SLAC’s in more suburban/urban areas?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I also suggest one of the Claremont Colleges. I am an alum. It’s big enough with all the schools combined and is in Claremont- which is a very cute and lively village! You can always escape to other areas: beaches, desert, mountains, LA, San Diego very easily.

+1 We have a daughter at Pomona and love visiting Claremont. She's never bored of the energy with the five other colleges, and the school funds experiences/internships to the LA area. D rides a train weekly to Downtown LA for her internship.

Those 5 schools are extremely hard to get into.

[Anonymous]

Tufts and Boston College might fit the bill.

[Anonymous]

If your child is into STEM, Rice could be a good fit as well. Residential colleges, right in the museum/medical district of Houston, on the small size for a university with ~1000 students per class year

[Anonymous]

I think your daughter might be over estimating the time she will spend away from campus. My daughter is at Oberlin, which is not middle of nowhere but not big city, and she barely leaves campus. She is not a partier either and usually has small gatherings with friends where they cook or watch movies or similar. As a PP pointed out, Oberlin has a lot to do on campus as well and the music is amazing. She has a lot of friends in the conservatory and they constantly have shows to see. And for those who enjoy sports there are plenty of events to watch or play, both as a varsity and club athlete (and intramural). I'm guessing a lot of other schools have a similar vibe on campus that your daughter would enjoy once she was living there.

Between classes, clubs, sports, work study and just time to chill out with friends, I don't think most college students find there's a ton of time to plan outings. That being said, you could do it at Oberlin easily because there is a lot of great biking (flat) terrain and Cleveland is 45 minutes away with regular campus shuttles.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I also suggest one of the Claremont Colleges. I am an alum. It’s big enough with all the schools combined and is in Claremont- which is a very cute and lively village! You can always escape to other areas: beaches, desert, mountains, LA, San Diego very easily.

+1 We have a daughter at Pomona and love visiting Claremont. She's never bored of the energy with the five other colleges, and the school funds experiences/internships to the LA area. D rides a train weekly to Downtown LA for her internship.

Those 5 schools are extremely hard to get into.

And are extremely expensive to go to. Meal plan is like $7200 a year and honestly their local town is like upscale boutique - very pricy. Not to mention over an hour away from LAX. I would think anyone on FA would have a really hard time fitting in there and traveling home too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I also suggest one of the Claremont Colleges. I am an alum. It’s big enough with all the schools combined and is in Claremont- which is a very cute and lively village! You can always escape to other areas: beaches, desert, mountains, LA, San Diego very easily.

+1 We have a daughter at Pomona and love visiting Claremont. She's never bored of the energy with the five other colleges, and the school funds experiences/internships to the LA area. D rides a train weekly to Downtown LA for her internship.

Those 5 schools are extremely hard to get into.

And are extremely expensive to go to. Meal plan is like $7200 a year and honestly their local town is like upscale boutique - very pricy. Not to mention over an hour away from LAX. I would think anyone on FA would have a really hard time fitting in there and traveling home too.

I went to CMC- many of my friends were on FA... there is no such thing as having a hard time fitting in due to being on FA.

[Anonymous]

Pomona is very generous with financial aid, though. Net price of ~$15000 for students on aid (the majority are), and no loan policy. It was rated #8 for supporting economic diversity: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/05/25/sunday-review/opinion-pell-table.html

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think your daughter might be over estimating the time she will spend away from campus. My daughter is at Oberlin, which is not middle of nowhere but not big city, and she barely leaves campus. She is not a partier either and usually has small gatherings with friends where they cook or watch movies or similar. As a PP pointed out, Oberlin has a lot to do on campus as well and the music is amazing. She has a lot of friends in the conservatory and they constantly have shows to see. And for those who enjoy sports there are plenty of events to watch or play, both as a varsity and club athlete (and intramural). I'm guessing a lot of other schools have a similar vibe on campus that your daughter would enjoy once she was living there.

Between classes, clubs, sports, work study and just time to chill out with friends, I don't think most college students find there's a ton of time to plan outings. That being said, you could do it at Oberlin easily because there is a lot of great biking (flat) terrain and Cleveland is 45 minutes away with regular campus shuttles.

Off topic but what is she studying?

We toured Oberlin over spring break. DD liked the size and the fact that the city was close enough to get there if she really wanted but there was also plenty to do on campus.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would look at UChicago. Their class sizes are smaller than at many LACs and there's an exciting city just 15 minutes outside of a beautiful suburban campus. Discussions are lively among the kids inside and outside the classroom. Interesting, very intellectually engaged peer group.

OP is asking for slacs, not a uni. Don't be fooled by unis. Columbia is a uni with all the reputation; yet it's not a SLAC. Student experiences will be different. Students in Columbia, UChicago are more competitive and sometimes cutthroat in larger classes. These are some of the reasons for slacs' existence.

I'm well aware that UChicago is a University but OPs wish list could be met there. It is far from a cutthroat environment between the Midwestern friendliness and non-pretentiousness.
Kids don't always end up where they start looking. It's more important to get at the WHY of the desired environment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think your daughter might be over estimating the time she will spend away from campus. My daughter is at Oberlin, which is not middle of nowhere but not big city, and she barely leaves campus. She is not a partier either and usually has small gatherings with friends where they cook or watch movies or similar. As a PP pointed out, Oberlin has a lot to do on campus as well and the music is amazing. She has a lot of friends in the conservatory and they constantly have shows to see. And for those who enjoy sports there are plenty of events to watch or play, both as a varsity and club athlete (and intramural). I'm guessing a lot of other schools have a similar vibe on campus that your daughter would enjoy once she was living there.

Between classes, clubs, sports, work study and just time to chill out with friends, I don't think most college students find there's a ton of time to plan outings. That being said, you could do it at Oberlin easily because there is a lot of great biking (flat) terrain and Cleveland is 45 minutes away with regular campus shuttles.

My D says she spends very little time in her dorm in Oberlin because her campus schedule is full. And she has no car - so, all her classes and extracurricular activities are on campus.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would look at UChicago. Their class sizes are smaller than at many LACs and there's an exciting city just 15 minutes outside of a beautiful suburban campus. Discussions are lively among the kids inside and outside the classroom. Interesting, very intellectually engaged peer group.

OP is asking for slacs, not a uni. Don't be fooled by unis. Columbia is a uni with all the reputation; yet it's not a SLAC. Student experiences will be different. Students in Columbia, UChicago are more competitive and sometimes cutthroat in larger classes. These are some of the reasons for slacs' existence.

I'm well aware that UChicago is a University but OPs wish list could be met there. It is far from a cutthroat environment between the Midwestern friendliness and non-pretentiousness.
Kids don't always end up where they start looking. It's more important to get at the WHY of the desired environment.

BTW my kid was also from a private that liked the small, discussion based classrooms and faculty interaction. UChicago has proved to be an extension of that experience with room to grow. And the majority of the kids spend parts of the weekend having fun in the city, i.e. restaurants, museums, farmers markets, music, etc........plus participating in dorm, frat and apartment parties and get togethers of all sizes. There's a lot of social options no matter what the preferences are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I also suggest one of the Claremont Colleges. I am an alum. It’s big enough with all the schools combined and is in Claremont- which is a very cute and lively village! You can always escape to other areas: beaches, desert, mountains, LA, San Diego very easily.

+1 We have a daughter at Pomona and love visiting Claremont. She's never bored of the energy with the five other colleges, and the school funds experiences/internships to the LA area. D rides a train weekly to Downtown LA for her internship.

Those 5 schools are extremely hard to get into.

And are extremely expensive to go to. Meal plan is like $7200 a year and honestly their local town is like upscale boutique - very pricy. Not to mention over an hour away from LAX. I would think anyone on FA would have a really hard time fitting in there and traveling home too.

I went to CMC- many of my friends were on FA... there is no such thing as having a hard time fitting in due to being on FA.

It costs a lot of money to come home for holidays and breaks
Housing and meals are pricy all 4 years
LA trips costs money

Not saying they don’t give aid. It is just a pricy area to be, compared to a location a few hours away on the east

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would look at UChicago. Their class sizes are smaller than at many LACs and there's an exciting city just 15 minutes outside of a beautiful suburban campus. Discussions are lively among the kids inside and outside the classroom. Interesting, very intellectually engaged peer group.

OP is asking for slacs, not a uni. Don't be fooled by unis. Columbia is a uni with all the reputation; yet it's not a SLAC. Student experiences will be different. Students in Columbia, UChicago are more competitive and sometimes cutthroat in larger classes. These are some of the reasons for slacs' existence.

I'm well aware that UChicago is a University but OPs wish list could be met there. It is far from a cutthroat environment between the Midwestern friendliness and non-pretentiousness.
Kids don't always end up where they start looking. It's more important to get at the WHY of the desired environment.

BTW my kid was also from a private that liked the small, discussion based classrooms and faculty interaction. UChicago has proved to be an extension of that experience with room to grow. And the majority of the kids spend parts of the weekend having fun in the city, i.e. restaurants, museums, farmers markets, music, etc........plus participating in dorm, frat and apartment parties and get togethers of all sizes. There's a lot of social options no matter what the preferences are.

If you like UChicago's core program but looking for a slac, consider St. John's College. The core and the great book programs are somehow related. I think back in 1930s or so, it was the UChicago people who influenced the great books program at St. John's. Except the latter is small - 500 small. Close knit cooperative environment in Annapolis next to the naval academy. Plenty to do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would look at UChicago. Their class sizes are smaller than at many LACs and there's an exciting city just 15 minutes outside of a beautiful suburban campus. Discussions are lively among the kids inside and outside the classroom. Interesting, very intellectually engaged peer group.

Chicago is a great school and has a beautiful campus (my nephew is an undergrad there and DS is a grad student), but it doesn't feel like a SLAC. Many undergrads live off campus, which isn't characteristic of SLACs. Furthermore, the presence of grad students and their role as TAs is also quite different from what you would find at a SLAC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I also suggest one of the Claremont Colleges. I am an alum. It’s big enough with all the schools combined and is in Claremont- which is a very cute and lively village! You can always escape to other areas: beaches, desert, mountains, LA, San Diego very easily.

+1 We have a daughter at Pomona and love visiting Claremont. She's never bored of the energy with the five other colleges, and the school funds experiences/internships to the LA area. D rides a train weekly to Downtown LA for her internship.

Those 5 schools are extremely hard to get into.

And are extremely expensive to go to. Meal plan is like $7200 a year and honestly their local town is like upscale boutique - very pricy. Not to mention over an hour away from LAX. I would think anyone on FA would have a really hard time fitting in there and traveling home too.

I went to CMC- many of my friends were on FA... there is no such thing as having a hard time fitting in due to being on FA.

It costs a lot of money to come home for holidays and breaks
Housing and meals are pricy all 4 years
LA trips costs money

Not saying they don’t give aid. It is just a pricy area to be, compared to a location a few hours away on the east

OK. Just trying to follow the logic of "anyone one FA would have a really hard time fitting in there" when almost half of students at CMC are on aid and the majority are on aid at Pomona.