Reply to “Colleges That Change Lives”

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][b]For the rational poster who wants to move forward, rather than in circles...let me say that my child has done well at Juniata. She was tired of the mindset in this area. She is a strong, hard working student--who got into many other more highly ranked schools--but chose Juniata because of its sense of community. She has blossomed there, in terms of confidence and involvement. She is getting a great science education. The town is VERY small/limited. Kids should only go there if they are content with a campus-based social life. The surrounding area is woodsy and rural. They have a field station at a nearby lake, where students can spend a semester studying environmental science or wildlife biology. Merit offers are generous and tend to be honored for all four years.[/b][/quote]

That's great that it worked out for your daughter.  But Juniata is $57K a year and IMHO not worth it.  The point being made is that the 40 colleges that are in the CTCL circuit aren't that special.  They are only 40 colleges out of the 5,000 available in the United States.  Pope died in 2008.  The LACs that can sign on to go on circuit simply because some parents are suckered into the CTCL claim and can say "Oh my child is going to a College that changes lives!" but think about it - why do these 40 colleges pay so much money and tour as a group to offer large-seated lectures and then large rooms with all 40 colleges on display?  Because the game now is all about getting applications so that colleges can reject students so as to report higher selectivity numbers to USN&WR.  It's all a racket.  I'm posting simply because I want some parents who read this to see beyond that.  Your daughter may have done just as well at an in-state school like William & Mary or whatever is available in your state - for a fraction of what you paid.  She may have done even better at no. 41.  ALL colleges can change lives if the student wants them to.  Or if the student doesn't they will fail.  this is Marketing 101.[/quote]

Honestly, PP, what is your problem?  The poster is simply relaying her daughter's experience at one of the CTCL in response to requests on this thread for exactly that information.  It is absurd for you to criticize this family's decision or even suggest the student would have been better off elsewhere.

One of my sons went to a CTCL and his decision had absolutely nothing to do with the "CTLC" moniker and I sure did not go around saying "Oh my son is going to a CTCL."   Parents and students are not applying or attending these colleges because they expect some type of miraculous, four year life changing transformation and I doubt that anyone on this board is expecting that either.  They are interested in them or attending them because they see the schools as good fits to learn and grow and perhaps discover something about themselves that they did not know before.  Sure, that can happen at many colleges and some in-state ones may be less expensive, but these parents and these students think one of the CTCL schools is the better place for their child/student.  Not everyone does well at a 25,000 student in-state university and as plenty of posters have already said, often with merit aid, the CTCL schools cost the same as in-state.

As far as the 40 of them traveling together, that only makes sense given their size.  One or two of them alone won't attract as many prospective applicants as all of them together.  I would describe it as more like a college fair.  Claremont McKenna, Colorado College, Connecticut College, Grinnell, Haverford, Kenyon, Macalester and Sarah Lawrence do the same thing except that they call themselves Eight of the Best Colleges. Does that not count as a marketing ploy since they are more highly ranked on USNWR?  Another DS of mine attended a CTCL event and a Eight of the Best event.  It was useful to have the schools grouped so that he could check out other colleges at these events that he had not considered applying to.  If you want to call that marketing, go for it. But stop criticizing others for the decisions that they think are best for their kid. Just send yours to the 25,000 student in-state school and leave us alone to share our experiences with those who are interested in them.[/quote]

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