SLAC’s in more suburban/urban areas?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Carleton and St Olaf are only an hour away from the Twin Cities

And few students go. Northfield is definitely rural.

[Anonymous]

Head scratching at Davidson mentions. Not a lot going on in Davidson, NC. It’s about a half hour from Charlotte, which is great. But not a lot that is much closer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Head scratching at Davidson mentions. Not a lot going on in Davidson, NC. It’s about a half hour from Charlotte, which is great. But not a lot that is much closer.

Agree. I don’t think 30-60min away from a major city or even a decent town is suburban or urban. Almost every SLAC has a decent town within an hour. Even Bates, Williams, Bowdoin, Smith, Kenyon, etc...

[Anonymous]

Agree with others that SLACs have lots going on and a nearby city doesn't end up being a draw for most kids who are not already hard core urbanites.

At the far end of the spectrum, DS and I visited Grinnell last year -- an hour from Des Moines -- and they bring in all kinds of speakers and entertainment. Someone described it as like being on a cruise ship. They know they're off the beaten path and they make a big effort to counteract that.

Also, a lot of small SLACs nowadays have zip cars on campus. Kids aren't stranded the way they used to be.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Head scratching at Davidson mentions. Not a lot going on in Davidson, NC. It’s about a half hour from Charlotte, which is great. But not a lot that is much closer.

Agree. I don’t think 30-60min away from a major city or even a decent town is suburban or urban. Almost every SLAC has a decent town within an hour. Even Bates, Williams, Bowdoin, Smith, Kenyon, etc...

Pomona consortium for example has 7 dining halls. Students would be fools to eat out in the city if they are paying for a meal plan. Generally it's like that at most slacs. Even coffee is included, so most students don't have a particular need to venture out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would look at UChicago. Their class sizes are smaller than at many LACs and there's an exciting city just 15 minutes outside of a beautiful suburban campus. Discussions are lively among the kids inside and outside the classroom. Interesting, very intellectually engaged peer group.

Chicago is a great school and has a beautiful campus (my nephew is an undergrad there and DS is a grad student), but it doesn't feel like a SLAC. Many undergrads live off campus, which isn't characteristic of SLACs. Furthermore, the presence of grad students and their role as TAs is also quite different from what you would find at a SLAC.

I agree it doesn't feel like a SLAC.

Lake Forest College does, and it's probably the definition of suburban. Leafy, north-of-Chicago campus.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Agree with others that SLACs have lots going on and a nearby city doesn't end up being a draw for most kids who are not already hard core urbanites.

At the far end of the spectrum, DS and I visited Grinnell last year -- an hour from Des Moines -- and they bring in all kinds of speakers and entertainment. Someone described it as like being on a cruise ship. They know they're off the beaten path and they make a big effort to counteract that.

Also, a lot of small SLACs nowadays have zip cars on campus. Kids aren't stranded the way they used to be.

At Oberlin, students can venture out to Cleveland to listen the Cleveland Orchestra. Or, just wait for it to come to Oberlin to perform. The incomparable Cleveland Orchestra has performed in Oberlin every year since 1919—some 240 concerts in all.

[Anonymous]

University of Richmond - 3 or 4 miles to very cool Carytown section of city and another couple miles to the city center. Very convenient and common trip for students looking to escape leafy suburban campus. Free university shuttles run pretty much continuously.

[Anonymous]

"My kid wants an urban/suburban SLAC."

"No she doesn't because she'll never leave campus. Here's a list of isolated schools in the middle of nowhere."

My kid had the same preference. It's tough to find, especially if DC isn't a contender for top schools. We think he's going to end up at Goucher College, on the edge of Baltimore. Suburban environment, nice campus, Baltimore accessible.

You might also consider U. of Vermont (small for a state U, in a small city), Brandeis, Tufts, Muhlenberg (didn't look at it, but it's in a small city, Allentown), Emerson.

[Anonymous]

I went to Wellesley, a suburban SLAC. I disagree with folks who are saying that students who love SLACs never want to leave campus because there's so much going on. I loved Wellesley itself, but definitely appreciated being just outside Boston with easy access to restaurants, movies, concerts, professional sports, museums, and internships -- not to mention other colleges nearby.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I went to Wellesley, a suburban SLAC. I disagree with folks who are saying that students who love SLACs never want to leave campus because there's so much going on. I loved Wellesley itself, but definitely appreciated being just outside Boston with easy access to restaurants, movies, concerts, professional sports, museums, and internships -- not to mention other colleges nearby.

Wellesley is an all-women college in the middle of nowhere. Barnard in the middle of NY - surrounded by other coed colleges and unis. Scripps is in the middle of nowhere surrounded by residential homes - but it's an all-women college surrounded by at least 6 co-ed colleges. Wellesley would be rough; it's not for everyone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I went to Wellesley, a suburban SLAC. I disagree with folks who are saying that students who love SLACs never want to leave campus because there's so much going on. I loved Wellesley itself, but definitely appreciated being just outside Boston with easy access to restaurants, movies, concerts, professional sports, museums, and internships -- not to mention other colleges nearby.

Wellesley is an all-women college in the middle of nowhere. Barnard in the middle of NY - surrounded by other coed colleges and unis. Scripps is in the middle of nowhere surrounded by residential homes - but it's an all-women college surrounded by at least 6 co-ed colleges. Wellesley would be rough; it's not for everyone.

And you think the poster was trying to say that? Her point was regarding the appeal of campus relation to an urban center.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:University of Richmond - 3 or 4 miles to very cool Carytown section of city and another couple miles to the city center. Very convenient and common trip for students looking to escape leafy suburban campus. Free university shuttles run pretty much continuously.

But isn’t Richmond up tight white entitled preppy kids? It gets a really bad rap on college confidential? And Richmond might be one of the most racist cities I have eve4 been to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I went to Wellesley, a suburban SLAC. I disagree with folks who are saying that students who love SLACs never want to leave campus because there's so much going on. I loved Wellesley itself, but definitely appreciated being just outside Boston with easy access to restaurants, movies, concerts, professional sports, museums, and internships -- not to mention other colleges nearby.

Agree. I like that SLAC’s have a lot going on but cultural, museums, concerts, sports games, and some restaurant and shopping are nice. My daughter couldn’t do months without going anywhere 7 days a week no matter what is going on

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Bates. Lewiston is Maine's second largest city/town.

And it is tiny— basically a village.