Favorite College that changes lives?

[Anonymous]

St. Olaf is on our radar for a hockey player who wants to major in math.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I feel like CTCL always brings out the snobs.

I know kids who have gone to Ursinus and McDaniel. McD actively promotes their programs for kids with learning differences, and the kids I know who have gone there seemed very happy. I have a harder time characterizing Ursinus, but I do hear good things.

It's funny how few East Coast schools are on the list.

Maybe those who you label as snobs just have different standards and goals.

Several of the CTCL are on the brink of financial disaster.

Job placement and recruiting is not good at most of these small colleges.

Retention rates and 6 year graduation rates at many of the CTCL schools are not good.

Students can get a good education at most schools if motivated and disciplined, but the more important issue is job placement & internship opportunities.

I do not understand the focus on PhD placement for small college students as most humanities PhD struggle to find decent jobs.

CTCL is little more than a marketing organization for small relatively unknown schools most of which face significant financial hurdles.

What makes you think that all these students are pursuing humanities PhDs? Kalamazoo and Wooster are known for STEM grad placements.

A huge percentage of these schools major in humanities and go on to PhDs. Those circles must overlap. Even STEM PhDs aren't that much to brag about though? Like if you can get a good job with your bachelor's alone, isn't that the best case?

I think you mean that students major in humanities, but in any case, what is your source for this assertion that a huge percentage of the students at CTCL schools major in humanities?

[Anonymous]

Our oldest just started at Beloit this year. He really likes it. Small classes, engaged professors, more relaxed vibe. And I really can't complain that it costs the same as our average state school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I feel like CTCL always brings out the snobs.

I know kids who have gone to Ursinus and McDaniel. McD actively promotes their programs for kids with learning differences, and the kids I know who have gone there seemed very happy. I have a harder time characterizing Ursinus, but I do hear good things.

It's funny how few East Coast schools are on the list.

Maybe those who you label as snobs just have different standards and goals.

Several of the CTCL are on the brink of financial disaster.

Job placement and recruiting is not good at most of these small colleges.

Retention rates and 6 year graduation rates at many of the CTCL schools are not good.

Students can get a good education at most schools if motivated and disciplined, but the more important issue is job placement & internship opportunities.

I do not understand the focus on PhD placement for small college students as most humanities PhD struggle to find decent jobs.

CTCL is little more than a marketing organization for small relatively unknown schools most of which face significant financial hurdles.

What makes you think that all these students are pursuing humanities PhDs? Kalamazoo and Wooster are known for STEM grad placements.

A huge percentage of these schools major in humanities and go on to PhDs. Those circles must overlap. Even STEM PhDs aren't that much to brag about though? Like if you can get a good job with your bachelor's alone, isn't that the best case?

Do you have cites for that? You don't seem to be necessarily. acquainted with LAC life and majors these days.

Also, most STEM folks pursue grad studies as they are interested in research. That may not seem relevant to you, but all facets of your life are shaped by it, from energy to food to health.

+1 I don't see why the PP assumes a huge % of LAC students are majoring in humanities. Yes, the colleges require that you become educated in humanities and become a good writer but many are doing so while ALSO majoring in STEM fields. This site -- https://datausa.io/search?q=&dimension=University -- is helpful for seeing the distribution of majors at schools and, looking at a few of the CTCLs, the more common majors tend to be things like biological sciences and economics. Along with business and psychology, which are the top majors at most universities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our oldest just started at Beloit this year. He really likes it. Small classes, engaged professors, more relaxed vibe. And I really can't complain that it costs the same as our average state school.

I thought Beloit looked really great, kind of a less obnoxious Reed or Bard, but I could not sell my kid on Wisconsin.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I feel like CTCL always brings out the snobs.

I know kids who have gone to Ursinus and McDaniel. McD actively promotes their programs for kids with learning differences, and the kids I know who have gone there seemed very happy. I have a harder time characterizing Ursinus, but I do hear good things.

It's funny how few East Coast schools are on the list.

Maybe those who you label as snobs just have different standards and goals.

Several of the CTCL are on the brink of financial disaster.

Job placement and recruiting is not good at most of these small colleges.

Retention rates and 6 year graduation rates at many of the CTCL schools are not good.

Students can get a good education at most schools if motivated and disciplined, but the more important issue is job placement & internship opportunities.

I do not understand the focus on PhD placement for small college students as most humanities PhD struggle to find decent jobs.

CTCL is little more than a marketing organization for small relatively unknown schools most of which face significant financial hurdles.

What makes you think that all these students are pursuing humanities PhDs? Kalamazoo and Wooster are known for STEM grad placements.

A huge percentage of these schools major in humanities and go on to PhDs. Those circles must overlap. Even STEM PhDs aren't that much to brag about though? Like if you can get a good job with your bachelor's alone, isn't that the best case?

Do you have cites for that? You don't seem to be necessarily. acquainted with LAC life and majors these days.

Also, most STEM folks pursue grad studies as they are interested in research. That may not seem relevant to you, but all facets of your life are shaped by it, from energy to food to health.

+1 I don't see why the PP assumes a huge % of LAC students are majoring in humanities. Yes, the colleges require that you become educated in humanities and become a good writer but many are doing so while ALSO majoring in STEM fields. This site -- https://datausa.io/search?q=&dimension=University -- is helpful for seeing the distribution of majors at schools and, looking at a few of the CTCLs, the more common majors tend to be things like biological sciences and economics. Along with business and psychology, which are the top majors at most universities.

That poster is revealing a lot more ignorance about liberal arts colleges than they may realize.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I grew up in the GPNW and know the schools on this list from that region pretty well--have had friends attend all of them. They're all great places for kids who dig their respective ethos. In alpha order:

Evergreen State is super hippie. Like a left coast version of UNC-Asheville only more so. Or a mini UC Santa Cruz. More intellectual than academic, if that makes sense.

Reed is intense. Like a less selective but no less ambitious Swarthmore--but with lots of black eyeliner and hard drugs. If you're not both brilliant and cynical, it's not your spot.

UPS is kind of like a miniaturized flagship. Solid for business, music, and liberal arts and sciences. Wide range of kids there, almost all of them happy.

Whitman is like west coast Middlebury but in a bigger, better town (but also way further from anything else). For kids who check the "intellectual," "outdoorsy," and "at least somewhat preppy" boxes, it's heaven.

Willamette is right next to the state capital and is a school for go-getters, across a decent range of raw intellectual firepower levels.

Which of these schools would work for a moderately conservative student who is interested in that area of the country?

UPS or Willamette for sure. Probably Whitman, too. Definitely not Reed or Evergreen State.

UPS most of all, I'd think? Maybe Whitman

[Anonymous]

I have visited a bunch of these schools in person. In case it's helpful, I will share some of my impressions, a few at a time:

Reed: campus is beautiful and kind of classic: beautiful buildings, old trees, wide flat lawn where students play frisbee. As other posters have noted, it's academically intense, and very alternative. Students/faculty are old-school intellectual, the curriculum requires deep dives. There’s a touch of Swarthmore in the proud intensity of the workload, combined with the alternative vibes of…I dunno, Wesleyan or Oberlin? But there’s a distinct PNW feel, which takes some of the edge off. The intensity and alt-vibe were both too much for my kid (who's pretty alt!), who didn't apply.

Whitman is amazing. If it were on the east coast, it would feel like a NESCAC (Bowdoin, maybe?). Friendly student body -- a little bit of everything, maybe outdoorsy most of all. Lovely campus, strong quality of life, terrific facilities. You can have everything there…the only catch is you have to go to the moon to get it. Walla Walla, while a real (and great) town, is far from everywhere. First you fly across the whole country, then you drive for many hours, through multiple ecosystems. The isolation is sort of a feature and a bug, both. The feature = everybody on campus very specifically chose that place, and there's something special about that.

[Anonymous]

Beloit is lovely, a little quirky, great for the kid (like a kid mentioned in a different thread, who was smart and curious but not turning in busy work, not performing for teachers they didn’t like) who loves learning and thinking but doesn’t care about the game of school. A terrific new student center in an old power station, and an impressive STEM building, especially given the size. Everyone we talked to seemed really thoughtful. Some Greek life, but in a quirky way. Nice campus. Definitely kind of an outsider vibe. A small “city” that feels more like a town, but with some fun industrial design to the downtown. Beloit is on the small side, I get the sense that a new president is interested in driving up enrollment.

Eckerd is hard to make sense of. It's kind of amazing in some ways, and it's wholly unlike any other school out there. On the beach (bay, not rolling waves) which is great, though it's isolated from downtown St. Pete’s (vibrant, liberal). Eckerd seems like a unique mix of granola kids, party kids, marine bio kids, and more general liberal arts kids who wanted warm weather. Facilities are mixed, but it's green and tropical all year long. You can literally walk out of class in January and get onto a paddleboard or into a kayak, then paddle your way through mangroves, or to a bird sanctuary. It's quirky! Pet friendly, no Greek life, longboards and barefeet, a very active student EMS program, as well as a student marine search and rescue, which is cool. I wish they had a higher endowment — every mixed feeling I have about it stems from their relatively low endowment.

[Anonymous]

16:37, these summaries are really great - how many will you do?

[Anonymous]

Kalamazoo at the edge of a vibrant but struggling city. Lots of students volunteer, and I sense the student body is community-minded, and a little artsy? They haven’t been playing the campus-upgrade arms race that other schools have— some of the facilities are less shiny than other schools we saw, but the education is solid. Independent studies senior year, like Wooster.

Wooster is what everyone here says it is: pretty campus, friendly kids, walkable to a small downtown, a really solid experience, with an independent study senior year. I was pleasantly surprised by the facilities, though some here say that the dorms are uneven. Great merit. Solid place, plus bagpipes! A reliable, well-trod path by east coasters.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Juniata seems to get a lot of rave reviews here. Have also heard good things about Kalamazoo.

My child really enjoyed her time at Juniata. The faculty are very dedicated and approachable. Each student is assigned two advisors. My DD got excellent science training that resulted in her being selected for two prestigious internships. She is now in a fully funded grad program.

It is not for everyone though. I think a slick, super sophisticated kid would not like it. It is good for genuine kids who like traditions and wants to attend campus activities (vs take advantage of off campus diversions). They have a cool lakeside center where environmental/natural science types can spend a semester.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:16:37, these summaries are really great - how many will you do?

lol, only one more visit report coming! Then some thoughts on others we haven't seen yet. Apologies if it's too much for people -- feel free to skip! I always appreciate visit reports though.

[Anonymous]

I am intrigued by Emory & Henry, but couldn't get my child to send the application in the end. I think it may just be too far out in the sticks for her, despite having a lovely campus based on what I have seen online.

My child does seem to be interested in smaller schools - her top choice is Dean in MA, but she also applied to Alma in MI and Meredith in NC. These 3 are not CTCL schools, but they are small LACs.

Goucher would have been a nice choice, but they also lack one of the 2 majors she wanted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am intrigued by Emory & Henry, but couldn't get my child to send the application in the end. I think it may just be too far out in the sticks for her, despite having a lovely campus based on what I have seen online.

My child does seem to be interested in smaller schools - her top choice is Dean in MA, but she also applied to Alma in MI and Meredith in NC. These 3 are not CTCL schools, but they are small LACs.

Goucher would have been a nice choice, but they also lack one of the 2 majors she wanted.

Interesting on Alma? Why there, especially if Emory & Henry feels like the sticks for your DC?