Are the NESCACs worth the money?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:they are great places for wealthy moderately above average athletes to spend 4 years after hs

don’t expect them to help find u internships or jobs - gc at a nescac told my son to “use family connections”. for $87k this coming year and a 3.8 gpa econ major, i was hoping for more

so i did use my connections

this at a school next rung under williams / amherst

my kid really does like the experience though - hope he can get a job next year

my next kid will NOT be attending a NESCAC - will be attending a school that helps find a job

Interesting you say that as I've looked at the outcomes data provided many of the NESCAC schools and their graduates do quite well with vast majority employed or interning in a field of their study/interest or attending graduate or professional programs

The vast majority of their graduates are the children of wealthy and upper middle class parents. Those not employed can easily afford graduate school

So like any other elite college or university.

https://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2019/03/privileged-poor-navigating-elite-university-life/585100/

That's not exactly a ground breaking statement

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:they are great places for wealthy moderately above average athletes to spend 4 years after hs

don’t expect them to help find u internships or jobs - gc at a nescac told my son to “use family connections”. for $87k this coming year and a 3.8 gpa econ major, i was hoping for more

so i did use my connections

this at a school next rung under williams / amherst

my kid really does like the experience though - hope he can get a job next year

my next kid will NOT be attending a NESCAC - will be attending a school that helps find a job

Interesting you say that as I've looked at the outcomes data provided many of the NESCAC schools and their graduates do quite well with vast majority employed or interning in a field of their study/interest or attending graduate or professional programs

The vast majority of their graduates are the children of wealthy and upper middle class parents. Those not employed can easily afford graduate school

So like any other elite college or university.

https://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2019/03/privileged-poor-navigating-elite-university-life/585100/

That's not exactly a ground breaking statement

No, not all. It was in response to PP's post about vast majority being children of wealthy and upper middle class. It may not be news to you but it is to others

[Anonymous]

poster here

alumni network comment is correct - it is good and that’s the path he’s currently taking as he starts search for 2023 internship - utilizing linkedin to find alumns in his field of interest and directly reaching out. We will see how that plays out but I am optimistic. i’m sure both me and my kid erroneously believed it would be easy - it’s not, and the college provides zero aid in connecting with alumns. End of day its probably better kids have to develop some grit, initiative and ownership for their own path - skill sets that will serve them better down the road. But don’t expect the colleges to do more than provide a list.

And this is arguably the 3rd - 6th best nescac from a reputational point of view.

Don’t have much to compare it to but my second and I went to Lehigh in the spring for a visit - and a good part of presentation focused on how they get kids internships and jobs - much more of a pre professional vibe for sure, but hey i’m not spending $87k on the nescac for just a “well rounded education” and a kid on the couch in my basement -

my kid has done everything with the career center his sophomore year and yielded zero returns - he received one mass email from career center with an opportunity with company w/ alumn founder - positions went to diversity candidates like so many internships do - fine with that as the company is upfront and public about strategic goal to increase historically under represented groups, but that doesn’t help my kid

[Anonymous]

I guess everyone has their own anecdotes regarding outcomes. Perhaps its best to look at a specific college's outcome data and how they help alumni

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:poster here

alumni network comment is correct - it is good and that’s the path he’s currently taking as he starts search for 2023 internship - utilizing linkedin to find alumns in his field of interest and directly reaching out. We will see how that plays out but I am optimistic. i’m sure both me and my kid erroneously believed it would be easy - it’s not, and the college provides zero aid in connecting with alumns. End of day its probably better kids have to develop some grit, initiative and ownership for their own path - skill sets that will serve them better down the road. But don’t expect the colleges to do more than provide a list.

And this is arguably the 3rd - 6th best nescac from a reputational point of view.

Don’t have much to compare it to but my second and I went to Lehigh in the spring for a visit - and a good part of presentation focused on how they get kids internships and jobs - much more of a pre professional vibe for sure, but hey i’m not spending $87k on the nescac for just a “well rounded education” and a kid on the couch in my basement -

my kid has done everything with the career center his sophomore year and yielded zero returns - he received one mass email from career center with an opportunity with company w/ alumn founder - positions went to diversity candidates like so many internships do - fine with that as the company is upfront and public about strategic goal to increase historically under represented groups, but that doesn’t help my kid

Off topic, but I have a friend who's daughter is a rising senior at Lehigh....she's had great help from the school getting her an internship this summer in NYC that will probably lead to a job offer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NECSAC is an athletic conference of 11 schools of differing levels of excellence. The best NECSAC schools offer some of the best undergraduate education in the US. Let's momentarily set aside the USNWR ranking that stupidly splits universities and colleges into two lists, and temporarily ignore the ill-informed chatter of its DCUM groupies. The (better) WSJ ranking system places the top six NESCAC schools (Amherst, Williams, Tufts, Bowdoin, Middlebury, Wesleyan) among the top 50 in the nation. The others NECSACs aren't quite as highly ranked, with Trinity (104) and Connecticut (109) although fine bringing up the rear.

Obviously for NECSAC -- just as for Ivy or Big Ten or State U -- the finances have to work (and if $ is a concern, you'll probably want to major in something a little more marketable than say gender studies). But it's not like a NECSAC education is a lesser product that's only attractive at a discounted rate. That one even feels the need to explain that about extraordinary colleges like Williams or Amherst is just further evidence of the general uselessness of DCUM's received wisdom.

The best NECSAC schools will be (well-) known to employers, and grad schools. They may not be as well known to your father's second cousin or your grandmother's neighbor back in the old country, though, so if impressing them is a top priority and determinant of "worth the money," better to go to some huge university where a few professors have Nobel prizes and you need binoculars to see from the back of the lecture hall.

+1

For a similar and less expensive experience, consider other LACs such as e.g. Oberlin, Grinnell, Denison, College of Wooster, Allegheny.

~NESCAC alum whose DCs had better experiences at other non-NESCAC LACs

Grinnell is as good and highly respected as any NESCAC. Any prof at, say, Williams or Amherst would agree with that. The other schools on your list? Not so much.

Grinnell is great for international students in need of financial aid.

Excellent academics. Quirky student body. Rural and isolated.

[Anonymous]

NESCAC = New England Small College Athletic Conference has 11 member schools.

Amherst College, Bates College, Bowdoin College, Colby College, Connecticut College, Hamilton College, Middlebury College, Trinity College, Tufts University, Wesleyan University, and Williams College.

Even though I prefer National Universities, I do think that NESCAC schools offer students an opportunity for a great liberal arts education.

Amherst College, Bowdoin College, Williams College, Middlebury College, and Hamilton College are exceptional schools for the right student. Tufts University is outstanding.

I suggest that students interested in Bates, Colby, Conn College, Trinity College, and Wesleyan University carefully examine these schools,localities, and campus social scene for fit. All offer excellent academics, but college is not all about academics.

Everything is relative. What are the student's options ?

Affordability should be the utmost priority.

A degree from Williams College or Amherst College is highly respected by employers and grad schools. Bowdoin & Middlebury & Hamilton College are great but not as well known. Tufts University is in a different category than the other 10 SLACs. Very serious academics, but overshadowed by the Ivies. Easy to understand why any of these 6 schools could be one's first choice school.

[Anonymous]

It would be interesting to see the percentage of students admitted to one of the top NESCAC colleges (Williams, Amherst, Middlebury, & Bowdoin) as well as to Dartmouth College or Brown University (the 2 most LAC-like Ivies) who selected the NESCAC school over either of these two Ivies.

In the past, there was a frequently cited study, but it is now too dated.

[Anonymous]

To be blunt, location is an issue with respect to Bates, Colby, and Trinity College. Some might also hesitate regarding the location of Hamilton College.

Colby College has invested significant sums of money in creating options for its students regarding activities and living facilities.

Two sport athletes may find NESCAC schools attractive if interested in continuing in both sports. However, at some NESCAC schools there is a social divide between athletes and non-athletes. This can be a concern at schools with just 2,000 or fewer students.

In my opinion, fraternities and sororities can make a small school too small by creating social cliques / social division. Not sure which--if any--NESCACS still have a Greek social system.

[Anonymous]

DC graduated from a NESCAC and just had a fantastic experience. Research with professors, cited in published journal articles, dinners and lunches at professors houses and just an overall incredible academic experience. I graduated from a different nescac ages ago and was an indifferent student but did none of those things. My other DC graduated from an ivy and the level of interaction and collaboration with professors wasn't even close. They're both launched into excellent career trajectories so maybe it didn't matter.

[Anonymous]

Wesleyan has an outstanding placement record in music, film, and art.

[Anonymous]

Each time that I read a post from a NESCAC parent who also claims to have a kid or two who attended an Ivy, I react with skepticism. Notice how they never name the schools, but the unnamed NESCAC schools are always superior to the unnamed Ivy League schools.. More specifics might make these type of posts more believable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DC graduated from a NESCAC and just had a fantastic experience. Research with professors, cited in published journal articles, dinners and lunches at professors houses and just an overall incredible academic experience. I graduated from a different nescac ages ago and was an indifferent student but did none of those things. My other DC graduated from an ivy and the level of interaction and collaboration with professors wasn't even close. They're both launched into excellent career trajectories so maybe it didn't matter.

LOL I'd rather shoot my eye out

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DC graduated from a NESCAC and just had a fantastic experience. Research with professors, cited in published journal articles, dinners and lunches at professors houses and just an overall incredible academic experience. I graduated from a different nescac ages ago and was an indifferent student but did none of those things. My other DC graduated from an ivy and the level of interaction and collaboration with professors wasn't even close. They're both launched into excellent career trajectories so maybe it didn't matter.

While I do believe each word of your post, I wish that you would share more information.

I find your post helpful in illuminating some differences between a SLAC and an elite National University. My opinion and experience is that National Universities demand more maturity from students in the form of independence and resourcefulness, while SLACs allow for an easier transition from high school to college and offer a more intimate learning environment.

[Anonymous]

I graduated almost 35 years ago from a NESCAC school and am eternally grateful to my parents for this gift. I got a great education and was well-prepared for law school. Equally important, I made friends for life and have so many happy memories of that time. I just moved my youngest in for her senior year at the same school. She's been so happy there and I can see how the experience has shaped her intellectually and emotionally. Sorry if this sounds sappy, but, yeah, worth every penny.