SLACs for intellectual, well grounded student

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I recommended Lawrence. My senior applied early action as a safety school and got accepted with a great merit aid package. It has made the long wait until March/April SLAC results more bearable. DD liked what she read about the student body (academic but not overly competitive) as well as the possibility of doing music through the conservatory, even as a non-major.

Yes! Lawrence. It think it maybe gets a bit overlooked due the location, but it's a lovely school and sounds like it could be a great fit for OP's daughter.

[Anonymous]

Macalester. Down to earth, not in the middle of nowhere (utban). Less of an elitist East Coast vibe than Carleton. A global focus. Not sure about the languages there however. I know it’s in the south but have her look at Rice too/ it sounds like it’d be a good fit in terms of vibe and interests. Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Macalester. Down to earth, not in the middle of nowhere (utban). Less of an elitist East Coast vibe than Carleton. A global focus. Not sure about the languages there however. I know it’s in the south but have her look at Rice too/ it sounds like it’d be a good fit in terms of vibe and interests. Good luck.

Thanks! Macalester is on the list because her sibilant applied and was accepted. I did the visit and agree she’s love it. (Hindsight is 20/20, but letting the kid who was griping about going to MN in the winter hang in the library and avoid the info session and tour was a bad call in retrospect).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sure, I know all this. School is my kids’ life. I know a ton of details. And they know a lot about the case I’m working on and my colleagues and wins or losses at my work. Why do people need to criticize something as abnormal just because it’s not what they do? That’s the part that seems abnormal, actually.

Not sure why you think abnormal is a criticism. The kid who can throw a 90-mph fastball or get a 1600 is abnormal. The people here are atypically involved when it comes to college choice. As, I suspect, is knowing the details of our work. I think it’s cool that your kids are interested in your work but mine would be bored to tears by mine, or my wife’s, or yours for that matter - no budding lawyers here. (“School is my kids’ life” is probably not what you meant to say. I hope that have more than that in their lives.)

OT, but I would like to know what kind of law PP does that PP's kids find it so interesting. I am a lawyer, but it would largely be a snooze-fest to go too much into it. I did bounce some trial arguments off my HS'er, which was insightful.

Criminal law.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Macalester. Down to earth, not in the middle of nowhere (utban). Less of an elitist East Coast vibe than Carleton. A global focus. Not sure about the languages there however. I know it’s in the south but have her look at Rice too/ it sounds like it’d be a good fit in terms of vibe and interests. Good luck.

What is this crap about Carleton having an elitist East Coast vibe? Carleton has an elitist Midwest vibe!

Is this a DCUM thing where the average poster claims a HHI of $500K but complains about everyone else being elitist and over exercising their white supremacy?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sure, I know all this. School is my kids’ life. I know a ton of details. And they know a lot about the case I’m working on and my colleagues and wins or losses at my work. Why do people need to criticize something as abnormal just because it’s not what they do? That’s the part that seems abnormal, actually.

Not sure why you think abnormal is a criticism. The kid who can throw a 90-mph fastball or get a 1600 is abnormal. The people here are atypically involved when it comes to college choice. As, I suspect, is knowing the details of our work. I think it’s cool that your kids are interested in your work but mine would be bored to tears by mine, or my wife’s, or yours for that matter - no budding lawyers here. (“School is my kids’ life” is probably not what you meant to say. I hope that have more than that in their lives.)

OT, but I would like to know what kind of law PP does that PP's kids find it so interesting. I am a lawyer, but it would largely be a snooze-fest to go too much into it. I did bounce some trial arguments off my HS'er, which was insightful.

Criminal law.

Aha, that makes sense, then.

[Anonymous]

Completely avoid Southern SLACs (Washington & Lee, Davidson). These schools are focused more on college societies and events than academics.

Generally mid-tier SLACS should be avoided(i.e. Sarah Lawrence). Generally these are filled with mediocre upper-middle class/wealthy kids. But sometimes very good schools are unjustifiably ranked low (i.e. Reed, Oberlin)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Completely avoid Southern SLACs (Washington & Lee, Davidson). These schools are focused more on college societies and events than academics.

Generally mid-tier SLACS should be avoided(i.e. Sarah Lawrence). Generally these are filled with mediocre upper-middle class/wealthy kids. But sometimes very good schools are unjustifiably ranked low (i.e. Reed, Oberlin)

Completely ignore commentary on SLACs at DCUM. The standard poster is just pulling crap out of her ass.

[Anonymous]

What does SWAMP stand for?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What does SWAMP stand for?

Swarthmore, Williams, Amherst, Middlebury, Pomona would be my guess. I've never heard of this acronym.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, seriously consider Wesleyan in CT. It’s a bit larger for SLACs. My daughter applied to a couple of the schools you referenced and ended up going to Wesleyan.

Not on our radar. Can you tell me more about why you think it’s a good fit?

DP DC graduated last year from Wes and had a wonderful experience. It’s a diverse student body that while intellectually engaged isn’t competitive at all......very collaborative. At 2,800 students it’s an unusually large LAC which can make a difference when compared to schools with 1200-1400 students. There’s a very robust arts community.....both fine and performing.....with hundreds of exhibitions and performances on campus every year. The location is also different from the usually more remote locations. Middletown is a short walk away with many restaurants and stores. The progressive housing plan was a great way to keep students on campus which enhanced the community. Many research opportunists and my DC built strong relationships with many of his professors. My other DC attends an Ivy and the Wes experience in my opinion is vastly superior.

OP, I am first poster who mentioned Wesleyan. The above poster is right on mark about Wesleyan. It’s just such a mixture of benefits of a SLAC but also larger than other SLACs s and also has a small grad program. It seems to us to be the best of all worlds. I would recommend that you at least look in to this school further if you’re not familiar with it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, seriously consider Wesleyan in CT. It’s a bit larger for SLACs. My daughter applied to a couple of the schools you referenced and ended up going to Wesleyan.

Not on our radar. Can you tell me more about why you think it’s a good fit?

DP DC graduated last year from Wes and had a wonderful experience. It’s a diverse student body that while intellectually engaged isn’t competitive at all......very collaborative. At 2,800 students it’s an unusually large LAC which can make a difference when compared to schools with 1200-1400 students. There’s a very robust arts community.....both fine and performing.....with hundreds of exhibitions and performances on campus every year. The location is also different from the usually more remote locations. Middletown is a short walk away with many restaurants and stores. The progressive housing plan was a great way to keep students on campus which enhanced the community. Many research opportunists and my DC built strong relationships with many of his professors. My other DC attends an Ivy and the Wes experience in my opinion is vastly superior.

OP, I am first poster who mentioned Wesleyan. The above poster is right on mark about Wesleyan. It’s just such a mixture of benefits of a SLAC but also larger than other SLACs s and also has a small grad program. It seems to us to be the best of all worlds. I would recommend that you at least look in to this school further if you’re not familiar with it.

OP here. This is definitely on the list. My kid reviewed the website and is intrigued. Signed up for a virtual info session next week. And, signed up for a Lawrence info session. She was missing another solid safety and EA is perfect. Being pointed towards those two schools is worth all the snark.

Still love to hear about the atmosphere at Vasser, Hamilton, and Tufts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What does SWAMP stand for?

Swarthmore, Williams, Amherst, Middlebury, Pomona would be my guess. I've never heard of this acronym.

In a post-Trump works, I can’t imagine it’s one they push.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Completely avoid Southern SLACs (Washington & Lee, Davidson). These schools are focused more on college societies and events than academics.

Generally mid-tier SLACS should be avoided(i.e. Sarah Lawrence). Generally these are filled with mediocre upper-middle class/wealthy kids. But sometimes very good schools are unjustifiably ranked low (i.e. Reed, Oberlin)

Completely avoid internet morons like this.

[Anonymous]

OP while I do agree that most of the LACs on page 1 are very high reaches, if your kid loves Bates my naviance data analysis says they give a HUGE boost for ED full-pays. Check your naviance to see if it is the same. Bates is an amazing school. You do have to write a thesis to graduate though.