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[quote=Anonymous]These college LACs social divide threads are silly.

Divide or not, it all needs context. LACs are small student bodies. Amherst for example has a huge campus footprint for the 1900 or so students. I have a kid at Amherst who is not an athlete. She came in with the same questions and concerns.

They ALL eventually figure out there is no real divide because there is NO REAL "win" for either side. Think about just limiting yourself to 50% of people in an already small campus where one is an athlete and one is not. And then think about the gender divide within that 50% ...NOT sustainable to just ignore each oither.

The "other" side doesnt offer better housing, better party, better classes, athlete vs non-athlete..... they are all just kinda in the same boat. So whether they are all out at 2 am on a weekend, eating 'ok' pizza at the downtown joint or they are eating at the ONE small dining hall on campus or working out at the ONE gym for the whole school, there just isn't enough room to be so selective with friends or to be mean to "non" athletes.

These kids value academics primarily, they are talented and super curious and so they connect in that fashion. The rigor of the school matches that very well. Most Amherst kids eventually go to  UMASS for the bigger 'fun' but find plenty to do in the the main town or close by areas.

Last thing I'll say in regard to the social divide about athletes in LACs. Having watched plenty of D3 sports beyond NESCAC ( I attended a D3 school) , it's not even close to the same level as D1 for all the reasons that you suspect. But the key here, is that your kids, athletes or not, know the same thing and that's why this is not the most important thing to them :)[/quote]

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