does athletics dominate SLAC's like Amherst, Bowdoin, etc?

[Anonymous]

Correction: Non-complimentary, not complementary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Williams grad. I felt out of place NOT being an athlete. Especially true freshman year when the teams had been together already for two weeks. I started a sport just to try to make some friends. Honestly it was a bit hard.

If I may ask, where do you wish that you had attended college/university if you were accepted to any school of interest to you ?

I ask because I think that Williams College deserves its top ranking among LACs, and I am attracted to many aspects of the school, but I also attended a rural LAC and really regret the experience (even though I was very athletic).

I should have gone to somewhere closer to DC, with more options than drinking for fun. Bryn Mawr, Haverford, Swarthmore? I was rejected from Princeton. The rural aspect of Williams has some shades of Deliverance in the winter. It can be pretty isolating without a strong friend group.

As the parent of a current Williams student, no, it's not like Deliverance. Not at all. Have you ever been Williamstown?

I do think it's important that a Williams student be able to enjoy the outdoors, appreciate the natural beauty of the setting, and not hate winter. My DC is more a city mouse than a country mouse, but he made a conscious decision to go to college in a rural setting, knowing that for his working life he'd probably be living in a big city.

ANY college experience is going to be "isolating" without a friend group. Of my 4 kids' college experiences, Williams made the most effort to ensure that freshman have a good social support system. I will say, though, that my DC, who works within that system, has noticed that this year's (2022) freshmen are more immature and less confident - they needed more "hand holding." DC thinks that may be because of the Covid school disruptions - but that's another discussion.

[Anonymous]

To PP: how snarky. I lived in Williamstown attending Williams for 4 years. So… yes. Some love it. But when the days are gray for months, it is still muddy snow in April, and wind chill is -20, some people feel that a strong friend group would be helpful. As a freshman with no sport, I personally had a hard time generating that friend group. That was my only point.

[Anonymous]

Not at all sports dominated. I went to Williams and actually got my initial interest by talking to a coach there. I played 2 varsity sports in HS and was recruited for one but did not want to play in college. After I got there, I wished I had played, not because sports dominated anything but because I realized quickly that the sports commitment at Williams would actually have been less intense and fewer hours than what I had done in HS, and I truly missed playing the sport. Anyways, it is academics that dominate. In general, the students are shockingly well rounded so many are athletic, but it's the academics that are focused on. I highly recommend she go and spend time at some of them, particularly during the academic year to get a good feel for student life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Williams grad. I felt out of place NOT being an athlete. Especially true freshman year when the teams had been together already for two weeks. I started a sport just to try to make some friends. Honestly it was a bit hard.

If I may ask, where do you wish that you had attended college/university if you were accepted to any school of interest to you ?

I ask because I think that Williams College deserves its top ranking among LACs, and I am attracted to many aspects of the school, but I also attended a rural LAC and really regret the experience (even though I was very athletic).

I should have gone to somewhere closer to DC, with more options than drinking for fun. Bryn Mawr, Haverford, Swarthmore? I was rejected from Princeton. The rural aspect of Williams has some shades of Deliverance in the winter. It can be pretty isolating without a strong friend group.

As the parent of a current Williams student, no, it's not like Deliverance. Not at all. Have you ever been Williamstown?

I do think it's important that a Williams student be able to enjoy the outdoors, appreciate the natural beauty of the setting, and not hate winter. My DC is more a city mouse than a country mouse, but he made a conscious decision to go to college in a rural setting, knowing that for his working life he'd probably be living in a big city.

ANY college experience is going to be "isolating" without a friend group. Of my 4 kids' college experiences, Williams made the most effort to ensure that freshman have a good social support system. I will say, though, that my DC, who works within that system, has noticed that this year's (2022) freshmen are more immature and less confident - they needed more "hand holding." DC thinks that may be because of the Covid school disruptions - but that's another discussion.

I'd be really interested in hearing more about your son's experience. My DD is putting together her college list and she's intrigued by Williams. She loves the outdoors (she loves to ski, we're a pretty outdoorsy family all things considered) but she is a city mouse in all senses of the word - born and raised on the UWS of Manhattan. Like I said she's intrigued by spending her college years in a place so different from NYC but it would be quite different! So I'm curious to know how your son settled in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Williams grad. I felt out of place NOT being an athlete. Especially true freshman year when the teams had been together already for two weeks. I started a sport just to try to make some friends. Honestly it was a bit hard.

If I may ask, where do you wish that you had attended college/university if you were accepted to any school of interest to you ?

I ask because I think that Williams College deserves its top ranking among LACs, and I am attracted to many aspects of the school, but I also attended a rural LAC and really regret the experience (even though I was very athletic).

I should have gone to somewhere closer to DC, with more options than drinking for fun. Bryn Mawr, Haverford, Swarthmore? I was rejected from Princeton. The rural aspect of Williams has some shades of Deliverance in the winter. It can be pretty isolating without a strong friend group.

As the parent of a current Williams student, no, it's not like Deliverance. Not at all. Have you ever been Williamstown?

I do think it's important that a Williams student be able to enjoy the outdoors, appreciate the natural beauty of the setting, and not hate winter. My DC is more a city mouse than a country mouse, but he made a conscious decision to go to college in a rural setting, knowing that for his working life he'd probably be living in a big city.

ANY college experience is going to be "isolating" without a friend group. Of my 4 kids' college experiences, Williams made the most effort to ensure that freshman have a good social support system. I will say, though, that my DC, who works within that system, has noticed that this year's (2022) freshmen are more immature and less confident - they needed more "hand holding." DC thinks that may be because of the Covid school disruptions - but that's another discussion.

I'd be really interested in hearing more about your son's experience. My DD is putting together her college list and she's intrigued by Williams. She loves the outdoors (she loves to ski, we're a pretty outdoorsy family all things considered) but she is a city mouse in all senses of the word - born and raised on the UWS of Manhattan. Like I said she's intrigued by spending her college years in a place so different from NYC but it would be quite different! So I'm curious to know how your son settled in.

NP - My DD is not at Williams (she's at Amherst) also loves the city (born and raised in UES NYC). She is an athlete but most of her friends are actually not varsity athletes. I guess it helps that she has interests outside of sports. I realize that Amherst MA is not the same as Williamstown MA but they are probably more similar than to NYC. Anyway, she likes the outdoors and to hike (Holyoke Mountain range). As others have said, she will probably end up in a large city the rest of her life so wanted to experience going to a non-urban college. She feels that the so-called athlete/non-athlete divide is overblown and since varsity athletes are still in the minority (approx 30%) and as there are so many clubs you can join, non-varsity students still develop close friends both with athletes and with athletes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Davidson I believe has Division I basketball. I thought that was weird. There's at least 1 professional basketball player who came out of Davidson. I had to double check. It's was a strange sight.

Pomona did produce 1 professional baseball player, I believe. This made news even in Pomona.

Steph Curry!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Williams grad. I felt out of place NOT being an athlete. Especially true freshman year when the teams had been together already for two weeks. I started a sport just to try to make some friends. Honestly it was a bit hard.

If I may ask, where do you wish that you had attended college/university if you were accepted to any school of interest to you ?

I ask because I think that Williams College deserves its top ranking among LACs, and I am attracted to many aspects of the school, but I also attended a rural LAC and really regret the experience (even though I was very athletic).

I should have gone to somewhere closer to DC, with more options than drinking for fun. Bryn Mawr, Haverford, Swarthmore? I was rejected from Princeton. The rural aspect of Williams has some shades of Deliverance in the winter. It can be pretty isolating without a strong friend group.

As the parent of a current Williams student, no, it's not like Deliverance. Not at all. Have you ever been Williamstown?

I do think it's important that a Williams student be able to enjoy the outdoors, appreciate the natural beauty of the setting, and not hate winter. My DC is more a city mouse than a country mouse, but he made a conscious decision to go to college in a rural setting, knowing that for his working life he'd probably be living in a big city.

ANY college experience is going to be "isolating" without a friend group. Of my 4 kids' college experiences, Williams made the most effort to ensure that freshman have a good social support system. I will say, though, that my DC, who works within that system, has noticed that this year's (2022) freshmen are more immature and less confident - they needed more "hand holding." DC thinks that may be because of the Covid school disruptions - but that's another discussion.

I'd be really interested in hearing more about your son's experience. My DD is putting together her college list and she's intrigued by Williams. She loves the outdoors (she loves to ski, we're a pretty outdoorsy family all things considered) but she is a city mouse in all senses of the word - born and raised on the UWS of Manhattan. Like I said she's intrigued by spending her college years in a place so different from NYC but it would be quite different! So I'm curious to know how your son settled in.

NP - My DD is not at Williams (she's at Amherst) also loves the city (born and raised in UES NYC). She is an athlete but most of her friends are actually not varsity athletes. I guess it helps that she has interests outside of sports. I realize that Amherst MA is not the same as Williamstown MA but they are probably more similar than to NYC. Anyway, she likes the outdoors and to hike (Holyoke Mountain range). As others have said, she will probably end up in a large city the rest of her life so wanted to experience going to a non-urban college. She feels that the so-called athlete/non-athlete divide is overblown and since varsity athletes are still in the minority (approx 30%) and as there are so many clubs you can join, non-varsity students still develop close friends both with athletes and with athletes.

Most of the comments that I read about elite LACs which deny that there is an athlete/non-athlete divide are posted by parents of athletes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Williams grad. I felt out of place NOT being an athlete. Especially true freshman year when the teams had been together already for two weeks. I started a sport just to try to make some friends. Honestly it was a bit hard.

If I may ask, where do you wish that you had attended college/university if you were accepted to any school of interest to you ?

I ask because I think that Williams College deserves its top ranking among LACs, and I am attracted to many aspects of the school, but I also attended a rural LAC and really regret the experience (even though I was very athletic).

I should have gone to somewhere closer to DC, with more options than drinking for fun. Bryn Mawr, Haverford, Swarthmore? I was rejected from Princeton. The rural aspect of Williams has some shades of Deliverance in the winter. It can be pretty isolating without a strong friend group.

As the parent of a current Williams student, no, it's not like Deliverance. Not at all. Have you ever been Williamstown?

I do think it's important that a Williams student be able to enjoy the outdoors, appreciate the natural beauty of the setting, and not hate winter. My DC is more a city mouse than a country mouse, but he made a conscious decision to go to college in a rural setting, knowing that for his working life he'd probably be living in a big city.

ANY college experience is going to be "isolating" without a friend group. Of my 4 kids' college experiences, Williams made the most effort to ensure that freshman have a good social support system. I will say, though, that my DC, who works within that system, has noticed that this year's (2022) freshmen are more immature and less confident - they needed more "hand holding." DC thinks that may be because of the Covid school disruptions - but that's another discussion.

I'd be really interested in hearing more about your son's experience. My DD is putting together her college list and she's intrigued by Williams. She loves the outdoors (she loves to ski, we're a pretty outdoorsy family all things considered) but she is a city mouse in all senses of the word - born and raised on the UWS of Manhattan. Like I said she's intrigued by spending her college years in a place so different from NYC but it would be quite different! So I'm curious to know how your son settled in.

NP - My DD is not at Williams (she's at Amherst) also loves the city (born and raised in UES NYC). She is an athlete but most of her friends are actually not varsity athletes. I guess it helps that she has interests outside of sports. I realize that Amherst MA is not the same as Williamstown MA but they are probably more similar than to NYC. Anyway, she likes the outdoors and to hike (Holyoke Mountain range). As others have said, she will probably end up in a large city the rest of her life so wanted to experience going to a non-urban college. She feels that the so-called athlete/non-athlete divide is overblown and since varsity athletes are still in the minority (approx 30%) and as there are so many clubs you can join, non-varsity students still develop close friends both with athletes and with athletes.

Most of the comments that I read about elite LACs which deny that there is an athlete/non-athlete divide are posted by parents of athletes.

That makes sense. You do realize that DCUM stands for DC Urban Moms (and Dads). Doubt many currently college students on this site

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To PP: how snarky. I lived in Williamstown attending Williams for 4 years. So… yes. Some love it. But when the days are gray for months, it is still muddy snow in April, and wind chill is -20, some people feel that a strong friend group would be helpful. As a freshman with no sport, I personally had a hard time generating that friend group. That was my only point.

+1 A bit defensive; zero empathy.

DD attends SLAC. Academically, everything we hoped for: STEM research position in her major and small seminar classes first year, all the instructors in the dance department know and like her. Socially it was difficult. Going in we knew varsity athletes averaged 25% of the school, but really surprised how fast people cliqued up: athletes, rich kids, URMs, LGBTQ+, first gen/low income. Small pool of non-attached kids spread out over campus. She has friends, but no posse or BFF. I think a bigger school offers a tradeoff with more people to meet but probably fewer academic opportunities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To PP: how snarky. I lived in Williamstown attending Williams for 4 years. So… yes. Some love it. But when the days are gray for months, it is still muddy snow in April, and wind chill is -20, some people feel that a strong friend group would be helpful. As a freshman with no sport, I personally had a hard time generating that friend group. That was my only point.

+1 A bit defensive; zero empathy.

DD attends SLAC. Academically, everything we hoped for: STEM research position in her major and small seminar classes first year, all the instructors in the dance department know and like her. Socially it was difficult. Going in we knew varsity athletes averaged 25% of the school, but really surprised how fast people cliqued up: athletes, rich kids, URMs, LGBTQ+, first gen/low income. Small pool of non-attached kids spread out over campus. She has friends, but no posse or BFF. I think a bigger school offers a tradeoff with more people to meet but probably fewer academic opportunities.

Even 20 years ago, those groups cliqued fast because affinity groups were part of orientation and started opening their doors as soon as freshman were on campus

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To PP: how snarky. I lived in Williamstown attending Williams for 4 years. So… yes. Some love it. But when the days are gray for months, it is still muddy snow in April, and wind chill is -20, some people feel that a strong friend group would be helpful. As a freshman with no sport, I personally had a hard time generating that friend group. That was my only point.

+1 A bit defensive; zero empathy.

DD attends SLAC. Academically, everything we hoped for: STEM research position in her major and small seminar classes first year, all the instructors in the dance department know and like her. Socially it was difficult. Going in we knew varsity athletes averaged 25% of the school, but really surprised how fast people cliqued up: athletes, rich kids, URMs, LGBTQ+, first gen/low income. Small pool of non-attached kids spread out over campus. She has friends, but no posse or BFF. I think a bigger school offers a tradeoff with more people to meet but probably fewer academic opportunities.

Even 20 years ago, those groups cliqued fast because affinity groups were part of orientation and started opening their doors as soon as freshman were on campus

Were you a social outcast?

[Anonymous]

Curious, how many of the kids/athletes at Amherst, Williams, etc. come from boarding school? Looking at the roster in DS's sport, the teams appear to be compromised of mostly boarding school kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Williams grad. I felt out of place NOT being an athlete. Especially true freshman year when the teams had been together already for two weeks. I started a sport just to try to make some friends. Honestly it was a bit hard.

If I may ask, where do you wish that you had attended college/university if you were accepted to any school of interest to you ?

I ask because I think that Williams College deserves its top ranking among LACs, and I am attracted to many aspects of the school, but I also attended a rural LAC and really regret the experience (even though I was very athletic).

I should have gone to somewhere closer to DC, with more options than drinking for fun. Bryn Mawr, Haverford, Swarthmore? I was rejected from Princeton. The rural aspect of Williams has some shades of Deliverance in the winter. It can be pretty isolating without a strong friend group.

As the parent of a current Williams student, no, it's not like Deliverance. Not at all. Have you ever been Williamstown?

I do think it's important that a Williams student be able to enjoy the outdoors, appreciate the natural beauty of the setting, and not hate winter. My DC is more a city mouse than a country mouse, but he made a conscious decision to go to college in a rural setting, knowing that for his working life he'd probably be living in a big city.

ANY college experience is going to be "isolating" without a friend group. Of my 4 kids' college experiences, Williams made the most effort to ensure that freshman have a good social support system. I will say, though, that my DC, who works within that system, has noticed that this year's (2022) freshmen are more immature and less confident - they needed more "hand holding." DC thinks that may be because of the Covid school disruptions - but that's another discussion.

I'd be really interested in hearing more about your son's experience. My DD is putting together her college list and she's intrigued by Williams. She loves the outdoors (she loves to ski, we're a pretty outdoorsy family all things considered) but she is a city mouse in all senses of the word - born and raised on the UWS of Manhattan. Like I said she's intrigued by spending her college years in a place so different from NYC but it would be quite different! So I'm curious to know how your son settled in.

NP - My DD is not at Williams (she's at Amherst) also loves the city (born and raised in UES NYC). She is an athlete but most of her friends are actually not varsity athletes. I guess it helps that she has interests outside of sports. I realize that Amherst MA is not the same as Williamstown MA but they are probably more similar than to NYC. Anyway, she likes the outdoors and to hike (Holyoke Mountain range). As others have said, she will probably end up in a large city the rest of her life so wanted to experience going to a non-urban college. She feels that the so-called athlete/non-athlete divide is overblown and since varsity athletes are still in the minority (approx 30%) and as there are so many clubs you can join, non-varsity students still develop close friends both with athletes and with athletes.

Most of the comments that I read about elite LACs which deny that there is an athlete/non-athlete divide are posted by parents of athletes.

That makes sense. You do realize that DCUM stands for DC Urban Moms (and Dads). Doubt many currently college students on this site

Yes, you are correct & I thank you for making that point. However, I should have been more clear in my post as the fact that I wanted to stress was that their children were athletes at the LACs and did not recognize the divide between athletes & non-athletes OR did not see it as a problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Curious, how many of the kids/athletes at Amherst, Williams, etc. come from boarding school? Looking at the roster in DS's sport, the teams appear to be compromised of mostly boarding school kids.

This is of interest to me as well.

If I may ask, which boarding schools do you see represented & , if willing to disclose, at which LAC ? TIA