Beware of Small Liberal Arts Colleges if you're not on a sport

[Anonymous]

One truth about almost all colleges, whether it's a selective LAC or a big university: You can't rely on your classes or your dorms as place to make friends. Especially as an undergraduate, and you're coming into a new place where you don't know anybody.

You've got to do something outside of class, whether it's a sport, a theater group, the school newspaper or radio station, or even just a regular boardgame night or movie-watching club. It took me a while to realize this (at my big state school), and college life was much more comfortable once I started doing regular extracurriculars.

[Anonymous]

The major selling point for a smaller school typically should be that you have a better chance to get to know and engage with your professors and classmates inside the classroom from Day One because class sizes are small and student-teacher ratio is usually lower.

If that sounds attractive and important to you, then a small college is worth investigating.

No school - whether large or small - is guaranteed to provide you with a social fit outside the classroom. Large can feel impersonal and isolating and small can have cliques and fewer options. There is no "right" option for everyone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One truth about almost all colleges, whether it's a selective LAC or a big university: You can't rely on your classes or your dorms as place to make friends. Especially as an undergraduate, and you're coming into a new place where you don't know anybody.

You've got to do something outside of class, whether it's a sport, a theater group, the school newspaper or radio station, or even just a regular boardgame night or movie-watching club. It took me a while to realize this (at my big state school), and college life was much more comfortable once I started doing regular extracurriculars.

This is true, but it’s difficult when 40% of a class (sometimes 50% of men) are on a team and off campus for extended periods of time. I think theater kids are just fine and international cohorts stick together, but take all those out and the pie is pretty small. Start with 411 haveefrod freshman, 45% of whom are men. Then split the pie from there. GL!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP - what's a NARP?

I hate perpetuate this annoying acronym but nonathlete regular person

This wins the award for the dumbest acronym I’ve ever seen on DCUM.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It might just be people trying to get others to not accept offers at the SLACS because of the small number of spaces offered. So, don't always believe what you read on the net.

It’s definitely something that is discussed online. I think SLACs offer tons of good opportunities. But BIPOC, non-wealthy, and/or non-athletes have described not fitting in some of these schools. So it’s definitely a consideration for those of us researching them.

This is very true. I really liked some SLACs and wanted my son to apply but he toured two or three and said as an Asian male who is not athletic, he would rather be in a bigger school.

[Anonymous]

Please, people, name the colleges you are talking about. Particularly you, OP. So bizarre to come here to "give advice" to other parents but not to mention the school in question. Are you worried that you'll somehow be outed?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP - what's a NARP?

I hate perpetuate this annoying acronym but nonathlete regular person

This wins the award for the dumbest acronym I’ve ever seen on DCUM.

This acronym is used a lot and is also defined in Urban Dictionary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some of us are just trying to share the benefit of our experiences. Many many SLAC student newspapers write about this us vs them issue with athletes and NARP’s. Not a made up issue.

If you don’t actually name the school, it’s useless.

Haverford.
Hamilton.
Kenyon.
Bowdoin.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know a kid at Bowdoin who had this issue and is trying to transfer out.

My Bowdoin non-athlete is not having this issue. Has joined lots of activities (music, club sport, clubs) and met lots of people.

OP:kids who are not joiners should beware of small liberal arts colleges (“…you're not on a team or in a singing group or theatre group…”)

You: my kid is a total joiner and is not having this problem.

Sigh

[Anonymous]

Didn't high school have a lot of athletes, people in plays, etc.? Don't know why college would be any different.

Time to grow up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:New poster but neighbor just complained about this with her child who is in a selective Liberal Arts college who doesn't play sports, isn't into theater or music. She said it is even harder to make friends if your child is not religious. There were fraternities for jewish students, several Christian clubs, Catholic group, etc. Her child is looking to transfer to a flagship state school.

Wow. Looks like we dodged a bullet. Sorry to hear this. Good luck to your child.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are at a NESCAC and don't want to get specific because I think it's the same everywhere.But a warning to those of you looking at colleges that if you're not on a team or in a singing group or theatre group, your social life will be trying to find those few others on campus who aren't affiliated with a big team or club. The club activities are not steady enough to create any kind of real bond. And the teams are so exclusionary -- they eat together and party together. It sucks. We were attracted to these schools because of their size, but they wind up feeling like high school, only less mingling.

So your kid has no hobbies or outside interests...that seems to be the problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Didn't high school have a lot of athletes, people in plays, etc.? Don't know why college would be any different.

Time to grow up.

(New Poster)

Time to grow up ? Please reread your post; you are making the point that LACs are just like redoing high school. I agree.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would very much agree that the NESCAC schools all felt like elite boarding schools when we visited for sports recruiting. They are have their charm and nice amenities but are in the middle of nowhere and small. DC ended up at the Claremont colleges which have a nice consortium and provides a larger community (close to 7K), plus much better weather. Also, at least from our private, all of the mean and cliquey kids went to NESCAC’s so we were glad to avoid them at the end of the day.

Very true.

NESCACs can be a horrible experience for non-privileged bros.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Didn't high school have a lot of athletes, people in plays, etc.? Don't know why college would be any different.

Time to grow up.

(New Poster)

Time to grow up ? Please reread your post; you are making the point that LACs are just like redoing high school. I agree.

It's not re-doing high school. High school has groups doing the same things most colleges do regardless of size. If a kid cannot adapt socially, that's not the college's fault.

Someone 18-22 needs to learn how to interact with a college community. The social environment will not be tailor made for you.