Most prestigious SLAC in the Midwest?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What about Washington University in St. Louis?

not a SLAC -- "selective, liberal arts college"; Wash U is too big and offers grad/professional degrees to fit this concept, though it's certainly a fine school and the window decal will impress

If one was including universities, then I think University of Chicago would top the list, and I say that as a Northwestern alumna.

[Anonymous]

I grew up in the midwest. Those were the schools the weird kids went to. Sadly, most of them are weird adults too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I have a very "prestigious" background (prep school/Ivy grad) and I've only ever heard of one of those schools. Not that I really care what school your child goes to, but putting a Carleton sticker on your car would get a polite "oh, so where is that?" reaction out of me.

For a prep school/ivy leaguer, you don't get out much.

Signed,

The public school/state university/private graduate school graduate who has heard of all of them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I have a very "prestigious" background (prep school/Ivy grad) and I've only ever heard of one of those schools.

Really? I guess when you are so privileged you are able to insulate yourself from the rest of the population.

I grew up on the east coast, attended a highly selective Midwest university and have lived on the coasts since. I am familiar with each of these schools at the highest level.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What about Washington University in St. Louis?

not a SLAC -- "selective, liberal arts college"; Wash U is too big and offers grad/professional degrees to fit this concept, though it's certainly a fine school and the window decal will impress

If one was including universities, then I think University of Chicago would top the list, and I say that as a Northwestern alumna.

Precisely. The College at the U of C is a small, liberal arts college within a research university.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What about Washington University in St. Louis?

not a SLAC -- "selective, liberal arts college"; Wash U is too big and offers grad/professional degrees to fit this concept, though it's certainly a fine school and the window decal will impress

If one was including universities, then I think University of Chicago would top the list, and I say that as a Northwestern alumna.

Precisely. The College at the U of C is a small, liberal arts college within a research university.

I'm a proud UofC parent, but the college doesn't have the same feel as a SLAC. First, it's significantly larger than most SLACs (approx 5,000 undergrads compared to about half that many students at most SLACs). Second, as far as location, most kids who are interested in SLACs want the quintessential tiny college town like Gambier, Oberlin, etc., rather than a big, bustling city. Different stroke for different folks, to quote the inimitable Sly Stone.

Shout-out to the Northwestern alumna -- a classy move to compliment another school. And I'm impressed that you took Latin!

[Anonymous]

I recognize all of these schools. They are all great schools. My kid's at Oberlin Conservatory and quite happy. It depends on the fit for your kid, not which is most prestigious.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I grew up in the midwest. Those were the schools the weird kids went to. Sadly, most of them are weird adults too.

That's OK; some of us like "weird" people -- AKA, cool, interesting and not bland wanna-be's. But, thanks for the head's up.

[Anonymous]

I'm a happy graduate of one of those four schools, and my sense is that no one there went for the potential prestige--we went for the rigorous education, the interesting student body, the small-town setting...

[Anonymous]

DePaw and DePaul?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I grew up in the midwest. Those were the schools the weird kids went to. Sadly, most of them are weird adults too.

Heh - I went to Oberlin. Graduated almost 20 years ago. Definitely some weird kids - also a lot of brilliant kids, a lot of rich New York kids. Lena Dunham is a recent(ish) grad. I was there with some other people you may have heard of (Gary Shteyngart, Ed Helms). No idea how it ranks prestige-wise among that list; I think they're all thought of as good schools with cachet among some people, not so much among others. Not so different from each other in terms of prestige.

[Anonymous]

16:17 again: I'll add that I don't think you find a lot of people at Oberlin who wish they'd gone to a big state school. Our big yearly events were the Drag Ball and the Bike Derby.

It was a fun place, with a lot of creative, smart, talented kids. A lot of rich ones, too (I hadn't expected that; getting to know those kids was also an education).

[Anonymous]

You should also look at Macalester and Earlham.

[Anonymous]

How could you (15:05) claim to be ivy league and know-it-all and not have heard of these schools? Unbelievable what self-absorbed people post here. In order:

Carleton (with an "e)
Grinnell (two "nns, two "ls")
Oberlin and Kenyon tied for last.

And of course U. of Chicago at the top but that is a University so doesn't count as a SLAC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Who are you trying to impress? Which is the best school for your child?

I have a very "prestigious" background (prep school/Ivy grad) and I've only ever heard of one of those schools. Not that I really care what school your child goes to, but putting a Carleton sticker on your car would get a polite "oh, so where is that?" reaction out of me. Many people who care about the label on the degree are only going to focus on HYP anyway.

Focus on the school that best suits your child - which one has the program that works for your child's interests and future plans. Don't fixate on "prestigious".

Except you state "oh, so where is that?" Looks like you are party to the attitude you deplore.