Best LACs for normal, "cool" seniors

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The only Northeast LAC that comes to mind is Colgate. This kid screams South. He would probably fit in great at W&L, Richmond, Furman, Davidson. Elon is not an LAC but could fit well too.

We didn't look further south but also College of Charleston, Sewanee, I'm sure there are more.

I don’t think any of these would be very interesting to a biracial, liberal (she said it twice) urban sophisticate who likes to snowboard and rock climb. Not one.

There is snowboarding in western VA and NC. And certainly rock climbing.

How much of either can you find in an urban area? Kid's gonna have to make a choice of location - city vs rural

[Anonymous]

Bucknell. Direct pipeline to the Street for cool, smart, unburdened, straight males.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The only Northeast LAC that comes to mind is Colgate. This kid screams South. He would probably fit in great at W&L, Richmond, Furman, Davidson. Elon is not an LAC but could fit well too.

We didn't look further south but also College of Charleston, Sewanee, I'm sure there are more.

I don’t think any of these would be very interesting to a biracial, liberal (she said it twice) urban sophisticate who likes to snowboard and rock climb. Not one.

Actually, W&L would be a good fit.

+1 I know a kid very similar to OP’s at W&L and absolutely loves it there.

[Anonymous]

How liberal, OP?
Blue hair No Kings?
Or just a regular guy who isn’t crazy about Trump, values diversity, and treats women as equals and believes in lifting up disadvantaged people?

[Anonymous]

OP, people on here are being so rude. I would suggest you ask on the College Confidential forums, you’ll get much better answers from parents who have recently gone through the admissions process. And visit campuses, you’ll get a much better idea of the vibes in person. From your description your son might enjoy Bucknell, Lehigh, Lafayette, Dickinson, Brandeis, HC, Davidson and Colgate. Probably steer away from the super liberal leaning schools like Vassar and Wesleyan. Denison in Ohio might be worth a look, as would the Maine schools- particularly Colby.

[Anonymous]

^ I’m the above poster, also F&M might be worth a look

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, people on here are being so rude. I would suggest you ask on the College Confidential forums, you’ll get much better answers from parents who have recently gone through the admissions process. And visit campuses, you’ll get a much better idea of the vibes in person. From your description your son might enjoy Bucknell, Lehigh, Lafayette, Dickinson, Brandeis, HC, Davidson and Colgate. Probably steer away from the super liberal leaning schools like Vassar and Wesleyan. Denison in Ohio might be worth a look, as would the Maine schools- particularly Colby.

What's HC? I'm looking at many of these schools for my DS who is similar to OPs. Liberal and cares about the environment, but not a drop of quirky.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, people on here are being so rude. I would suggest you ask on the College Confidential forums, you’ll get much better answers from parents who have recently gone through the admissions process. And visit campuses, you’ll get a much better idea of the vibes in person. From your description your son might enjoy Bucknell, Lehigh, Lafayette, Dickinson, Brandeis, HC, Davidson and Colgate. Probably steer away from the super liberal leaning schools like Vassar and Wesleyan. Denison in Ohio might be worth a look, as would the Maine schools- particularly Colby.

What's HC? I'm looking at many of these schools for my DS who is similar to OPs. Liberal and cares about the environment, but not a drop of quirky.

Pretty sure that’s Holy Cross.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, people on here are being so rude. I would suggest you ask on the College Confidential forums, you’ll get much better answers from parents who have recently gone through the admissions process. And visit campuses, you’ll get a much better idea of the vibes in person. From your description your son might enjoy Bucknell, Lehigh, Lafayette, Dickinson, Brandeis, HC, Davidson and Colgate. Probably steer away from the super liberal leaning schools like Vassar and Wesleyan. Denison in Ohio might be worth a look, as would the Maine schools- particularly Colby.

What's HC? I'm looking at many of these schools for my DS who is similar to OPs. Liberal and cares about the environment, but not a drop of quirky.

Pretty sure that’s Holy Cross.

Ah, probably not a great fit - we are not a religious family. Is Wesleyan that super liberal? Seemed fairly normal when we toured with my eldest, but he wasn't terribly interested in LACs.

[Anonymous]

Kenyon

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DC is from a big city, comfortable in his own skin, intelligent, social, cool, liberal and straight. He wants small classes and access to Profs, but doesn't want to be in too alternative of a culture. He is liberal, calm and easygoing. He is active (soccer, rock-climbing, snowboarding, track) but not a recruited athlete.

Which LAC would be "best fit" and most stimulating for him? Assuming he gets into the following schools: Wesleyan, Amherst, Carleton, Vassar, Occidental and Tufts (I think of it as a very big LAC)? He is biracial, well-traveled, chill, smart and motivated.

Intended major: Poli Sci, IR or History

What's sad about this is that the OP hasn't actually described their own kid in any meaningful way. Regardless of cringe factor, their description is so vague as to be meaningless in terms of judging which schools might be a fit. This is part of the reason for the negative response. It's presumptuous asking posters to engage with a collection of empty stereotypes, and to do so successfully would require a lot more effort than OP put into the ask.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ah, probably not a great fit - we are not a religious family. Is Wesleyan that super liberal? Seemed fairly normal when we toured with my eldest, but he wasn't terribly interested in LACs.

Three of the most liberal LACs are Oberlin, Vassar and Wesleyan. Wes might be a bit more middle of the road, especially for an athlete, but it's a very artsy, social justice type of student body. It could work for the right kid, though- especially since it's a bit bigger than other LACs

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Schools that my kid won't be at. Sounds like he and his mom think that his poop doesn't stink.

Colgate seems like a great suggestion. Several of the most insufferable people I've ever met went there.

If he is as cool as you say he is he would be miserable at about half the schools you listed. Vassar? Really?

Stay classy, Dcum!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DC is from a big city, comfortable in his own skin, intelligent, social, cool, liberal and straight. He wants small classes and access to Profs, but doesn't want to be in too alternative of a culture. He is liberal, calm and easygoing. He is active (soccer, rock-climbing, snowboarding, track) but not a recruited athlete.

Which LAC would be "best fit" and most stimulating for him? Assuming he gets into the following schools: Wesleyan, Amherst, Carleton, Vassar, Occidental and Tufts (I think of it as a very big LAC)? He is biracial, well-traveled, chill, smart and motivated.

Intended major: Poli Sci, IR or History

He sounds like the kind of kid who would be happy and would fit in anywhere. All the schools you mention are great. If you're going to look at Carleton, you might also want to look at Grinnell and possibly Macalester.

Here are some suggestions:

The Maine SLACs: Bowdoin, Bates, Colby
The Midwestern SLACs: Carleton, Grinnell, Macalester, Kenyon, Oberlin
The Claremont SLACs: Pomona, Pitzer, Harvey Mudd, Scripps, and Claremont McKenna
The PNW: Reed, Whitman, Lewis and Clark, University of Puget Sound, Willamette
The South: Colgate, Davidson
And, just because: St. Lawrence University (friendly, strong alumni network, VERY outdoorsy, active students, but COLD)

I'm getting Whitman and Bowdoin vibes, but then I don't know what he's looking for. He might want to think about weather (warm or cold?), location (urban, suburban, rural?), academics (he'll want challenging academics, but does he want super-intense academics or good-but-less-intense academics that would allow him a more balanced lifestyle), etc.

Good luck! I hope he finds his dream school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, people on here are being so rude. I would suggest you ask on the College Confidential forums, you’ll get much better answers from parents who have recently gone through the admissions process. And visit campuses, you’ll get a much better idea of the vibes in person. From your description your son might enjoy Bucknell, Lehigh, Lafayette, Dickinson, Brandeis, HC, Davidson and Colgate. Probably steer away from the super liberal leaning schools like Vassar and Wesleyan. Denison in Ohio might be worth a look, as would the Maine schools- particularly Colby.

What's HC? I'm looking at many of these schools for my DS who is similar to OPs. Liberal and cares about the environment, but not a drop of quirky.

Pretty sure that’s Holy Cross.

Ah, probably not a great fit - we are not a religious family. Is Wesleyan that super liberal? Seemed fairly normal when we toured with my eldest, but he wasn't terribly interested in LACs.

"Cool mom" is still here!