Of course this discussion is only about the top five SLACs. I went to Swat and loved it but for our junior who wants a SLAC we'll include Midwest schools like Oberlin, Grinnell and Macalaster, other East coast schools like Hamilton, Lafayette, Skidmore and F&M. Vassar and the other Maine schools (Colby and Bates) are lovely. These schools are all fairly selective and pretty and offer a great liberal arts education.

Bowdoin campus seemed small and incoherent to us when we toured. Town was so so

I’ll throw Haverford into the discussion. Historic buildings that don’t feel crumbly like Amherst. Generally happy student body with connections to Philly, not like swarthmore

Anonymous wrote:Amherst really felt tired. Not at all a value at 90k

I liked Bowdoin a lot. New great facilities, but def noticed a lot of athletes in the (great) dining hall

Swat looked tired and stressed, but the dining rooms were the best of all.

Haverford didn't feel aspirational for 90k, but lovely.

haven't seen mid, cmc, or Davidson

Amhersts facilities are…lacking to say the least

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Amherst has great academics, location and campus. Didn’t like Bowdoin. Swarthmore too small. Williams and Middlebury too remote with little to do outside of campus

I guess the answer is Amherst, then.

Yep.

No. Tired campus. Unhappy students.

Bowdoin is the only SLAC that might be "worth" it.

Disagree. Amherst campus nice and buildings well kept. New buildings going up. Great outdoor trails on or near campus. Also the fact that UMass and other colleges nearby makes the town nicer with many more restaurants and shopping.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Amherst has great academics, location and campus. Didn’t like Bowdoin. Swarthmore too small. Williams and Middlebury too remote with little to do outside of campus

I guess the answer is Amherst, then.

Yep.

No. Tired campus. Unhappy students.

Bowdoin is the only SLAC that might be "worth" it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Amherst has great academics, location and campus. Didn’t like Bowdoin. Swarthmore too small. Williams and Middlebury too remote with little to do outside of campus

I guess the answer is Amherst, then.

Yep.

Anonymous wrote:Amherst has great academics, location and campus. Didn’t like Bowdoin. Swarthmore too small. Williams and Middlebury too remote with little to do outside of campus

I guess the answer is Amherst, then.

Amherst has great academics, location and campus. Didn’t like Bowdoin. Swarthmore too small. Williams and Middlebury too remote with little to do outside of campus

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can't imagine paying $80-90k for any school. And all of these SLACs sound exactly the same.

That’s why they offer Mercedes, Hondas and Kias. Options for all price points, some better than others. For those with the means, or the ability to qualify for merit or financial aid, SLACs can be amazing experiences. I have kids at two different SLACs and have seen the benefits firsthand.

but the slacs all seem like Hondas, and 90k with no merit aid offered.

Then don’t send your kid there. Others evaluate value differently.

Exactly. A lot of people have a hard time processing that people feel differently about things. If you don’t like SLACs, no reason to pursue one. But plenty of other people purposely seek them out.

Anonymous wrote:I can't imagine paying $80-90k for any school. And all of these SLACs sound exactly the same.

It could be said that large state schools all seem the same too and out of state prices for those aren’t cheap either.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can't imagine paying $80-90k for any school. And all of these SLACs sound exactly the same.

That’s why they offer Mercedes, Hondas and Kias. Options for all price points, some better than others. For those with the means, or the ability to qualify for merit or financial aid, SLACs can be amazing experiences. I have kids at two different SLACs and have seen the benefits firsthand.

but the slacs all seem like Hondas, and 90k with no merit aid offered.

Then don’t send your kid there. Others evaluate value differently.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can't imagine paying $80-90k for any school. And all of these SLACs sound exactly the same.

That’s why they offer Mercedes, Hondas and Kias. Options for all price points, some better than others. For those with the means, or the ability to qualify for merit or financial aid, SLACs can be amazing experiences. I have kids at two different SLACs and have seen the benefits firsthand.

but the slacs all seem like Hondas, and 90k with no merit aid offered.

Anonymous wrote:I can't imagine paying $80-90k for any school. And all of these SLACs sound exactly the same.

That’s why they offer Mercedes, Hondas and Kias. Options for all price points, some better than others. For those with the means, or the ability to qualify for merit or financial aid, SLACs can be amazing experiences. I have kids at two different SLACs and have seen the benefits firsthand.

I can't imagine paying $80-90k for any school. And all of these SLACs sound exactly the same.