Need suggestions on safety schools

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Goucher is another one in Baltimore, and I think it’s also in a safe part of town and gives merit.

Look at CTCL schools, too.

I wouldn’t recommend CTCL schools.

Because?

I dare not say more. Criticism of CTCL schools is strictly monitored on DCUM and immediately deleted.

I thought this forum seemed saner on this front lately. Let me try to summarize for the blissfully unware PP.

Many of us have had kids who attended CTCLs, and found them to be special communities in which our students thrived.

When the category of schools is brought up though, at least one (he claims they are legion though) poster starts complaining it is just a marketing gimmick. As near as I can tell, this poser or crowd has not first-hand experience with said schools. Anyway, the CTCL list was originally created by the New York Times' education reporter--not some marketing genius.

Oh, and there is another poster (I kid you not) who used to get set off by the fact that apparently the acronym also connotes a type of cancer.

Anyway, those schools are not for everyone. They are small, and often located in rural settings. They she offer a lot of support and very close relationships with faculty members. My kid got into six other higher ranked schools, but was drawn to one anyway. And as I said, exceeded all expectations there (for grades, leadership roles, research experiences, community engagement, internships, national awards, etc).

I recommend their traveling road show, which I am sure is a recruiting vehicle, but they also present a generic approach to the college search that is very healthy (even if the schools are their list do not appeal to your son or daughter). Good luck.

No, this forum isn’t “saner” on this issue - it’s being censored. There is a poster who monitors the board for any criticism of a CTCL school, immediately reports it to Jeff, and Jeff inexplicably deletes it.

The only thing that so-called CTCL schools have in common is their collusion to market themselves as somehow more “special” than hundreds of other second and third tier colleges with similar costs, low graduation rates, and lack of name recognition.

This poster’s comments are a good example of the problem. Their kid went to a school that happens to be on the CTCL website, and on that basis she thinks she’s an expert of every one of the dozens of schools on that list. It’s just crazy talk.

It’ll be interesting to see how long my post will be allows to stand.

NP here. You sound a little paranoid. My kid did not attended a CTCL school but looked at several. They actually looked really good. Agree there is some marketing going on, but these are small schools that folks might not otherwise hear about. All schools market themselves.

+1 and dismissing all the schools that happen to be on the list is as ridiculous as being an undiscriminating booster of all the schools. I think when people recommend CTCL it's more about the mindset of looking at what small colleges can offer even if they aren't highly ranked by USNWR. Yes, I would not recommend all schools in the list. Some do not have great retention and graduation rates but others do.

My DD has LACs on her list with a range of selectivity. Two happen to be on the CTCL list. They have a lot in common with schools not on the list.

This blogger did a good piece evaluating the schools and then this follow up on similar schools that also fit the criteria and may be better options to consider
https://educatedquest.com/colleges-that-should-be-colleges-that-change-lives/

[Anonymous]

My kid is interested in a college that has little interest from other kids in MCPS based on prior year enrollment numbers. She thinks that helps her. Not sure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Very high GPA and standard test scores, competitive public high school, low income family, national level awards, interesting ECs, well-rounded. Interested in environmental science and English. Could you suggest some schools with financial aid/merit scholarship, on the east coast, and preferably not in the middle of nowhere? We are pretty much settled on the reach and target schools but need ideas on safety -ish schools. I know there are probably no more safeties any more but we still need to try. Thank you!

Connecticut College, Fordham

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:UVM might be a good fit. Lots of environmental focus and great merit aid for your profile.

Read articles about the housing problems at Vermont. I just can’t send a kid to a place where they will struggle to find a place to sleep each year.