Greater Name Recognition: Denison, Dickinson or F&M?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think there is a lot of regional name recognition with LACs. Meaning, I suspect F&M has more NYC area recognition and Denison has more in Chicago. Not sure about Dickinson.

- Westchester native and grad of a different LAC who considers F&M the strongest of the 3

The Westchester are sends a lot of kids to PA schools for some reason, so the PA schools are widely known there. My daughter is at Lehigh, which is widely known and respected throughout NY, NJ, and PA, but no one down here has heard of it past a vague mention of their uncle so and so who went there 50 years ago for Engineering.

[Anonymous]

Live in DC. Don’t know anyone who’s been or going to any of these schools. DS just graduated and is going to Temple. Other schools in PA that are known and kids attend in DMV are U. of Penn, Pitt, Penn State, Carnegie Mellon.

[Anonymous]

^^…and, Drexel.

[Anonymous]

^^Sounds like you don’t know local kids who wanted a SLAC. Once you start researching them, these come up. I think F & M might be strongest, but none have huge national recognition. I would not base your school choice on that anyway. What does your kid seek in a residential learning environment?

[Anonymous]

Dickinson to me, but I'm from western PA and know a lot of people who went there. It was my second choice after CMU.

[Anonymous]

Maybe try a bigger school that is less prestigious according to stats but has wider name recognition like Syracuse.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think there is a lot of regional name recognition with LACs. Meaning, I suspect F&M has more NYC area recognition and Denison has more in Chicago. Not sure about Dickinson.

- Westchester native and grad of a different LAC who considers F&M the strongest of the 3

The Westchester are sends a lot of kids to PA schools for some reason, so the PA schools are widely known there. My daughter is at Lehigh, which is widely known and respected throughout NY, NJ, and PA, but no one down here has heard of it past a vague mention of their uncle so and so who went there 50 years ago for Engineering.

I am the poster you are quoting and agree. LACs like F&M, Lafayette, Union, Lehigh (I realize Lehigh no longer markets itself as a LAC but I promise you most people in the tri state area group it with the colleges I am naming) etc are very well known and regarded there.

[Anonymous]

Never heard of F&M. Work with people who attended the other two.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's like asking which country is richer, Afghanistan or Zimbabwe?

Anonymous wrote:Denison was a bottom 1/4 school at my DC private.

Do you say these things IRL to actual human beings?

[Anonymous]

My DC graduated from one of these schools a few years ago and is living in a western state, where her degree is serving her very well. She makes over $100K at 25 years old and is very active in the local alumni association.

When we were looking at college options with her, our primary considerations were fit, academics, cost, and location. "Name recognition" was not a consideration.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DC graduated from one of these schools a few years ago and is living in a western state, where her degree is serving her very well. She makes over $100K at 25 years old and is very active in the local alumni association.

When we were looking at college options with her, our primary considerations were fit, academics, cost, and location. "Name recognition" was not a consideration.

+1 for fit

[Anonymous]

Friend went to Dickinson and then was able to get into UVA Law.

[Anonymous]

I grew up in NJ. These schools all have the same reputation as above average regional colleges attracting wealthy students from suburban towns while being nothing special. Lehigh unquestionably is in a different league recognition and reputation wise.

Bottom line is they are all fine and I absolutely would not pick any of them based on how well they're known. They're not well known and it doesn't matter that they're not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Friend went to Dickinson and then was able to get into UVA Law.

Yea, it happens.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I grew up in NJ. These schools all have the same reputation as above average regional colleges attracting wealthy students from suburban towns while being nothing special. Lehigh unquestionably is in a different league recognition and reputation wise.

Bottom line is they are all fine and I absolutely would not pick any of them based on how well they're known. They're not well known and it doesn't matter that they're not.

Are you saying that Lehigh is better than the other 3? If so, that’s the first time I’ve heard that.