I find all these SLACS to be so similar

[Anonymous]

We liked Bowdoin and Colby but found Bates depressing. Loved Wesleyan, Davidson and Haverford. Found Williams and Amherst to be too remote.

[Anonymous]

City or rural?
Major?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We liked Bowdoin and Colby but found Bates depressing. Loved Wesleyan, Davidson and Haverford. Found Williams and Amherst to be too remote.

Colby is remote

[Anonymous]

Between our 2 kids we probably visited 20 or so LACs. We liked most of them. I will say there are some regional differences. If a student isn’t satisfied with what they’ve seen on the East Cost, consider looking further.

[Anonymous]

DD really like Colby, but had a strong negative reaction to Bowdoin for some reason. Bates was just meh. Williams was a no mostly because she really took a strong dislike to the admissions head, but really liked Middlebury. I think it is very personal and sometimes comes down to random things like the weather the day you toured or your tour guide etc.

As for the is it worth 90k--that's going to be a tough one to answer because our friends think we were nuts for spending 45k/year per kid x3 for private school. To us, it was worth it, but we drive old cars and live in an old house and don't go anywhere for vacation. Others choose to spend their money differently.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Between our 2 kids we probably visited 20 or so LACs. We liked most of them. I will say there are some regional differences. If a student isn’t satisfied with what they’ve seen on the East Cost, consider looking further.

Agreed. The lacs in the rest of the country look dramatically different than those in New England. DS hated the LACs in the northeast but adores his current college on the west coast.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Of course this discussion is only about the top five SLACs. I went to Swat and loved it but for our junior who wants a SLAC we'll include Midwest schools like Oberlin, Grinnell and Macalaster, other East coast schools like Hamilton, Lafayette, Skidmore and F&M. Vassar and the other Maine schools (Colby and Bates) are lovely. These schools are all fairly selective and pretty and offer a great liberal arts education.

I would only spend $90k on specific lacs. WASP except amherst, Middlebury, Bowdoin, Carleton, Barnard, Colby, and CMC are where my children could attend. Id consider others like Davidson or Haverford since we’ve never toured/had interest from our older kids

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Williams was too remote for my taste. We liked Swarthmore.

These schools are INSANELY competitive

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Between our 2 kids we probably visited 20 or so LACs. We liked most of them. I will say there are some regional differences. If a student isn’t satisfied with what they’ve seen on the East Cost, consider looking further.

Agreed. The lacs in the rest of the country look dramatically different than those in New England. DS hated the LACs in the northeast but adores his current college on the west coast.

Right. We live in Southern California but our kid fell in love with an LAC in the Midwest. Connecting with a different part of the country can be part of the education.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can't imagine paying $80-90k for any school. And all of these SLACs sound exactly the same.

That’s why they offer Mercedes, Hondas and Kias. Options for all price points, some better than others. For those with the means, or the ability to qualify for merit or financial aid, SLACs can be amazing experiences. I have kids at two different SLACs and have seen the benefits firsthand.

but the slacs all seem like Hondas, and 90k with no merit aid offered.

+1 million

-An HYP grad who drives a Honda 🤣

[Anonymous]

SLAC’s are a tougher sell in the South where we have great in-state flagships and state-sponsored merit scholarship programs. Georgia’s Hope scholarship, FL Bright Futures, etc

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:SLAC’s are a tougher sell in the South where we have great in-state flagships and state-sponsored merit scholarship programs. Georgia’s Hope scholarship, FL Bright Futures, etc

It was an easy sell for DC and peers, who couldn't wait to get out of the conservative culture.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:SLAC’s are a tougher sell in the South where we have great in-state flagships and state-sponsored merit scholarship programs. Georgia’s Hope scholarship, FL Bright Futures, etc

Great state flagships in the South? Lol

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Of course this discussion is only about the top five SLACs. I went to Swat and loved it but for our junior who wants a SLAC we'll include Midwest schools like Oberlin, Grinnell and Macalaster, other East coast schools like Hamilton, Lafayette, Skidmore and F&M. Vassar and the other Maine schools (Colby and Bates) are lovely. These schools are all fairly selective and pretty and offer a great liberal arts education.

Kind of funny that this is almost my son's list, orher than he isn't qpplying to vColby or Lafayette. Might apply to Davidson.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can't imagine paying $80-90k for any school. And all of these SLACs sound exactly the same.

Real question: do you find the large public universities to be super different from each other? The midsize schools?