Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Williams

Swarthmore
Pros: Best LAC for graduate school admissions, beautiful, manicured campus, Access to Philly with Train station on campus, Cash Free Campus, Engineering program
Cons: Worst place to go if Pre-Professional, Academics over everything with a toxic relationship to "rigor," Has a dying/dead Consortium, Food is allegedly inedible, no social scene/party life after greek life disbanded-which had a really negative culture of SA

Can you say more about the "dying/dead consortium"? All three of the colleges (Swarthmore, Haverford, Bryn Mawr) talked up the consortium when we visited. My DD is planning to apply early to one of the other LACs in the consortium, and I think being able to cross-register for courses in any of the three schools is appealing for her.

Of course. DC is lucky to be very close to students at Swarthmore and Haverford and spent the night at both hanging with old high school friends. Swarthmore students explained that they hardly use the consortium, because its not that convenient and there's little incentive. Meanwhile, Haverford and Bryn Mawr students definitely use the Bi-Co extensively, and I was even able to take their cute little bus over to Bryn Mawr, which was a very short drive. All colleges will talk up their consortiums, but few work very well (Almost none at the level of Pomona's for example).

PP has it correct. The TriCo (Swat, Haverford, Bryn Mawr) has always been an awkward fit. The shuttle from Swat to the others runs rather infrequently (every 30 mins to an hour, IIRC). Taking classes, doing activities or visiting just takes an inconvenient amount of time.

The BiCo (BMC & Haverford) is a very robust relationship. Blue Bus runs nearly continuously, and students can even walk if they want to/need to. Very easy to ping pong between the two, or even live or major at the other campus.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:WASPs.

All of these colleges are significantly less white and wealthy than many other t20s. Not really the vibe. Pomona had a recent class that is less than 25% white.

Majority of white kids at these schools are athletes. Weird dynamic for non-athlete white kids…avoid.

Weird dynamic if you're scared of non-white people, sure.

Right? What a weird, racist thing to say. And not true.
Signed, white, non-athlete Swarthmore grad who loved my time there and had a lovely diverse group of friends

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:WASPs.

All of these colleges are significantly less white and wealthy than many other t20s. Not really the vibe. Pomona had a recent class that is less than 25% white.

Majority of white kids at these schools are athletes. Weird dynamic for non-athlete white kids…avoid.

Weird dynamic if you're scared of non-white people, sure.

Anonymous wrote:Williams
Pros: Wealthiest LAC, Beautiful, manicured campus, Access to the Berkshires and Hiking Opportunities, Tutorials, WEPO, Entry program, Great Arts Culture, Best LAC for math
Cons: The students are very reserved and academically intense, The school is in the middle of nowhere, Athlete | Student divide, Frosh Quad dorms are pretty iffy, some are downright shabby, Getting rid of their Mystic Campus
Amherst
Pros: A very chill student body compared to Williams, Best LAC for pre-law, Open Curriculum, Amazing Dorms, Beautiful surroundings, Access to 5 College Consortium
Cons: Campus is pretty shabby and kinda ugly, Dorms have had rats and other infestations, including bats, Dining Hall...there's 1 and it's bad, Athlete | Student Divide
Swarthmore
Pros: Best LAC for graduate school admissions, beautiful, manicured campus, Access to Philly with Train station on campus, Cash Free Campus, Engineering program
Cons: Worst place to go if Pre-Professional, Academics over everything with a toxic relationship to "rigor," Has a dying/dead Consortium, Food is allegedly inedible, no social scene/party life after greek life disbanded-which had a really negative culture of SA
Pomona
Pros: Gorgeous Campus, Claremont College Consortium, Typically the best LAC for grad Econ, Public Policy Program, Near the Mountains and access to LA, Most Diverse LAC, Downing Scholars
Cons: Dorms with no AC, CS program over-enrollment issues, the head of LACs with terrible Palestinian Protests, 1 hr train ride to LA, smallest LAC class size in WASP

I graduated about 5 years back from Pomona and also cosign this response. It is a fantastic place for those who like the liberal arts college vibe but also want more diverse academic offerings, access to a broader, larger community, and those who love a good backpacking or beach trip . I do think the class sizes are very underrated, since the amount of schools makes it so you can have tiny tiny classes. By my junior year, my major had 6 person course mixed tutorial/full class structure, where you were able to present problems with an assigned peer on a particular day, and then came together as a class to weigh your approach to situations-which was a fascinating way of doing class that I haven't seen anywhere else. Pomona is for students who definitely work as hard as the other LACs, but they want to spend their weekends in LA or on a hiking trip or at a CMC party. Students are whizzes but very down to earth about it. One of my mentors from freshman year goes to MIT now for a PhD, and you wouldn't ever know she's bright, because she just didn't care to talk about how "hard her work is" like STEM majors at other colleges.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Williams

Swarthmore
Pros: Best LAC for graduate school admissions, beautiful, manicured campus, Access to Philly with Train station on campus, Cash Free Campus, Engineering program
Cons: Worst place to go if Pre-Professional, Academics over everything with a toxic relationship to "rigor," Has a dying/dead Consortium, Food is allegedly inedible, no social scene/party life after greek life disbanded-which had a really negative culture of SA

Can you say more about the "dying/dead consortium"? All three of the colleges (Swarthmore, Haverford, Bryn Mawr) talked up the consortium when we visited. My DD is planning to apply early to one of the other LACs in the consortium, and I think being able to cross-register for courses in any of the three schools is appealing for her.

Of course. DC is lucky to be very close to students at Swarthmore and Haverford and spent the night at both hanging with old high school friends. Swarthmore students explained that they hardly use the consortium, because its not that convenient and there's little incentive. Meanwhile, Haverford and Bryn Mawr students definitely use the Bi-Co extensively, and I was even able to take their cute little bus over to Bryn Mawr, which was a very short drive. All colleges will talk up their consortiums, but few work very well (Almost none at the level of Pomona's for example).

Thanks! That's helpful.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:WASPs.

All of these colleges are significantly less white and wealthy than many other t20s. Not really the vibe. Pomona had a recent class that is less than 25% white.

Majority of white kids at these schools are athletes. Weird dynamic for non-athlete white kids…avoid.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Williams
Pros: Wealthiest LAC, Beautiful, manicured campus, Access to the Berkshires and Hiking Opportunities, Tutorials, WEPO, Entry program, Great Arts Culture, Best LAC for math
Cons: The students are very reserved and academically intense, The school is in the middle of nowhere, Athlete | Student divide, Frosh Quad dorms are pretty iffy, some are downright shabby, Getting rid of their Mystic Campus
Amherst
Pros: A very chill student body compared to Williams, Best LAC for pre-law, Open Curriculum, Amazing Dorms, Beautiful surroundings, Access to 5 College Consortium
Cons: Campus is pretty shabby and kinda ugly, Dorms have had rats and other infestations, including bats, Dining Hall...there's 1 and it's bad, Athlete | Student Divide
Swarthmore
Pros: Best LAC for graduate school admissions, beautiful, manicured campus, Access to Philly with Train station on campus, Cash Free Campus, Engineering program
Cons: Worst place to go if Pre-Professional, Academics over everything with a toxic relationship to "rigor," Has a dying/dead Consortium, Food is allegedly inedible, no social scene/party life after greek life disbanded-which had a really negative culture of SA
Pomona
Pros: Gorgeous Campus, Claremont College Consortium, Typically the best LAC for grad Econ, Public Policy Program, Near the Mountains and access to LA, Most Diverse LAC, Downing Scholars
Cons: Dorms with no AC, CS program over-enrollment issues, the head of LACs with terrible Palestinian Protests, 1 hr train ride to LA, smallest LAC class size in WASP

The description of Williams seems pretty accurate, from my time there. I will say when I lived in the Freshman Quad, it was a pretty nice place to live, both from a location perspective, and a nice-ness perspective. But that was 35 years ago, so they may be much more run down now. In general, Williams is an amazing place for those who don't need outside nightlife to enjoy their time in college. If you like outdoorsey stuff (hiking, running, etc.) it can't be beat. The tutorial system is incredible for the right students. As a student in a tutorial, you are responsible for presenting each week to your professor and the other (one!) student in your group. This requires you to really have a grasp on the material, and also teaches you how to learn without being "spoonfed" the material. (That sounds unnecessarily perjorative, but I can't think of a better term right now). The tutorials are very, very different from small classes that you will get at many SLACS.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Williams

Swarthmore
Pros: Best LAC for graduate school admissions, beautiful, manicured campus, Access to Philly with Train station on campus, Cash Free Campus, Engineering program
Cons: Worst place to go if Pre-Professional, Academics over everything with a toxic relationship to "rigor," Has a dying/dead Consortium, Food is allegedly inedible, no social scene/party life after greek life disbanded-which had a really negative culture of SA

Can you say more about the "dying/dead consortium"? All three of the colleges (Swarthmore, Haverford, Bryn Mawr) talked up the consortium when we visited. My DD is planning to apply early to one of the other LACs in the consortium, and I think being able to cross-register for courses in any of the three schools is appealing for her.

Of course. DC is lucky to be very close to students at Swarthmore and Haverford and spent the night at both hanging with old high school friends. Swarthmore students explained that they hardly use the consortium, because its not that convenient and there's little incentive. Meanwhile, Haverford and Bryn Mawr students definitely use the Bi-Co extensively, and I was even able to take their cute little bus over to Bryn Mawr, which was a very short drive. All colleges will talk up their consortiums, but few work very well (Almost none at the level of Pomona's for example).

Anonymous wrote:Williams

Swarthmore
Pros: Best LAC for graduate school admissions, beautiful, manicured campus, Access to Philly with Train station on campus, Cash Free Campus, Engineering program
Cons: Worst place to go if Pre-Professional, Academics over everything with a toxic relationship to "rigor," Has a dying/dead Consortium, Food is allegedly inedible, no social scene/party life after greek life disbanded-which had a really negative culture of SA

Can you say more about the "dying/dead consortium"? All three of the colleges (Swarthmore, Haverford, Bryn Mawr) talked up the consortium when we visited. My DD is planning to apply early to one of the other LACs in the consortium, and I think being able to cross-register for courses in any of the three schools is appealing for her.

Anonymous wrote:Williams
Pros: Wealthiest LAC, Beautiful, manicured campus, Access to the Berkshires and Hiking Opportunities, Tutorials, WEPO, Entry program, Great Arts Culture, Best LAC for math
Cons: The students are very reserved and academically intense, The school is in the middle of nowhere, Athlete | Student divide, Frosh Quad dorms are pretty iffy, some are downright shabby, Getting rid of their Mystic Campus
Amherst
Pros: A very chill student body compared to Williams, Best LAC for pre-law, Open Curriculum, Amazing Dorms, Beautiful surroundings, Access to 5 College Consortium
Cons: Campus is pretty shabby and kinda ugly, Dorms have had rats and other infestations, including bats, Dining Hall...there's 1 and it's bad, Athlete | Student Divide
Swarthmore
Pros: Best LAC for graduate school admissions, beautiful, manicured campus, Access to Philly with Train station on campus, Cash Free Campus, Engineering program
Cons: Worst place to go if Pre-Professional, Academics over everything with a toxic relationship to "rigor," Has a dying/dead Consortium, Food is allegedly inedible, no social scene/party life after greek life disbanded-which had a really negative culture of SA
Pomona
Pros: Gorgeous Campus, Claremont College Consortium, Typically the best LAC for grad Econ, Public Policy Program, Near the Mountains and access to LA, Most Diverse LAC, Downing Scholars
Cons: Dorms with no AC, CS program over-enrollment issues, the head of LACs with terrible Palestinian Protests, 1 hr train ride to LA, smallest LAC class size in WASP

The description of Williams seems pretty accurate, from my time there. I will say when I lived in the Freshman Quad, it was a pretty nice place to live, both from a location perspective, and a nice-ness perspective. But that was 35 years ago, so they may be much more run down now. In general, Williams is an amazing place for those who don't need outside nightlife to enjoy their time in college. If you like outdoorsey stuff (hiking, running, etc.) it can't be beat. The tutorial system is incredible for the right students. As a student in a tutorial, you are responsible for presenting each week to your professor and the other (one!) student in your group. This requires you to really have a grasp on the material, and also teaches you how to learn without being "spoonfed" the material. (That sounds unnecessarily perjorative, but I can't think of a better term right now). The tutorials are very, very different from small classes that you will get at many SLACS.

Williams
Pros: Wealthiest LAC, Beautiful, manicured campus, Access to the Berkshires and Hiking Opportunities, Tutorials, WEPO, Entry program, Great Arts Culture, Best LAC for math
Cons: The students are very reserved and academically intense, The school is in the middle of nowhere, Athlete | Student divide, Frosh Quad dorms are pretty iffy, some are downright shabby, Getting rid of their Mystic Campus
Amherst
Pros: A very chill student body compared to Williams, Best LAC for pre-law, Open Curriculum, Amazing Dorms, Beautiful surroundings, Access to 5 College Consortium
Cons: Campus is pretty shabby and kinda ugly, Dorms have had rats and other infestations, including bats, Dining Hall...there's 1 and it's bad, Athlete | Student Divide
Swarthmore
Pros: Best LAC for graduate school admissions, beautiful, manicured campus, Access to Philly with Train station on campus, Cash Free Campus, Engineering program
Cons: Worst place to go if Pre-Professional, Academics over everything with a toxic relationship to "rigor," Has a dying/dead Consortium, Food is allegedly inedible, no social scene/party life after greek life disbanded-which had a really negative culture of SA
Pomona
Pros: Gorgeous Campus, Claremont College Consortium, Typically the best LAC for grad Econ, Public Policy Program, Near the Mountains and access to LA, Most Diverse LAC, Downing Scholars
Cons: Dorms with no AC, CS program over-enrollment issues, the head of LACs with terrible Palestinian Protests, 1 hr train ride to LA, smallest LAC class size in WASP

Anonymous wrote:With the exception of Princeton, and to a lesser extent Brown and Dartmouth, Ivies don’t center undergraduate education. I mean, Harvard College is a very good school, but it exists in the shadow of the many professional schools and PhD programs.

I concur. Harvard College gets you pretty dang far, but not as far as Harvard Law, Kennedy, Harvard Med, Etc.

With the exception of Princeton, and to a lesser extent Brown and Dartmouth, Ivies don’t center undergraduate education. I mean, Harvard College is a very good school, but it exists in the shadow of the many professional schools and PhD programs.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Williams is the best of the bunch with the opportunities of Harvard. The rest have fewer resources and a lot less money imo.

What kind of opportunities?

Tutorials and Oxford. A better education than these colleges for sure.

DC Chose Pomona over Williams, and they have the same program as WEPO for Oxford, along with a funded Cambridge Masters program. Unsure about the benefits of tutorials when class sizes are already miniscule, but there are access to tutorial courses at all the WASPS I believe.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Williams is the best of the bunch with the opportunities of Harvard. The rest have fewer resources and a lot less money imo.

What kind of opportunities?

Tutorials and Oxford. A better education than these colleges for sure.