Thoughts on this college list - SLAC with supportive community and mellow vibe

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would consider Skidmore.

+1 for skidmore

I don't think they offer merit aid though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Based on my pre-Covid experience as an alum interviewer for my mellow, supportive NESCAC school, I don't think it's necessary to have a boatload of extracurriculars, but an applicant needs to show some energy and persistence in pursuit of some area of interest. That can be a sport or theatre or music or visual art or debate or whatever, but there's got to be something beyond the GPA and test scores. For NESCAC schools, and I think for SLACs in general, the alum interview can sometimes be a thumb on the scale in support of an applicant who doesn't have a resume showing extraordinary achievement or leadership in an extracurricular. That said, the declined applicant I most remember being sad about was a quiet kid whose major extracurricular was writing and illustrating an unpublished graphic novel. I wrote the most positive interview report possible, but the applicant was not accepted, despite being a legacy who applied early.

See, now, this is interesting information. Can you share more stories? Can you start an Ask Me Anything?

[Anonymous]

University of Puget Sound.

[Anonymous]

Drew offers merit - small school in the suburbs, yet a short walk into Madison and train stop into NY is less than a mile away. No Greek life.

It was a hidden gem for a few of my friends kids who wanted a good education, not be in an isolated area, and be supported and did not want the pressure of a T20.

They also have some dual degree programs including med school with Rutgers that students take advantage of - other schools just “pretend” to offer them but almost no one uses them.

https://drew.edu/academics/dual-degree-programs/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Drew offers merit - small school in the suburbs, yet a short walk into Madison and train stop into NY is less than a mile away. No Greek life.

It was a hidden gem for a few of my friends kids who wanted a good education, not be in an isolated area, and be supported and did not want the pressure of a T20.

They also have some dual degree programs including med school with Rutgers that students take advantage of - other schools just “pretend” to offer them but almost no one uses them.

https://drew.edu/academics/dual-degree-programs/

solid suggestion

[Anonymous]

+1 to Univ of Puget Sound

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Dickinson College in Pennsylvania might work for OP.

Pomona College, Bowdoin College, Carleton College, Davidson College, Grinnell College, Hamilton College, Skidmore College, Wesleyan University, Bates College, Colby College, Colorado College, Macalester College, Holy Cross, Pitzer, Connecticut College, Sewanee-The University of the South, Gettysburg College, St. Lawrence University, Kalamazoo College, Lewis & Clark, and many others, but I see no need to venture further down the rankings.

Good list except I’d remove Connecticut College.

why remove Connecticut College? It’s a nice, solid school that’s easier to get into than it ought to be IMHO.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Dickinson College in Pennsylvania might work for OP.

Pomona College, Bowdoin College, Carleton College, Davidson College, Grinnell College, Hamilton College, Skidmore College, Wesleyan University, Bates College, Colby College, Colorado College, Macalester College, Holy Cross, Pitzer, Connecticut College, Sewanee-The University of the South, Gettysburg College, St. Lawrence University, Kalamazoo College, Lewis & Clark, and many others, but I see no need to venture further down the rankings.

Good list except I’d remove Connecticut College.

That would be very foolish as 35 might get you $80K at conn. And it is a better college academically than many on the list, or at least equal.

[Anonymous]

My DD had a 34 and CC offered over 30k a year. It’s a great school but for some reason just under rated under the radar these days.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I assume he’s a junior. He should ED to his favorite SLAC. It is really hard to find comparable schools to the more selective SLACs.

I would add Grinnell.

The kid is not getting into Grinnell. Not with limited extras. And definitely not if the kid doesn’t apply ED. The admit rate is in the single digits.

Agreed. So, could someone please suggest some Midwest safeties.

Beloit
Earlham
Kalamazoo
Macalester
St Olaf
Wooster

. Very nice list.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Dickinson College in Pennsylvania might work for OP.

Pomona College, Bowdoin College, Carleton College, Davidson College, Grinnell College, Hamilton College, Skidmore College, Wesleyan University, Bates College, Colby College, Colorado College, Macalester College, Holy Cross, Pitzer, Connecticut College, Sewanee-The University of the South, Gettysburg College, St. Lawrence University, Kalamazoo College, Lewis & Clark, and many others, but I see no need to venture further down the rankings.

Good list except I’d remove Connecticut College.

why remove Connecticut College? It’s a nice, solid school that’s easier to get into than it ought to be IMHO.

I don’t think it’s very mellow, which OP asked for. Good school, yes, but not mellow.

[Anonymous]

You should add Trinity.

[Anonymous]

Drew

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:William and Mary and Occidental[/quote]


The ACT is too high for Occidental. Oxy's median is a 30. Could do better. Also, Oxy is starting a shift for yet another new president which means campus tumult for a few years. Right now it's where those who want to major in SJW programs go. That could change or get worse under the new President. Your kid has far better options.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You don’t have enough safeties. For small liberal arts colleges extracurricular activities are more important. The college needs to ensure that it assembles an active and engaged class.

Bard is the safety in that list.