Which among WASP would you choose to ED and why?

[Anonymous]

I would first make absolutely sure that the kid wants to attend an LAC and then have them apply ED to their top choice. If they are at all unsure about attending an LAC, then no ED.

[Anonymous]

Pomona, weather.

[Anonymous]

I loved Amherst when I visited a million years ago, so I'd ED there. Although I didn't see Swarthmore and I think I might have loved it too.

But if I had a kid who had so little opinion on geography etc . . . that they were asking this, I'd have them ED to a SLAC that was also excellent and a little easier to get into. Grinnell or Middlebury or something. (I don't have a kid who wants SLAC so I am not that knowledgeable). Why pick a WASP?

[Anonymous]

I 100% agree that what matters is fit and applying to your kid's true first choice (if they even have one).

That said, I think what distinguishes Pomona is the colocated 5 college system. Location for each of the colleges should also be considered -- the experience is going to be different at, say, Williams and Pomona.

[Anonymous]

Amherst has become the most "woke" of the batch. And I'm saying this as a left-of-center moderate Democrat who thinks that some diversity is a good thing, but Amherst has gone a bit overboard with DEI and virtue-signaling. The other schools are definitely left and far from MAGA, but it is less in your face. Amherst is not Oberlin or something like that, and a more moderate, less political kid will be fine there. But it has definitely become a bigger part of the culture.

None of this is necessarily a bad thing. Different strokes for different folks. Just need to know what you are getting into.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Amherst has become the most "woke" of the batch. And I'm saying this as a left-of-center moderate Democrat who thinks that some diversity is a good thing, but Amherst has gone a bit overboard with DEI and virtue-signaling. The other schools are definitely left and far from MAGA, but it is less in your face. Amherst is not Oberlin or something like that, and a more moderate, less political kid will be fine there. But it has definitely become a bigger part of the culture.

None of this is necessarily a bad thing. Different strokes for different folks. Just need to know what you are getting into.

nah - maybe 2-3 years ago but the pendulum has quickly swung more towards the middle and school culture at places like amherst is less influenced and defined by the wacky liberals.

[Anonymous]

Subjective comments on Williams and Amherst appear on this page:

https://share.google/FZo8e6AH79BVjgx2c

[Anonymous]

Amherst was my DS's favorite by a mile.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Amherst has become the most "woke" of the batch. And I'm saying this as a left-of-center moderate Democrat who thinks that some diversity is a good thing, but Amherst has gone a bit overboard with DEI and virtue-signaling. The other schools are definitely left and far from MAGA, but it is less in your face. Amherst is not Oberlin or something like that, and a more moderate, less political kid will be fine there. But it has definitely become a bigger part of the culture.

None of this is necessarily a bad thing. Different strokes for different folks. Just need to know what you are getting into.

I have a new freshman at Amherst and she has not found this to be the case (and she would have preferred it to be more liberal!).

[Anonymous]

Why would you limit yourself to WASP and not consider any of the other great SLACs? None of these four were the top choice for my kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would not ED to any unless I'd visited and truly fallen in love. My unhooked kid was accepted to Swat RD. We had visited.junior.year and she really thought she wanted to go. But when we visited for Swatstruck (accepted student day) she realized it was not for her. Polling DCUM is not the way to pick one of these schools

Thank you.

(My kid also ruled out Swat after a campus visit. )

[Anonymous]

I would never apply ED to a LAC. Too few non-athlete/non-FGLI seats left for unhooked.

Better off EDing to something that's at least mid-sized (U Chicago, WashU, Vandy, Cornell, Emory, etc.)

[Anonymous]

Enthusiastic Williams grad but I thought Middlebury and Wesleyan were better fits for my kid within the NESCAC along with Davidson and Carleton. Don’t get blinded by the WASP label. Focus on the fit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would never apply ED to a LAC. Too few non-athlete/non-FGLI seats left for unhooked.

Better off EDing to something that's at least mid-sized (U Chicago, WashU, Vandy, Cornell, Emory, etc.)

This. This. This.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Enthusiastic Williams grad but I thought Middlebury and Wesleyan were better fits for my kid within the NESCAC along with Davidson and Carleton. Don’t get blinded by the WASP label. Focus on the fit.

Wes parent of recent grad - DC had ok experience but nothing special. 1000% not worth being full pay - WASP only options for youngest, Wes just not enough bang for the buck - very mid-level school imo