SLACs for intellectual, well grounded student

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Carleton
Colby
Grinnell
Kalamazoo
Kenyon
Lawrence University
Macalester
Wesleyan

Thank you. Second Wesleyan. Will check that out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP you are overthinking this and are borderline obsessed. She's looking for a college, not a husband.

Oh goody our resident troll is here! Yay! It IS fun when you start hearing the same language being used over and over on every thread... you must have alot of time to kill.

[Anonymous]

FWIW everyone I know at Carleton is rich and from NYC—it’s in the Midwest but I’m not sure how different it really would be from a Middlebury.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have heard terrible reviews of the W&M/St. A program. Please do your research before applying.

Ideally, she will get top grades this year and have a chance to visit schools in person. There is a big difference in location between the VT/ME schools and Boston schools. Does she want to be close to or in a city, or would she be fine in a more isolated setting?

She’s concerned about being too isolated. I love Kenyon. We visited with her sibling and It’s too isolated for her. Macalester and Carleton/ St. Olaf appeal because they aren’t super urban, but are suburban (Mac) or cute town can shuttle into city. I visited these schools with her sibling (not her) and I think they are what she is going for. But, we are going to wait until early fall to visit to give her the best view of campus possible. In the meantime, spring break is getting he at Vasser, Hamilton, a tufts, Middlebury and seeing what she things. BC and NE seem like good compare and contrast things.

And yes, I’m overthinking. But this process was so much easier with kid 1. This kid has a strong sense of what she wants. And translating “not Lax Bro feel” to virtual visit is tough. Hence hive mind. Our ability to really get a good feel is limited. I was hoping for feedback.

But yes, hunting for SLACs during COVID is a mess.

And, it’s a lot of factors. But, I hate in when people post “smart kids, top scores, good grades and ECs, likes science”. I did the SLAC search once.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have heard terrible reviews of the W&M/St. A program. Please do your research before applying.

Ideally, she will get top grades this year and have a chance to visit schools in person. There is a big difference in location between the VT/ME schools and Boston schools. Does she want to be close to or in a city, or would she be fine in a more isolated setting?

Yep. She thinks the structure of the program is such that you feel like an outsider at two schools. I think it’s a valid concern.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:FWIW everyone I know at Carleton is rich and from NYC—it’s in the Midwest but I’m not sure how different it really would be from a Middlebury.

The rich part may be true, just like just about every other elite SLAC, but the NYC part, not so much.

There are likely more public school types at Carleton just because it is Midwestern.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP you are overthinking this and are borderline obsessed. She's looking for a college, not a husband.

Oh goody our resident troll is here! Yay! It IS fun when you start hearing the same language being used over and over on every thread... you must have alot of time to kill.

Not a troll, just a reasonable person. And I'm not the only one who's on every thread now, am I? It takes two to tango, dear.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:FWIW everyone I know at Carleton is rich and from NYC—it’s in the Midwest but I’m not sure how different it really would be from a Middlebury.

That would be disappointing. Do you have a student there, or is it more a half dozen grads you know. They don’t have merit, but the need based aid is very, very, good.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have heard terrible reviews of the W&M/St. A program. Please do your research before applying.

Ideally, she will get top grades this year and have a chance to visit schools in person. There is a big difference in location between the VT/ME schools and Boston schools. Does she want to be close to or in a city, or would she be fine in a more isolated setting?

She’s concerned about being too isolated. I love Kenyon. We visited with her sibling and It’s too isolated for her. Macalester and Carleton/ St. Olaf appeal because they aren’t super urban, but are suburban (Mac) or cute town can shuttle into city. I visited these schools with her sibling (not her) and I think they are what she is going for. But, we are going to wait until early fall to visit to give her the best view of campus possible. In the meantime, spring break is getting he at Vasser, Hamilton, a tufts, Middlebury and seeing what she things. BC and NE seem like good compare and contrast things.

And yes, I’m overthinking. But this process was so much easier with kid 1. This kid has a strong sense of what she wants. And translating “not Lax Bro feel” to virtual visit is tough. Hence hive mind. Our ability to really get a good feel is limited. I was hoping for feedback.

But yes, hunting for SLACs during COVID is a mess.

And, it’s a lot of factors. But, I hate in when people post “smart kids, top scores, good grades and ECs, likes science”. I did the SLAC search once.

Congrats! Step One is admitting you have a problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have heard terrible reviews of the W&M/St. A program. Please do your research before applying.

Ideally, she will get top grades this year and have a chance to visit schools in person. There is a big difference in location between the VT/ME schools and Boston schools. Does she want to be close to or in a city, or would she be fine in a more isolated setting?

She’s concerned about being too isolated. I love Kenyon. We visited with her sibling and It’s too isolated for her. Macalester and Carleton/ St. Olaf appeal because they aren’t super urban, but are suburban (Mac) or cute town can shuttle into city. I visited these schools with her sibling (not her) and I think they are what she is going for. But, we are going to wait until early fall to visit to give her the best view of campus possible. In the meantime, spring break is getting he at Vasser, Hamilton, a tufts, Middlebury and seeing what she things. BC and NE seem like good compare and contrast things.

And yes, I’m overthinking. But this process was so much easier with kid 1. This kid has a strong sense of what she wants. And translating “not Lax Bro feel” to virtual visit is tough. Hence hive mind. Our ability to really get a good feel is limited. I was hoping for feedback.

But yes, hunting for SLACs during COVID is a mess.

And, it’s a lot of factors. But, I hate in when people post “smart kids, top scores, good grades and ECs, likes science”. I did the SLAC search once.

I agree, OP. SLACs are all about fit and it's really hard to discern that without visiting. We also looked only a LACs that offered merit due to financial considerations. However, also looking back, there were really only two other LACs we would have put on our list if financial considerations weren't an issue. We also felt that many of them had a wealthy feel to them. We focused on the midwestern schools that we felt were a better fit and I don't think that would have changed even if money weren't a consideration.

[Anonymous]

I would take a look at Dickinson College in Pennsylvania. They have a very strong international emphasis, with strong language, poli sci, and history departments. Also, a big emphasis on fine arts.

It might not be on the same level as some of the places you’re listing, but it could be worth a look. It’s a pretty easy visit from here, only 2-2 1/2 hours away.

Good luck to you and your daughter for a good college choice!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have heard terrible reviews of the W&M/St. A program. Please do your research before applying.

Ideally, she will get top grades this year and have a chance to visit schools in person. There is a big difference in location between the VT/ME schools and Boston schools. Does she want to be close to or in a city, or would she be fine in a more isolated setting?

She’s concerned about being too isolated. I love Kenyon. We visited with her sibling and It’s too isolated for her. Macalester and Carleton/ St. Olaf appeal because they aren’t super urban, but are suburban (Mac) or cute town can shuttle into city. I visited these schools with her sibling (not her) and I think they are what she is going for. But, we are going to wait until early fall to visit to give her the best view of campus possible. In the meantime, spring break is getting he at Vasser, Hamilton, a tufts, Middlebury and seeing what she things. BC and NE seem like good compare and contrast things.

And yes, I’m overthinking. But this process was so much easier with kid 1. This kid has a strong sense of what she wants. And translating “not Lax Bro feel” to virtual visit is tough. Hence hive mind. Our ability to really get a good feel is limited. I was hoping for feedback.

But yes, hunting for SLACs during COVID is a mess.

And, it’s a lot of factors. But, I hate in when people post “smart kids, top scores, good grades and ECs, likes science”. I did the SLAC search once.

I agree, OP. SLACs are all about fit and it's really hard to discern that without visiting. We also looked only a LACs that offered merit due to financial considerations. However, also looking back, there were really only two other LACs we would have put on our list if financial considerations weren't an issue. We also felt that many of them had a wealthy feel to them. We focused on the midwestern schools that we felt were a better fit and I don't think that would have changed even if money weren't a consideration.

Ditto. What two would you add? From a distance, it seems like Vasser, Carleton and maybe Hamilton.

It’s hard to get a sense of the students from a campus with no tour and no kids. And, even schools in the city are often dead.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:FWIW everyone I know at Carleton is rich and from NYC—it’s in the Midwest but I’m not sure how different it really would be from a Middlebury.

Median family income at Carleton: $172,400. 68% are from top 20% of earners.

This is right below W&M ($176,400), Johns Hopkins ($177,300), Oberlin ($178,000), Tulane ($180,700) and George Washington ($182,200), and right above Northwestern ($171,200), Holy Cross ($170,700), Haverford ($168,700), Lehigh ($167,600), and Pomona ($166,500).

By comparison, median family income at Middlebury is $244,300, and 76% come from the top 20% of earners. (And Middlebury has more students from the top 1% than from the bottom 60%.)

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/projects/college-mobility/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would take a look at Dickinson College in Pennsylvania. They have a very strong international emphasis, with strong language, poli sci, and history departments. Also, a big emphasis on fine arts.

It might not be on the same level as some of the places you’re listing, but it could be worth a look. It’s a pretty easy visit from here, only 2-2 1/2 hours away.

Good luck to you and your daughter for a good college choice!

Thanks for being helpful. I know this seems obsessive. But, DD and I are struggling to come up with a college list for a I know another student who is interested. Strong safeties are important. I’ll add it to the file.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:FWIW everyone I know at Carleton is rich and from NYC—it’s in the Midwest but I’m not sure how different it really would be from a Middlebury.

Median family income at Carleton: $172,400. 68% are from top 20% of earners.

This is right below W&M ($176,400), Johns Hopkins ($177,300), Oberlin ($178,000), Tulane ($180,700) and George Washington ($182,200), and right above Northwestern ($171,200), Holy Cross ($170,700), Haverford ($168,700), Lehigh ($167,600), and Pomona ($166,500).

By comparison, median family income at Middlebury is $244,300, and 76% come from the top 20% of earners. (And Middlebury has more students from the top 1% than from the bottom 60%.)

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/projects/college-mobility/

I’m the op of a separate Middlebury thread and this is very useful, thank you!