SLACs for intellectual, well grounded student

[Anonymous]

Sounds like your older daughter is at Denison. If that is the case curious why DD2 is not interested in Denison.

[Anonymous]

OP, reading your post makes me think she may be studying a critical language. Is that the case? Which one? I can probably provide some tailored recommendations if she’s interested in sticking with it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

How do you see that in Naviance? At my kid’s school you can’t see ED or financial information. Just gpa and SAT.

[Anonymous]

Didnt read the whole thread, but saw Wesleyan (in CT) mentioned. I went to Wes and can recommend it, as well!
Best of luck to your kid in this crazy year!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like your older daughter is at Denison. If that is the case curious why DD2 is not interested in Denison.

I don’t say Denison. But, Denison = too preppy

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, reading your post makes me think she may be studying a critical language. Is that the case? Which one? I can probably provide some tailored recommendations if she’s interested in sticking with it.

Good point Latin grounding. Now becoming fluent in French, which can be found anywhere. Also picking up a critical Asian language, because “it’s cool,” but probably not to pursue. Wants an EU focused critical language as her third foreign language. So, maybe Russian or former Eastern bloc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

How do you see that in Naviance? At my kid’s school you can’t see ED or financial information. Just gpa and SAT.

Yes I understand that -- forgive me the financial part was based on assumption as my public HS is in a town where most are affluent and probably full pay; but the acceptance rate ED was about 80% (!) and RD about 20% and for kids with MUCH higher stats. It's possible an athlete or two skewed that but there were multiple acceptances each year.

Again I apologize for projecting my communities' financial profile, but if you have some sense of your own you can adapt. I was only trying to help. Bates is awesome, although my kid chose a different NESCAC because of the thesis requirement!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Oh, you think Washington & Lee is intellectual or well-grounded?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

It's unfortunate you sent your child to W&L by just looking at the rankings, but its a school for drinking events, not academics.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

How do you see that in Naviance? At my kid’s school you can’t see ED or financial information. Just gpa and SAT.

Yes I understand that -- forgive me the financial part was based on assumption as my public HS is in a town where most are affluent and probably full pay; but the acceptance rate ED was about 80% (!) and RD about 20% and for kids with MUCH higher stats. It's possible an athlete or two skewed that but there were multiple acceptances each year.

Again I apologize for projecting my communities' financial profile, but if you have some sense of your own you can adapt. I was only trying to help. Bates is awesome, although my kid chose a different NESCAC because of the thesis requirement!

OP here. I agree. There are some schools that are known for relying heavily on their ED pools. Kenyon and Bates come to mind. And COVID uncertainty and colleges wanting to lock in students vs figure out who is serious when applications double is why we are focusing on solid ED1 and 2. The thought had been Carleton and Vasser. But Carleton is a strong favorite for a number of reasons.

Mostly full pay. The NPC says about $15,000 a year for 2 years while we have two kids in college, then full pay.

[Anonymous]

Also OP— this is the time rush. She can get to MN next fall and will hit Carleton, Mac and St, Olaf to the greatest extent possible. But, we probably only have 1 or 2 more visits logistically possible on a more normal campus before an ED2 call. Hence DMV hive mind. Where should she prioritize visiting for ED2? I agree Wesleyan looks amazing. But, is it some competitive that she needs a more realistic ED2?

[Anonymous]

OP, the W&M/St. Andrews program is an overpriced joke, IMO and based on the experience of people I know who went through the program. They don't develop meaningful relationships with students, professors, or clubs at each campus and really only get to know one another really well. The employment placements of the kids in the program were also subpar (though I can't speak to how much each individual played a role in that), and a few were long-term unemployed post-grad.

That said, the IR program at W&M is very, very strong. Strong focus on econ within the program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Wait, you are not considering Wesleyan a safety for your kid, are you? It's not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Wait, you are not considering Wesleyan a safety for your kid, are you? It's not.

Definitely not. I would consider it a reach. So much so that I wonder if it would be worth wasting an ED application.

Lawrence and St. Olaf would be the safeties. EA on a safety is nice. Wooster was DC1’s. Also, siblings school is a match, and has a reputation for giving siblings a strong legacy preference. If they have one kid there, getting good grades, not a disciplinary problem, parents paying the bills, it’s more of a sure thing for them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, the W&M/St. Andrews program is an overpriced joke, IMO and based on the experience of people I know who went through the program. They don't develop meaningful relationships with students, professors, or clubs at each campus and really only get to know one another really well. The employment placements of the kids in the program were also subpar (though I can't speak to how much each individual played a role in that), and a few were long-term unemployed post-grad.

That said, the IR program at W&M is very, very strong. Strong focus on econ within the program.

OP here. We’ve heard the same. I’m wary of the dual degrees. But American has something similar in Japan that looks better and DD is into the idea of Columbia/Science Po