Among your average Joe, most SLACs will have zero name recognition. Zero. But to the people who hire the Joes of the world, govern the Joes of the world, and help direct the future of Joe's world on many different levels, yeah, they know. They'll know Williams. They'll know Grinnell. They'll know Oberlin.

I honestly think it depends on the LAC/SLAC and who you're talking to. I know all of these from colleagues who have gone to these schools (or now teach at these schools). They're not ones you hear about regularly outside of educated circles though.

OTOH the Seven Sisters schools are much more recognizable by a broader number of people. Heck, Vassar is often the college of choice for references in pop culture "I've had just about enough of your Vassar bashing young lady!" said Homer to Lisa....

Anonymous wrote:I went to Swarthmore, and I still have this problem. I think top LAC's have name recognition among big firms and top grad schools, but outside of that, not so much. I live in a midwestern state now and it would be better for me name-recognition-wise to have gone to the local state school vs. Swarthmore. It gives me ZERO advantages here.

Most grads of Swarthmore are definitely not aiming for that.

And remember, the purpose of college is an education, not impressing others.

I went to Swarthmore, and I still have this problem. I think top LAC's have name recognition among big firms and top grad schools, but outside of that, not so much. I live in a midwestern state now and it would be better for me name-recognition-wise to have gone to the local state school vs. Swarthmore. It gives me ZERO advantages here.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m taking about schools ranked 30-60. Specifically schools like Dickinson, Denison, Occidental, Bucknell, Rhodes. I know they’re all in different regions, but I just want to if they have that sort of “name recognition” that an employer looks at when reviewing an application.

Sorry to be nit-picky.

Those are by no means "mid-tier" LACs. Anything ranked in that range will have excellent name recognition with employers, recruiters and graduate schools.

I’m the OP.
Yes, I have to agree, but some people have different versions of what mid tier is, that’s why I put the rough numbers of 30-60. Thank you for the input though

Everyone becomes an expert on these schools when they're applying to them or when their kid is- a few years later they forget. Williams is arguably the best undergraduate school in the country - how many people even know what it is

Anonymous wrote:I’m taking about schools ranked 30-60. Specifically schools like Dickinson, Denison, Occidental, Bucknell, Rhodes. I know they’re all in different regions, but I just want to if they have that sort of “name recognition” that an employer looks at when reviewing an application.

Sorry to be nit-picky.

Those are by no means "mid-tier" LACs. Anything ranked in that range will have excellent name recognition with employers, recruiters and graduate schools.

Frankly, a lot will depend on your family and child's peer group. Highly educated (PhDs, tippy top JD and MBA programs, etc.) circles will know about these schools. The rest, unless they happened to live within the close vicinity of those schools, will not.

Anonymous wrote:I had a good a friend who went to Carelton- great school, but every time it comes up, there's a good chance the person she's talking to has no idea what/where it is.

Well, to be fair, I have no idea what/where Carelton is either.

Anonymous wrote:I had a good a friend who went to Carelton- great school, but every time it comes up, there's a good chance the person she's talking to has no idea what/where it is.

Sure, that's a problem with Carelton, but not so much with Carleton.

I had a good a friend who went to Carelton- great school, but every time it comes up, there's a good chance the person she's talking to has no idea what/where it is.

Even T3 SLACs lack name recognition 10 mikes out of their campus. People think Pomona College is in Pomona, CA. And 10 miles outside Pomona, Ca, no one knows Pomona College. Whoever heard of Williams?

Depends if the job is in the area of the school, and how much "name recognition" matters to the employer.

It can also depend on the major the kid is pursuing.

In technical fields, prior work experience and marketable skills are much more important than name recognition.

In fields like law, first tier firms care alot about name recognition.

Most people go to the best school they can get into, though there are exceptions in the service of fit (which is not necessarily a mistake).

So, the answer is, it depends.

I’m taking about schools ranked 30-60. Specifically schools like Dickinson, Denison, Occidental, Bucknell, Rhodes. I know they’re all in different regions, but I just want to if they have that sort of “name recognition” that an employer looks at when reviewing an application.