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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Wake was under 4K students when I attended (98 grad). It was the perfect "not too big, not too small" size for me. It was a good fit for me academically and socially. I definitely would not have liked a large state school in comparison.

With costs as they are NOW, different factors would play into the decision. We do OK, but we are targeting schools that cost no more than $35K/year after any "aid" (and obviously hoping for less than that!) for our current senior.

I still do think that a school like Wake is a pretty idyllic place to go to school - Gorgeous campus, very bright classmates/peers, engaging and accessible professors, small class sizes, etc. There is one school on my child's list that is pretty far from home but very much reminds me of my alma mater (size and campus) and I feel would be a very similar experience.[/quote]

+1. Wake 96 Grad. It was a great time to attend.  Rigorous academic, small classes, great relationships with professors.  DH and I had professors we remained close to who came  to our wedding.  Today?  One of my kids is at a Midwestern LAC with merit aid. Very similar and rigorous academic experience, but very different socially— less conservative, no Greek, no one cares about sports.  Much social fit for this kid and 30-40k less a year. Other kid is a W&M, which reminds me a lot of Wake back in the day. Definitely similar in terms of rigorous academics and a preppy, pre-professional bent to the student body. Again, less so socially because WM is not as Southern or as Greek (but does have Greek life) and has less focus of athletics. (Of course, if you were going to go to Wake to watch sports, it’s  hard to beat the Time Duncan years).

Wake was not on either of my kids lists. We both grew up in the South and were hesitant to send kids back there— especially our gay kid, since we were making decisions for them during COVID and at the end of the Trump Admin.

Plus, Wake was 12k a year tuition my first year. It’s over 60k now (just tuition, not room and board). And real salaries have not risen 500% since 1996. I loved my time at Wake. I got a great education. But, I’m not sure what my kids would get there now that they aren’t getting at their current schools at half the price.

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Classes a fraction of the size of state schools taught by full professors.  [/quote]

But again. A kid at a Midwestern SLAC with merit coming in at under 50k. And a kid at W&M coming in under 40k in state. SLAC kid has had all classes taught by professors and small size. Research with advisor starting sophomore year, including one summer, etc.  w&M kid had 2 large classes freshman Year (80-100 students, intro Econ).  Has one large history class to take.  And that’s it in terms of large classes.  Again, all professors, no TAs. And in her major department, already knows the professors well as a sophomore. Both kids getting a ton of rigor and working hard. Lots of individual opportunities and attention.

That said, be careful about throwing around “full professor,” which implies tenured faculty. No college, including Wake, W&M, SLACs are all “full professors”. There are associates and adjuncts. In fact, one of my best professors at Wake was adjunct. What these schools do not have is TAs.

I’m a Wake grad. I know what I got, and it was a fantastic education. And giving my kids that level of education was DH’s and my starting point.  But we were able to do so for $30-40k less a year than Wake. And that adds up.

So again.  Wake vs WM vs a Midwestern SLAC with merit. What is your extra $160k buying you?  I agree. Small classes and professors vs TAs is worth paying more for. IMO, quite a bit more. But a kid who can get into Wake can get the small classes taught by professors and bright, motivated peers for less. If money is no object, pay the extra $160k. But for 95+% of families, money is a consideration and $160k is a lot of money. And IMO, taking out loans limits your kids future options as much as a Wake degree helps them. The job they take, ability to get experience that doesn’t pay much, ability to take on grad school debt— all affected by the need to pay back loans. [/quote]

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