Less stressful SLAC

[Anonymous]

College of Wooster, Haverford

[Anonymous]

West Coast! So much more chill. Puget Sound, Santa Clara, Lewis & Clark, Loyola Marymount, Seattle U, or even Mountain West: Colorado College, U of Denver…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn’t consider Davidson or Dartmouth to be low-key schools (admissions alone to both is quite cut-throat). Someone recently posted asking for SLACs with a supportive/mellow vibe. That thread may be more along the lines of what your child is after. Link below. What other applications have already been made and what area of study interests your child?

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1165913.page

OP: Thank you. Unfortunately this list is mostly not SLACs but second tier schools. I liked the suggestion of Smith College above (I'm actually an alum and think it is exactly the right speed - excellent classes but not stressful) but DC is not interested in a women's college.

Hmm. Most on that linked list — Bard, Vassar, Union, Franklin & Marshall, Kenyon, Bucknell, Lafayette, and Haverford — are SLACs, and if you think Vassar and Haverford are "second tier," what is your cutoff for what you'd accept?

Top-10 SLACs like Amherst won't be any less stressful than top universities, though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn’t consider Davidson or Dartmouth to be low-key schools (admissions alone to both is quite cut-throat). Someone recently posted asking for SLACs with a supportive/mellow vibe. That thread may be more along the lines of what your child is after. Link below. What other applications have already been made and what area of study interests your child?

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1165913.page

OP: Thank you. Unfortunately this list is mostly not SLACs but second tier schools. I liked the suggestion of Smith College above (I'm actually an alum and think it is exactly the right speed - excellent classes but not stressful) but DC is not interested in a women's college.

Hmm. Most on that linked list — Bard, Vassar, Union, Franklin & Marshall, Kenyon, Bucknell, Lafayette, and Haverford — are SLACs, and if you think Vassar and Haverford are "second tier," what is your cutoff for what you'd accept?

Top-10 SLACs like Amherst won't be any less stressful than top universities, though.

This. Actually the very top schools are less stressful because almost everyone gets a high B or A/A- (the grade inflation is real).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn’t consider Davidson or Dartmouth to be low-key schools (admissions alone to both is quite cut-throat). Someone recently posted asking for SLACs with a supportive/mellow vibe. That thread may be more along the lines of what your child is after. Link below. What other applications have already been made and what area of study interests your child?

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1165913.page

OP: Thank you. Unfortunately this list is mostly not SLACs but second tier schools. I liked the suggestion of Smith College above (I'm actually an alum and think it is exactly the right speed - excellent classes but not stressful) but DC is not interested in a women's college.

NP. What about Vassar? Mine was admitted last year, and it seemed pretty collaborative. Same for Wesleyan. Maybe Skidmore as a back up?

[Anonymous]

my first year kid is loving the vibe at Bates College

[Anonymous]

St Olaf

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Open to Catholic schools?

OP: Yes

[Anonymous]

Lafayette, Trinity, Wesleyan, Kenyon, MacCalster

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn’t consider Davidson or Dartmouth to be low-key schools (admissions alone to both is quite cut-throat). Someone recently posted asking for SLACs with a supportive/mellow vibe. That thread may be more along the lines of what your child is after. Link below. What other applications have already been made and what area of study interests your child?

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1165913.page

OP: Thank you. Unfortunately this list is mostly not SLACs but second tier schools. I liked the suggestion of Smith College above (I'm actually an alum and think it is exactly the right speed - excellent classes but not stressful) but DC is not interested in a women's college.

Huh? Did you read the entire 16 pages? There are tons of SLACs suggested throughout. Some SLACs are also “second tier” schools. I didn’t realize your kid was too good for those.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn’t consider Davidson or Dartmouth to be low-key schools (admissions alone to both is quite cut-throat). Someone recently posted asking for SLACs with a supportive/mellow vibe. That thread may be more along the lines of what your child is after. Link below. What other applications have already been made and what area of study interests your child?

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1165913.page

OP: Thank you. Unfortunately this list is mostly not SLACs but second tier schools. I liked the suggestion of Smith College above (I'm actually an alum and think it is exactly the right speed - excellent classes but not stressful) but DC is not interested in a women's college.

Hmm. Most on that linked list — Bard, Vassar, Union, Franklin & Marshall, Kenyon, Bucknell, Lafayette, and Haverford — are SLACs, and if you think Vassar and Haverford are "second tier," what is your cutoff for what you'd accept?

Top-10 SLACs like Amherst won't be any less stressful than top universities, though.

I agree. Amherst students are not known for being laid back. The college is full of kids who were the very top of their class. Adding in the smaller size and divide between athletes and non-athletes, it can stifling. I’m a fan of LACs (my DH is an Amherst grad and one of my kids is at another NESCAC), but don’t assume that top LACs will be less stressful than top universities. They are different environments that both have their strengths and challenges.

[Anonymous]

OP, you haven't given us your kid's stats to know where her reach/target/safety range might fall.

But looking at the list of top-50 SLACs (taking out the military academies & women's colleges), some with a reputation of being non-cutthroat but still academically respectful include:

Pomona, Carleton (some find its trimester system challenging), Grinnell, Wesleyan, Davidson, Vassar, Haverford, Bates, Macalester, Berea, Lafayette, Occidental, Skidmore, Denison, Kenyon, Pitzer, Connecticut, and Whitman.

And several ranked lower than 50 are great, too, and may give decent merit aid.

Is there a part of the country she's hoping for? Is she interested in Greek life? Club sports, or more artsy things like theater?

[Anonymous]

Bowdoin - friendly students, generally viewed as collaborative.

[Anonymous]

OP wants top-tier but also laid back? lol.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP wants top-tier but also laid back? lol.

+1 there are definitely less stressful environments than the DMV but you have to leave the area and attend to lower rank school. Otherwise it’s filled with kids like your East Coast high achieving student.

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- mom of kid in lower ranked LAC that is thrilled to be in lower stress environment