Elon vs U of Richmond

[Anonymous]

So much anger towards Elon!! Here is the thing -- if you don't go to a top 25 University, then the name of that University is mostly meaningless. Trust me as someone who does a lot of hiring. I will certainly consider somoene who didn't go to a top 25 school, but I will evaluate them based on other criteria. If I get a candidate for a job who went to Richmond, that degree isn't going to wow me any more than a degree from Elon. Sorry to disappoint Richmond alums.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:My kid is headed to Elon. I don’t kid myself and think it’s “better” than Richmond. Her counselors also had Richmond on her list but she thought it was too small. Not sure if she would have gotten in or not (maybe but it was not a sure thing). She did not want Elon because it was “everyone”a safety” but needed up loving it upon visiting after acceptance. It’s a nice campus and the kids seem very happy. Everyone she knows who went there or knows someone who went there loved their experience. That worked for her. She is not hung up on rankings and feels she may be better off at the top of the class in a “lower ranked” school, especially if she decides on law school, which she is considering.

So nice of hear that your impressions were in line with ours. My son is will probably choose Elon over his other choices including UVM and Virginia Tech. It’s a nice size that’s difficult to find.

Yes. She initially thought she wanted a larger school and ruled that out, then fell in love with a smaller school that just felt too small for her (she thought it felt like a boarding school). Elon felt like the perfect size. There are not that many schools in that range and most are Catholic (which was not a deal breaker).

My DD has the same issue — wanting a mid size school that isn’t Catholic. Any good ideas? (Not that there is anything wrong with wanting catholic school.)

Wake Forest is a similar size.

Tulane as well. My DD liked this size as well. Applied to Elon, Tulane, Wake Forest, Boston College. These are all pretty close in size.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just want to say both schools will have a range of smarts depending on where the applicants are from. A friends daughter from New York was rejected from Richmond while she knew several kids from other states with much lower stats in every way that were accepted. Every university needs a range and if you’re coming from a competitive area then the acceptance rates are lower. Doesn’t mean every student at Richmond will be smarter than every student at Elon.

But 9/10 will be smarter

Perhaps you missed this earlier in the thread:


"The last year test scores were required by either was 2019. According to the CDS from that year for each:

Elon's SAT ran from 1170-1330, which is 77th percentile to 93rd percentile. The median is around the 85th percentile.

Richmond's ran from 1300-1450, which is 91st to 99th percentile. The median is around the 95th percentile.

25% of Elon's students are therefore close to, at, or above the median at Richmond."


So not only will 9/10 not be smarter (assuming you're referring to testing ability), but 25% of Elon students are smarter than half of Richmond's students.

Most people who get into both will not choose Elon. It’s not as if it’s a much less expensive state school. So the kids who can actually get into U of R will likely go there over Elon.

I went to Elon as it was cheaper than UMass (my in-state option) and UR. Am I the idiot for choosing the most cost-effective option for my situation?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Both have pretty campuses, UR is closer to a city. Elon has grown to be a national university with top academics, UR has remained committed to the liberal arts. Comparable options, go where the kid is more comfortable.

No way are the comparable and Elon doesn’t have top academics.

+1

[Anonymous]

Elon- top academics at a national research university

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So much anger towards Elon!! Here is the thing -- if you don't go to a top 25 University, then the name of that University is mostly meaningless. Trust me as someone who does a lot of hiring. I will certainly consider somoene who didn't go to a top 25 school, but I will evaluate them based on other criteria. If I get a candidate for a job who went to Richmond, that degree isn't going to wow me any more than a degree from Elon. Sorry to disappoint Richmond alums.

Recruiter here. This. It’s what you do when you get there, so please don’t sacrifice fit/confidence for “rank”. Tbh, that goes for T-25 schools too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So much anger towards Elon!! Here is the thing -- if you don't go to a top 25 University, then the name of that University is mostly meaningless. Trust me as someone who does a lot of hiring. I will certainly consider somoene who didn't go to a top 25 school, but I will evaluate them based on other criteria. If I get a candidate for a job who went to Richmond, that degree isn't going to wow me any more than a degree from Elon. Sorry to disappoint Richmond alums.

It’s amazing how much focus there is on job prospects rather than academics. Some people care about academics.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Richmond is isolated. Much better school than Elon but definitely isolated.

What on earth? It’s in the city of Richmond. Elon is in the middle of nowhere.

Richmond IS in the city. Green but definitely in the city

[Anonymous]

Elon is I believe twice the size of Richmond fyi.
I would consider Elon midsize, and U of R at the high end of a SLAC enrollment, like Colgate

[Anonymous]

My son started at Elon and transferred to Davidson where he is now getting ready to graduate. When he first arrived at Davidson, he was shocked by the difference in academic rigor and quality of professors at Davidson after having a 4.0 at Elon. He says he had to work twice as hard just for a B+ at Davidson but he enjoyed the classes and level of discussions a lot more. He went from being one of the smartest students in his economics classes to a very average one at Davidson. As a parent, I don't think there is any doubt that Elon is a nice school with a pretty campus and happy students but its academic rigor is lacking compared to more selective schools. Again, this is just our family's experience. Others may disagree.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My son started at Elon and transferred to Davidson where he is now getting ready to graduate. When he first arrived at Davidson, he was shocked by the difference in academic rigor and quality of professors at Davidson after having a 4.0 at Elon. He says he had to work twice as hard just for a B+ at Davidson but he enjoyed the classes and level of discussions a lot more. He went from being one of the smartest students in his economics classes to a very average one at Davidson. As a parent, I don't think there is any doubt that Elon is a nice school with a pretty campus and happy students but its academic rigor is lacking compared to more selective schools. Again, this is just our family's experience. Others may disagree.

Does Davidson take many transfers ?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My son started at Elon and transferred to Davidson where he is now getting ready to graduate. When he first arrived at Davidson, he was shocked by the difference in academic rigor and quality of professors at Davidson after having a 4.0 at Elon. He says he had to work twice as hard just for a B+ at Davidson but he enjoyed the classes and level of discussions a lot more. He went from being one of the smartest students in his economics classes to a very average one at Davidson. As a parent, I don't think there is any doubt that Elon is a nice school with a pretty campus and happy students but its academic rigor is lacking compared to more selective schools. Again, this is just our family's experience. Others may disagree.

I’m surprised that anyone would be surprised about the Grand Canyon-sized gap between Elon and Davidson.

[Anonymous]

Elon is on the rise. Richmond on the decline. But you do you. Yeah, you do you. Just giving you the facts to make your own judgment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My son started at Elon and transferred to Davidson where he is now getting ready to graduate. When he first arrived at Davidson, he was shocked by the difference in academic rigor and quality of professors at Davidson after having a 4.0 at Elon. He says he had to work twice as hard just for a B+ at Davidson but he enjoyed the classes and level of discussions a lot more. He went from being one of the smartest students in his economics classes to a very average one at Davidson. As a parent, I don't think there is any doubt that Elon is a nice school with a pretty campus and happy students but its academic rigor is lacking compared to more selective schools. Again, this is just our family's experience. Others may disagree.

Does Davidson take many transfers ?

I believe Davidson had a higher than normal number of transfer admits during Covid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Elon is on the rise. Richmond on the decline. But you do you. Yeah, you do you. Just giving you the facts to make your own judgment.

So many facts that you provided. I had no idea Richmond had declined to Elon level- I guess we shouldn’t consider with the facts you’ve provided.

/s