Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Help me: what in the world does this kid like about Swat Williams AND Columbia. They’re all particularly distinct from one another.

Columbia has core. My kid had these three on her list. They're pretty academic heavy.

Core isn’t the same as a loose restriction liberal arts college and it’s honestly a pretty big amount of work: Two semesters of Literature Humanities (Lit Hum), One semester of Frontiers of Science (FroSci),
One semester of University Writing (UW),
Two semesters of Contemporary Civilization (CC),
Other Core Requirements
One semester of Art Humanities (Art Hum), One semester of Music Humanities (Music Hum), Two semesters of science classes, Two years of a language,
Two semesters of physical education and a swim test, Two semesters of Global Core courses.

This is a massive burden on your major and is not how most LACs are run (thin requirements, more seminars, intense academics).

Reed, MIT, Uchicago, Pomona, and Berkeley are all academically rigorous, but I wouldn’t expect them on the same list.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Help me: what in the world does this kid like about Swat Williams AND Columbia. They’re all particularly distinct from one another.

Exactly. And Richmond and Macalester also are totally different from each other.

OP I get these. I know Mac, but not Richmond so not sure about the vibe there. I'm worried it's too Southern, which wouldnt be a fit. But I read it has a large % from the northeast now. He's open to small or medium, and is comfortable with rural or urban. Just doesn't want something huge like a Wisconsin and nothing too Southern, I guess.

Macalester works as a safety if you apply EA. That way you know in Dec is you need something else on your plate.

Neither is a safety even with those stats.

Anonymous wrote:Help me: what in the world does this kid like about Swat Williams AND Columbia. They’re all particularly distinct from one another.

Columbia has core. My kid had these three on her list. They're pretty academic heavy.

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn’t call either of those schools safeties. They are also very different from one another. Mac has more of a quirky vibe whereas Richmond has plenty of kids interested in business, finance and leadership. I think you would want to go further down the SLAC list for safeties.

OP I find it hard for boy who isn't a frat/athlete type or quirky either. More like, runs in the morning, takes school seriously, plays poker and drinks beer with friends on weekends. Campuses sort of feel either fratty or quirky. Not sure he's either.

His stats are on our HS's naviance make these two in the safe territory (never not taken a kid in 5 years). 1560 SAT, awards, grades, school leadership. I feel like he's to safe for reaches, but these two should be fine. Carleton too but no possible merit I can see. Maybe Holy Cross?

Anonymous wrote:Either Macalester or Richmond would be good for, say, international studies. What would this student like to study?

Withdrawn. I see now that this student would like to pursue humanities.

Look at Furman and Rhodes if your kid is comfortable with a more conservative environment. Or Midwestern SLAC’s like Wooster.

Anonymous wrote:Help me: what in the world does this kid like about Swat Williams AND Columbia. They’re all particularly distinct from one another.

Exactly. And Richmond and Macalester also are totally different from each other.

Either Macalester or Richmond would be good for, say, international studies. What would this student like to study?

Help me: what in the world does this kid like about Swat Williams AND Columbia. They’re all particularly distinct from one another.

Anonymous wrote:Richmond isn't a safety, acceptance rate <25%. And I don't think they give merit

But Macalester is a good option

Mac's acceptance rate isn't much higher. I think you need to go a lot higher for a safety. Clearly looking at urban schools? Look at Jesuit colleges, maybe Fordham

Richmond isn't a safety, acceptance rate <25%. And I don't think they give merit

But Macalester is a good option

I wouldn’t call either of those schools safeties. They are also very different from one another. Mac has more of a quirky vibe whereas Richmond has plenty of kids interested in business, finance and leadership. I think you would want to go further down the SLAC list for safeties.

Trying to add a safety with merit for otherwise full pay humanities boy.

Hoping for Swat, Williams, Columbia. But can imagine a scenario that none of those happen. And feeling good with a safety, esp if there's merit attached.

Would Mac work? Or Richmond? Something else?