Anonymous
11/11/2025 13:34
Subject: Can you rank these schools in terms of...
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Agree with the posters above saying Yale and Rice. Our science-but-not-engineering daughter was looking for the same things your daughter's looking for. Her list had Yale SCEA (not in), then Rice and W&M tied for second (waitlisted at the first; in w/ Monroe at the second). She's loving W&M.
Congrats! What were her stats? coming from public or private HS?
Thank you! Private HS, OOS. 4.0 UW, 1560, National Merit Scholar (though application just said Semifinalist or whatever the case was at the time). ECs were "weakest" part of app, just in that there was nothing that stood out especially, but I think it's really just that there are a lot of really talented students applying for these schools. We went into the process framing it as "the odds aren't in your (or anyone's) favor at the tippy-top schools, regardless of your resume; let's give it a shot, though, and see how it goes." We're glad W&M's been such a good fit, and, per OP's initial request, she's absolutely found the intellectually curious, collaborative, smart, happy students she was hoping she would find. FWIW, the other admitted school that she considered strongly until the end was Carleton, so that might be another good one to take a look at.
Anonymous
11/11/2025 12:58
Subject: Can you rank these schools in terms of...
Anonymous wrote:All of the schools on op list have rigor and smart kids. I think the determining factor should be your child's personality, interests, and what makes them happy/thrive. Look lifestyle and social fit - it matters. My kid only applied to 1 school on the op list - all great schools but not great fit for my kid. My kid thought rice kids were odd, jhu too grindy, and cornell too isolated. They arent an athlete so was wary of slac where athletes often drive the social scene. Every kid is different. I have a smart, social kid at a 'preprofessional' school on OP list and they are working hard, learning a lot, having fun, and very happy! Preprofessional schools can also be collaborative. My kid has supportive study groups, upperclassmen mentors, active in clubs, good advisors, etc. Best thing is to visit and speak with upperclassmen about their real experience.(vs websites and generic tours).
Is your kid at Penn or CMU?
Anonymous
11/11/2025 12:56
Subject: Can you rank these schools in terms of...
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:being most conducive to learning/intellectual curiosity vs. pre-professional, most collaborative, with the smartest yet also happiest students, where they work hard but it's not a grind. I know I am describing almost a unicorn college. Please rank top 3 that fit this blue sky college description.
Penn
Princeton
Yale
Cornell
Rice
Williams
Amherst
Swarthmore
Pomona
Harvey Mudd
Middlebury
JHU
Northwestern
Carnegie Mellon
Excluding other colleges that may fit the bill like Brown and Stanford where no one ever gets in from our HS. Kids from DC's school sends at least 1-4 seniors each to above list consistently. Science major (not engineering)
Exactly how many posts have you made in the last couple of days about your kid's potential schools? Is the "is neuroscience a female major?" thread yours? There's another one about perceptions of certain schools... Another one mentioning a desire to major in chemistry?
If these are all yours, you need to back WAY off and let your kid handle it.
Not mine
Anonymous
11/11/2025 12:55
Subject: Can you rank these schools in terms of...
Anonymous wrote:Agree with the posters above saying Yale and Rice. Our science-but-not-engineering daughter was looking for the same things your daughter's looking for. Her list had Yale SCEA (not in), then Rice and W&M tied for second (waitlisted at the first; in w/ Monroe at the second). She's loving W&M.
Congrats! What were her stats? coming from public or private HS?
Anonymous
11/11/2025 12:53
Subject: Can you rank these schools in terms of...
All of the schools on op list have rigor and smart kids. I think the determining factor should be your child's personality, interests, and what makes them happy/thrive. Look lifestyle and social fit - it matters. My kid only applied to 1 school on the op list - all great schools but not great fit for my kid. My kid thought rice kids were odd, jhu too grindy, and cornell too isolated. They arent an athlete so was wary of slac where athletes often drive the social scene. Every kid is different. I have a smart, social kid at a 'preprofessional' school on OP list and they are working hard, learning a lot, having fun, and very happy! Preprofessional schools can also be collaborative. My kid has supportive study groups, upperclassmen mentors, active in clubs, good advisors, etc. Best thing is to visit and speak with upperclassmen about their real experience.(vs websites and generic tours).
Anonymous
11/11/2025 12:48
Subject: Can you rank these schools in terms of...
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:What does your son/daughter want to study ?
If engineering, then it will be a grind everywhere.
Not engineering. Wants chemistry or neuroscience. Thanks!
For chemistry, Clark in MA
Anonymous
11/11/2025 12:47
Subject: Can you rank these schools in terms of...
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:What does your son/daughter want to study ?
If engineering, then it will be a grind everywhere.
Not engineering. Wants chemistry or neuroscience. Thanks!
Bucknell
Anonymous
11/11/2025 12:46
Subject: Can you rank these schools in terms of...
I would say Rice and Northwestern, maybe Amherst. Not on your list, but Wesleyan also fits this niche within the SLAC world.
Anonymous
11/11/2025 12:44
Subject: Can you rank these schools in terms of...
Anonymous wrote:being most conducive to learning/intellectual curiosity vs. pre-professional, most collaborative, with the smartest yet also happiest students, where they work hard but it's not a grind. I know I am describing almost a unicorn college. Please rank top 3 that fit this blue sky college description.
Penn
Princeton
Yale
Cornell
Rice
Williams
Amherst
Swarthmore
Pomona
Harvey Mudd
Middlebury
JHU
Northwestern
Carnegie Mellon
Excluding other colleges that may fit the bill like Brown and Stanford where no one ever gets in from our HS. Kids from DC's school sends at least 1-4 seniors each to above list consistently. Science major (not engineering)
Exactly how many posts have you made in the last couple of days about your kid's potential schools? Is the "is neuroscience a female major?" thread yours? There's another one about perceptions of certain schools... Another one mentioning a desire to major in chemistry?
If these are all yours, you need to back WAY off and let your kid handle it.
Anonymous
11/11/2025 12:42
Subject: Can you rank these schools in terms of...
Agree with the posters above saying Yale and Rice. Our science-but-not-engineering daughter was looking for the same things your daughter's looking for. Her list had Yale SCEA (not in), then Rice and W&M tied for second (waitlisted at the first; in w/ Monroe at the second). She's loving W&M.
Anonymous
11/11/2025 12:40
Subject: Can you rank these schools in terms of...
Anonymous wrote:What does your son/daughter want to study ?
If engineering, then it will be a grind everywhere.
+1000
Engineering pays well in general, and it is largely stable employment, but it is a grind virtually everywhere.
Anonymous
11/11/2025 12:12
Subject: Can you rank these schools in terms of...
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Why just this list? It’s hard to find those qualities in the schools that people apply to because they prioritize prestige. (Think of all the people applying to Ivies solely because they’re part of that athletic conference.)
Agree. Drop all the prestige hunting schools and then you will find your unicorn. Unless prestige is at the top of your list, then just ignore your other criteria.
Top schools have good reputations for a reason. If a kid has been striving in a rigorous high school and is among cohorts who get accepted into these colleges, why do they need to aim lower? I agree with not going 100% by prestige only, but like with most things, prestige and quality often intersect. A Mercedes is in fact a better car than a Kia for people who could afford one.
Anonymous
11/11/2025 12:03
Subject: Can you rank these schools in terms of...
Anonymous wrote:Why just this list? It’s hard to find those qualities in the schools that people apply to because they prioritize prestige. (Think of all the people applying to Ivies solely because they’re part of that athletic conference.)
Agree. Drop all the prestige hunting schools and then you will find your unicorn. Unless prestige is at the top of your list, then just ignore your other criteria.
Anonymous
11/11/2025 12:03
Subject: Can you rank these schools in terms of...
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Yale and Rice. I know that is only two but some of the others are extremely pre-professional (Penn) and some of the LAC's are socially tough because of the divide between athletes and others
These would be my pick too. My kid is a STEM major at Rice. It's a happy place.
The only way a place would be happy is by compromising on rigor.
What a dopey outlook. Residential college scene contributes a lot to overall happiness.
Anonymous
11/11/2025 12:01
Subject: Can you rank these schools in terms of...
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Yale and Rice. I know that is only two but some of the others are extremely pre-professional (Penn) and some of the LAC's are socially tough because of the divide between athletes and others
These would be my pick too. My kid is a STEM major at Rice. It's a happy place.
The only way a place would be happy is by compromising on rigor.