Beware of Small Liberal Arts Colleges if you're not on a sport

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Please, people, name the colleges you are talking about. Particularly you, OP. So bizarre to come here to "give advice" to other parents but not to mention the school in question. Are you worried that you'll somehow be outed?

They aren’t really parents. They are trolls.

Why is anyone whose opinion is counter to yours a troll?

Jeff has unmasked the anti-SLAC trolls before. It’s a known issue. And they don’t have kids.

No, he hasn't. Show proof.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I see a lot of folks here don't really get the benefit of SLACs. Here's some food for thought: (1) Unlike the competitive club culture at Ivys, UCLA, Georgetown, etc. my DC is able to participate in almost any club he wants. In fact, he's welcomed with open arms. (2) Want to conduct research with a Professor? At Ivys, UCLA, Georgetown, etc., undergrads compete with graduate students for positions. My DC gets to do cutting edge research with amazing professors without having to worry about some grad student pushing him out. (3) Want to live with a D1 athlete even though you aren't one? Not gonna happen at the majority of large schools. At my DC's school, there are no frat/sorority houses. Nor are there dorms or halls for athletes. Everyone lives together. Period. (4) Enjoy fighting to get into Freshman classes with 100+ students? NO? Well, the average student:teacher ratio at DC's school is 9:1. That's pretty standard at top SLACs. And because DC knows his teachers, they are able to write recommendations for him. Cues up my last point... (5) Looking for real world work experience? DC was able to secure an amazing internship for summer 2024with an alum based on a rec from one of his teachers. He's a Freshman.
I went to a much larger school and had a very different undergrad experience. Do I think big/small/medium schools are for everyone? Absolutely not. But, I do know that SLACs can be life changing and that this purported NARP/athlete divide is not present for most kids. I visited for family weekend in October and was blown away by the happiness on campus. The kids love being there, mine included.

This is exactly what my DS is looking for. Do you mind sharing what college this is?

This is Davidson. DS has friends at Middlebury and Carleton having very similar experiences.
DS' roommate is a basketball player. They are planning to live together next year. I guess some people do not enjoy spending every waking moment with their teammates.

Davidson is 27% athletes. Not as big a problem. Middlebury has athletic housing so is more of an issue. Carleton also not a problem

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It might just be people trying to get others to not accept offers at the SLACS because of the small number of spaces offered. So, don't always believe what you read on the net.

It’s definitely something that is discussed online. I think SLACs offer tons of good opportunities. But BIPOC, non-wealthy, and/or non-athletes have described not fitting in some of these schools. So it’s definitely a consideration for those of us researching them.

Oh for Pete’s sake. You people need to get lives and stop living weirdly through your kids. It’s creepy and ridiculous.

Umm. I’m not living through my kid? So in the college search, you and your kid have not looked at all for fit? You realize people might be looking for different things or concerned about different things? Again-I think SLACs are wonderful—the size, the focus on teaching/undergrad studies, etc. But these issues are legitimate even if they do not matter to you/impact you.

Anyone who writes creepily about how “we” are at a NESCAC while talking about their own child is absolutely living creepily through their kids, and that is something you see a lot from the anti-SLAC posters including OP. It’s really weird. Be like those people if you want but don’t be surprised when the normal folks find you strange.

It does not surprise me that the child of someone who talks about how “we” are in a particular college has severe social problems, but that’s not the fault of the school.

Why are you talking about the OP vs responding to wha to I said? I’m not anti-SLAC. Saying you have some concerns is not anti-SLAC. Such black and white thinking.

[Anonymous]

I have an athletic DD who does not want to play a varsity sport in college, but wants a SLAC. She’d like to participate in things like the newspaper, radio station and club/intramural sports. Reading this thread makes me sad. Can anyone with first hand experience name a SLAC where my kid would fit in? I’m beginning to worry for her.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:agree with earlier poster that this is a real problem at smaller nescacs like Williams and middlebury - get ready for cold lonely winters there if ur not an athlete. Less of an issue at the larger schools like Tufts and Wes. Athletics is almost a counter culture at Wes, the jocks are basically seen as caricatures

Middlebury currently has 2,800 students. Just under 800 students participate on sports teams. That leaves 2,000+ non-athletes. Hardly lonely.

[Anonymous]

800 out of 2800 is a lot ,but I know middlebury isn't one of the problematic ones. their housing for athletes is divisive imo

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have an athletic DD who does not want to play a varsity sport in college, but wants a SLAC. She’d like to participate in things like the newspaper, radio station and club/intramural sports. Reading this thread makes me sad. Can anyone with first hand experience name a SLAC where my kid would fit in? I’m beginning to worry for her.

Check out Davidson, Carleton and the Claremont consortium.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:agree with earlier poster that this is a real problem at smaller nescacs like Williams and middlebury - get ready for cold lonely winters there if ur not an athlete. Less of an issue at the larger schools like Tufts and Wes. Athletics is almost a counter culture at Wes, the jocks are basically seen as caricatures

Middlebury currently has 2,800 students. Just under 800 students participate on sports teams. That leaves 2,000+ non-athletes. Hardly lonely.

meh - the student body is extremely fragmented, cliquey and divisive at Middlebury - probably the worst in the nescac and I’m speaking from experience- if ur a male and don’t play sports.. hard pass

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DH, myself and DS all went to/currently attend highly selective liberal arts colleges and none of us were or are athletes. It was not an issue for any of us. My DS is having a great experience and would not have enjoyed a larger school nearly as much. To him, the sports are a non-issue.

Myself attend?

Did they offer English classes there?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is why Greek life existed in the past. It faded or was banned at many schools for good reason (binge drinking, hazing, misogyny) but it filled the social void for those not on sports teams, outing club, acapela groups, etc. At SLACs, nothing has really worked to replace it. I think a lot of kids would enjoy the UK “college” concepts, where you apply and are assigned to a residential community. Another alternative would be co-ed res communities that self-select after freshman year. But, whatever exists isn’t working. Kid is having same experience at another SLAC; the only bar that served underage kids shut down permanently, and now kids are trying to hang out outside in lawn chairs at 20 degrees. This one has some Greek life left, so that will eventually be an option… but it feels very broken.

Rice University has this. (And no Greek
Life) But they might be the only ones?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is why Greek life existed in the past. It faded or was banned at many schools for good reason (binge drinking, hazing, misogyny) but it filled the social void for those not on sports teams, outing club, acapela groups, etc. At SLACs, nothing has really worked to replace it. I think a lot of kids would enjoy the UK “college” concepts, where you apply and are assigned to a residential community. Another alternative would be co-ed res communities that self-select after freshman year. But, whatever exists isn’t working. Kid is having same experience at another SLAC; the only bar that served underage kids shut down permanently, and now kids are trying to hang out outside in lawn chairs at 20 degrees. This one has some Greek life left, so that will eventually be an option… but it feels very broken.

Rice University has this. (And no Greek
Life) But they might be the only ones?

Shhh. We don’t need more competition for rice spots

[Anonymous]

Rice?

[Anonymous]

Less selective LACs and SLACs literally keep the lights on by offering sports to kids who aren’t that great at their sport. And SLACs are going to have a lot of the east coast boarding school kids. If you’re a total random middle to upper middle class public school kid from Virginia who doesn’t play sports, good freaking luck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is why Greek life existed in the past. It faded or was banned at many schools for good reason (binge drinking, hazing, misogyny) but it filled the social void for those not on sports teams, outing club, acapela groups, etc. At SLACs, nothing has really worked to replace it. I think a lot of kids would enjoy the UK “college” concepts, where you apply and are assigned to a residential community. Another alternative would be co-ed res communities that self-select after freshman year. But, whatever exists isn’t working. Kid is having same experience at another SLAC; the only bar that served underage kids shut down permanently, and now kids are trying to hang out outside in lawn chairs at 20 degrees. This one has some Greek life left, so that will eventually be an option… but it feels very broken.

Rice University has this. (And no Greek
Life) But they might be the only ones?

Notre Dame. No greek life AND required on campus housing all 4 years with the same people.

[Anonymous]

Has anyone heard of Rice here beyond seeing it on a rankings list? I haven't heard many positive experiences except from middle-aged white guys hooting it up (like the owl mascot reference?).
Enjoy Houston and the old oil $$ crowd if that is for you though!
Yes, it has a big endowment and will therefore continue to do well on rankings lists.