Best LACs for normal, "cool" seniors

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Pp - typo - Colgate is not in the south.

[Anonymous]

I get why everyone is saying this is cringe but it’s kinda refreshing when most parents on here describe their kids as “quirky”. Which means… what, exactly? I think OP means he’s not a theater kid, not a hipster/grunge/goth kid, not a stem-dork. Middle of the road.

If you’re still here, OP: Lehigh and Bucknell.

[Anonymous]

Denison
Davidson
Richmond
Carleton
Ohio Wesleyan
Kenyon
Lafayette
Gettysburg

[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

My similar kid didn’t like Occidental at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I get why everyone is saying this is cringe but it’s kinda refreshing when most parents on here describe their kids as “quirky”. Which means… what, exactly? I think OP means he’s not a theater kid, not a hipster/grunge/goth kid, not a stem-dork. Middle of the road.

If you’re still here, OP: Lehigh and Bucknell.

Agree with middle of the road. Mine liked Richmond, W&M, Davidson, Denison, Kenyon, Sewanee, UVa. I’d add Bucknell, Wake, Lafayette, W&L.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wish we could all somehow share the mental picture we each have of this kid.

[Anonymous]

Maybe UVA ?

[Anonymous]

As someone watching kids of siblings and cousins hit the college years and seeing several go to LACs because of a lifetime of family beliefs that LACs were the way to go and end up feeling a bit out of place because they weren't super liberal / progressive / queers for Gaza types, let me suggest you take a long hard look at bigger schools, such as big flagships like UVA or Michigan or UNC. They tend to be much more laid back places these days compared to many of the LACs. And will have excellent professors and large curriculum offerings.

I'm not saying there aren't LACs that tick the boxes for your kid, but it's also not the 1990s either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As someone watching kids of siblings and cousins hit the college years and seeing several go to LACs because of a lifetime of family beliefs that LACs were the way to go and end up feeling a bit out of place because they weren't super liberal / progressive / queers for Gaza types, let me suggest you take a long hard look at bigger schools, such as big flagships like UVA or Michigan or UNC. They tend to be much more laid back places these days compared to many of the LACs. And will have excellent professors and large curriculum offerings.

I'm not saying there aren't LACs that tick the boxes for your kid, but it's also not the 1990s either.

+100. I always thought LAC’s were the way to go- until my kid and his friends started the college admissions process. A lot of LAC’s aren’t what they were during the 1990’s and many state flagships have undergone similar changes. UGA comes to mind- the Hope and Zell Miller scholarships attracted many students who might have opted for LAC’s during another era.

[Anonymous]

Denison

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As someone watching kids of siblings and cousins hit the college years and seeing several go to LACs because of a lifetime of family beliefs that LACs were the way to go and end up feeling a bit out of place because they weren't super liberal / progressive / queers for Gaza types, let me suggest you take a long hard look at bigger schools, such as big flagships like UVA or Michigan or UNC. They tend to be much more laid back places these days compared to many of the LACs. And will have excellent professors and large curriculum offerings.

I'm not saying there aren't LACs that tick the boxes for your kid, but it's also not the 1990s either.

+100. I always thought LAC’s were the way to go- until my kid and his friends started the college admissions process. A lot of LAC’s aren’t what they were during the 1990’s and many state flagships have undergone similar changes. UGA comes to mind- the Hope and Zell Miller scholarships attracted many students who might have opted for LAC’s during another era.

The majority of the country does not approve of what happened to Gaza. Only about a third approve. I don't think your issue has that much to do with any particular college because the entire country is upset with what happened to Gaza, particularly young people that would be going to colleges.

If you want your kid with the young people that are fine with what's going on in Gaza you may be able to find it but it's not going to be that easy.

[Anonymous]

It’s not just about Gaza. I toured SLAC’s in the Northeast with my kid before October 2023 (and attended one of them back in the day). Some of those colleges had already changed and become more polarized (athlete v nonathlete, rich v poor, domestic v international, liberal v conservative). My kid wasn’t crazy about any of them and felt more comfortable at more moderate colleges.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s not just about Gaza. I toured SLAC’s in the Northeast with my kid before October 2023 (and attended one of them back in the day). Some of those colleges had already changed and become more polarized (athlete v nonathlete, rich v poor, domestic v international, liberal v conservative). My kid wasn’t crazy about any of them and felt more comfortable at more moderate colleges.

I think it's important to do the work to find a good match. Increased polarization is everywhere but maybe if you look hard maybe you can find some less polarized choices.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Emory or Bucknell. Boring as F so normie son fits in well.

Macalaster would work too.

Biracial - Asian White right?

Nah, op kid def is not wasian.

My guess is he’s 100% white but a Spanish or lusophone last name.

The palest Sanchez you’ve ever seen in your life.

Or he’s half black ultra light skin

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:and who can forget "normal"

sooo.... those not like him are "abnormal"?

Exactly. Blue hair, bullhorn.