Have a list of schools that we are considering, but I don't know much about them. Insight, please.

[Anonymous]

None on your list, though she got into 7/10 schools she applied to.

She wound up going to a CTCL which was lower ranked than most of her other admits, but it was a perfect fit socially (plus of course it what she was looking for academically: which is science, so different than your child).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would like to know what the strength for each school is and the weakness. TIA!

My quick thoughts merged with my DC gut reactions + stereotypes so take this however you want:
Georgetown (DC)--good for pol sci/govt/intl rel--DC found it too "uptight"

American (DC)-- Not very rigorous, not great academic support

Richmond (VA) Good school, preppy rich kids, greek culture, nice city

UVA (VA)--well-rounded kids, play hard party hard, college town

Dickinson (PA) - good school, never been to it.

William and Mary (VA) --earnest kids, middle of the road politics, excellent academics, nerdy

Swarthmore (PA): very strong academics, pressure cooker environment

Bryn Mawr (PA) - supportive school (my DC is male so not on the list)

Muhlenberg (PA)--not familiar other than the name

Lafayette (PA) -- frat lac

Allegheny (PA) - nice school, town is depressing

Davidson (NC) ==good school but never been to it.

Union (NY)--good for motivated, self-directed kids

Mount Holyoke (MA) --good school, not more familiar

St. Lawrence (NY) not familiar

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would like to know what the strength for each school is and the weakness. TIA!

My quick thoughts merged with my DC gut reactions + stereotypes so take this however you want:
Georgetown (DC)--good for pol sci/govt/intl rel--DC found it too "uptight"

American (DC)-- Not very rigorous, not great academic support

Richmond (VA) Good school, preppy rich kids, greek culture, nice city

UVA (VA)--well-rounded kids, play hard party hard, college town

Dickinson (PA) - good school, never been to it.

William and Mary (VA) --earnest kids, middle of the road politics, excellent academics, nerdy

Swarthmore (PA): very strong academics, pressure cooker environment

Bryn Mawr (PA) - supportive school (my DC is male so not on the list)

Muhlenberg (PA)--not familiar other than the name

Lafayette (PA) -- frat lac

Allegheny (PA) - nice school, town is depressing

Davidson (NC) ==good school but never been to it.

Union (NY)--good for motivated, self-directed kids

Mount Holyoke (MA) --good school, not more familiar

St. Lawrence (NY) not familiar

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Lafayette’s strength might be engineering at an LAC and merit money for good students who need it. Seemed UMC version of preppy and sporty. 1 of my kids said it seemed “boring” in a monoculture sort of way. Great school for the right person. Good opportunities if it’s what you want. Their admissions pitch was better than Muhlenberg’s but kid def liked Muhlenber better. If they keep up the good sell, they might start getting more diverse students.
Doesn’t sound like what OP wants.

Agree on what others said about Muhlenberg and Mt Holyoke and W & M and Swarthmore. At MHC, there’s the advantage of taking classes at other area colleges and meeting a broader group of students if you kids can take some initiative.

[Anonymous]

I went to Muhlenberg for undergrad and am at UVA for a grad program now so am familiar with its culture. The schools are so incredibly different, there is no way your daughter would really want both.

Think she needs to do some of her own streamlining based on online research.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:About DD.

4.25 GPA; APs - score all 4 and 5 on exams; A junior who is interested in writing, journalism, international relations, gender equality and humanitarian fields of study.

I know a wide array, which is why I think a LAC is the best fit. No interest in STEM even though scores very well in all STEM classes.

Swarthmore is one of the top three LACs, with the highest percentage of students going into PhD programs. A different league than Mount Holyoke and a bunch of the other LACs on your list.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would like to know what the strength for each school is and the weakness. TIA!


Georgetown (DC)

American (DC)

Richmond (VA)

UVA (VA)

Dickinson (PA)

William and Mary (VA)

Swarthmore (PA)

Bryn Mawr (PA)

Muhlenberg (PA)

Lafayette (PA)

Allegheny (PA)

Davidson (NC)

Union (NY)

Mount Holyoke (MA)

St. Lawrence (NY)

You'd probably be better off looking at the comments or posting questions on College Confidential. Regarding your list, a few things jump out. UVA is quite a bit bigger than the others. The schools are generally good, but there are at different levels. I'd probably rate Swarthmore, Georgetown, W&M, UVA, Davidson the highest tier. I'd say Allegheny, St. Lawrence, and Muhlengerg are probably at bit lower. Georgetown has DC location and Foreign Service School. Bryn Mawr and Mount Holyoke are going to have that Seven Sisters feel. Swarthmore is usually thought of as somewhat intellectual and academic, Richmond is pretty pre-professional, with Davidson somewhere in between. A number of these have nice campus areas. W&M, Richmond, Bryn Mawr, Swarthmore, Mount Holyoke, Dickinson, Union, and UVA come to mind. I know it could be changing, but I've never been too big of an American U fan. It seems indifferent at the undergraduate level and definitely below GU and GW in DC.