LACs with the WORST locations

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Williams is the one that stands out to me. No way I'd go there over Amherst or Swarthmore growing up in an area like DC.

Friend of mine had a son who transferred from Williams because of this as well as the cliquishness of the other students.

such a weird vibe at Williams - only school of 10 my DC eliminated immediately after the visit - she said kids were odd

[Anonymous]

There are tons more regional state schools in far worse locations than the SLACs.

[Anonymous]

My son doesn’t love the endless-strip-mall architecture once he leaves the pretty campus of Santa Clara. But that’s aesthetics. There is stuff to do. He told me a bunch of them took a road trip to Santa Cruz, and the 3 girls rode in the trunk! It’s absolutely horrifying to consider what they get up to when you’re not there to supervise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most location bias is just a matter of subjective taste (e.g. hot/ cold climate, rural/suburban/urban, setting). And of course, there’s also the silly parochialism of DCUM commenters and their spoiled offspring, who think coming from Bethesda or Vienna gives them standing to write off entire states or regions. Whatever. Objectively, I think the LACs with the worst locations are those located in cities or urban neighborhoods that might have been pleasant once upon a time but are now depressed or slummy. Eg Clark/Worcester, Conn College/New London, Trinity/Hartford, Vassar/Poughkeepsie. I think it’s hard to get enthused about those settings (unless maybe you’re a sociology major…), and I think a depressing or even dangerous setting takes a greater toll on the campus-bound LAC experience than it does on the large university experience.

But many people graduate from those schools with really positive experiences, while readily admitting “oh yeah, [city name] is a pit.” I just don’t think location matters that much in the grand scheme of the educational experience, except maybe to chatty DCUM parents and a few unadaptable kids.

You criticize others for making judgments and then make your own claiming you do so "objectively." How is that any different from what others are doing?

Conn College is not right in New London, which is admittedly not a great town. The area it's in is nice enough, and the campus (including a 500-acre arboretum) is beautiful.

It is a straight mile or so from the ferry terminal in New London. It’s a thruway road to I95. Nothing outside campus. Technically 90 minute drive to Boston, but traffic is constant. I laugh a little when some chime in about Mystic CT.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This thread is so negative. What about the LACs in the best locations? Anyone?

Davidson

Agree on Davidson with it's nice climate (70 degree days not unheard of in late February) and its nearby Lake Campus w/recreational water activities and sandy beach on Lake Norman. The Town of Davidson itself is a cute upscale college town 30 minutes north of Charlotte. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ObNmu7234o

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This thread is so negative. What about the LACs in the best locations? Anyone?

Gettysburg College

I thought Gettysburg was in a good location. It is a cool little town with good bars and has a nice campus right among the battlefields, which is unique setting for outdoor activities and college sporting events.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My son doesn’t love the endless-strip-mall architecture once he leaves the pretty campus of Santa Clara. But that’s aesthetics. There is stuff to do. He told me a bunch of them took a road trip to Santa Cruz, and the 3 girls rode in the trunk! It’s absolutely horrifying to consider what they get up to when you’re not there to supervise.

Santa Clara does have a pretty campus. The mission church is beautiful.

[Anonymous]

Grinnell, or at least I don’t find their location in the middle of nowhere, Iowa - appealing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Grinnell, or at least I don’t find their location in the middle of nowhere, Iowa - appealing.

Plus many may think twice about Iowa schools especially after Iowa criminalized abortion this week. I've got to think that this will hurt the likes of Grinnell.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Williams is the one that stands out to me. No way I'd go there over Amherst or Swarthmore growing up in an area like DC.

Friend of mine had a son who transferred from Williams because of this as well as the cliquishness of the other students.

such a weird vibe at Williams - only school of 10 my DC eliminated immediately after the visit - she said kids were odd

My outgoing, well-adjusted kid is ridiculously happy at Williams, just FYI. And I've met a bunch of their friends, none of whom are "odd."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Williams is the one that stands out to me. No way I'd go there over Amherst or Swarthmore growing up in an area like DC.

Friend of mine had a son who transferred from Williams because of this as well as the cliquishness of the other students.

such a weird vibe at Williams - only school of 10 my DC eliminated immediately after the visit - she said kids were odd

My outgoing, well-adjusted kid is ridiculously happy at Williams, just FYI. And I've met a bunch of their friends, none of whom are "odd."

There are many athletes at Williams. They tend to be pretty normal socially. I'm sure there is a quirky, brilliant subset of kids less adept at socializing given the impressive academics though. Our student tour guide happened to be quirky, brilliant, but also social.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This thread is so negative. What about the LACs in the best locations? Anyone?

Gettysburg College

I thought Gettysburg was in a good location. It is a cool little town with good bars and has a nice campus right among the battlefields, which is unique setting for outdoor activities and college sporting events.

I agree. Gettysburg is adorable and the little "town" are is cute with lots of restaurants/bars and shopping. And the Battlefield is RIGHT THERE, which is cool. I hear that there is a wicked ghost tour there, too.

[Anonymous]

Hamilton - too rural and COLD!

[Anonymous]

DC loves Colby, but has definitely been sooo much more appreciative of Washington on trips home than she was when she was in high school. Loves the Maine wilderness, proximity to skiing, hiking, and ocean. Goes to Portland fairly often. The town of Waterville doesn't have much to offer, so during the week, life is very much concentrated on campus.

[Anonymous]

Hamilton - too rural and COLD!

Love Hamilton, with a cute commercial area nearby and restaurants/stores 10 minutes away. We thought Colgate was much, much more isolated.