college - tell me about "the best kept secret" schools - anyone have one?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: Wesleyan?

Oh yes, just remembered my cousin told me that her dd was allowed to room on campus with a gay man. Weslyan sounds like it would be a good place for my queer dd as well -- but I don't think we can afford it.

[Anonymous]

Is Wesleyan anymore than any of these other schools, like Oberlin?

[Anonymous]

Bryn Mawr.

[Anonymous]

Wesleyan is super-competitive, a little Ivy.

[Anonymous]

Bryn Mawr and Haverford are both great. Don't think of Bryn Mawr as just a girl's school as Haverford is right there, and they share alot of classes. That said, from what I've seen, Bryn Mawr can be quite intense from an emotional standpoint... all those girls in one place... But from an academic standpoint - the education is outstanding.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is Wesleyan anymore than any of these other schools, like Oberlin?

I dunno. Last I checked most of the LACs were ranging between 45- 53K a year. From where I sit, SCARY money, but I do understand that they can come up with significant merit money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A lot of folks are mentioning good places. Just want to add, as an ex-college prof, that one thing this country has is a great higher ed system. The job market for profs is so bad that there are great teachers and/or researchers at all kinds of institutions. As no doubt you are already thinking, the best thing is to find a place that is a good fit for her and not to worry about the obsession you see on DCUM with Ivy League schools and other places in US News and World Report's top 25. It's ridiculous.

Thanks for weighing in on this. Given your professional background I really appreciate your thoughts on this issue.

[Anonymous]

Union College, Schenectady, NY. Everyone I know who went there loved it.

[Anonymous]

I agree with the prof. (as a fellow prof). College is really what the student makes of it, so you need to think where your child can thrive. My own belief is that small liberal arts colleges tend to have one advantage: they don't have to focus on a graduate program. Focus on grad programs usually comes at expense of undergraduates in any give department. And also grad students need to be employed, so they TA big classes and teach courses. I was a TA at a major big name university. I had no training. Pity the poor students.

[Anonymous]

What about Denison? I had never heard of it, but then I moved to DC and met a bunch of interesting, smart people who went there.

[Anonymous]

This is a really great list. Second the poster who mentioned Smith College - Northampton is a lovely college town. If you are looking at the 5 college area add Mount Holyoke to your list too. Students can take classes at any of the other colleges (Amherst, Smith, Hampshire, MHC and UMass)

Appreciate 21:42s take on larger univ. vs smaller liberal arts - gives me some ammo with my hubby who leans more toward larger universities.

[Anonymous]

I love that this thread is staying positive and supportive. Let's keep it up, ladies!

[Anonymous]

Here's a story I like to tell (and probably already have here): I went to a small liberal arts school in New England. My best friend from HS went to Harvard. The summer after we graduated from college we were hitting balls at the driving range at her country club. I looked over and there was my history prof from sophomore year (yes, my prof belonged to a country club - old money....) I went over and said hi. He recognized me right away and asked about my sister whom he had taught 6 years earlier. My friend was in shock. She couldn't believe a professor would even know my name, much less 3 years later.
Just goes to show that you get a lot more attention from your professors at a smaller school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What about Denison? I had never heard of it, but then I moved to DC and met a bunch of interesting, smart people who went there.

Denison is one of the schools profiled in the Colleges that Change Lives book (by Loren Pope, if anyone is interested. We have found it helpful) that I mentioned in my initial post. In fact, they were in town last weekend. DD received and invite to see their local presentation, but unfortunately could not make it. I have heard nothing but good things about the school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is a really great list. Second the poster who mentioned Smith College - Northampton is a lovely college town. If you are looking at the 5 college area add Mount Holyoke to your list too. Students can take classes at any of the other colleges (Amherst, Smith, Hampshire, MHC and UMass)

.

The women's colleges seem to be an interesting option right now. The admissions rates are much higher than the equivalent co-ed schools, perhaps because fewer girls are choosing women's colleges. I assume they are still providing a great education. Unfortunately my DD goes to a girls school now and refuses to look at women's colleges (she loves her school, just wants a different experience for college).