Lafayette/Bucknell vs Nescacs

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd slot Lafayette at or just below the Bates/Colby tier. (But I also think "perceived prestige" should be, at most, a very small factor in anyone's matriculation decision.)

That's crazy talk.

In which direction?

Lafayette College is an excellent school and about 25% of students at Lafayette are majoring in engineering which is not a major at Bates or Colby. If comparing liberal arts majors, then my best guess is that each of the three schools has areas of strength and that Lafayette College is as solid as the other two in humanities.

I'm not sure how to square this analysis with the "crazy talk" position. You're saying that ~25% (it's actually 20.1% per Lafayette's current CDS, https://oir.lafayette.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/196/2025/06/CDS2024-2025.pdf ) of the students at Lafayette are majoring in something not offered at Bates or Colby, and that, for the other ~75% (80%) majoring in arts and sciences, it's a wash (per your "best guess")? That seems barely distinguishable from slotting Lafayette at or slightly below the Bates/Colby tier.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd slot Lafayette at or just below the Bates/Colby tier. (But I also think "perceived prestige" should be, at most, a very small factor in anyone's matriculation decision.)

That's crazy talk.

In which direction?

Lafayette waaaay better than them..

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd slot Lafayette at or just below the Bates/Colby tier. (But I also think "perceived prestige" should be, at most, a very small factor in anyone's matriculation decision.)

That's crazy talk.

In which direction?

Lafayette College is an excellent school and about 25% of students at Lafayette are majoring in engineering which is not a major at Bates or Colby. If comparing liberal arts majors, then my best guess is that each of the three schools has areas of strength and that Lafayette College is as solid as the other two in humanities.

I'm not sure how to square this analysis with the "crazy talk" position. You're saying that ~25% (it's actually 20.1% per Lafayette's current CDS, https://oir.lafayette.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/196/2025/06/CDS2024-2025.pdf ) of the students at Lafayette are majoring in something not offered at Bates or Colby, and that, for the other ~75% (80%) majoring in arts and sciences, it's a wash (per your "best guess")? That seems barely distinguishable from slotting Lafayette at or slightly below the Bates/Colby tier.

Engineering is a highly demanding major that makes any comparison to non-engineering schools unreasonable.

I was trying to be kind to the two schools based in Maine as Lafayette academics are at least equal to those schools.

[Anonymous]

from a name brand perspective - lafayette and bucknell blow away every nescac except Amherst and Williams - know the rabble rousers on dcum will skewer me for that, but I’ve been in NYC consulting for 30 years -

[Anonymous]

For a $100k difference, the only schools with enough prestige to even consider above Lafayette would be Williams/ Amherst.

Lafayette is a terrific place. Or the merit offer works out, go for it! Congratulations

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'd slot Lafayette at or just below the Bates/Colby tier. (But I also think "perceived prestige" should be, at most, a very small factor in anyone's matriculation decision.)

Agree with this.

[Anonymous]

Bucknell offers a fantastic college experience with robust Greek life and lucrative Wall Street connections that exceed all of the NESCAC except Williams, Amherst and maybe Bowdoin. Kids love it there (as evidenced by the school's minuscule transfer-out rate), work hard and play hard for four years, and graduate into fantastic front office jobs right out of college. What more could you want?

Lafayette is a great school, too. As another poster pointed out, it's solidly on the level of a Bates or Colby. If pursuing engineering, I might consider it over Bucknell, especially for $25k less, but if going into business/finance, Bucknell is the move.

Don't get fixated on the NESCAC mystique.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:IMO, Colby is slightly ahead of Lafayette and Bucknell. Bates is at same level and campus is not appealing.

Agree with this.

[Anonymous]

Wow the Lafayette boosters are out big time today, trying to counter the Bucknell with the Pipeline to the Street. With no horse in this race if full pay and won’t miss the $25k a year I would take Bucknell nicer location. Lafayette and Lehigh are in gritty cities and were popular when Jimmy Stewart was in that classic It’s A Wonderful Life. Forget Bates too woke and minimal sports vibe. Really liberal kids like the Wesleyan of Maine. This year URichmond is playing football only in Patriot League. They, Holy Cross and especially Colgate have more fans prestige than any of the Pennsylvania schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:from a name brand perspective - lafayette and bucknell blow away every nescac except Amherst and Williams - know the rabble rousers on dcum will skewer me for that, but I’ve been in NYC consulting for 30 years -

This discussion has devolved into everyone offering their personal feelings on the relative prestige on the most selective SLACs in the country, which is foolish. That said, I can’t let this one slide. Lafayette with merit aid over NESCACs? Sure. Lafayette and Bucknell are bigger brand names than Bowdoin, Mid, Wes, Hamilton, etc.? Please stop. Save your NY consulting world annecdata.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:from a name brand perspective - lafayette and bucknell blow away every nescac except Amherst and Williams - know the rabble rousers on dcum will skewer me for that, but I’ve been in NYC consulting for 30 years -

This discussion has devolved into everyone offering their personal feelings on the relative prestige on the most selective SLACs in the country, which is foolish. That said, I can’t let this one slide. Lafayette with merit aid over NESCACs? Sure. Lafayette and Bucknell are bigger brand names than Bowdoin, Mid, Wes, Hamilton, etc.? Please stop. Save your NY consulting world annecdata.

Maybe not in the ivory towers of academia, but how many college students want to be academics? Wall Street is what matters to most kids looking at colleges today, and yes, Bucknell (and arguably Lafayette) is a much bigger brand on The Street than any of those schools.

[Anonymous]

Midd is slipping and well documented on multiple threads don’t care one way or the other about Midd. If into sports no one should look at Wesleyan or Bates as would be an outcast. Only 3 NESCAC schools of high status Williams, Amherst and Bowdoin. No one really cares about Hamilton the 2 in Maine, Tufts and Trinity.

[Anonymous]

Please Bucknell is not a Wall St Power maybe it is in Lewisburg.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:from a name brand perspective - lafayette and bucknell blow away every nescac except Amherst and Williams - know the rabble rousers on dcum will skewer me for that, but I’ve been in NYC consulting for 30 years -

This discussion has devolved into everyone offering their personal feelings on the relative prestige on the most selective SLACs in the country, which is foolish. That said, I can’t let this one slide. Lafayette with merit aid over NESCACs? Sure. Lafayette and Bucknell are bigger brand names than Bowdoin, Mid, Wes, Hamilton, etc.? Please stop. Save your NY consulting world annecdata.

Discussions are designed to include one's personal feelings, thoughts, and experiences so not sure why you are astonished. Prestige is a matter of personal opinion.

[Anonymous]

No interest in tiny LACs in the Northeast not my idea of fun. Into college sports, preference would be Williams by far, Colgate probably too cold and Holy Cross mainly close to Boston. Not into freezing weather for 7 months at Midd, Bowdoin, Colby, and Bates. Bucknell is better than Lafayette.