Do professors really send their kids to LACs at higher rates? And why?

[Anonymous]

Two PhD family (not currently in teaching jobs) and our college kid is at a SLAC. #2 will probably do the same. For my kids I think it's a better learning environment. No risk of getting lost in the shuffle.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Made up story by SLAC bosters.

+1 and you can see from the last few comments that they’ve descended on this thread now as well. With more made up stories.

[Anonymous]

This may have been true, before most well regarded SLACs were 40% athletes.

[Anonymous]

Spouse works at Hopkins. Other professors send their kids to R1 U.S., not slacs.

[Anonymous]

I would also say that professors know way more about LACs, and thus are more likely to allow their kids to attend one, than other professions.

Do we really expect a kid whose entire family has gone to Auburn or UGA to suddenly declare an interest in Middlebury?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Professors are insiders. They know so well at research universities undergraduate students are not their priority.

Their offspring are more academically oriented rather than business oriented. Many of them would pursue advanced degrees. LAC is perfect for that.

+1

Better teaching.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Professor parent here. My kids can only get tuition exchange at some less competitive SLACs (similar to employing institution). I'll encourage them to apply because free college is a massive gift, and we don't make anywhere near enough to pay for a private school. If they want a brand name and can't get into the very top SLACs/Ivies with great aid packages, then the state flagship might be their best bet.

Fellow prof turned IEC here. We were in a similar boat. I made it clear to my kids early on and both worked hard and we're admitted to Ivies with excellent FA. Now that I'm advising, I've been touring more tiers of colleges and have been very impressed by a few, particularly Goucher but also Juniata and Loyola MD. Lots of great options out there. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think those comments are based on this study.

https://ir.vanderbilt.edu/items/d93ad09f-b3ac-42e8-a22c-b024f47558e3

And it shows that professors send kids to the kind of school they teach at. Shocking.

It states quite a bit more than that. Research extensive university faculty send their kids to LACs at about 800% the rate of the general population. Compare their 23% rate to national rate of 3% mentioned on top of p19. Also, the authors note that LAC profs have necessarily spent time at both kinds of institutions, so would be the most informed. When LAC profs own employers are excluded the rate to LACs is 44%; when included it’s 49%. Again, LACs only account for 3% percent of undergrads nationally.

That 3% is actually a superset of baccalaureate colleges that also includes schools with primarily regional draws, because the number of students at what USNWR calls “National Liberal Arts Colleges” is closer to just 1-2% of total, about an order of magnitude fewer undergrads than at R1s.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This may have been true, before most well regarded SLACs were 40% athletes.

Only a handful of the NESCACs are that high (and not all of those are recruited.)

[Anonymous]

I recently visited Lafayette College and learned that the president’s own kids go to UVA and UNC.

[Anonymous]

I just toured Swat and one of the professors presenting has kids at U Wisconsin and Florida.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This may have been true, before most well regarded SLACs were 40% athletes.

Only a handful of the NESCACs are that high (and not all of those are recruited.)

None of the NESCAC are that high. Why do you keep trying to make stuff up?

[Anonymous]

At SLACs you're more likely to be taught be professors rather than TAs. They also offer a greater sense of community.

[Anonymous]

I think this largely depends on field. Engineering professor here and if my kid wanted to pursue engineering, I would not recommend SLAC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think those comments are based on this study.

https://ir.vanderbilt.edu/items/d93ad09f-b3ac-42e8-a22c-b024f47558e3

And it shows that professors send kids to the kind of school they teach at. Shocking.

It states quite a bit more than that. Research extensive university faculty send their kids to LACs at about 800% the rate of the general population. Compare their 23% rate to national rate of 3% mentioned on top of p19. Also, the authors note that LAC profs have necessarily spent time at both kinds of institutions, so would be the most informed. When LAC profs own employers are excluded the rate to LACs is 44%; when included it’s 49%. Again, LACs only account for 3% percent of undergrads nationally.

That 3% is actually a superset of baccalaureate colleges that also includes schools with primarily regional draws, because the number of students at what USNWR calls “National Liberal Arts Colleges” is closer to just 1-2% of total, about an order of magnitude fewer undergrads than at R1s.

Thanks for the deeper dive, which I’ll admit I did not do myself