Anonymous
Post 08/18/2025 15:22     Subject: where would top SLACs fall in an overall college ranking list?
Just dropped my first-year DC at Pomona. Totally non-scientific feedback, but it’s hard for me to imagine a more ideal college — truly diverse student body, gorgeous environment, dedicated faculty and staff, access to the 5Cs for social and academic purposes, and tons of funding leveraged for the benefit of students.

We’ll see how it all shakes out in due course, but learned at Parent Orientation that a multi-year alumni outcomes project has just been rolled out. Advisors will be able to use that to counsel students on their academic choices and I’m guessing it’ll be more publicly available soon too.
Anonymous
Post 08/18/2025 15:17     Subject: where would top SLACs fall in an overall college ranking list?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I love the SLAC model. My kid was accepted at two WASPs and I was pretty sure they would be at one of the them this fall.

The accepted student events changed things -- not for academic reasons, but bc kid had serious reservations about the social environment. Too bro-y for my kid.

I was actually pretty surprised and bummed. Was not my impression of those schools 30 years ago! I do love the academic model. Alas


So many parents are like Goldilocks. The T20 schools are too nerdy. The WASPs are too bro-y. Where can we find the college where nothing has changed since 1995?


This was the kid's assessment. I wasn't at the accepted students event and probably wouldn't be able to pick up a bro-y vibe (or any young-person vibe) anyway. I probably wouldn't have been able to pick up the right vibe in 1995 either.

The kid picked a mid-sized T20 that seems to have bros, nerds, etc. Fingers crossed it works out.

Wonder if he just happen to meet a lot of athletes. I can see Williams having a more Broey vibe (Econ athlete dominated) compared to Pomona or Swat.

DS felt that the Williams kids were “too uchicago”-obsessed with work over life, Amherst was fine, and chose between Pomona, Swat, and brown.
Anonymous
Post 08/18/2025 15:06     Subject: where would top SLACs fall in an overall college ranking list?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:ok wow another SLAC booster thread. who cares about these tiny universities. they're basically just little boarding schools keeping kids in tiny bubbles.


My SLAC kid turned down WashU and MIT for Middlebury. It wasn’t a grad choice in the end because she loved on and didn’t love the other two.


hard choice
Anonymous
Post 08/18/2025 15:05     Subject: where would top SLACs fall in an overall college ranking list?
Anonymous wrote:ok wow another SLAC booster thread. who cares about these tiny universities. they're basically just little boarding schools keeping kids in tiny bubbles.


My SLAC kid turned down WashU and MIT for Middlebury. It wasn’t a grad choice in the end because she loved on and didn’t love the other two.
Anonymous
Post 08/18/2025 14:31     Subject: where would top SLACs fall in an overall college ranking list?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I love the SLAC model. My kid was accepted at two WASPs and I was pretty sure they would be at one of the them this fall.

The accepted student events changed things -- not for academic reasons, but bc kid had serious reservations about the social environment. Too bro-y for my kid.

I was actually pretty surprised and bummed. Was not my impression of those schools 30 years ago! I do love the academic model. Alas


So many parents are like Goldilocks. The T20 schools are too nerdy. The WASPs are too bro-y. Where can we find the college where nothing has changed since 1995?


This was the kid's assessment. I wasn't at the accepted students event and probably wouldn't be able to pick up a bro-y vibe (or any young-person vibe) anyway. I probably wouldn't have been able to pick up the right vibe in 1995 either.

The kid picked a mid-sized T20 that seems to have bros, nerds, etc. Fingers crossed it works out.
Anonymous
Post 08/18/2025 13:41     Subject: where would top SLACs fall in an overall college ranking list?
Anonymous wrote:I love the SLAC model. My kid was accepted at two WASPs and I was pretty sure they would be at one of the them this fall.

The accepted student events changed things -- not for academic reasons, but bc kid had serious reservations about the social environment. Too bro-y for my kid.

I was actually pretty surprised and bummed. Was not my impression of those schools 30 years ago! I do love the academic model. Alas


So many parents are like Goldilocks. The T20 schools are too nerdy. The WASPs are too bro-y. Where can we find the college where nothing has changed since 1995?
Anonymous
Post 08/18/2025 13:37     Subject: where would top SLACs fall in an overall college ranking list?
Anonymous wrote:ok wow another SLAC booster thread. who cares about these tiny universities. they're basically just little boarding schools keeping kids in tiny bubbles.

How awful! A small school with good opportunities. Not like the undergraduate classes at the top ivies are small.
Anonymous
Post 08/18/2025 13:35     Subject: where would top SLACs fall in an overall college ranking list?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Some schools my kid's WASP classmates turned down: Vandy, Northwestern and, will shock some of you, Harvard! This is a small sampling of kids who've chatted about the application process.


The above post does not appear to be credible as, like almost every LAC promoter, they never name the specific LAC, but always name the elite National Universities. This is done, typically, so that those with knowledge cannot provide more detailed and more accurate information.

Based on the LAC supporters in this thread, a recommendation should be:

Momma, don't let your babies grow up to be LAC graduates.

How would your response change if they said Williams, Amherst, Swarthmore, or Pomona?
Anonymous
Post 08/18/2025 13:00     Subject: where would top SLACs fall in an overall college ranking list?
I went to a well-regarded, massive public university where I received a great education for a tremendous value. If we were still in-state, there's a good chance my DC would have gone to the same school. But it's insane to me that a certain segment of DCUM (or perhaps it's just one or two posters) have such a monomaniacal antipathy for LACs. Or that they simply cannot understand how anyone would choose an LAC over a top university. One's head needs to be buried deep within their own fundament to repeatedly seek out new threads to make such proclamations.

Anyhow, my DC chose Pomona over Brown and Dartmouth and other LACs. DC liked all three schools, but Pomona had better financial aid, a preferable location, and overall better vibes for DC during admitted student visits. I don't think Pomona is better or worse than either Ivy. Each has advantages and disadvantages and it's mostly delusional try to cram them into any kind of rigid hierarchy. No regrets two years later.
Anonymous
Post 08/18/2025 11:36     Subject: where would top SLACs fall in an overall college ranking list?
ok wow another SLAC booster thread. who cares about these tiny universities. they're basically just little boarding schools keeping kids in tiny bubbles.
Anonymous
Post 08/18/2025 11:34     Subject: where would top SLACs fall in an overall college ranking list?
Anonymous wrote:I love the SLAC model. My kid was accepted at two WASPs and I was pretty sure they would be at one of the them this fall.

The accepted student events changed things -- not for academic reasons, but bc kid had serious reservations about the social environment. Too bro-y for my kid.

I was actually pretty surprised and bummed. Was not my impression of those schools 30 years ago! I do love the academic model. Alas


Very clever response. Thank you for your input.

A relevant and important difference between small schools and large schools is that in a small school environment one must deal with the uncomfortable/undesirable aspects on a daily basis, while at a larger school it is much easier to deal with undesirable aspects by simply avoiding it/them and moving on.
Anonymous
Post 08/18/2025 10:43     Subject: where would top SLACs fall in an overall college ranking list?
I love the SLAC model. My kid was accepted at two WASPs and I was pretty sure they would be at one of the them this fall.

The accepted student events changed things -- not for academic reasons, but bc kid had serious reservations about the social environment. Too bro-y for my kid.

I was actually pretty surprised and bummed. Was not my impression of those schools 30 years ago! I do love the academic model. Alas
Anonymous
Post 08/18/2025 10:21     Subject: where would top SLACs fall in an overall college ranking list?
Anonymous wrote:Some schools my kid's WASP classmates turned down: Vandy, Northwestern and, will shock some of you, Harvard! This is a small sampling of kids who've chatted about the application process.


The above post does not appear to be credible as, like almost every LAC promoter, they never name the specific LAC, but always name the elite National Universities. This is done, typically, so that those with knowledge cannot provide more detailed and more accurate information.

Based on the LAC supporters in this thread, a recommendation should be:

Momma, don't let your babies grow up to be LAC graduates.
Anonymous
Post 08/18/2025 10:16     Subject: where would top SLACs fall in an overall college ranking list?
Anonymous wrote:Debating rankings of top colleges is like arguing which Michelin-star restaurant deserves to be ranked higher. They all serve world-class food, the difference lies in the flavors and what suits your taste.

As a parent of a child attending a WASP, here’s my two cents:

POSITIVES

Tons of resources: lots of courses, no waiting at the gym, easy to join clubs, and undergrad research with professors is accessible.

No cutthroat competition: It’s not a rat race where kids fight for the best spots. This lets them explore what they’re truly interested in and builds great teamwork skills.

Intellectually alive: Small classes, seminars, and the kind of students admitted create a buzzing environment full of passionate, intense discussion. My child’s reasoning has really improved since starting.

NEGATIVES

SLACs are sheltered: They don’t always teach you to be tough or competitive, skills useful in the real world. There are different paths to success (think Trump’s sharp elbows vs. Obama’s idealism). SLAC fits my child’s personality but might feel limiting for someone super ambitious.

SLACs give great, personal education but aren’t usually at the research forefront. For example, Terence Tao at UCLA is a genius but a minimalist teacher. SLACs have great coaches but rarely A-list stars or speakers like research universities do.

Course choices are narrower. This only matters for those wanting very specialized classes; most have plenty to pick from.

I chose a SLAC to help my child build life skills - thinking critically, being open, working well with others - while exploring interests without pressure and getting ready for grad school.

I also think SLACs and top-tier research schools look for different qualities in applicants. SLACs want curiosity, teamwork, and broad interests; HYPSM want top achievers in their fields.


You need to do better research on former President Obama's rise to power. He was no angel (which is fine as it is necessary).

No waiting in lines at the gym is a real benefit at most LACs, but if you think that LAC students are more "intellectually alive" than university students, you are incorrect.

Add to the cons of LACs: Limited choice of courses, majors, professors, and perspectives.
Anonymous
Post 08/18/2025 09:52     Subject: where would top SLACs fall in an overall college ranking list?
Some schools my kid's WASP classmates turned down: Vandy, Northwestern and, will shock some of you, Harvard! This is a small sampling of kids who've chatted about the application process.