What are SLAC? How are they different from LAC?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So, very confused. Which schools are SLAC and which LAC?

Most LACs are small, but there's a few that aren't. It's easy to find their sizes.

If you're looking for selectivity, the USNews list is a fine place to look. (https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/rankings/national-liberal-arts-colleges) Of course, what is "best" for US News may not be best for you, but looking at the top 100 schools should give you some ideas for schools to look at.

Most important is to figure out what you (or your child) want out of the college experience.

Nice post. Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Why the need for a distinction between SLAC and LAC? Who came up with SLAC? And is it just a coincidence that it sounds like "slack" (not a good association imo)?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:SLAC stands for small liberal arts college, not "selective" liberal arts college. Of course DCUM would think the "S" stands for selective, lol.

Is it a DCUM term? Or an internet term?

It actually predates the internet. I found a reference to SLAC (meaning small liberal arts college) in a 1988 publication, but it may have bene used earlier.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:SLAC stands for small liberal arts college, not "selective" liberal arts college. Of course DCUM would think the "S" stands for selective, lol.

This.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:S=small?

As opposed to LLAC?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:S=small?

As opposed to LLAC?

yeah.. SLAC, MLAC, and LLAC - small, medium and large

[Anonymous]

According to Wikipedia and Urban Dictionary, it stands for small liberal arts college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:According to Wikipedia and Urban Dictionary, it stands for small liberal arts college.

+ 1

And oh please on "selective" - you know that any school that rejects even some of its applicants is selective, right? Colleges are either open admission or selective. It's not like only the top 20, per USNWR, are "Selective" and all the rest are not.

[Anonymous]

Probably apropos of nothing, but NESCAC stands for New England Small College Athletic Conference.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Probably apropos of nothing, but NESCAC stands for New England Small College Athletic Conference.

Is it like a thing? Are schools in this conference better? Is it the idea in terms of sports that NESCAC similar and smaller as Ivy League, where a sports conference accompanied by rigorous academics?

[Anonymous]

I don’t think many colleges as a whole are “easy” to attend (as opposed to “rigorous”), that’s a pretty broad generalization to make, but whatever floats your boat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Probably apropos of nothing, but NESCAC stands for New England Small College Athletic Conference.

Is it like a thing? Are schools in this conference better? Is it the idea in terms of sports that NESCAC similar and smaller as Ivy League, where a sports conference accompanied by rigorous academics?

It's just a traditional New England athletic conference. Large universities participated in what became the Ivy League, smaller schools in the same area played each other in what eventually because NESCAC. It's not like the Ivy League where just being a member brings cachet and there are plenty of other conferences with rigorous slacs- the Centennial Conference and SCIAC both come to mind.

[Anonymous]

Easy to tell who didn't get in to Williams.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Probably apropos of nothing, but NESCAC stands for New England Small College Athletic Conference.

Is it like a thing? Are schools in this conference better? Is it the idea in terms of sports that NESCAC similar and smaller as Ivy League, where a sports conference accompanied by rigorous academics?

It's just a traditional New England athletic conference. Large universities participated in what became the Ivy League, smaller schools in the same area played each other in what eventually because NESCAC. It's not like the Ivy League where just being a member brings cachet and there are plenty of other conferences with rigorous slacs- the Centennial Conference and SCIAC both come to mind.

As opposed to…?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:SLAC means selective LAC

Non-selective LACs are way more civilized and run than their public university counterparts and have great graduation rates, but poor financial standing.

Clever! When did "Small" morph into "SLAC". Next time I go on a date with a dude with a small.. you know.. I'll tell him how selective his thingy is..