I think it’s a legit question. My DC senior who is not an athlete has spent the past year looking at the issue. His older sister is an athlete in college and had an instant friend group and has warned him that the divide exists.

In my opinion the larger the SLAC the less pronounced the divide is. So the PPs comments on Wesleyan is accurate.

Looking at larger SLACs we have divided it between schools that have a Greek system (Colgate and Lafayette as examples) and those that do not (Middlebury and Wesleyan).

The Greek schools offer a different avenue to an easy friend group, but we are leaning toward the latter. DS as he said just wants to find an easy to have a social life so that part of college is not a struggle because the academics will be enough of a challenge.

So lean toward larger SLACs and decide how you feel about a Greek system, in particular one where people live in the houses.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It exists at Wesleyan, but because Wes is bigger than most other SLACs, I think it’s less pronounced. My (extremely non-athlete) kid is dating an athlete. The places where I’ve heard it’s particularly pronounced—Amherst, Williams—are ~2000 students, vs. 3000+ at Wes.

Also look at schools that don’t have football teams; that makes a big difference at a small school given how huge football teams are. Carleton and the 5Cs are worth checking out.

Carleton has a football team.

Ah! My mistake. FWIW, I’ve not heard people talk about an athlete/non divide there, which is why I made that assumption but should have checked.

I think there are a few schools where this is pronounced. My DS is at at 5C and it's not an issue because athletic teams are shared across all 5Cs so it doesn't dominate the culture. Also everyone is pretty academic a student first, athlete second.

My DS is not an athlete but many of his friends are an it's not an issue there.

Anonymous wrote:It exists at Wesleyan, but because Wes is bigger than most other SLACs, I think it’s less pronounced. My (extremely non-athlete) kid is dating an athlete. The places where I’ve heard it’s particularly pronounced—Amherst, Williams—are ~2000 students, vs. 3000+ at Wes.

Also look at schools that don’t have football teams; that makes a big difference at a small school given how huge football teams are. Carleton and the 5Cs are worth checking out.

Carleton has a football team.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It exists at Wesleyan, but because Wes is bigger than most other SLACs, I think it’s less pronounced. My (extremely non-athlete) kid is dating an athlete. The places where I’ve heard it’s particularly pronounced—Amherst, Williams—are ~2000 students, vs. 3000+ at Wes.

Also look at schools that don’t have football teams; that makes a big difference at a small school given how huge football teams are. Carleton and the 5Cs are worth checking out.

We have a non-queer White straight blahblahblah son at Williams and this is not an issue, unless you’re a weird conservative who jumps when they see anyone who is unlike themselves.

Maybe this was in the blahblahblah, but is he an athlete or not?

Nope!

Heard this is the worst at Amherst. No football at Swat so not an issue. As others noted, Wesleyan is larger and less athletics-obsessed, so also less of an issue there.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It exists at Wesleyan, but because Wes is bigger than most other SLACs, I think it’s less pronounced. My (extremely non-athlete) kid is dating an athlete. The places where I’ve heard it’s particularly pronounced—Amherst, Williams—are ~2000 students, vs. 3000+ at Wes.

Also look at schools that don’t have football teams; that makes a big difference at a small school given how huge football teams are. Carleton and the 5Cs are worth checking out.

We have a non-queer White straight blahblahblah son at Williams and this is not an issue, unless you’re a weird conservative who jumps when they see anyone who is unlike themselves.

Wes parent above and glad to hear this!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It exists at Wesleyan, but because Wes is bigger than most other SLACs, I think it’s less pronounced. My (extremely non-athlete) kid is dating an athlete. The places where I’ve heard it’s particularly pronounced—Amherst, Williams—are ~2000 students, vs. 3000+ at Wes.

Also look at schools that don’t have football teams; that makes a big difference at a small school given how huge football teams are. Carleton and the 5Cs are worth checking out.

We have a non-queer White straight blahblahblah son at Williams and this is not an issue, unless you’re a weird conservative who jumps when they see anyone who is unlike themselves.

Maybe this was in the blahblahblah, but is he an athlete or not?

I don't think OP is looking for trouble. Her concern is a common one or at least a commonly heard rumor.

My SLAC DS who was an athlete dated a non athlete and had lots of non athlete friends. Why are you looking for a problem?

Anonymous wrote:It exists at Wesleyan, but because Wes is bigger than most other SLACs, I think it’s less pronounced. My (extremely non-athlete) kid is dating an athlete. The places where I’ve heard it’s particularly pronounced—Amherst, Williams—are ~2000 students, vs. 3000+ at Wes.

Also look at schools that don’t have football teams; that makes a big difference at a small school given how huge football teams are. Carleton and the 5Cs are worth checking out.

We have a non-queer White straight blahblahblah son at Williams and this is not an issue, unless you’re a weird conservative who jumps when they see anyone who is unlike themselves.

It exists at Wesleyan, but because Wes is bigger than most other SLACs, I think it’s less pronounced. My (extremely non-athlete) kid is dating an athlete. The places where I’ve heard it’s particularly pronounced—Amherst, Williams—are ~2000 students, vs. 3000+ at Wes.

Also look at schools that don’t have football teams; that makes a big difference at a small school given how huge football teams are. Carleton and the 5Cs are worth checking out.

this is a nonissue.

Anonymous wrote:Is anyone aware of SLACs where the athlete/non athlete divide is less profound or ideally nonexistent?

Nonexistent at Reed because they don’t do that silly sports thing - no varsity sports.

Is anyone aware of SLACs where the athlete/non athlete divide is less profound or ideally nonexistent?