CTCL schools

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would have infinitely more respect for someone that said "I went to Rhodes" or "I went to Kalamazoo" or "I went to St. Johns College" than someone who said "I went to a CTCL school". People just don't even know what CTCL is, since it's not really a thing, except it IS a cancer. Quite literally.

LOL. Have you really met someone who says that? I know grads from those three schools as well as others on the list. No one says that.

No pun intended, but why do you need to die on this hill?

Not only do they not say that, most of them actively resent the CTCL label and think it's lame. I'm guessing because those schools, along with Reed, Denison, Whitman, etc., sit at the top of the CTCL hierarchy and so their students and alums aren't crazy about being grouped with the likes of Hiram, Lynchburg, Emory and Henry, etc. It is what it is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Loren Pope originally came up with the phrase. It made sense in the context of his book. It still makes sense. We are huge fans in my family, which also includes HYP grads and big state U grads.

I guess even being legacies your kids can’t get into HYP huh?

Not the PP you are referring to but that is now the reality for many families. In DH's family, his father and two brothers attended a top NESCAC, all their children attended same school. In next generation, only one of four has been admitted to date. Jury still out on next three who will all be applying in the next cycle. In our larger friend group, some of this generation have been admitted to their parents' HYPSM/other Ivies/NESCAC etc, but most not. These are kids with 4.0 uw GPAs, top ACT/SAT scores, one of a kind ECs, etc. It is what it is.

It is also the reality for many families that the elite college price tag makes them inaccessible, no matter how qualified the student is.

Well, there is the donut hole. For full pay families, the "elite college price tag" is not a barrier. For other families in certain income strata, these elite colleges have waived loans, etc. Granted, there are many expenses that these schools do not necessarily consider, but these elite schools are often more affordable for these families than schools lower down the rung. But for families with incomes where they do not qualify for aid, but private school tuition may not be a prudent expenditure, then yes, these schools are inaccessible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would have infinitely more respect for someone that said "I went to Rhodes" or "I went to Kalamazoo" or "I went to St. Johns College" than someone who said "I went to a CTCL school". People just don't even know what CTCL is, since it's not really a thing, except it IS a cancer. Quite literally.

LOL. Have you really met someone who says that? I know grads from those three schools as well as others on the list. No one says that.

No pun intended, but why do you need to die on this hill?

Not only do they not say that, most of them actively resent the CTCL label and think it's lame. I'm guessing because those schools, along with Reed, Denison, Whitman, etc., sit at the top of the CTCL hierarchy and so their students and alums aren't crazy about being grouped with the likes of Hiram, Lynchburg, Emory and Henry, etc. It is what it is.

Really? Because I have yet to meet anyone who confesses they are embarrassed by the CTCL label. In fact, most alum are unaware of the appellation and not schvitzing about it.

[Anonymous]

I suspect a lot of the anti-CTCL sentiment comes from graduates of (or folks who sent their kids to) more expensive and selective schools. They are unable to come to grips with the fact that there is a collection of lesser-known colleges that provide a great education, college experience and outcomes for a lower cost.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I suspect a lot of the anti-CTCL sentiment comes from graduates of (or folks who sent their kids to) more expensive and selective schools. They are unable to come to grips with the fact that there is a collection of lesser-known colleges that provide a great education, college experience and outcomes for a lower cost.

Lower cost? Only if you qualify for merit aid and compromise your education for the money. Most CTCL schools are private and expensive, and if you're good enough to qualify for merit aid to attend one then you're likely qualified for admission at a better school that folks have actually heard of.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I suspect a lot of the anti-CTCL sentiment comes from graduates of (or folks who sent their kids to) more expensive and selective schools. They are unable to come to grips with the fact that there is a collection of lesser-known colleges that provide a great education, college experience and outcomes for a lower cost.

Lower cost? Only if you qualify for merit aid and compromise your education for the money. Most CTCL schools are private and expensive, and if you're good enough to qualify for merit aid to attend one then you're likely qualified for admission at a better school that folks have actually heard of.

Not as expensive and merit aid is more available. Your comment makes no sense, but thanks for playing.

[Anonymous]

Doesn't this whole debate come down to whether you think a liberal arts education has value separate and distinct from the prestige accompanies a degree from a highly selective LAC? I have one early HS kid who is a mediocre student, has multiple tutors, ADHD, etc. I went to a a selective LAC myself and I do value that experience and education. I can afford an LAC, and I don't know that my kid will thrive in a large State University (although my other child will likely go that route and thrive). The CTTL list is a helpful starting point for kids like mine as well as stronger students looking for merit aid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Doesn't this whole debate come down to whether you think a liberal arts education has value separate and distinct from the prestige accompanies a degree from a highly selective LAC? I have one early HS kid who is a mediocre student, has multiple tutors, ADHD, etc. I went to a a selective LAC myself and I do value that experience and education. I can afford an LAC, and I don't know that my kid will thrive in a large State University (although my other child will likely go that route and thrive). The CTTL list is a helpful starting point for kids like mine as well as stronger students looking for merit aid.

Well said. I'd much rather have my kid attend a CTCL school with substantial merit aid (which makes the cost comparable to a state school), compared to if they attended a highly selective LAC and would graduate with student loan debt.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I suspect a lot of the anti-CTCL sentiment comes from graduates of (or folks who sent their kids to) more expensive and selective schools. They are unable to come to grips with the fact that there is a collection of lesser-known colleges that provide a great education, college experience and outcomes for a lower cost.

Ah, yes, everyone is so envious of these so-called CTCL schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Doesn't this whole debate come down to whether you think a liberal arts education has value separate and distinct from the prestige accompanies a degree from a highly selective LAC? I have one early HS kid who is a mediocre student, has multiple tutors, ADHD, etc. I went to a a selective LAC myself and I do value that experience and education. I can afford an LAC, and I don't know that my kid will thrive in a large State University (although my other child will likely go that route and thrive). The CTTL list is a helpful starting point for kids like mine as well as stronger students looking for merit aid.

Well said. I'd much rather have my kid attend a CTCL school with substantial merit aid (which makes the cost comparable to a state school), compared to if they attended a highly selective LAC and would graduate with student loan debt.

Agreed. I don't know why these nasty posters have such an issue with the classification. Sure, it's a marketing thing but it also has helped open the eyes of potential students to a different type of education experience that they might not have considered. B students have more options than just the regional big state U and might be better served by a LAC that accepts a wide range of students. I like the write ups about the colleges in the CTCL book because it's clear that the author(s) actually spent substantial amount of time talking with students and faculty at the school and they convey a clear impression of what the school is like. DD will apply to a couple schools that happen to be members of the CTCL organization but also others that have similar characteristics at a range of selectivity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I suspect a lot of the anti-CTCL sentiment comes from graduates of (or folks who sent their kids to) more expensive and selective schools. They are unable to come to grips with the fact that there is a collection of lesser-known colleges that provide a great education, college experience and outcomes for a lower cost.

Lower cost? Only if you qualify for merit aid and compromise your education for the money. Most CTCL schools are private and expensive, and if you're good enough to qualify for merit aid to attend one then you're likely qualified for admission at a better school that folks have actually heard of.

Not as expensive and merit aid is more available. Your comment makes no sense, but thanks for playing.

+1 You may be qualified for admission at a "better" school (aka higher ranked which doesn't mean much to me given the ridiculousness of how US News calculates those) but you will likely be paying more to go that that "better" school. If your budget is basically "in state public" the CTCL-type LACs will likely meet that budget.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I suspect a lot of the anti-CTCL sentiment comes from graduates of (or folks who sent their kids to) more expensive and selective schools. They are unable to come to grips with the fact that there is a collection of lesser-known colleges that provide a great education, college experience and outcomes for a lower cost.

Lower cost? Only if you qualify for merit aid and compromise your education for the money. Most CTCL schools are private and expensive, and if you're good enough to qualify for merit aid to attend one then you're likely qualified for admission at a better school that folks have actually heard of.

Not as expensive and merit aid is more available. Your comment makes no sense, but thanks for playing.

Did you learn to read at a CTCL school? I said many of them are just as expensive as better known (and better) privates. I didn’t say “less” expensive.

No school?

[Anonymous]

Pp is still hurting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Pp is still hurting.

DP, but what, pray tell, are you keep saying that people are "hurting" from?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Pp is still hurting.

This response makes no sense.