Thoughts on this college list - SLAC with supportive community and mellow vibe

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I assume he’s a junior. He should ED to his favorite SLAC. It is really hard to find comparable schools to the more selective SLACs.

I would add Grinnell.

The kid is not getting into Grinnell. Not with limited extras. And definitely not if the kid doesn’t apply ED. The admit rate is in the single digits.

They seem to think it’s 13%, which is still low, but it might not be the most self-selecting applicant pool. It’s either a target or a reach depending on a number of factors we don’t know. I think it’s premature to say this student would have no chance with Grinnell based on available info. It is not, however, a safety. Wooster and St Olaf might be.

What is this student interested in?

[Anonymous]

What’s Wooster like?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What’s Wooster like?

Down to earth kids, but surrounded by farmland and a rust belt economy .

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What’s Wooster like?

Down to earth kids, but surrounded by farmland and a rust belt economy .

Campus is nice. Prettier than we expected. Facilities felt new. All kinds of kids. More mainstream than, say, Oberlin, but didn’t tip to preppy. Walkable to a small downtown. Seemed like a nice place to spend 4 years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do people keep suggesting Juniata? Have you read student reviews? It sounds terrible and difficult to transfer out of.

A frequent poster has a kid who goes there and has convinced herself that it’s Harvard.

Multiple posters have recommended the school. I think the critic is the one with an obsession.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I assume he’s a junior. He should ED to his favorite SLAC. It is really hard to find comparable schools to the more selective SLACs.

I would add Grinnell.

The kid is not getting into Grinnell. Not with limited extras. And definitely not if the kid doesn’t apply ED. The admit rate is in the single digits.

Agreed. So, could someone please suggest some Midwest safeties.

Midwest safety - maybe Beloit?

We were really charmed by Beloit. Everyone we talked to was curious and earnest — almost disarmingly so. Felt like a good fit for kids are thinkers by nature, but in a non-performative, march-to-beat-of-their-own-drum sort of way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do people keep suggesting Juniata? Have you read student reviews? It sounds terrible and difficult to transfer out of.

A frequent poster has a kid who goes there and has convinced herself that it’s Harvard.

I suggested it and don't have a kid there. Why the chip about Juniata? Seems like a great school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What’s Wooster like?

Among other things, they are known for undergrad research and independent projects, where USNWR has them ranked 14th in a combined list (universities plus LACs.)

https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/rankings/undergrad-research-programs

They do even better on the senior capstone ranking (3rd).

https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/rankings/senior-capstone-programs

Such projects can be useful if intending to go to grad school.

[Anonymous]

Kalamazoo?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Grinnell is a great suggestion, though not a safety. Any other Midwest safeties to recommend?

Kalamazoo? Generous with merit aid.

[Anonymous]

Grinnell’s admit rate is lower than every single school on OP’s original list. All of them. Including Haverford. The idea that it’s a safety or target for even the best applicant is laughable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here: Thanks for all the thoughts here!

Mellow vibe = Collaborative vs competitive feel

I am surprised that people aren't more bullish on kid's chances at F&M, Lafayette, Kenyon, etc.

Also, we are full pay - does that make a difference here?

I’d be very surprised if a full pay boy with his stats - and assuming good application and demonstrated interest (to include interviews) - wasn’t accepted to those schools. Only caveat is if MCPS or similar where honors are weighted 1 instead of .5, the gpa isn’t super strong. People really need to specify honors weighting.

Also - I’d consider adding Bates, Grinnell, Macalester and Oberlin. Not sure of location preferences.

All good additions, especially to replace the fratty colleges.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here: Thanks for all the thoughts here!

Mellow vibe = Collaborative vs competitive feel

I am surprised that people aren't more bullish on kid's chances at F&M, Lafayette, Kenyon, etc.

Also, we are full pay - does that make a difference here?

I’d be very surprised if a full pay boy with his stats - and assuming good application and demonstrated interest (to include interviews) - wasn’t accepted to those schools. Only caveat is if MCPS or similar where honors are weighted 1 instead of .5, the gpa isn’t super strong. People really need to specify honors weighting.

Also - I’d consider adding Bates, Grinnell, Macalester and Oberlin. Not sure of location preferences.

All good additions, especially to replace the fratty colleges.

OP Here - thanks for all the thoughtful responses from this board. Very impressed with your breadth of knowledge and the advice you have given.

If fratty schools are eliminated, then this is list:

Kenyon
F&M
Lafayette
Vassar
Haverford (maybe too much of a reach)
UMD
Saint Mary's (for safety)
Union
Dickinson
Wooster (for safety)

Is this a better list? Kid is interested in Biology and History. Maxed out high school's curriculum. Are interviews vital? Has demonstrated interest/visited most of these schools already. Unwilling to go ED. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Kalamazoo?

Kalamazoo in case anyone reading this is curious: compact campus, traditional in appearance (old brick buildings around a green with criss-crossing paths, on a sloping hill), at the edge of an extremely unfancy midwestern city with a vibrant community arts scene. Students are encouraged to engage with the community, and there are robust opportunities to volunteer. Mostly open curriculum but with high standards annd expectations of independent research and hands-on learning. Lots of personal attention; the place clearly had a lot of heart. Seems to punch above its weight academically, with a graduation rate that is on par with far more selective schools, which suggested good things about the education. Eclectic group of kids who all seemed to like one another. All reported working hard.

We visited a bit on a lark, but turned out my kid really, really liked the vibe and is applying.

There’s an Amtrak station in town, maybe a mile from campus, which is probably how she’d get there were she to go.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here: Thanks for all the thoughts here!

Mellow vibe = Collaborative vs competitive feel

I am surprised that people aren't more bullish on kid's chances at F&M, Lafayette, Kenyon, etc.

Also, we are full pay - does that make a difference here?

I’d be very surprised if a full pay boy with his stats - and assuming good application and demonstrated interest (to include interviews) - wasn’t accepted to those schools. Only caveat is if MCPS or similar where honors are weighted 1 instead of .5, the gpa isn’t super strong. People really need to specify honors weighting.

Also - I’d consider adding Bates, Grinnell, Macalester and Oberlin. Not sure of location preferences.

All good additions, especially to replace the fratty colleges.

OP Here - thanks for all the thoughtful responses from this board. Very impressed with your breadth of knowledge and the advice you have given.

If fratty schools are eliminated, then this is list:

Kenyon
F&M
Lafayette
Vassar
Haverford (maybe too much of a reach)
UMD
Saint Mary's (for safety)
Union
Dickinson
Wooster (for safety)

Is this a better list? Kid is interested in Biology and History. Maxed out high school's curriculum. Are interviews vital? Has demonstrated interest/visited most of these schools already. Unwilling to go ED. Thanks!

This seems like a very good list!