arts colleges have to deal with the current war against the humanities; the fact that the number of U.S. children born each year has been shrinking; competition from much cheaper English-language bachelor’s degrees programs in Europe; and the sudden student fear of student loans. I think a lot of colleges have based their strategy on the idea that typical students would take out enough loans to pay about $55,000 per year, all-in, after nearly automatic discounts (“merit aid”), for a year of college.

My guess is that the real annual limit for typical donut-hole families is more like $35,000. That lower spending limit makes it harder for a private college to compete with state schools.

On the other hand, a lot of state schools seem to be cutting programs, and maybe that will help solid, medium-selective private schools like Hobart and William Smith stay in the game.

HWS is nowhere near Grinnell or even Lewis and Clark. Let's not be ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

Back to the original question: can anyone tell anything constructive about this school? Although I know little about the school, the most brilliant woman I know - with a mind like a nuclear reactor - sent one of her impressive kids there. Take that for what it's worth, but I certainly would be inclined to dig deeper.

[Anonymous]

They have a very strong division 3 women's soccer team. I have 2 friends who played on it over the years - and one won the NCAA championship. They are down to earth, smart, women who I always enjoy connecting with.

From my other friends who went there -
1 transferred after her freshman year. She had personal challenges as she was coming to terms with her own sexuality and Hobart was not the place for her at the time. If you were to ask her, she would comment (and did) about the wealth of the students attending.

Another friend transferred after his freshman year - it was too remote for him (I remember him making a comment that the city did not have a bowling alley - it had burned down in a fire).

One other friend went there speaks of it in a positive manner.

I also have 4 friends who have worked there over the years either in a faculty or administrative position. One moved onto Williams College, another retired, and two are there now. For these people, they were drawn to the area based on family in the greater FLX area and it was a chance to get close to home.

With regard to the city of Geneva - it continues to struggle although it has made some progress the last 10 years. A few years prior to COVID, there were a bunch of young people moving back to the area as they could keep their NYC job and telework making the trip once or twice a month.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I suspect it'll close doors in the next 15 years. Lot of underperforming, small liberal arts-type schools in the middle of nowhere have a long, difficult road ahead of them as the higher ed landscape continues to evolve.

You again? You who periodically comes around to make baseless claims that established colleges are going to close down because the “higher ed landscape continues to evolve”? Pray, tell, what about the evolving higher ed landscape will force these poor, little ‘ol schools to “close doors”?

Uh, what? I think you’ve mistaken me for someone else. But to answer your question: fewer and fewer students want to study in a small, remote LAC in an undesirable part of the country; same goes for quality faculty; and a tiny endowment doesn’t bode well for the school’s future.

This x100 - many small colleges without a niche or substantive following will be closing in the next 10-20 years. 74% of all schools were found to have financial issues - a 10 second search found that article on CNBC. For example, Ithaca is having money problems. Hampshire will likely shut down. Plenty of other named schools are in the same boat. I wouldn't touch HWS with $10 of my money - why bet on a school that probably has a 50% shot of surviving the next decade? There are 500+ schools in better financial shape.

A few seconds of google would have pulled up the Hobart financial statements

https://www.hws.edu/offices/business/images/financial_statements2020.pdf

There is the latest one. Show us the flaws and tell us which are the 500 schools in better shape, please.

See my latest post - come on, smart guy, make some magic happen for HWS - check out that loss of $4.6m in operating expenses, too.

Sorry my bad, I did not realize 284=500+. Must be the math I learned at Hobart. "Smart guy".

You conveniently ignored the comment that those were privates - there are hundreds of publics that are better off than Hobart. And next time, I'm going to make you diagram those sentences.

[Anonymous]

Will Mt. Holyoke take down the sign post in the middle of their campus that points the miles to Hobart if it folds?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You peons have been predicting the closure of all these LACs for the last 10 plus years. It's always "soon" ... well where are the closures? Why didn't hundreds of LACs close their doors after or during Covid? Now it's "15 years out"? Oh, okay...

Ah, there's the Hobart parent again, calling us all peons. Ha. It's like someone working at Walmart angrily proclaiming they're elite and then unironically telling everyone else who dares say otherwise that they're a bunch of peasants.

So true. The angry pro-Hobart responder sounds like a climate denier. The closures are already starting. They aren't just LACs, they're also comprehensives, technical and religious schools. Not too tough to find if you use google. COVID made it way worse. But whatever, any parent not contemplating the future prospects of their kids potential school is missing a huge part of the equation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You peons have been predicting the closure of all these LACs for the last 10 plus years. It's always "soon" ... well where are the closures? Why didn't hundreds of LACs close their doors after or during Covid? Now it's "15 years out"? Oh, okay...

Ah, there's the Hobart parent again, calling us all peons. Ha. It's like someone working at Walmart angrily proclaiming they're elite and then unironically telling everyone else who dares say otherwise that they're a bunch of peasants.

So true. The angry pro-Hobart responder sounds like a climate denier. The closures are already starting. They aren't just LACs, they're also comprehensives, technical and religious schools. Not too tough to find if you use google. COVID made it way worse. But whatever, any parent not contemplating the future prospects of their kids potential school is missing a huge part of the equation.

So let me get this straight…

3000+ colleges in the USA, your own link says Hobart financial health ranks them #285…. So over 90% of American colleges are going to shut down?

Yeah, that seems likely.

[Anonymous]

I went there in the early 90s

A lot of boarding school kids that were smart but had been A/B and occasional C type students.

Many were from NYC and suburbs, CT, and around Boston.

Many kids were very sophisticated in the sense that they’d traveled a lot, experienced more than the average 18 year old.

There was a pretty big drug scene but mainly weed. Yes people tried Molly, or mushrooms, or cocaine, but wasn’t a regular thing.

Quite a few had money to do crazy things. Example— Thursday night hanging out someone mentions Grateful Dead playing in London on Saturday, a group buys last minute tickets to fly to see them. I could barely pay my phone bill!

Campus is pretty and close knit.

Some sports (soccer, lacrosse) very good. Decent amount of athletes in student body. Most played country club sports, as well.

William Smith definitely has a strong feminist bent

What else would you like to know? This is also from 30 years ago and I’m sure things have changed to some degree.





It’s weird to have fraternities and not sororities. Combine this with many of the boys coming from single sex schools, there was an odd dynamic in the social culture. I think a lot of the guys had never really had female friends.

Met some wonderful people and made great friends. Classes were much harder than people seem to think. I did transfer to a much bigger name school, with a much higher academic reputation, and I’d say the teaching was not dissimilar. The seriousness of the student body with respect to academics was the difference.

Geneva was not a good place at all at that time

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Williams is great all around. Smith is a top women's college but on the decline. Never heard of Hobart.

It’s a nice, respectable liberal arts college in a cute suburb of Rochester, New York. It’s a lot close to Toronto than to New York City. It gives out a lot of merit aid.

While Geneva is rather close to Rochester, I dare say it is not a suburb. It is small, depressed town whose best days were in the mid-1800s.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I suspect it'll close doors in the next 15 years. Lot of underperforming, small liberal arts-type schools in the middle of nowhere have a long, difficult road ahead of them as the higher ed landscape continues to evolve.

You again? You who periodically comes around to make baseless claims that established colleges are going to close down because the “higher ed landscape continues to evolve”? Pray, tell, what about the evolving higher ed landscape will force these poor, little ‘ol schools to “close doors”?

Uh, what? I think you’ve mistaken me for someone else. But to answer your question: fewer and fewer students want to study in a small, remote LAC in an undesirable part of the country; same goes for quality faculty; and a tiny endowment doesn’t bode well for the school’s future.

This x100 - many small colleges without a niche or substantive following will be closing in the next 10-20 years. 74% of all schools were found to have financial issues - a 10 second search found that article on CNBC. For example, Ithaca is having money problems. Hampshire will likely shut down. Plenty of other named schools are in the same boat. I wouldn't touch HWS with $10 of my money - why bet on a school that probably has a 50% shot of surviving the next decade? There are 500+ schools in better financial shape.

A few seconds of google would have pulled up the Hobart financial statements

https://www.hws.edu/offices/business/images/financial_statements2020.pdf

There is the latest one. Show us the flaws and tell us which are the 500 schools in better shape, please.

See my latest post - come on, smart guy, make some magic happen for HWS - check out that loss of $4.6m in operating expenses, too.

Sorry my bad, I did not realize 284=500+. Must be the math I learned at Hobart. "Smart guy".

You conveniently ignored the comment that those were privates - there are hundreds of publics that are better off than Hobart. And next time, I'm going to make you diagram those sentences.

I hope your grammar lessons are better than your math lessons.