Anonymous
07/13/2025 20:41
Subject: I went to state school, kids going to LAC
Anonymous wrote:From parents who attended SLAC’s whose kids are going to state schools (opposite perspective but hope this helps):
1. More people, more students
2. More name recognition (not having to explain your kid’s college)
3. Cheaper tuition
4. Greek life
5. Not getting into certain classes as easily
6. Your kid has to move into an apartment after the first year
7. Easier to find rides home for vacations if you’re in-state
8. Easier to find others in your immediate circle whose kids have attended or are attending the same college
I would add:
9. Far more majors and depth of courses to choose from.
Anonymous
07/13/2025 20:41
Subject: Re:I went to state school, kids going to LAC
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:What type of high school / prep school did your child attend ?
Most LACs resemble private boarding schools in most respects. LACs are somewhat like small towns--living in a tiny community where seemingly everyone knows your business.
Ours went to an elite prep boarding school and has shared that the idea of attending an LAC was of no interest as it would be too much like repeating boarding school.
You share this experience often in posts about LACs. You might consider where and when this anecdote would be helpful. Should you join a thread to point out that our own child decided against a choice that someone else has already made? (Especially when your kid had a rarified school experience different than the vast majority of teens today?) No, that's not helpful or appropriate.
Your insight might be helpful if a poster asks "where should my elite prep boarding school student apply?" It's not relevant to the vast majority of families considering (or already committed to!) liberal arts colleges.
Bless your soul; this little contribution of yours added zero value to anyone's life except your own.
No, I think she helped and is absolutely right. It’s super odd for a boarding school parent to deride liberal arts colleges as nothing more than boarding schools.
Not if it’s accurate though.
DP
Everyone is different. I found my time at Amherst nothing like Andover. College inherently has a pretty big difference in priorities and values of the student body and teaching faculty.
If you mean one is small than another is small, I guess Caltech is a boarding school.
Anonymous
07/13/2025 20:36
Subject: I went to state school, kids going to LAC
Anonymous wrote:From parents who attended SLAC’s whose kids are going to state schools (opposite perspective but hope this helps):
1. More people, more students
2. More name recognition (not having to explain your kid’s college)
3. Cheaper tuition
4. Greek life
5. Not getting into certain classes as easily
6. Your kid has to move into an apartment after the first year
7. Easier to find rides home for vacations if you’re in-state
8. Easier to find others in your immediate circle whose kids have attended or are attending the same college
Can you pls share which SLAC you attended? Want to make note as your alma mater clearly failed on reading comprehension.
Anonymous
07/13/2025 20:35
Subject: Re:I went to state school, kids going to LAC
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:What type of high school / prep school did your child attend ?
Most LACs resemble private boarding schools in most respects. LACs are somewhat like small towns--living in a tiny community where seemingly everyone knows your business.
Ours went to an elite prep boarding school and has shared that the idea of attending an LAC was of no interest as it would be too much like repeating boarding school.
You share this experience often in posts about LACs. You might consider where and when this anecdote would be helpful. Should you join a thread to point out that our own child decided against a choice that someone else has already made? (Especially when your kid had a rarified school experience different than the vast majority of teens today?) No, that's not helpful or appropriate.
Your insight might be helpful if a poster asks "where should my elite prep boarding school student apply?" It's not relevant to the vast majority of families considering (or already committed to!) liberal arts colleges.
Bless your soul; this little contribution of yours added zero value to anyone's life except your own.
No, I think she helped and is absolutely right. It’s super odd for a boarding school parent to deride liberal arts colleges as nothing more than boarding schools.
Not if it’s accurate though.
DP
Anonymous
07/13/2025 20:32
Subject: I went to state school, kids going to LAC
From parents who attended SLAC’s whose kids are going to state schools (opposite perspective but hope this helps):
1. More people, more students
2. More name recognition (not having to explain your kid’s college)
3. Cheaper tuition
4. Greek life
5. Not getting into certain classes as easily
6. Your kid has to move into an apartment after the first year
7. Easier to find rides home for vacations if you’re in-state
8. Easier to find others in your immediate circle whose kids have attended or are attending the same college
1. More people, more students
2. More name recognition (not having to explain your kid’s college)
3. Cheaper tuition
4. Greek life
5. Not getting into certain classes as easily
6. Your kid has to move into an apartment after the first year
7. Easier to find rides home for vacations if you’re in-state
8. Easier to find others in your immediate circle whose kids have attended or are attending the same college
Anonymous
07/13/2025 20:32
Subject: I went to state school, kids going to LAC
From my experience:
1. Watch what you do and say. Get drunk and do or say something offensive or stupid or mean, and your rep will spread quickly.
2. Go to class. Your professors will notice if you don't.
3. Your tuition is going to a lot of really nice extras like advising, career center workshops, social events etc., so take advantage of those things.
4. If you want to do something, there likely are opportunities and resources available. It's crazy how much funding my kids' LACs have for all kinds of things.
1. Watch what you do and say. Get drunk and do or say something offensive or stupid or mean, and your rep will spread quickly.
2. Go to class. Your professors will notice if you don't.
3. Your tuition is going to a lot of really nice extras like advising, career center workshops, social events etc., so take advantage of those things.
4. If you want to do something, there likely are opportunities and resources available. It's crazy how much funding my kids' LACs have for all kinds of things.
Anonymous
07/13/2025 20:18
Subject: I went to state school, kids going to LAC
OP, prepare to hold your tongue. You have agreed to the LAC so your experience (and so long ago) is not going to be very relevant. My guess is there will be times when you'll ask yourself, "why am I paying for this?" Fair question, but you have given your ok for this choice, so hold your tongue.
Anonymous
07/13/2025 19:51
Subject: I went to state school, kids going to LAC
SLAC:
1. More kids who are very wealthy or on lots of financial aid. Fewer kids from blue collar and middle class families.
2. Fewer kids whose parents are in the military or clergy.
3. More geographic diversity, less socioeconomic diversity.
4. Legacy may be a bigger deal. Some of the kids may have been attending their parents’ reunions for years and may know the other legacy kids there.
5. Less interest in/knowledge of pre-professional tracks for areas like accounting, pharmacy, elementary education, etc.
6. Greater emphasis on campus life with most students living on campus.
1. More kids who are very wealthy or on lots of financial aid. Fewer kids from blue collar and middle class families.
2. Fewer kids whose parents are in the military or clergy.
3. More geographic diversity, less socioeconomic diversity.
4. Legacy may be a bigger deal. Some of the kids may have been attending their parents’ reunions for years and may know the other legacy kids there.
5. Less interest in/knowledge of pre-professional tracks for areas like accounting, pharmacy, elementary education, etc.
6. Greater emphasis on campus life with most students living on campus.
Anonymous
07/13/2025 19:49
Subject: Re:I went to state school, kids going to LAC
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:What type of high school / prep school did your child attend ?
Most LACs resemble private boarding schools in most respects. LACs are somewhat like small towns--living in a tiny community where seemingly everyone knows your business.
Ours went to an elite prep boarding school and has shared that the idea of attending an LAC was of no interest as it would be too much like repeating boarding school.
You share this experience often in posts about LACs. You might consider where and when this anecdote would be helpful. Should you join a thread to point out that our own child decided against a choice that someone else has already made? (Especially when your kid had a rarified school experience different than the vast majority of teens today?) No, that's not helpful or appropriate.
Your insight might be helpful if a poster asks "where should my elite prep boarding school student apply?" It's not relevant to the vast majority of families considering (or already committed to!) liberal arts colleges.
Bless your soul; this little contribution of yours added zero value to anyone's life except your own.
No, I think she helped and is absolutely right. It’s super odd for a boarding school parent to deride liberal arts colleges as nothing more than boarding schools.
Anonymous
07/13/2025 19:49
Subject: I went to state school, kids going to LAC
Why do you feel compelled to give advice? Would you, at 18, have taken advice from someone who graduated in the 1960s? That’s how relevant your advice is to your 2025 grad.
If you really need to, just encourage the soft skills that make anyone successful and happy in a new environment- say yes to everything, be open minded to new types of people, take advantage of all the opportunities, be physically active, etc.
If you really need to, just encourage the soft skills that make anyone successful and happy in a new environment- say yes to everything, be open minded to new types of people, take advantage of all the opportunities, be physically active, etc.
Anonymous
07/13/2025 19:41
Subject: Re:I went to state school, kids going to LAC
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:What type of high school / prep school did your child attend ?
Most LACs resemble private boarding schools in most respects. LACs are somewhat like small towns--living in a tiny community where seemingly everyone knows your business.
Ours went to an elite prep boarding school and has shared that the idea of attending an LAC was of no interest as it would be too much like repeating boarding school.
You share this experience often in posts about LACs. You might consider where and when this anecdote would be helpful. Should you join a thread to point out that our own child decided against a choice that someone else has already made? (Especially when your kid had a rarified school experience different than the vast majority of teens today?) No, that's not helpful or appropriate.
Your insight might be helpful if a poster asks "where should my elite prep boarding school student apply?" It's not relevant to the vast majority of families considering (or already committed to!) liberal arts colleges.
+1 PP is tiresome and ignorant. We get it — you don’t like SLACs. Enough.
Anonymous
07/13/2025 15:42
Subject: Re:I went to state school, kids going to LAC
Anonymous wrote:What type of high school / prep school did your child attend ?
Most LACs resemble private boarding schools in most respects. LACs are somewhat like small towns--living in a tiny community where seemingly everyone knows your business.
Ours went to an elite prep boarding school and has shared that the idea of attending an LAC was of no interest as it would be too much like repeating boarding school.
My LAC experience was nothing like boarding school, but it was also the most different lac experience you can get (Claremont colleges)
Anonymous
07/13/2025 15:40
Subject: Re:I went to state school, kids going to LAC
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:What type of high school / prep school did your child attend ?
Most LACs resemble private boarding schools in most respects. LACs are somewhat like small towns--living in a tiny community where seemingly everyone knows your business.
Ours went to an elite prep boarding school and has shared that the idea of attending an LAC was of no interest as it would be too much like repeating boarding school.
You share this experience often in posts about LACs. You might consider where and when this anecdote would be helpful. Should you join a thread to point out that our own child decided against a choice that someone else has already made? (Especially when your kid had a rarified school experience different than the vast majority of teens today?) No, that's not helpful or appropriate.
Your insight might be helpful if a poster asks "where should my elite prep boarding school student apply?" It's not relevant to the vast majority of families considering (or already committed to!) liberal arts colleges.
Bless your soul; this little contribution of yours added zero value to anyone's life except your own.
Anonymous
07/13/2025 15:35
Subject: Re:I went to state school, kids going to LAC
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:What type of high school / prep school did your child attend ?
Most LACs resemble private boarding schools in most respects. LACs are somewhat like small towns--living in a tiny community where seemingly everyone knows your business.
Ours went to an elite prep boarding school and has shared that the idea of attending an LAC was of no interest as it would be too much like repeating boarding school.
He went to a very large public school, so that environment will be different for him.
Interesting switch.
LACs typically offer small classes and lots of intimacy among the LAC community of students & professors. Will experience a lack of privacy and a lack of opportunity to be anonymous when the urge hits. Can be difficult to deal with a romantic relationship break-up. Often there are social divides between athletes and NARPs (non-athlete regular person).
Positives are typically ease with which one can navigate both the campus and administrative matters.
Will see the same faces day after day. Many small schools have just one cafeteria which came be a serious negative.
+1. This got old for me after a while and felt small, even though it really wasn't that small of a school compared to others. Thought about transferring but studied abroad all of junior year at a larger school and lived and worked off campus senior year.
Anonymous
07/13/2025 15:31
Subject: I went to state school, kids going to LAC
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:As the title suggests, I went to my state flagship school and my kid will be starting at an LAC in the fall. I have been giving advice based on my college experience, but I recognize that their experience will be very different. What should I keep in mind in terms of differences? What will they experience that I did not?
Prepare to be very impressed! We didn't experience an LAC ourselves and have been so blown away by our kid's experience. Small classes, no TAs, all professors know her name, lots of feedback on writing. It's awesome!
That's interesting. I was a TA at a LAC and taught writing a year after graduating from college. I believe I also gave "lots of feedback on writing," FWIW.