Why is DCUM so obsessed with small liberal arts colleges?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yeah, the anti-slac poster seems totally normal.

PP. Agreed, they've got a weird hate boner for SLAC's. I didn't really know much about them until I moved to the DC area. They're not a big deal in many parts of the country, and most people don't give them much thought.

The 18 year-old version of me wouldn't have been interested in a small school in the middle of nowhere. But, that's not a dig on SLAC's. They seem like a good fit for a relatively small percentage of college-goers, for a number of reasons.

[Anonymous]

My spouse and I are both HYPS alums. We wanted our kids to go to small (not necessarily selective) LACs. They did. Their colleges were all either CTCL or one of the more selective NESCACs. We are very happy with the decisions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Additionally, even many elite SLACs have had to resort to a second round of binding ED admissions in order to secure students.

Some of those LACs are: Bowdoin, Bates, Colby, Carleton, Colgate, Colorado College, Connecticut College, Davidson, Denison, Grinnell, Hamilton, Kenyon, Lafayette, Harvey Mudd, Middlebury, Macalester, Mount Holyoke, Pomona, Pitzer, Oberlin, Rhodes, Reed, Sarah Lawrence, Smith, Scripps, University of the South, Skidmore, St. Olaf, Swarthmore, Trinity College, Union, U Richmond, Vassar, Wash & Lee, Wellesley, Wesleyan, Whitman College, Bryn Mawr, Claremont McKenna, College of Wooster, Dickinson, Franklin & Marshall, Gettysburg, Haverford, Occidental.

Without a second round of binding ED admissions, these SLACs might no longer qualify as selective LACs.

You don't seem to understand the history or purpose of ED. It is used by highly selective colleges and universities because of institutional priorities (donors, athletes, URMs), financial aid planning, and to increase yield. There are many top National Universities that offer ED2 including University of Chicago, Vanderbilt, Johns Hopkins, NYU, Tufts etc. I know off the top of my head that Williams and Amherst do not have ED2. What you seem to fail to understand is that ONLY brand name schools can use ED (1 or 2).

LOL "ONLY brand name schools can use ED (1 or 2)."

I think that you misunderstand the purpose of ED; it is to lock-in applicants to increase yield percentages and to artificially lower rates of admission.

Brand names ? Hopefully, you are joking.

GOOGLE: Why do colleges use ED 2 ? (Spoiler: To increase yield rates.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Reading this thread, I'm pretty glad I went to a State U for undergrad, because some of the SLAC and Ivy league posters on this thread are beyond insufferable.

I freely admit that my fondest memories from college were football games and trying to pick up attractive members of the opposite sex. Classes were secondary.

Interestingly I come away from this thread with exactly the opposite impression, that the big state people are beyond insufferable. I didn’t go to an Ivy or a SLAC either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Additionally, even many elite SLACs have had to resort to a second round of binding ED admissions in order to secure students.

Some of those LACs are: Bowdoin, Bates, Colby, Carleton, Colgate, Colorado College, Connecticut College, Davidson, Denison, Grinnell, Hamilton, Kenyon, Lafayette, Harvey Mudd, Middlebury, Macalester, Mount Holyoke, Pomona, Pitzer, Oberlin, Rhodes, Reed, Sarah Lawrence, Smith, Scripps, University of the South, Skidmore, St. Olaf, Swarthmore, Trinity College, Union, U Richmond, Vassar, Wash & Lee, Wellesley, Wesleyan, Whitman College, Bryn Mawr, Claremont McKenna, College of Wooster, Dickinson, Franklin & Marshall, Gettysburg, Haverford, Occidental.

Without a second round of binding ED admissions, these SLACs might no longer qualify as selective LACs.

You don't seem to understand the history or purpose of ED. It is used by highly selective colleges and universities because of institutional priorities (donors, athletes, URMs), financial aid planning, and to increase yield. There are many top National Universities that offer ED2 including University of Chicago, Vanderbilt, Johns Hopkins, NYU, Tufts etc. I know off the top of my head that Williams and Amherst do not have ED2. What you seem to fail to understand is that ONLY brand name schools can use ED (1 or 2).

LOL "ONLY brand name schools can use ED (1 or 2)."

I think that you misunderstand the purpose of ED; it is to lock-in applicants to increase yield percentages and to artificially lower rates of admission.

Brand names ? Hopefully, you are joking.

GOOGLE: Why do colleges use ED 2 ? (Spoiler: To increase yield rates.)

Yes, this is one reason that both top National Universities and LACs use ED. The others are financial aid planning and for athletes, legacies, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Reading this thread, I'm pretty glad I went to a State U for undergrad, because some of the SLAC and Ivy league posters on this thread are beyond insufferable.

I freely admit that my fondest memories from college were football games and trying to pick up attractive members of the opposite sex. Classes were secondary.

Interestingly I come away from this thread with exactly the opposite impression, that the big state people are beyond insufferable. I didn’t go to an Ivy or a SLAC either.

Same. I went to a big state school and hated it. I wish I had known more about SLACS back in the day. I was never more than a number to my professors..that is when I wasn’t being taught by TA’s who were only concerned with their own grad program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Additionally, even many elite SLACs have had to resort to a second round of binding ED admissions in order to secure students.

Some of those LACs are: Bowdoin, Bates, Colby, Carleton, Colgate, Colorado College, Connecticut College, Davidson, Denison, Grinnell, Hamilton, Kenyon, Lafayette, Harvey Mudd, Middlebury, Macalester, Mount Holyoke, Pomona, Pitzer, Oberlin, Rhodes, Reed, Sarah Lawrence, Smith, Scripps, University of the South, Skidmore, St. Olaf, Swarthmore, Trinity College, Union, U Richmond, Vassar, Wash & Lee, Wellesley, Wesleyan, Whitman College, Bryn Mawr, Claremont McKenna, College of Wooster, Dickinson, Franklin & Marshall, Gettysburg, Haverford, Occidental.

Without a second round of binding ED admissions, these SLACs might no longer qualify as selective LACs.

You don't seem to understand the history or purpose of ED. It is used by highly selective colleges and universities because of institutional priorities (donors, athletes, URMs), financial aid planning, and to increase yield. There are many top National Universities that offer ED2 including University of Chicago, Vanderbilt, Johns Hopkins, NYU, Tufts etc. I know off the top of my head that Williams and Amherst do not have ED2. What you seem to fail to understand is that ONLY brand name schools can use ED (1 or 2).

LOL "ONLY brand name schools can use ED (1 or 2)."

I think that you misunderstand the purpose of ED; it is to lock-in applicants to increase yield percentages and to artificially lower rates of admission.

Brand names ? Hopefully, you are joking.

GOOGLE: Why do colleges use ED 2 ? (Spoiler: To increase yield rates.)

Yes, this is one reason that both top National Universities and LACs use ED. The others are financial aid planning and for athletes, legacies, etc.

And for LACs to appear to be more selective than they really are. (ED 2 is overwhelmingly used by LACs.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Additionally, even many elite SLACs have had to resort to a second round of binding ED admissions in order to secure students.

Some of those LACs are: Bowdoin, Bates, Colby, Carleton, Colgate, Colorado College, Connecticut College, Davidson, Denison, Grinnell, Hamilton, Kenyon, Lafayette, Harvey Mudd, Middlebury, Macalester, Mount Holyoke, Pomona, Pitzer, Oberlin, Rhodes, Reed, Sarah Lawrence, Smith, Scripps, University of the South, Skidmore, St. Olaf, Swarthmore, Trinity College, Union, U Richmond, Vassar, Wash & Lee, Wellesley, Wesleyan, Whitman College, Bryn Mawr, Claremont McKenna, College of Wooster, Dickinson, Franklin & Marshall, Gettysburg, Haverford, Occidental.

Without a second round of binding ED admissions, these SLACs might no longer qualify as selective LACs.

You don't seem to understand the history or purpose of ED. It is used by highly selective colleges and universities because of institutional priorities (donors, athletes, URMs), financial aid planning, and to increase yield. There are many top National Universities that offer ED2 including University of Chicago, Vanderbilt, Johns Hopkins, NYU, Tufts etc. I know off the top of my head that Williams and Amherst do not have ED2. What you seem to fail to understand is that ONLY brand name schools can use ED (1 or 2).

LOL "ONLY brand name schools can use ED (1 or 2)."

I think that you misunderstand the purpose of ED; it is to lock-in applicants to increase yield percentages and to artificially lower rates of admission.

Brand names ? Hopefully, you are joking.

GOOGLE: Why do colleges use ED 2 ? (Spoiler: To increase yield rates.)

Yes, this is one reason that both top National Universities and LACs use ED. The others are financial aid planning and for athletes, legacies, etc.

And for LACs to appear to be more selective than they really are. (ED 2 is overwhelmingly used by LACs.)

Man, you are like a crazed dog on a bone.

I did not go to a SLAC, am just bemused by the crazies in this thread.

[Anonymous]

I have made the last few posts in this thread.

SLACs & LACs do not need to be so defensive. I love big schools and am not a fan--but a graduate of--a rural LAC. Yet, even I recognize that many LACs offer a tremendous education and educational experience for one who desires a small, intimate rural setting with its attendant lack of privacy. Not for me. But that is me--not you.

No one can deny the benefits for attending Williams, Amherst, Pomona, Swarthmore, Claremont McKenna and several other LACs. Just know what you are getting into. That's all. If it suits you, then great. If not, then beware as small communities do not offer the freedom, diversity, and multitude of options available at larger schools. Not a criticism--just an observation. Some folks like small town life, while most prefer cities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Additionally, even many elite SLACs have had to resort to a second round of binding ED admissions in order to secure students.

Some of those LACs are: Bowdoin, Bates, Colby, Carleton, Colgate, Colorado College, Connecticut College, Davidson, Denison, Grinnell, Hamilton, Kenyon, Lafayette, Harvey Mudd, Middlebury, Macalester, Mount Holyoke, Pomona, Pitzer, Oberlin, Rhodes, Reed, Sarah Lawrence, Smith, Scripps, University of the South, Skidmore, St. Olaf, Swarthmore, Trinity College, Union, U Richmond, Vassar, Wash & Lee, Wellesley, Wesleyan, Whitman College, Bryn Mawr, Claremont McKenna, College of Wooster, Dickinson, Franklin & Marshall, Gettysburg, Haverford, Occidental.

Without a second round of binding ED admissions, these SLACs might no longer qualify as selective LACs.

You don't seem to understand the history or purpose of ED. It is used by highly selective colleges and universities because of institutional priorities (donors, athletes, URMs), financial aid planning, and to increase yield. There are many top National Universities that offer ED2 including University of Chicago, Vanderbilt, Johns Hopkins, NYU, Tufts etc. I know off the top of my head that Williams and Amherst do not have ED2. What you seem to fail to understand is that ONLY brand name schools can use ED (1 or 2).

LOL "ONLY brand name schools can use ED (1 or 2)."

I think that you misunderstand the purpose of ED; it is to lock-in applicants to increase yield percentages and to artificially lower rates of admission.

Brand names ? Hopefully, you are joking.

GOOGLE: Why do colleges use ED 2 ? (Spoiler: To increase yield rates.)

Yes, this is one reason that both top National Universities and LACs use ED. The others are financial aid planning and for athletes, legacies, etc.

And for LACs to appear to be more selective than they really are. (ED 2 is overwhelmingly used by LACs.)

That's just blatantly false. If LACs use ED2 more than top National Universities (UChicago, Vanderbilt, Johns Hopkins, Emory, WashU, NYU - just to name a few), it would likely be for recruited athletes as D3 LACs do not give athletic scholarships.

[Anonymous]

Neither of you understand ED2.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have made the last few posts in this thread.

SLACs & LACs do not need to be so defensive. I love big schools and am not a fan--but a graduate of--a rural LAC. Yet, even I recognize that many LACs offer a tremendous education and educational experience for one who desires a small, intimate rural setting with its attendant lack of privacy. Not for me. But that is me--not you.

No one can deny the benefits for attending Williams, Amherst, Pomona, Swarthmore, Claremont McKenna and several other LACs. Just know what you are getting into. That's all. If it suits you, then great. If not, then beware as small communities do not offer the freedom, diversity, and multitude of options available at larger schools. Not a criticism--just an observation. Some folks like small town life, while most prefer cities.

Idk, I think you come across as kind of weirdly obsessed and I didn’t attend a SLAC and my kids aren’t either. I also think — as someone who did attend a big school — that you are strangely idealizing the big school experience. Let me tell you as a woman in a big school eng program, “freedom” and “diversity” are the last words I’d attach to my experience. You seem determined to put forth a view of how life in a big school is that simply doesn’t resonate as true for a lot of people.

Maybe you aren’t obsessed, but having read your posts, you could have fooled me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have made the last few posts in this thread.

SLACs & LACs do not need to be so defensive. I love big schools and am not a fan--but a graduate of--a rural LAC. Yet, even I recognize that many LACs offer a tremendous education and educational experience for one who desires a small, intimate rural setting with its attendant lack of privacy. Not for me. But that is me--not you.

No one can deny the benefits for attending Williams, Amherst, Pomona, Swarthmore, Claremont McKenna and several other LACs. Just know what you are getting into. That's all. If it suits you, then great. If not, then beware as small communities do not offer the freedom, diversity, and multitude of options available at larger schools. Not a criticism--just an observation. Some folks like small town life, while most prefer cities.

Pomona and Claremont McKenna are part of a consortium of 8,500 students and a one-hour train ride or 45-minute car ride to Los Angeles. Amherst and Swarthmore are also part of a consortium and Swarthmore is easily accessible to Philadelphia.

[Anonymous]

27 pages of drivel. SLACs are the best, if it's not your cup of tea you're close minded. If you like large state schools you're a drooling mongoloid that loves Greek life and how do they say it here? Oh yeah, rah rah sports. C'mon people, different strokes for different folks.

[Anonymous]

Better teaching. Closer connection to the actual professors.