How are SLACs easier to navigate relative to big state schools?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid has been over the president’s house more than once for receptions. Knows his dogs, etc.

For the holiday formal, the faculty serve the kids their meal.

When a class is full or you may not meet the eligibility criteria, the kid writes to the prof and usually can get in.

International students who stay on campus over breaks are invited to faculty homes for the holiday.

Etc etc

Sounds lovely, what school?

I went to a SLAC and so have 2 of our kids. I agree that getting to know faculty is a major advantage for students at SLACs, but having the profs serve the holiday dinner sounds cringe-y.

I see why you might think that, but it is not done from a sense of entitlement or being spoiled. I am sure that the faculty who volunteer (some deans do too) are just good sports. It is a very folksy community (not slick or snarky). The students stand on chairs and sing the 12 Days or Christmas (and there are non-Christian songs as well). To buy tickets, they have to tent on the quad overnight with their friends. it is one of many traditions (like Mountain Day and Storm the Arch) that my DD cherished.

Please pass the vomit bag. Thanks.

I mean, c'mon. This is so over the top.

You are EXACTLY the type of person my kid hoped to avoid.

So that worked out well. 👍

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid has been over the president’s house more than once for receptions. Knows his dogs, etc.

For the holiday formal, the faculty serve the kids their meal.

When a class is full or you may not meet the eligibility criteria, the kid writes to the prof and usually can get in.

International students who stay on campus over breaks are invited to faculty homes for the holiday.

Etc etc

Sounds lovely, what school?

I went to a SLAC and so have 2 of our kids. I agree that getting to know faculty is a major advantage for students at SLACs, but having the profs serve the holiday dinner sounds cringe-y.

I see why you might think that, but it is not done from a sense of entitlement or being spoiled. I am sure that the faculty who volunteer (some deans do too) are just good sports. It is a very folksy community (not slick or snarky). The students stand on chairs and sing the 12 Days or Christmas (and there are non-Christian songs as well). To buy tickets, they have to tent on the quad overnight with their friends. it is one of many traditions (like Mountain Day and Storm the Arch) that my DD cherished.

Please pass the vomit bag. Thanks.

I mean, c'mon. This is so over the top.

You are EXACTLY the type of person my kid hoped to avoid.

So that worked out well. 👍

Yea, we never would have met. No worries. My kids didn't look at second tier colleges.

[Anonymous]

To state the obvious, small liberal arts schools are easier to navigate than large schools because the smaller schools offer a lot less choices in majors and classes. At my kid's SLAC, there are 34 majors and another 30 minors, and half of those are basically unavailable due to lack of classes/demand. By the time he finished area requirements, my kid was picking from 5-8 possible classes per semester to advance toward graduation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I went to Cornell and it might as well have been a huge state school. So many classes were taught by TAs, I barely saw an advisor and so much self-advocacy was necessary. I could have vanished in the middle of my first semester and no school employee would have noticed…until the tuition went unpaid.

I loved my time there but now, when I take my son on college tours, I see what I missed out on.

The students don’t call it the Big Red Machine for nothing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid has been over the president’s house more than once for receptions. Knows his dogs, etc.

For the holiday formal, the faculty serve the kids their meal.

When a class is full or you may not meet the eligibility criteria, the kid writes to the prof and usually can get in.

International students who stay on campus over breaks are invited to faculty homes for the holiday.

Etc etc

Sounds lovely, what school?

I went to a SLAC and so have 2 of our kids. I agree that getting to know faculty is a major advantage for students at SLACs, but having the profs serve the holiday dinner sounds cringe-y.

I see why you might think that, but it is not done from a sense of entitlement or being spoiled. I am sure that the faculty who volunteer (some deans do too) are just good sports. It is a very folksy community (not slick or snarky). The students stand on chairs and sing the 12 Days or Christmas (and there are non-Christian songs as well). To buy tickets, they have to tent on the quad overnight with their friends. it is one of many traditions (like Mountain Day and Storm the Arch) that my DD cherished.

Please pass the vomit bag. Thanks.

I mean, c'mon. This is so over the top.

You are EXACTLY the type of person my kid hoped to avoid.

So that worked out well. 👍

Yea, we never would have met. No worries. My kids didn't look at second tier colleges.

Why so nasty? If the idea of SLACs makes you this angry there must be something bad going on in your life you should probably attend to instead of spewing unnecessary vitriol on the internet over an issue that should be of so little influence over your life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I went to Cornell and it might as well have been a huge state school. So many classes were taught by TAs, I barely saw an advisor and so much self-advocacy was necessary. I could have vanished in the middle of my first semester and no school employee would have noticed…until the tuition went unpaid.

I loved my time there but now, when I take my son on college tours, I see what I missed out on.

The students don’t call it the Big Red Machine for nothing.

Cornell is bigger than UVA. So this isn't surprising. And whether you "missed out on" something is in the eyes of the beholder. One of my kids insisted on attending an SLAC and loved it; my other kids would have jumped off a bridge first. It totally depends on the kid.

My hunch is that you know your kid can't get into a school of Cornell's caliber, so you're preparing yourself now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid has been over the president’s house more than once for receptions. Knows his dogs, etc.

For the holiday formal, the faculty serve the kids their meal.

When a class is full or you may not meet the eligibility criteria, the kid writes to the prof and usually can get in.

International students who stay on campus over breaks are invited to faculty homes for the holiday.

Etc etc

Sounds lovely, what school?

I went to a SLAC and so have 2 of our kids. I agree that getting to know faculty is a major advantage for students at SLACs, but having the profs serve the holiday dinner sounds cringe-y.

I see why you might think that, but it is not done from a sense of entitlement or being spoiled. I am sure that the faculty who volunteer (some deans do too) are just good sports. It is a very folksy community (not slick or snarky). The students stand on chairs and sing the 12 Days or Christmas (and there are non-Christian songs as well). To buy tickets, they have to tent on the quad overnight with their friends. it is one of many traditions (like Mountain Day and Storm the Arch) that my DD cherished.

Please pass the vomit bag. Thanks.

I mean, c'mon. This is so over the top.

You are EXACTLY the type of person my kid hoped to avoid.

So that worked out well. 👍

Yea, we never would have met. No worries. My kids didn't look at second tier colleges.

Why so nasty? If the idea of SLACs makes you this angry there must be something bad going on in your life you should probably attend to instead of spewing unnecessary vitriol on the internet over an issue that should be of so little influence over your life.

I have a kid who went to one and loved it. Not Juniata, mind you -- a better one -- but still. So try again.

I'm just saying that both kinds of schools have pluses and minuses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To state the obvious, small liberal arts schools are easier to navigate than large schools because the smaller schools offer a lot less choices in majors and classes. At my kid's SLAC, there are 34 majors and another 30 minors, and half of those are basically unavailable due to lack of classes/demand. By the time he finished area requirements, my kid was picking from 5-8 possible classes per semester to advance toward graduation.

DP. By "area requirements" I'm guessing you mean what some universities call "core curriculum" requirements? A set of classes all students have to take, usually done in their freshman and sophomore years?

If that's what you mean: To the OP and those looking at SLACS--Look for ones where the college has an "open curriculum" instead. This means the college does not require a set of specified core classes, or has only a very few such classes, and students get to tailor their course selections much earlier. DC looked at one SLAC that had 10 core classes everyone had to do---there were variations and flexibility within that, but you had to have these 10 or so in some form -- and DC also looked at another college with an open curriculum. The one with open curriculum only required one approved quantitative class (many fields counted as quantitative, from econ to astronomy to social science with stats), one writing-focused course (made easier by the many freshman writing seminars on offer) and a language course or language proficiency. That's it. DC chose the open curriculum SLAC and was rapidly doing courses toward both DC's major and minor starting in freshman year.

PP is absolutely right that a smaller college is going to offer fewer majors. Most truly undecided students DC knew went to larger universities so they would have more options for majors once they found their groove, and that's one reason there's such a wide spectrum of college/university sizes and options--something for everyone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The price to pay for "easier navigation" is less course availability/flexibility, fewer professors (meaning that students often have to have the same professor time and again for courses in their major, which isn't necessarily a good thing), and a suffocating social scene.

Huh . . . wondering which SLACs you're familiar with. I'm a Williams grad and this was not my experience at all.

I had kids attend both UVA and a top 10 SLAC. Both schools had pluses and minuses. I'm sure Williams is no different. Sorry, but no school is perfect, and your experience may have been great for you but doesn't apply to everyone.

I completely agree that no school is right for everyone, but your original post -- quoted above -- didn't say that at all -- in fact; quite the opposite.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The price to pay for "easier navigation" is less course availability/flexibility, fewer professors (meaning that students often have to have the same professor time and again for courses in their major, which isn't necessarily a good thing), and a suffocating social scene.

Huh . . . wondering which SLACs you're familiar with. I'm a Williams grad and this was not my experience at all.

I had kids attend both UVA and a top 10 SLAC. Both schools had pluses and minuses. I'm sure Williams is no different. Sorry, but no school is perfect, and your experience may have been great for you but doesn't apply to everyone.

I completely agree that no school is right for everyone, but your original post -- quoted above -- didn't say that at all -- in fact; quite the opposite.

No, my original post merely acknowledged that there CAN be downsides to going to a SLAC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid has been over the president’s house more than once for receptions. Knows his dogs, etc.

For the holiday formal, the faculty serve the kids their meal.

When a class is full or you may not meet the eligibility criteria, the kid writes to the prof and usually can get in.

International students who stay on campus over breaks are invited to faculty homes for the holiday.

Etc etc

Sounds lovely, what school?

I went to a SLAC and so have 2 of our kids. I agree that getting to know faculty is a major advantage for students at SLACs, but having the profs serve the holiday dinner sounds cringe-y.

I see why you might think that, but it is not done from a sense of entitlement or being spoiled. I am sure that the faculty who volunteer (some deans do too) are just good sports. It is a very folksy community (not slick or snarky). The students stand on chairs and sing the 12 Days or Christmas (and there are non-Christian songs as well). To buy tickets, they have to tent on the quad overnight with their friends. it is one of many traditions (like Mountain Day and Storm the Arch) that my DD cherished.

Please pass the vomit bag. Thanks.

I mean, c'mon. This is so over the top.

You are EXACTLY the type of person my kid hoped to avoid.

So that worked out well. 👍

Yea, we never would have met. No worries. My kids didn't look at second tier colleges.

Why so nasty? If the idea of SLACs makes you this angry there must be something bad going on in your life you should probably attend to instead of spewing unnecessary vitriol on the internet over an issue that should be of so little influence over your life.

I have a kid who went to one and loved it. Not Juniata, mind you -- a better one -- but still. So try again.

I'm just saying that both kinds of schools have pluses and minuses.

No, you were just trying to imply that your kid is superior to that of the PP.

Which is pretty pathetic on your part.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid has been over the president’s house more than once for receptions. Knows his dogs, etc.

For the holiday formal, the faculty serve the kids their meal.

When a class is full or you may not meet the eligibility criteria, the kid writes to the prof and usually can get in.

International students who stay on campus over breaks are invited to faculty homes for the holiday.

Etc etc

Sounds lovely, what school?

I went to a SLAC and so have 2 of our kids. I agree that getting to know faculty is a major advantage for students at SLACs, but having the profs serve the holiday dinner sounds cringe-y.

I see why you might think that, but it is not done from a sense of entitlement or being spoiled. I am sure that the faculty who volunteer (some deans do too) are just good sports. It is a very folksy community (not slick or snarky). The students stand on chairs and sing the 12 Days or Christmas (and there are non-Christian songs as well). To buy tickets, they have to tent on the quad overnight with their friends. it is one of many traditions (like Mountain Day and Storm the Arch) that my DD cherished.

Please pass the vomit bag. Thanks.

I mean, c'mon. This is so over the top.

You are EXACTLY the type of person my kid hoped to avoid.

So that worked out well. 👍

Yea, we never would have met. No worries. My kids didn't look at second tier colleges.

You are a mean person.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid has been over the president’s house more than once for receptions. Knows his dogs, etc.

For the holiday formal, the faculty serve the kids their meal.

When a class is full or you may not meet the eligibility criteria, the kid writes to the prof and usually can get in.

International students who stay on campus over breaks are invited to faculty homes for the holiday.

Etc etc

Sounds lovely, what school?

I went to a SLAC and so have 2 of our kids. I agree that getting to know faculty is a major advantage for students at SLACs, but having the profs serve the holiday dinner sounds cringe-y.

I see why you might think that, but it is not done from a sense of entitlement or being spoiled. I am sure that the faculty who volunteer (some deans do too) are just good sports. It is a very folksy community (not slick or snarky). The students stand on chairs and sing the 12 Days or Christmas (and there are non-Christian songs as well). To buy tickets, they have to tent on the quad overnight with their friends. it is one of many traditions (like Mountain Day and Storm the Arch) that my DD cherished.

Please pass the vomit bag. Thanks.

I mean, c'mon. This is so over the top.

You are over the top. Why even post that? It doesn’t contribute to the conversation. I’ll never understand why someone purposely takes away someone else’s joy. If you don’t like it, say it to yourself, and move on. You have the right to how you feel but you don’t have to share it and make the other person feel badly and derail a good thread.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I went to Cornell and it might as well have been a huge state school. So many classes were taught by TAs, I barely saw an advisor and so much self-advocacy was necessary. I could have vanished in the middle of my first semester and no school employee would have noticed…until the tuition went unpaid.

I loved my time there but now, when I take my son on college tours, I see what I missed out on.

The students don’t call it the Big Red Machine for nothing.

Cornell is bigger than UVA. So this isn't surprising. And whether you "missed out on" something is in the eyes of the beholder. One of my kids insisted on attending an SLAC and loved it; my other kids would have jumped off a bridge first. It totally depends on the kid.

My hunch is that you know your kid can't get into a school of Cornell's caliber, so you're preparing yourself now.

UVA has a somewhat higher enrollment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I went to Cornell and it might as well have been a huge state school. So many classes were taught by TAs, I barely saw an advisor and so much self-advocacy was necessary. I could have vanished in the middle of my first semester and no school employee would have noticed…until the tuition went unpaid.

I loved my time there but now, when I take my son on college tours, I see what I missed out on.

Cornell is a state school (well half of it is). I get if you were oos you may not have realized that.