Bored--rank these for me!
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Anonymous
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Roughly:
Williams, Amherst, Swarthmore W&M, Tufts, Wesleyan Bates, Hamilton, Kenyon |
Anonymous
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Amherst
Williams Swarthmore W & M Wesleyan Hamilton Tufts Kenyon Bates Very personal, of course, especially for fit. D24 had Amherst #2 & Williams #4 on her RD list if she had not gotten into her ED school. Good luck! |
Anonymous
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This is fun.
Williams Amherst Swarthmore Hamilton Wesleyan Bates-Tufts-W&M-Kenyon |
Anonymous
Ha! But these are my idiosyncratic preferences and I'd love to study creative writing at Kenyon and don't dig the angsty vibe at Swarthmore, so they both stay put! |
Anonymous
I would put Tufts same as W&M. |
Anonymous
DP. Not sure I buy that unless Yale likes ignorant AND arrogant people. 🤔 Oh, and jerks. Yikes, you're a piece of work. |
Anonymous
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What follows aren't rankings so much but observations:
Swarthmore: arguably the most rigorous and scholarly-minded school on this list. Also, given my priorities--a highly intellectual experience both on and off campus (which Philadelphia, with its rich history and cultural offerings, certainly provides) and access to excellent public transportation--this school would be *my* clear first choice. Amherst/Williams: preference for one or the other depends upon whether one finds the five college consortium or Oxford style tutorial opportunities more appealing. Wesleyan: arguably the artsiest of all the schools on this list and should be choice no. 1 for any aspiring filmmakers Tufts: great engineering and IR, in particular. Also arguably in the best location given easy access to Boston/Cambridge just a few T stops away Kenyon: home to the Kenyon Review and one of the best English departments in the country. However, given the present political climate, the location of this school in Ohio is a serious drawback and also, it is somewhat of a cultural oasis Bates: a strong school attended by down-to-earth kids (relative to those at the other schools on this list anyway) Hamilton: like Bates, a strong school but like Kenyon, a cultural oasis William & Mary (OOS): I've heard good things about this school. That said, the election of Youngkin as Virginia's governor would give me pause |
Anonymous
Assuming that I was admitted to all, my slight preference would be for William & Mary due to its size & location, then Tufts, then Wesleyan for similar reasons. While not a typical opinion, I see Wm & Mary as most like Swarthmore among the schools on your list as both seem to attract students who are wired in the same manner--intellectual & hard working. However, for another, I would rank the schools in this order: Amherst & Williams Swarthmore Wm. & Mary, Wesleyan, & Tufts Hamilton, Kenyon, & Bates (due to small size & undesirable locations, and fewer career opportunities). I view the last three schools (Hamilton, Kenyon, & Bates) with great respect for the education offered, but would be reluctant to spend these 4 precious years in such a small, isolated community. Life is too short & I earned my undergraduate degree at a slightly larger, but similar school and it remains one of my biggest regrets in life as I later attended a large university for an advanced degree and was exposed to what I had missed. Regardless of my opinion, this is a very personal decision based on fit & goals. Nevertheless, I cannot imagine any of Hamilton, Kenyon, and Bates being one's top choice if admitted to all of these schools and cost of attendance was not a factor. |
Anonymous
I graduated from a small LAC and then got my Doctorate at Cornell. Ever heard of it? Every one of my friends that graduated with me (late ‘80s) achieved career success, at least on their terms. |
Anonymous
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Completely subjective rankings based on (1) academics and (2) perceived quality of life.
Tier 1: Williams: I like the outdoorsy location, gorgeous campus, tutorials, winter study, and immense resources. I have small concerns about perhaps a grind culture though. Wesleyan: Great all-around academics, and it seems like a fun, vibrant place to go to college. Tier 2: Swarthmore: Amazing academics and proximity to Philadelphia, but legit concerns about grind culture. Amherst: Amazing academics, but something about Amherst just doesn't appeal to me. Hamilton: I like most everything I've heard about Hamilton, but it seems somehow more isolated than even Williams. Tier 3: Bates: Less prestigious than others here, but students seem genuinely happy there. I like Maine. (Bowdon would be in my first tier.) Tufts: It's a very good school and close to Boston. It just doesn't have any particular appeal to me though. Tier 4: Kenyon: Seems like a great school, I'm just not wild about the location. Great creative writing though. But I'd happily send my kid there if it fit. W&M: We're OOS. |
Anonymous
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Williams and Amherst
Tufts and W&M Wesleyan Hamilton and Bates Kenyon |
Anonymous
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Kenyon grad here.
Agree with the consensus here that Kenyon belongs in the bottom tier of this list. Extraordinarily isolated, relatively low name recognition (except for a certain class of people in the NE and Midwest), limited academic offerings. That said, I received an extraordinary education at Kenyon. Went on to top 5 law school and top 10 biz school and excelled at both. I was far better prepared than most large state school grads, and on par with Ivy grads. The emphasis on writing, speaking, and critical thought at Kenyon paid huge dividends. |
Anonymous
Does your kid have the stats to get into Amherst and Williams? They're like the top 2 LACs. UMDCP is a great choice. |
Anonymous
| DS at Kenyon. We're shocked how happy he is. Special culture. |
Anonymous
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Williams
Amherst Then Wesleyan Hamilton Swarthmore Tufts Then William & Mary (OOS) Bates Kenyon |