Hamilton College in NY

[Anonymous]

You seem to spent most of your time cruising these threads so you can make fun of others since your signature sign-off is "thanks for the entertainment." Why don't you do something constructive and help a first generation college student or a niece or nephew with the college process?

[Anonymous]

your first sentence is fair--there are threads in which I participate constructively; then I browse around and stumble across these infantile arguments and, well, I just can't stop myself from commenting when a college thread gets taken over with grade school-level schoolyard fights.

your 2nd sentence is where you overreach, knowing nothing more about me but for my dcum posts. I'll not reply to that.

I'm pretty new here as I got on a few months ago to help with my kid's march to pvt hs. That's done, I've hung around cuz it is, after all, highly entertaining; but I'm about ready to move on. This is DC, after all, and I can get the same lowbrow entertainment reading an editorial page.

But may I close with an observation? I admitted, first line, that your criticism was fair. How often do you read that around here?

Many of the ladies (assumption) around here fuss and jab about the minutia of test scores, admission rates, and other silly this n that. Truly, isn't it better to go to pisspot state u if they at least succeed in imparting some critical thinking skills?

[Anonymous]

Thanks for your frank and thoughtful response.

I'm interested in test scores and admission rates and all things college because I do help first generation college students and their parents with the admissions process. The process is pretty horrendous these days and has become really difficult for everyone so it's important to have the facts and a game plan (about test scores, regular admission, early action, early decision, hooks, financial aid, recommendations, essays, interviewing and extra-curriculars).

There is a lot of misinformation on this thread generally speaking. A handy and glaring example is the post by the ostensible Ivy League graduate who denies the bona fides of Wash U.

Kids need all the help they can get - and that includes the correct information - to get into a college that's a good fit. And, BTW, many of the private colleges offer as much or more in financial aid than the state universities do these days.

That said I hope you stick around after all

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks for your frank and thoughtful response.

I'm interested in test scores and admission rates and all things college because I do help first generation college students and their parents with the admissions process. The process is pretty horrendous these days and has become really difficult for everyone so it's important to have the facts and a game plan (about test scores, regular admission, early action, early decision, hooks, financial aid, recommendations, essays, interviewing and extra-curriculars).

There is a lot of misinformation on this thread generally speaking. A handy and glaring example is the post by the ostensible Ivy League graduate who denies the bona fides of Wash U.

Kids need all the help they can get - and that includes the correct information - to get into a college that's a good fit. And, BTW, many of the private colleges offer as much or more in financial aid than the state universities do these days.


That said I hope you stick around after all

The competition to get into these small ALCs is indeed intense. It is said taht Hamilton is a safety school for those rejected by the Iviies. Same probably holds true for some of the other LACs.

[Anonymous]

Here's how the NYTs puts it:


http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/16/education/16admissions.html?_r=1

[Anonymous]

^^^And, I forgot to mention, this article is from 5 years ago. During that time alone, admissions has become even more competitive.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't characterize the top SLACs as Ivy back-ups. For many/most applicants they are an alternative to the Ivies -- very different in terms of size, location and culture.

[Anonymous]

My DCs are only interested in going to a SLAC or a similar schools. Different strokes I suppose. Too much hype for national universities and 5 years out I hope they will each have recently finished a med and law school, respectively of a large national university.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DCs are only interested in going to a SLAC or a similar schools. Different strokes I suppose. Too much hype for national universities and 5 years out I hope they will each have recently finished a med and law school, respectively of a large national university.

Dunno, judging from your post, you seem pretty comfortable with your own hype, respectively.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DCs are only interested in going to a SLAC or a similar schools. Different strokes I suppose. Too much hype for national universities and 5 years out I hope they will each have recently finished a med and law school, respectively of a large national university.

And your point is????

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DCs are only interested in going to a SLAC or a similar schools. Different strokes I suppose. Too much hype for national universities and 5 years out I hope they will each have recently finished a med and law school, respectively of a large national university.

Nice of you to pick out a career for them. Do they have any say in this?

[Anonymous]

I get the point. There is a tremendous hype toward Ivies on this board to the detriment of a fine school such as Hamilton detached from a life goal - implying the goal is admission to an Ivy for the sake of going to an Ivy. The better question is why do people care about comparing Hamilton to Ivies? if your kids end up with fruitful careers and are happy what's the point of focusing on an Ivy? Similar to the obsession with big 3 privates.

[Anonymous]

So what's the profile of the average freshman? In other words, what type of GPA/SAT would my DC need to make it in?

[Anonymous]

The highly rated smal LACs are indeed viewed as favorably as the Ivies in today's business world. Its really not necessary to stress out over admittance to HYP etc. when you have access to a Hamilton or otehrs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The highly rated smal LACs are indeed viewed as favorably as the Ivies in today's business world. Its really not necessary to stress out over admittance to HYP etc. when you have access to a Hamilton or otehrs.

I've worked in various companies for nearly two decades. With the exception of a handful of private equity firms that seem overly focused on Stanford business school graduates, my experience is that companies don't care much about an Ivy or well-known college background. Indeed, the more successful business types seem to be the standouts from lesser known public and private colleges and universities.