Elite schools with down to earth students

[Anonymous]

The College and University forum is generally civilized and helpful. This is a very troll-y thread. Must be in Recent Topics. There are posters here who have absolutely no idea what they’re talking about.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Bowdoin

NOT Bowdoin- very white, upper class, prep-school, snooty New England brats. Wanna be IVY's that couldn't get in.

+1

Uninformed take on Borodin. What are you, 12?

No, my daughter went there and had a hard time socially as a woman of color. Very cliquey students with little exposure to students with difference- culturally or otherwise. Wonderful teachers, though, and that's what got her through. Brunswick is a cute town, but also lacks diversity and somewhat isolated. It's the social piece that is tough as a woman of color.

If diversity was that important for her then why would she have applied? I’d also say that describing students as bratty is sophomoric. Your daughter made a bad decision but that’s not a reflection on the school. Grow up.

I've read many of DCUM responses in my day but this comes across as nearly the most obnoxious. Mother of daughter who experienced a difficult time at Bowdoin socially, I'm sorry. Strong academics but insular.

I was thinking the same. Critcal poster is incredibly defensive and sensitive. Sorry, Bowdoin mom. I agree that diversity is an important part of a learning environment. My dd is white, but she is so used to a very diverse school in the DC area, she has crossed off or downgraded a few schools for lack of diversity. I can't imagine how difficult that must have been for a young woman of color. Thank you for sharing. Very helpful.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Haverford

+100. It is the Quaker vibe.

Why is it not the same at Sidwell? Location?

People don't go to Sidwell because of any Quaker values/policies/vibe...when you hear about why people send their kids there, it's about the academics (and prestige, no doubt, has a lot to do with it).

Haverford absolutely has first-rate academics but it is a Quaker institution at its core...and it IS what attracts many students...
[/quote


False. There are only 75,000 Quakers left in the US and they are too old to have college-aged kids. Ever see the deserted Quaker church in Nantucket? It’s a dying religion. Also Haverford, like most Protestant missionary training schools started in the US, no longer has any affiliation with Quakerism.

Don't know what you mean by "has no affiliation with Quakerism" and it is nonsectarian...but it's Quaker roots are strong and it is unapologetic about it...

https://www.haverford.edu/sites/default/files/Office/President/Haverford-Quaker-Elements.pdf

Go look Haverford on wiki ir it’s own page. It no longer has any religious connection with Quakerism just as my own Slac no longer has any connection with the Presbyterian Church and Harvard has no connection with the Congregationalist church. Even the President of Haverford Wendy E Raymond is not Quaker. They may want to claim there is not “feel” there but it’s purely projection on your part if you think it’s there, just like there is no Quaker “feel” to Sudwell.

Nobody is arguing about the fact that Haverford is not formally a Quaker college anymore--it is obviously nonsectarian. But I just read the link provided by the earlier poster (because my DS is a junior and is interested in looking at Haverford--in part because of a Peace Studies program they have--which sounds pretty Quaker-ish to me) and it is clear that the college still has a clear Quaker identity. The whole PDF is about how Quaker elements are woven into the fabric of the college.

https://www.haverford.edu/sites/default/files/Office/President/Haverford-Quaker-Elements.pdf

I don't know anything about Sidwell but I haven't seen anything like this about that school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What are elite, or very good schools (say average ACT 30/31 or higher), have the most down to earth students? That aren't super competitive amongst students even if students have strong aspirations?

The two Yale alumni I've known were great.

Yale has the most down to earth students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bowdoin

NOT Bowdoin- very white, upper class, prep-school, snooty New England brats. Wanna be IVY's that couldn't get in.

+1

Uninformed take on Borodin. What are you, 12?

No, my daughter went there and had a hard time socially as a woman of color. Very cliquey students with little exposure to students with difference- culturally or otherwise. Wonderful teachers, though, and that's what got her through. Brunswick is a cute town, but also lacks diversity and somewhat isolated. It's the social piece that is tough as a woman of color.

If diversity was that important for her then why would she have applied? I’d also say that describing students as bratty is sophomoric. Your daughter made a bad decision but that’s not a reflection on the school. Grow up.

I've read many of DCUM responses in my day but this comes across as nearly the most obnoxious. Mother of daughter who experienced a difficult time at Bowdoin socially, I'm sorry. Strong academics but insular.

I was thinking the same. Critcal poster is incredibly defensive and sensitive. Sorry, Bowdoin mom. I agree that diversity is an important part of a learning environment. My dd is white, but she is so used to a very diverse school in the DC area, she has crossed off or downgraded a few schools for lack of diversity. I can't imagine how difficult that must have been for a young woman of color. Thank you for sharing. Very helpful.

+1. Black women don’t make up a significant percentage of the student body at many top schools. And your DD clearly had the qualifications for these if she attended Bowdoin. She should not have to limit her college list to places that have a critical mass of Black women. The defensive Bowdoin poster is an example of Gaslighting 101.

I’m sorry to hear this about Bowdoin. My white DD is planning on applying this year. But, her large public HS is 35% white, 35% Asian, 30% Hispanic/black/biracial/other and she wants a diverse environment (race and SES) for college. She’d hate a rich, white country club atmosphere, and has tried hard to avoid that scene in developing her college list. She’d really hate a college with students that made POC feel unwelcome.

Oh well, snarky Bowdoin defender could rightfully was her reach anyway and Bowdoin will have plenty of better candidates. She can find a different reach that is more diverse. Suggestions?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bowdoin

NOT Bowdoin- very white, upper class, prep-school, snooty New England brats. Wanna be IVY's that couldn't get in.

+1

Uninformed take on Borodin. What are you, 12?

No, my daughter went there and had a hard time socially as a woman of color. Very cliquey students with little exposure to students with difference- culturally or otherwise. Wonderful teachers, though, and that's what got her through. Brunswick is a cute town, but also lacks diversity and somewhat isolated. It's the social piece that is tough as a woman of color.

If diversity was that important for her then why would she have applied? I’d also say that describing students as bratty is sophomoric. Your daughter made a bad decision but that’s not a reflection on the school. Grow up.

NP
Sometimes you don't realize how important diversity is until you're smack dab in the middle of a culturally vacant environment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What are elite, or very good schools (say average ACT 30/31 or higher), have the most down to earth students? That aren't super competitive amongst students even if students have strong aspirations?

The two Yale alumni I've known were great.

Yale has the most down to earth students.

True for my Yale friend, but it sounds like the intensity of the post-college planning was stressful. So many ambitious students all comparing future plans.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Carleton

+1 based on graduates I know.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Go look Haverford on wiki ir it’s own page. It no longer has any religious connection with Quakerism just as my own Slac no longer has any connection with the Presbyterian Church and Harvard has no connection with the Congregationalist church. Even the President of Haverford Wendy E Raymond is not Quaker. They may want to claim there is not “feel” there but it’s purely projection on your part if you think it’s there, just like there is no Quaker “feel” to Sudwell.

Sidwell still has a Board and a head of school that are Quaker. Say what you will about Haverford, but please stop dragging Sidwell into it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t have an axe to grind, but your information is clearly out of date. My daughter has two friends there and hears plenty about the current atmosphere there.

My son is there, studying engineering, and has found it to be a very friendly, collaborative environment. He has also been struck by how outgoing the majority of students are. He is having a very good time inside and outside the classroom.

+1 same! Have engineering freshman student who is thrilled & part of it is the supportive peers (academically as well as socially).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bowdoin

NOT Bowdoin- very white, upper class, prep-school, snooty New England brats. Wanna be IVY's that couldn't get in.

+1

Uninformed take on Borodin. What are you, 12?

No, my daughter went there and had a hard time socially as a woman of color. Very cliquey students with little exposure to students with difference- culturally or otherwise. Wonderful teachers, though, and that's what got her through. Brunswick is a cute town, but also lacks diversity and somewhat isolated. It's the social piece that is tough as a woman of color.

If diversity was that important for her then why would she have applied? I’d also say that describing students as bratty is sophomoric. Your daughter made a bad decision but that’s not a reflection on the school. Grow up.

I've read many of DCUM responses in my day but this comes across as nearly the most obnoxious. Mother of daughter who experienced a difficult time at Bowdoin socially, I'm sorry. Strong academics but insular.

I was thinking the same. Critcal poster is incredibly defensive and sensitive. Sorry, Bowdoin mom. I agree that diversity is an important part of a learning environment. My dd is white, but she is so used to a very diverse school in the DC area, she has crossed off or downgraded a few schools for lack of diversity. I can't imagine how difficult that must have been for a young woman of color. Thank you for sharing. Very helpful.

+1. Black women don’t make up a significant percentage of the student body at many top schools. And your DD clearly had the qualifications for these if she attended Bowdoin. She should not have to limit her college list to places that have a critical mass of Black women. The defensive Bowdoin poster is an example of Gaslighting 101.

I’m sorry to hear this about Bowdoin. My white DD is planning on applying this year. But, her large public HS is 35% white, 35% Asian, 30% Hispanic/black/biracial/other and she wants a diverse environment (race and SES) for college. She’d hate a rich, white country club atmosphere, and has tried hard to avoid that scene in developing her college list. She’d really hate a college with students that made POC feel unwelcome.

Oh well, snarky Bowdoin defender could rightfully was her reach anyway and Bowdoin will have plenty of better candidates. She can find a different reach that is more diverse. Suggestions?

Pomona is the most diverse school in the country.

[Anonymous]

So, only liberal arts colleges??

[Anonymous]

My son went to Rice, and I'd characterize him and his friends as ambitious students who are friendly and collaborative. They're also not hung up on whether Rice is considered an elite school. As recent grads, they feel like they got a good education, made good friends and are successfully pursuing their post-grad plans. I'd guess that there are three factors that contribute to this vibe:

1) the residential college systems, which is welcoming to all entering students and builds community;

2) the fact that many students don't come from the east coast and are not hothouse flowers who have been bred to compete with one another a la Hunger Games;

and,

3) the fact that many of the students who are from the east coast chose to go to a school that many on DCUM might not consider "truly elite".

Go Owls!

[Anonymous]

Not Rice. Isn’t elite.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So, only liberal arts colleges??

Maybe not only liberal arts colleges, but it stands to reason that with their smaller sizes, they might be able to select for a particular ethos in the student body and then attract new students on that basis. So if 80% of students at a 2000-person school are down-to-earth, that's pretty pervasive in the student body, even if it's only 1,6000 people. As someone else said, you can no doubt find many down-to-earth students at large universities as well. If 10% of students at a 40,000-person university are down-to-earth, that's a larger number. But do they pervade the school? Probably less likely.