Finding LACs with intellectual vibe for balanced list

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Open curriculum is great for the kids who are scared of math and even better for the quantitatively-skilled students who struggle to write a paragraph. All in all, it’s a terrible idea.

I went to Brown, which has the most open of the open curricula schools. I (and all my friends) took both writing and math classes. We got a better education than the finance bros doing the bare minimum at other schools, regardless of distribution requirements.

Brown has no different open requirements than Amherst, so not really “most open.”

Amherst, Hamilton and Smith are pretty similar with respect to curricular freedom. However, some requirements and restrictions may be particular to each of these schools. For example, Amherst recently prohibited triple majors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Open curriculum is great for the kids who are scared of math and even better for the quantitatively-skilled students who struggle to write a paragraph. All in all, it’s a terrible idea.

I went to Brown, which has the most open of the open curricula schools. I (and all my friends) took both writing and math classes. We got a better education than the finance bros doing the bare minimum at other schools, regardless of distribution requirements.

Brown has no different open requirements than Amherst, so not really “most open.”

Brown requires two writing courses, Amherst one.

This thread is about SLACs and Brown isn't in this category.

[Anonymous]

OP here. I appreciate this conversation about open curricula. To clear things up first, DC is not interested in this path to avoid either math or writing — the opposite, in fact. They do just fine in both disciplines and are having a hard time with the constraints of having to fit their academic curiosity into the parameters of a major. One thing they know is that engineering likely is not the path for them. And, they have brought up Brown, so mention of that school also is not off the mark. But we are being realistic about admissions — hence the question about building a balanced list and finding schools where acceptance is more reliable.

Wesleyan is a school we had briefly considered but not in depth. We are exploring it more thoroughly now and will add it to our “to visit” list. Thanks for the resounding suggestion of that and other open curriculum schools!

Thanks again for this discussion—I appreciate it!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I appreciate this conversation about open curricula. To clear things up first, DC is not interested in this path to avoid either math or writing — the opposite, in fact. They do just fine in both disciplines and are having a hard time with the constraints of having to fit their academic curiosity into the parameters of a major. One thing they know is that engineering likely is not the path for them. And, they have brought up Brown, so mention of that school also is not off the mark. But we are being realistic about admissions — hence the question about building a balanced list and finding schools where acceptance is more reliable.

Wesleyan is a school we had briefly considered but not in depth. We are exploring it more thoroughly now and will add it to our “to visit” list. Thanks for the resounding suggestion of that and other open curriculum schools!

Thanks again for this discussion—I appreciate it!

Distribution requirements sounds like it would really help this student. It’s great to explore, but you do eventually have to start working through a major and focusing up a bit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I appreciate this conversation about open curricula. To clear things up first, DC is not interested in this path to avoid either math or writing — the opposite, in fact. They do just fine in both disciplines and are having a hard time with the constraints of having to fit their academic curiosity into the parameters of a major. One thing they know is that engineering likely is not the path for them. And, they have brought up Brown, so mention of that school also is not off the mark. But we are being realistic about admissions — hence the question about building a balanced list and finding schools where acceptance is more reliable.

Wesleyan is a school we had briefly considered but not in depth. We are exploring it more thoroughly now and will add it to our “to visit” list. Thanks for the resounding suggestion of that and other open curriculum schools!

Thanks again for this discussion—I appreciate it!

Distribution requirements sounds like it would really help this student. It’s great to explore, but you do eventually have to start working through a major and focusing up a bit.

Even schools with open curricula still require students to declare a major/concentration and meet requirements related to that major. That has nothing to do with distribution requirements.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Studious and collaborative, Bowdoin and Haverford.

I'd look at Amherst, Bowdoin, Davidson, Hamilton, Carleton plus Kenyon, Macalester and Lafayette for more likely admits (to have a full list). Middlebury was on my kids's list but they are having some money issues due to Monterey campus and have over admitted their incoming classes recently. Makes it harder to get classes according to our tour guide who was pre-med, so that fell off his list.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Studious and collaborative, Bowdoin and Haverford.

I'd look at Amherst, Bowdoin, Davidson, Hamilton, Carleton plus Kenyon, Macalester and Lafayette for more likely admits (to have a full list). Middlebury was on my kids's list but they are having some money issues due to Monterey campus and have over admitted their incoming classes recently. Makes it harder to get classes according to our tour guide who was pre-med, so that fell off his list.

None of what you said about Middlebury is true except for the fact that they are discussing what to do about MIIS. Baucomb has committed to addressing MIIS within a year and likely sooner. I am sorry that your kid didn't get into Midd but if you persist I will bat you around as always.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Studious and collaborative, Bowdoin and Haverford.

I'd look at Amherst, Bowdoin, Davidson, Hamilton, Carleton plus Kenyon, Macalester and Lafayette for more likely admits (to have a full list). Middlebury was on my kids's list but they are having some money issues due to Monterey campus and have over admitted their incoming classes recently. Makes it harder to get classes according to our tour guide who was pre-med, so that fell off his list.

None of what you said about Middlebury is true except for the fact that they are discussing what to do about MIIS. Baucomb has committed to addressing MIIS within a year and likely sooner. I am sorry that your kid didn't get into Midd but if you persist I will bat you around as always.

The lying, pro-Midd troll is back! PP shared what a tour guide said. Guess the tour guide was lying.

[Anonymous]

The OP is delightful. I hope we have been helpful thus far with our suggestions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Studious and collaborative, Bowdoin and Haverford.

I'd look at Amherst, Bowdoin, Davidson, Hamilton, Carleton plus Kenyon, Macalester and Lafayette for more likely admits (to have a full list). Middlebury was on my kids's list but they are having some money issues due to Monterey campus and have over admitted their incoming classes recently. Makes it harder to get classes according to our tour guide who was pre-med, so that fell off his list.

None of what you said about Middlebury is true except for the fact that they are discussing what to do about MIIS. Baucomb has committed to addressing MIIS within a year and likely sooner. I am sorry that your kid didn't get into Midd but if you persist I will bat you around as always.

Yes, they are having money issues at Middlebury. It's not a secret when you can easily find the letter from the leaders of the school outlining the budget shortfall. To those who want to know the reality, you can easily search for the letter the Interim President, CFO and Provost of Middlebury sent to faculty, staff and students on April 2, 2025 and read it for yourself. Try this phrase for your search engine: "Middlebury The Budget, Our Path Forward". The letter specifically addresses that since the pandemic they have decided to enroll more students and are looking at faculty cutbacks and the enrollment issues at the Monterey Institute.

Notable quotes:

"...we're projecting a $14.1 million deficit this fiscal year, notably higher than our $8.9 million projection from October."
"Our deficits are continually an outlier among our NESCAC peers, which all operate profitably..."

And the Editorial Board of the Campus Newspaper called for Middlebury to ditch the Monterey Campus on April 17, 2025.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I appreciate this conversation about open curricula. To clear things up first, DC is not interested in this path to avoid either math or writing — the opposite, in fact. They do just fine in both disciplines and are having a hard time with the constraints of having to fit their academic curiosity into the parameters of a major. One thing they know is that engineering likely is not the path for them. And, they have brought up Brown, so mention of that school also is not off the mark. But we are being realistic about admissions — hence the question about building a balanced list and finding schools where acceptance is more reliable.

Wesleyan is a school we had briefly considered but not in depth. We are exploring it more thoroughly now and will add it to our “to visit” list. Thanks for the resounding suggestion of that and other open curriculum schools!

Thanks again for this discussion—I appreciate it!

If you are going to visit Wesleyan, you might want to visit Vassar as well (it's about 2 hours away). The schools have many academic similarities (including mostly open curriculum), but different campus vibes, and students usually prefer one or the other.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Studious and collaborative, Bowdoin and Haverford.

I'd look at Amherst, Bowdoin, Davidson, Hamilton, Carleton plus Kenyon, Macalester and Lafayette for more likely admits (to have a full list). Middlebury was on my kids's list but they are having some money issues due to Monterey campus and have over admitted their incoming classes recently. Makes it harder to get classes according to our tour guide who was pre-med, so that fell off his list.

None of what you said about Middlebury is true except for the fact that they are discussing what to do about MIIS. Baucomb has committed to addressing MIIS within a year and likely sooner. I am sorry that your kid didn't get into Midd but if you persist I will bat you around as always.

Yes, they are having money issues at Middlebury. It's not a secret when you can easily find the letter from the leaders of the school outlining the budget shortfall. To those who want to know the reality, you can easily search for the letter the Interim President, CFO and Provost of Middlebury sent to faculty, staff and students on April 2, 2025 and read it for yourself. Try this phrase for your search engine: "Middlebury The Budget, Our Path Forward". The letter specifically addresses that since the pandemic they have decided to enroll more students and are looking at faculty cutbacks and the enrollment issues at the Monterey Institute.

Notable quotes:

"...we're projecting a $14.1 million deficit this fiscal year, notably higher than our $8.9 million projection from October."
"Our deficits are continually an outlier among our NESCAC peers, which all operate profitably..."

And the Editorial Board of the Campus Newspaper called for Middlebury to ditch the Monterey Campus on April 17, 2025.

There are some lightning rod colleges on DCUM, and Middlebury is one of them. Whenever it's mentioned, comments are either wildly pro or sharply against. A quick search shows this time and again. I guess people like to crap on a school when they see chinks in the armor, and that invites rabid proponents to make ridiculous claims to counterbalance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Studious and collaborative, Bowdoin and Haverford.

I'd look at Amherst, Bowdoin, Davidson, Hamilton, Carleton plus Kenyon, Macalester and Lafayette for more likely admits (to have a full list). Middlebury was on my kids's list but they are having some money issues due to Monterey campus and have over admitted their incoming classes recently. Makes it harder to get classes according to our tour guide who was pre-med, so that fell off his list.

None of what you said about Middlebury is true except for the fact that they are discussing what to do about MIIS. Baucomb has committed to addressing MIIS within a year and likely sooner. I am sorry that your kid didn't get into Midd but if you persist I will bat you around as always.

Yes, they are having money issues at Middlebury. It's not a secret when you can easily find the letter from the leaders of the school outlining the budget shortfall. To those who want to know the reality, you can easily search for the letter the Interim President, CFO and Provost of Middlebury sent to faculty, staff and students on April 2, 2025 and read it for yourself. Try this phrase for your search engine: "Middlebury The Budget, Our Path Forward". The letter specifically addresses that since the pandemic they have decided to enroll more students and are looking at faculty cutbacks and the enrollment issues at the Monterey Institute.

Notable quotes:

"...we're projecting a $14.1 million deficit this fiscal year, notably higher than our $8.9 million projection from October."
"Our deficits are continually an outlier among our NESCAC peers, which all operate profitably..."

And the Editorial Board of the Campus Newspaper called for Middlebury to ditch the Monterey Campus on April 17, 2025.

Look, you're an idiot. We've been down this path before. Middlebury has no financial issues.

Middlebury has a small ongoing deficit, it is not a problem as much as it is an embarrassment. Patton wouldn't address it but the new President is because he is smart and doesn't want to become the owner of MIIS issues.

Middlebury overenrolled for a single year at the height of Covid and let the over enrollment play out over the following four years rather than reduce access. Middlebury is planning on expanding enrollment by 50-70 students in conjunction with their new dorm which is....50 beds larger.

Middlebury has a $1.6B endowment and they just got relief from paying the tax that they have had to cover the past few years.

Middlebury has a 'AA' credit rating in the same 'high investment grade' bucket as it NESCAC peers and higher than companies such as Nvidia.

You pop up on thread after thread with the same blather. In other threads there were a couple of others who also had no time for your nonsense. Move along Karen your lies are tiring.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Studious and collaborative, Bowdoin and Haverford.

I'd look at Amherst, Bowdoin, Davidson, Hamilton, Carleton plus Kenyon, Macalester and Lafayette for more likely admits (to have a full list). Middlebury was on my kids's list but they are having some money issues due to Monterey campus and have over admitted their incoming classes recently. Makes it harder to get classes according to our tour guide who was pre-med, so that fell off his list.

None of what you said about Middlebury is true except for the fact that they are discussing what to do about MIIS. Baucomb has committed to addressing MIIS within a year and likely sooner. I am sorry that your kid didn't get into Midd but if you persist I will bat you around as always.

Yes, they are having money issues at Middlebury. It's not a secret when you can easily find the letter from the leaders of the school outlining the budget shortfall. To those who want to know the reality, you can easily search for the letter the Interim President, CFO and Provost of Middlebury sent to faculty, staff and students on April 2, 2025 and read it for yourself. Try this phrase for your search engine: "Middlebury The Budget, Our Path Forward". The letter specifically addresses that since the pandemic they have decided to enroll more students and are looking at faculty cutbacks and the enrollment issues at the Monterey Institute.

Notable quotes:

"...we're projecting a $14.1 million deficit this fiscal year, notably higher than our $8.9 million projection from October."
"Our deficits are continually an outlier among our NESCAC peers, which all operate profitably..."

And the Editorial Board of the Campus Newspaper called for Middlebury to ditch the Monterey Campus on April 17, 2025.

There are some lightning rod colleges on DCUM, and Middlebury is one of them. Whenever it's mentioned, comments are either wildly pro or sharply against. A quick search shows this time and again. I guess people like to crap on a school when they see chinks in the armor, and that invites rabid proponents to make ridiculous claims to counterbalance.

Nobody makes ridiculous claims to counterbalance. We just don't put up with the garbage.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Studious and collaborative, Bowdoin and Haverford.

I'd look at Amherst, Bowdoin, Davidson, Hamilton, Carleton plus Kenyon, Macalester and Lafayette for more likely admits (to have a full list). Middlebury was on my kids's list but they are having some money issues due to Monterey campus and have over admitted their incoming classes recently. Makes it harder to get classes according to our tour guide who was pre-med, so that fell off his list.

None of what you said about Middlebury is true except for the fact that they are discussing what to do about MIIS. Baucomb has committed to addressing MIIS within a year and likely sooner. I am sorry that your kid didn't get into Midd but if you persist I will bat you around as always.

Yes, they are having money issues at Middlebury. It's not a secret when you can easily find the letter from the leaders of the school outlining the budget shortfall. To those who want to know the reality, you can easily search for the letter the Interim President, CFO and Provost of Middlebury sent to faculty, staff and students on April 2, 2025 and read it for yourself. Try this phrase for your search engine: "Middlebury The Budget, Our Path Forward". The letter specifically addresses that since the pandemic they have decided to enroll more students and are looking at faculty cutbacks and the enrollment issues at the Monterey Institute.

Notable quotes:

"...we're projecting a $14.1 million deficit this fiscal year, notably higher than our $8.9 million projection from October."
"Our deficits are continually an outlier among our NESCAC peers, which all operate profitably..."

And the Editorial Board of the Campus Newspaper called for Middlebury to ditch the Monterey Campus on April 17, 2025.

Look, you're an idiot. We've been down this path before. Middlebury has no financial issues.

Middlebury has a small ongoing deficit, it is not a problem as much as it is an embarrassment. Patton wouldn't address it but the new President is because he is smart and doesn't want to become the owner of MIIS issues.

Middlebury overenrolled for a single year at the height of Covid and let the over enrollment play out over the following four years rather than reduce access. Middlebury is planning on expanding enrollment by 50-70 students in conjunction with their new dorm which is....50 beds larger.

Middlebury has a $1.6B endowment and they just got relief from paying the tax that they have had to cover the past few years.

Middlebury has a 'AA' credit rating in the same 'high investment grade' bucket as it NESCAC peers and higher than companies such as Nvidia.

You pop up on thread after thread with the same blather. In other threads there were a couple of others who also had no time for your nonsense. Move along Karen your lies are tiring.

You mean they overenrolled for four straight years? I am sure finances had nothing to do with it.