I recruit for a PhD program, and we’ve had excellent students come out of Mac, Wooster, Knox, Denison, Ripon, and Gustavus Adolphus. You really have excellent choices in the Midwest!

All great schools. Hard to go wrong. Just a question of fit.

Anonymous wrote:Grinnell is so isolated. Macalester, St. Olaf, Carleton, Lawrence are all better.

Grinnell grad here. For me, the isolation was a feature, not a bug. It felt like a world unto itself, and I loved the unlikely, offbeat community this created.

I think it also really helped me shed all the things I thought I knew about myself. All of the things that would have reinforced old assumptions were absent, so there was nothing for the assumptions to cling to. Seems paradoxical, but heading to an isolated locale opened me up in ways I hadn’t anticipated.

It’s not for everyone! But I’d do it all over again.

Dennison is probably the best Midwestern SLAC that isn't overly woke, if that matters to you. It would to me.

Grinnell is so isolated. Macalester, St. Olaf, Carleton, Lawrence are all better.

Anonymous wrote:Grinnell is desolate and the surrounding meth towns are quite dangerous. Students have been murdered at gas stations and rest stops traveling to and from Grinnell.

One student in 1992, before cell phones. Didn’t happen in a rest stop or gas station (her car broke down on the side of the highway).

It was absolutely tragic. It is not a trend.

My Grinnell kid adores the town of Grinnell. Absolutely adores it.

Anonymous wrote:Grinnell is desolate and the surrounding meth towns are quite dangerous. Students have been murdered at gas stations and rest stops traveling to and from Grinnell.

Are you referring to the 1992 case of a student driving to Grinnell from Northwestern? The tragedy didn’t even take place in Iowa….

Anonymous wrote:A friend whose DC is at Mac was just raving to me last night about it! They love the school. Also have a brother who still calls Kenyon “magical”-and both have merit. I went to a NESCAC school but don’t see how they are worth full pay if you can get merit at a great SLAC elsewhere.

As the parent of a kid who chose a highly regarded NE LAC over Mac + top merit, I would agree except for two things: location/distance and weather. The ability to drive/train to and from school and being in a more temperate climate were meaningful. Obviously this varies by kid. But for this kid these lifestyle factors outweighed the possibility of some money leftover in the 529.

If the NE LAC hadn’t been an option, kid would have been very happy going to Mac.

Anonymous wrote:Grinnell is desolate and the surrounding meth towns are quite dangerous. Students have been murdered at gas stations and rest stops traveling to and from Grinnell.

Link or lie.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ve been thinking a “midwestern nice” vibe would be good for DC. Any insight into which school might be best for a shy, sensitive, high stats kid?

I think most of schools mentioned here are good potential. You can somewhat narrow down by urban vs rural as well as historical reputations on selected career paths (IB vs grad schools). Good luck!

Thank you!

Grinnell is desolate and the surrounding meth towns are quite dangerous. Students have been murdered at gas stations and rest stops traveling to and from Grinnell.

Anonymous wrote:I’ve been thinking a “midwestern nice” vibe would be good for DC. Any insight into which school might be best for a shy, sensitive, high stats kid?

I think most of schools mentioned here are good potential. You can somewhat narrow down by urban vs rural as well as historical reputations on selected career paths (IB vs grad schools). Good luck!

I’ve been thinking a “midwestern nice” vibe would be good for DC. Any insight into which school might be best for a shy, sensitive, high stats kid?

We did extensive SLAC midwest/PA tours for my DD this past year. All of the schools mentioned were very impressive and all had a lot to offer. For some reason my DD wasn't interested in the NE SLACs. I don't think you can go wrong at any of these schools, although they all do have their own individuals "vibes."

A friend whose DC is at Mac was just raving to me last night about it! They love the school. Also have a brother who still calls Kenyon “magical”-and both have merit. I went to a NESCAC school but don’t see how they are worth full pay if you can get merit at a great SLAC elsewhere.