Anonymous
Post 01/27/2026 17:18     Subject: LACs are overrated.
I had to look at the date this thread began, and yep — it's that same old 2021 thread that some weird LAC-hater keeps reviving.

Once again! Different schools are great for different kids. Big universities are ideal for some undergraduates. And for many others, LACs are kind of the platonic ideal of college: small classes taught by dedicated professors, and a community where you won't get lost in a sea of students.

And I don't just mean the Amhersts and Pomonas, but even a lot of LACs slightly lower on US News's rankings can be terrific for the right undergraduate. I've had colleagues and friends who went to places like Beliot, Knox, Whitman, Sarah Lawrence, Bard, etc. who are very smart, even-keeled, happy adults who've had great career tracks. (Some but not all did grad school.)

I guess by making this comment, I'm keeping this thread alive even more. But jeez, quit the axe-grinding.
Anonymous
Post 01/27/2026 16:28     Subject: LACs are overrated.
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Agree 3 hours in Willamstown is 2 hours too much.


Somebody's kid didn't get in. Is that you Colby booster?



First PP. No, Williams dropped off her list and she ED'd to Amherst instead. Amherst was at the outer limit of her tolerance for remote, and she is very happy there.


I’m the one who received the jab about southern schools.. during overnite, the nerd hosts took my kid to the library and flexed about how long each spent on an econ problem. Bleh. Combined with the coach basically embarrassing himself begging my kid to pick Williams and several pompous (and unpublished) professors, very easy decision to go “lower in the rankings” for a fun school with comparable outcomes



There are zero unpublished tenured professors at Williams. Zero.
Anonymous
Post 01/27/2026 16:27     Subject: LACs are overrated.
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Agree 3 hours in Willamstown is 2 hours too much.


Somebody's kid didn't get in. Is that you Colby booster?



First PP. No, Williams dropped off her list and she ED'd to Amherst instead. Amherst was at the outer limit of her tolerance for remote, and she is very happy there.


I’m the one who received the jab about southern schools.. during overnite, the nerd hosts took my kid to the library and flexed about how long each spent on an econ problem. Bleh. Combined with the coach basically embarrassing himself begging my kid to pick Williams and several pompous (and unpublished) professors, very easy decision to go “lower in the rankings” for a fun school with comparable outcomes
Anonymous
Post 01/27/2026 16:09     Subject: LACs are overrated.
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:They sit in that odd in-between where they're lesser-known by the general populace, but are incredibly overhyped by those in the know.

No one cares about your Williams or Amherst or Swarthmore, and they're slowly but surely becoming increasingly irrelevant in today's higher ed landscape.


Not really, graduates of the three schools you mentioned will have the same grad school and employment opportunities of an HYPS grad


Not really.

Grad school opportunities maaaaybe. Employment opportunities, no.


They absolutely will. Those schools have no problem placing into Mag7, IB, MBB. There is no door open to an Ivy grad that is closed to an equally ranked SLAC.
Anonymous
Post 01/27/2026 15:45     Subject: LACs are overrated.
Anonymous wrote:UVA strivers v. LAC hypers. Who will prevail...


6-7
Anonymous
Post 01/27/2026 15:44     Subject: LACs are overrated.
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:They sit in that odd in-between where they're lesser-known by the general populace, but are incredibly overhyped by those in the know.

No one cares about your Williams or Amherst or Swarthmore, and they're slowly but surely becoming increasingly irrelevant in today's higher ed landscape.


Not really, graduates of the three schools you mentioned will have the same grad school and employment opportunities of an HYPS grad


Not really.

Grad school opportunities maaaaybe. Employment opportunities, no.
Anonymous
Post 01/27/2026 13:03     Subject: LACs are overrated.
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Agree 3 hours in Willamstown is 2 hours too much.


Somebody's kid didn't get in. Is that you Colby booster?



First PP. No, Williams dropped off her list and she ED'd to Amherst instead. Amherst was at the outer limit of her tolerance for remote, and she is very happy there.
Anonymous
Post 01/27/2026 12:49     Subject: LACs are overrated.
Anonymous wrote:Agree 3 hours in Willamstown is 2 hours too much.


Somebody's kid didn't get in. Is that you Colby booster?
Anonymous
Post 01/27/2026 12:01     Subject: LACs are overrated.
Agree 3 hours in Willamstown is 2 hours too much.
Anonymous
Post 01/27/2026 11:59     Subject: LACs are overrated.
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Williams mom here. My kid has tiny classes with lots of interactive discussions and essentially no one on their phones. More in class work and less use of AI. Teachers so clearly deeply invested in their undergrads and not focused entirely on grads and fellows and research. Lots of opportunities for research projects and lots of personalized guidance from staff. Public universities and even many ivies simply don't enjoy these benefits. Most grads head off to meaningful lives and lots of elite grad schools and careers. Williams grads are among the most loyal alum with a per student endowment in the top 5 in the nation.

There are many benefits of a small top LAC in today's world where AI, emotions isolation, and chronic phone use is a real problem.

Clearly tons of benefits of large schools too!

My daughter is also relieved not to be in a Trump state, as are we

She is so happy at Williams and the teaching quality is just outstanding


my DC just passed on Williams and Amherst - opted for a bigger school. Weird vibe at Williams, Amherst was a little better. Hard pass at both though. My DC had the luxury of overnite visits, which helped. Couldn’t leave Williamstown fast enough..



My DC also didn't like the Williams vibe or Williamstown but loved other SLACs.


^^I should say I, the parent, loved Williamstown and thought it was stunning.
Anonymous
Post 01/27/2026 11:59     Subject: LACs are overrated.
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Williams mom here. My kid has tiny classes with lots of interactive discussions and essentially no one on their phones. More in class work and less use of AI. Teachers so clearly deeply invested in their undergrads and not focused entirely on grads and fellows and research. Lots of opportunities for research projects and lots of personalized guidance from staff. Public universities and even many ivies simply don't enjoy these benefits. Most grads head off to meaningful lives and lots of elite grad schools and careers. Williams grads are among the most loyal alum with a per student endowment in the top 5 in the nation.

There are many benefits of a small top LAC in today's world where AI, emotions isolation, and chronic phone use is a real problem.

Clearly tons of benefits of large schools too!

My daughter is also relieved not to be in a Trump state, as are we

She is so happy at Williams and the teaching quality is just outstanding


my DC just passed on Williams and Amherst - opted for a bigger school. Weird vibe at Williams, Amherst was a little better. Hard pass at both though. My DC had the luxury of overnite visits, which helped. Couldn’t leave Williamstown fast enough..


Many kids choose sub-optimal educational experiences for what they perceived to be better social environments. Do they enjoy their Southern school?
Anonymous
Post 01/27/2026 11:57     Subject: LACs are overrated.
Anonymous wrote:other than williams most people I know haven't really heard of any of them unless they personally went there.



Most people you know have heard of Williams but no other SLACs? Also people you know who went to SLACs have not heard of any of them save Williams and their alma mater? Cool story.


Agreed, nice bit of fiction.
Anonymous
Post 01/27/2026 11:55     Subject: LACs are overrated.
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Williams mom here. My kid has tiny classes with lots of interactive discussions and essentially no one on their phones. More in class work and less use of AI. Teachers so clearly deeply invested in their undergrads and not focused entirely on grads and fellows and research. Lots of opportunities for research projects and lots of personalized guidance from staff. Public universities and even many ivies simply don't enjoy these benefits. Most grads head off to meaningful lives and lots of elite grad schools and careers. Williams grads are among the most loyal alum with a per student endowment in the top 5 in the nation.

There are many benefits of a small top LAC in today's world where AI, emotions isolation, and chronic phone use is a real problem.

Clearly tons of benefits of large schools too!

My daughter is also relieved not to be in a Trump state, as are we

She is so happy at Williams and the teaching quality is just outstanding


my DC just passed on Williams and Amherst - opted for a bigger school. Weird vibe at Williams, Amherst was a little better. Hard pass at both though. My DC had the luxury of overnite visits, which helped. Couldn’t leave Williamstown fast enough..



My DC also didn't like the Williams vibe or Williamstown but loved other SLACs.
Anonymous
Post 01/27/2026 11:48     Subject: LACs are overrated.
Anonymous wrote:Williams mom here. My kid has tiny classes with lots of interactive discussions and essentially no one on their phones. More in class work and less use of AI. Teachers so clearly deeply invested in their undergrads and not focused entirely on grads and fellows and research. Lots of opportunities for research projects and lots of personalized guidance from staff. Public universities and even many ivies simply don't enjoy these benefits. Most grads head off to meaningful lives and lots of elite grad schools and careers. Williams grads are among the most loyal alum with a per student endowment in the top 5 in the nation.

There are many benefits of a small top LAC in today's world where AI, emotions isolation, and chronic phone use is a real problem.

Clearly tons of benefits of large schools too!

My daughter is also relieved not to be in a Trump state, as are we

She is so happy at Williams and the teaching quality is just outstanding


my DC just passed on Williams and Amherst - opted for a bigger school. Weird vibe at Williams, Amherst was a little better. Hard pass at both though. My DC had the luxury of overnite visits, which helped. Couldn’t leave Williamstown fast enough..
Anonymous
Post 01/27/2026 11:47     Subject: LACs are overrated.
Anonymous wrote:Williams mom here. My kid has tiny classes with lots of interactive discussions and essentially no one on their phones. More in class work and less use of AI. Teachers so clearly deeply invested in their undergrads and not focused entirely on grads and fellows and research. Lots of opportunities for research projects and lots of personalized guidance from staff. Public universities and even many ivies simply don't enjoy these benefits. Most grads head off to meaningful lives and lots of elite grad schools and careers. Williams grads are among the most loyal alum with a per student endowment in the top 5 in the nation.

There are many benefits of a small top LAC in today's world where AI, emotions isolation, and chronic phone use is a real problem.

Clearly tons of benefits of large schools too!

My daughter is also relieved not to be in a Trump state, as are we

She is so happy at Williams and the teaching quality is just outstanding


Great to hear this. Our DD is headed to another SLAC next fall. I doubt she was tracking on things like phone and AI use when she made her choice but I'd be grateful if she gets a similar experience.