Reply to Williams vs. Carleton vs. Middlebury vs Pomona vs Swarthmore

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]When it comes down to 7 of the top 10 LACs, it has to come down to factors other than academics and outcomes, because they are all equals. Swarthmore and Carleton are the PhD producers because they attract a student body interested in attending graduate school, but if that same student went to another top LAC, their opportunity to attend graduate school would be in no way diminished.

I've done some research, and it seems like Pomona and Carleton students just seem the happiest with their experience. There are 2 sites detailing student perspectives she can look at- RateMyProfessors (survey respondents give a grade from 1 to 5 on many factors) and Niche.com (gives a grade from A to F on many categories). Here's a quick summary of each school--

[b]Pomona[/b]: ranked 2nd among LACs (Bowdoin is 1st, for those curious)
A+ in Academics, Diversity, Professors, Student Life, Dorms, Facilities, Food; A in Safety, B+ in Location; B in Party Scene; B- in Athletics
4.9 Reputation, 4.4 Internet, 4.7 Opportunity, 4.6 Clubs, 4.8 Happiness, 4.7 Location, 4.6 Food, 4.8 Facilities, 4.3 Social Scene

[b]Williams[/b]: ranked 7th among LACs
A+ in Academics, Diversity, Professors; A- in Athletics, Dorms, Student Life, Facilities, Food; B in Party Scene and Safety; C+ in Location
5.0 Reputation, 4.2 Internet, 4.7 Opportunity, 4.2 Clubs, 4.4 Happiness, 3.8 Location, 3.8 Food, 4.8 Facilities, 3.9 Social Scene

[b]Middlebury[/b]: ranked 13th among LACs
A+ in Academics, Diversity, Professors, Campus Food; A- in Athletics, Dorms, Student Life, Facilities; B in Party Scene; C in Safety; C- in Location
4.8 Reputation, 4.3 Internet, 4.4 Opportunity, 4.1 Clubs, 4.9 Happiness, 4.1 Location, 4.4 Food, 4.5 Facilities, 3.9 Social Scene

[b]Amherst[/b]: ranked 8th among LACs
A+ in Academics, Diversity, Professors; A- in Athletics, Dorms, Student Life, Location, Safety; B- in Facilities, Party Scene; C in Food
5.0 Reputation, 4.0 Internet, 4.7 Opportunity, 3.6 Clubs, 4.2 Happiness, 4.0 Location, 3.0 Food, 4.3 Facilities, 3.3 Social Scene

[b]Swarthmore[/b]: ranked 14th among LACs
A+ in Academics, Diversity, Professors; A- in Dorms, Student Life; B in Safety; B- in Facilities, Party Scene, Athletics; C+ in Food; C in Location
4.9 Reputation, 3.7 Internet, 4.4 Opportunity, 4.4 Clubs, 4.4 Happiness, 4.3 Location, 3.2 Food, 4.6 Facilities, 3.9 Social Scene

[b]Carleton[/b]: ranked 5th among LACs
A+ in Academics, Diversity, Professors, Student Life; A in Facilities, Safety; A- in Dorms; B+ in Location, Party Scene, Safety, Food; B- in Athletics
4.8 Reputation, 4.0 Internet, 4.5 Opportunity, 4.3 Clubs, 4.8 Happiness, 3.9 Location, 3.5 Food, 4.6 Facilities, 4.4 Social Scene

[b]Haverford[/b]: ranked 10th among LACs
A+ in Academics, Diversity, Professors; A in Location; A- in Student Life; B+ in Facilities, Safety; B in Dorms, Party Scene; B- in Athletics, Food
4.8 Reputation, 3.8 Internet, 4.1 Opportunity, 4.2 Clubs, 4.4 Happiness, 4.4 Location, 3.2 Food, 4.5 Facilities, 4.0 Social Scene

My vote would be for Pomona- best amenities, best location/weather, and has the 5 excellent Claremont Colleges for access to opportunities that you can't get anywhere. Screw what USNews has to say. [/quote]

I wouldn't put a lot of weight in those rankings from RateMyProfessor.  I went to Swarthmore and I'm bewildered at the "B" in safety.  In the 4 years I was there, we didn't have a single crime beyond maybe some petty theft.  As to the "C" for location - that makes no sense when you consider that Haverford got an "A" and Swarthmore and Haverford are basically located in Philly suburbs.

So what do you do - go visit the places and see for yourself![/quote]

p.s. The "B-" in Facilities also makes zero sense.  Swarthmore has amazing facilities; the campus is an arboretum, there are multiple lounges with coffee shops, the libraries are well equipped, and the gym is really big.  There are multiple outdoor classrooms to use in nice weather.

The campus is also basically 30 acres of arboretum abutting 300 acres of woods with a creek, so there is nice hiking.   On top of that, because the school is small, there's no wait when you want to use the pool, or play tennis or racquetball.  [/quote]

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