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Anonymous wrote:DCUM is a funny place. Today I’ve read about how Middlebury (too SJW), Washington and Lee (not intellectual or academic), and Swarthmore (untrustworthy because of goofy emails) basically suck, three of the best LACs on planet earth. Hard to fathom.

Having W&L in the same tier as Swarthmore and Middlebury is certainly a weird decision.

Anonymous wrote:DCUM is a funny place. Today I’ve read about how Middlebury (too SJW), Washington and Lee (not intellectual or academic), and Swarthmore (untrustworthy because of goofy emails) basically suck, three of the best LACs on planet earth. Hard to fathom.

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Anonymous wrote:Completely avoid Southern SLACs (Washington & Lee, Davidson). These schools are focused more on college societies and events than academics.

Generally mid-tier SLACS should be avoided(i.e. Sarah Lawrence). Generally these are filled with mediocre upper-middle class/wealthy kids. But sometimes very good schools are unjustifiably ranked low (i.e. Reed, Oberlin)

Completely avoid internet morons like this.

It's unfortunate you sent your child to W&L by just looking at the rankings, but its a school for drinking events, not academics.

Yes mine did go to W&L. She is now in the third year of her doctoral program. Had a great experience.

A great experience I am sure, as long as you are not the wrong race. But the OP made it rather clear she was looking for academic & intellectual environment, not social experience.

She’s in a doctoral program. You think that’s not academic and intellectual?

No, I don't. UIUC sends scores of students to doctoral programs every year, I certainly wouldn't classify the vast majority of the student population at UIUC as "intellectual, academic" (although perhaps they are well-grounded - W&L kids generally are not).

There are certainly intellectual students at W&L, but often they are the conservative-affiliated types. Which just makes it worse.

Moron checking in.

Anonymous wrote:Take a look at Rhodes College - it is in Memphis, but not “southern” like some others. Looking to the west coast, consider Whitman in Washington and Willamette in Oregon.

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Anonymous wrote:Completely avoid Southern SLACs (Washington & Lee, Davidson). These schools are focused more on college societies and events than academics.

Generally mid-tier SLACS should be avoided(i.e. Sarah Lawrence). Generally these are filled with mediocre upper-middle class/wealthy kids. But sometimes very good schools are unjustifiably ranked low (i.e. Reed, Oberlin)

Completely avoid internet morons like this.

It's unfortunate you sent your child to W&L by just looking at the rankings, but its a school for drinking events, not academics.

Yes mine did go to W&L. She is now in the third year of her doctoral program. Had a great experience.

A great experience I am sure, as long as you are not the wrong race. But the OP made it rather clear she was looking for academic & intellectual environment, not social experience.

She’s in a doctoral program. You think that’s not academic and intellectual?

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Anonymous wrote:Completely avoid Southern SLACs (Washington & Lee, Davidson). These schools are focused more on college societies and events than academics.

Generally mid-tier SLACS should be avoided(i.e. Sarah Lawrence). Generally these are filled with mediocre upper-middle class/wealthy kids. But sometimes very good schools are unjustifiably ranked low (i.e. Reed, Oberlin)

Completely avoid internet morons like this.

It's unfortunate you sent your child to W&L by just looking at the rankings, but its a school for drinking events, not academics.

Yes mine did go to W&L. She is now in the third year of her doctoral program. Had a great experience.

A great experience I am sure, as long as you are not the wrong race. But the OP made it rather clear she was looking for academic & intellectual environment, not social experience.

She’s in a doctoral program. You think that’s not academic and intellectual?

No, I don't. UIUC sends scores of students to doctoral programs every year, I certainly wouldn't classify the vast majority of the student population at UIUC as "intellectual, academic" (although perhaps they are well-grounded - W&L kids generally are not).

There are certainly intellectual students at W&L, but often they are the conservative-affiliated types. Which just makes it worse.

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Anonymous wrote:Completely avoid Southern SLACs (Washington & Lee, Davidson). These schools are focused more on college societies and events than academics.

Generally mid-tier SLACS should be avoided(i.e. Sarah Lawrence). Generally these are filled with mediocre upper-middle class/wealthy kids. But sometimes very good schools are unjustifiably ranked low (i.e. Reed, Oberlin)

Completely avoid internet morons like this.

It's unfortunate you sent your child to W&L by just looking at the rankings, but its a school for drinking events, not academics.

Yes mine did go to W&L. She is now in the third year of her doctoral program. Had a great experience.

A great experience I am sure, as long as you are not the wrong race. But the OP made it rather clear she was looking for academic & intellectual environment, not social experience.

She’s in a doctoral program. You think that’s not academic and intellectual?

Anonymous wrote:OP thanks. Ongoing good advice.

There seems to be a W&L poster on these threads. Here’s the thing, my daughter is not that into you. If we are supposed to be letting kids lead the way, mine has said: no significant Greek scene, no Southern, no alcohol and parties focused social scene.

I’m not insulting W&L. I’m sure it’s alums are successful and do great things. I believe there was a recent thread on W&LL where it might be more appropriate to argue about its merits.

But, this kid would be a terrible fit.

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Anonymous wrote:Completely avoid Southern SLACs (Washington & Lee, Davidson). These schools are focused more on college societies and events than academics.

Generally mid-tier SLACS should be avoided(i.e. Sarah Lawrence). Generally these are filled with mediocre upper-middle class/wealthy kids. But sometimes very good schools are unjustifiably ranked low (i.e. Reed, Oberlin)

Completely avoid internet morons like this.

It's unfortunate you sent your child to W&L by just looking at the rankings, but its a school for drinking events, not academics.

Yes mine did go to W&L. She is now in the third year of her doctoral program. Had a great experience.

A great experience I am sure, as long as you are not the wrong race. But the OP made it rather clear she was looking for academic & intellectual environment, not social experience.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Completely avoid Southern SLACs (Washington & Lee, Davidson). These schools are focused more on college societies and events than academics.

Generally mid-tier SLACS should be avoided(i.e. Sarah Lawrence). Generally these are filled with mediocre upper-middle class/wealthy kids. But sometimes very good schools are unjustifiably ranked low (i.e. Reed, Oberlin)

Completely avoid internet morons like this.

It's unfortunate you sent your child to W&L by just looking at the rankings, but its a school for drinking events, not academics.

Yes mine did go to W&L. She is now in the third year of her doctoral program. Had a great experience.

Anonymous wrote:Both Carleton and Wesleyan are very difficult to get into, it is splitting hairs to say one is more competitive than the other. It’s like saying that Carleton is often higher ranked in USNWR, again that is splitting hairs.

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Anonymous wrote:OP, seriously consider Wesleyan in CT. It’s a bit larger for SLACs. My daughter applied to a couple of the schools you referenced and ended up going to Wesleyan.

Not on our radar. Can you tell me more about why you think it’s a good fit?

DP DC graduated last year from Wes and had a wonderful experience. It’s a diverse student body that while intellectually engaged isn’t competitive at all......very collaborative. At 2,800 students it’s an unusually large LAC which can make a difference when compared to schools with 1200-1400 students. There’s a very robust arts community.....both fine and performing.....with hundreds of exhibitions and performances on campus every year. The location is also different from the usually more remote locations. Middletown is a short walk away with many restaurants and stores. The progressive housing plan was a great way to keep students on campus which enhanced the community. Many research opportunists and my DC built strong relationships with many of his professors. My other DC attends an Ivy and the Wes experience in my opinion is vastly superior.

OP, I am first poster who mentioned Wesleyan. The above poster is right on mark about Wesleyan. It’s just such a mixture of benefits of a SLAC but also larger than other SLACs s and also has a small grad program. It seems to us to be the best of all worlds. I would recommend that you at least look in to this school further if you’re not familiar with it.

OP here. This is definitely on the list. My kid reviewed the website and is intrigued. Signed up for a virtual info session next week. And, signed up for a Lawrence info session. She was missing another solid safety and EA is perfect. Being pointed towards those two schools is worth all the snark.

Still love to hear about the atmosphere at Vasser, Hamilton, and Tufts.

Wait, you are not considering Wesleyan a safety for your kid, are you? It's not.

Definitely not. I would consider it a reach. So much so that I wonder if it would be worth wasting an ED application.

Lawrence and St. Olaf would be the safeties. EA on a safety is nice. Wooster was DC1’s. Also, siblings school is a match, and has a reputation for giving siblings a strong legacy preference. If they have one kid there, getting good grades, not a disciplinary problem, parents paying the bills, it’s more of a sure thing for them.