There is someone who keeps arguing that the students at both are equivalent. I just don’t see that. I know at my kid’s DC private several students applied - only the ones at the very top were accepted. The state relating to to 10% are compelling, as is the information regarding outcomes and graduate school admissions. UR is a fine school that attracts a different level of student than W&L.

UR: https://ifx.richmond.edu/pdfs/CDS_C.pdf
(see page 4)


W&L: https://my.wlu.edu/document/2022-common-data-set
(see page 11-- 81% in top 10%)

in both cases wiht the caveat that its based on the ones who report class rank, which is fewer and fewer.

Anonymous wrote:They have enough data to produce the stats. 81% vs 56% is significant.

And even if there were some lack of data - which I doubt - no reason it would favor either school.

Can you share the source of this data and what % is reported?

They have enough data to produce the stats. 81% vs 56% is significant.

And even if there were some lack of data - which I doubt - no reason it would favor either school.

Anonymous wrote:Much bigger difference seems to be 81% of W&L is top 10% of class versus 56% of Richmond.

One campus nearly all were top 10%. Other campus only half.

Maybe, but again how many high schools don’t rank students anymore? A lot. So we don’t actually know.

Much bigger difference seems to be 81% of W&L is top 10% of class versus 56% of Richmond.

One campus nearly all were top 10%. Other campus only half.

I would give a slight edge to W&L. Your kid has some great choices.

Disagree that Richmond is much prettier, if that matters. Lexington is a charming little town near the Blue Ridge Mountains. It’s a really special place to spend a few years. You really feel like you’re a world away from
everything (I know, college can be a bubble in general). But I do think the setting is unique.

Anonymous wrote:^ WL has at least 10% of students who are do academically strong they are competitive Ivy candidates and many of them actually turn down Ivy or other T10 schools for WL Johnson scholarship. I don’t think URichmond enrolls many (any?) kids that would also be accepted to a T10.

Also,I think there is a significant difference between a 1300 and 1500 SAT[b].

There really isn’t , but you read it wrong. The 25th percentile for UR is 1320 and for W&L is 1350. That’s 20 points different, not 200. And the 75th percentile is 1470 vs 1500. Again 30 points. And this is with fewer than half reporting scores in both cases. So a) those scores don’t seem all that meaningfully different. The median at UR would be 1400 and at W&L it would be 1420. You CANNOT tell the difference between those 2 students. b) even if you thought you could, fewer than half reported scores at both places so you don’t know how the unreported ones compare.

You can continue in your confidence that the cohort at W&L is stronger, but anecdotal evidence that “people turn down Ivies” for W&L isn’t convincing, even if it’s true. I have relatives (in laws) who’ve graduated both. The UR was a Mensa from a middle class family. The W&L were from a wealthy, connected law firm partner and country club. W&L seemed to have a lot of that.

Look it’s possible that W&L has a noticeably stronger cohort academically. I just don’t see any evidence of it. So if you’re right about it, it will be by accident unless you have other proof you’re not sharing.

^ WL has at least 10% of students who are do academically strong they are competitive Ivy candidates and many of them actually turn down Ivy or other T10 schools for WL Johnson scholarship. I don’t think URichmond enrolls many (any?) kids that would also be accepted to a T10.

Also,I think there is a significant difference between a 1300 and 1500 SAT.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So there does not appear to a significant academic difference.

There is a difference, but the significance of that difference is up for debate.

A slight difference on paper maybe. The rankings are so similar it's hard to imagine a student from one school would seem more intelligent than the other.

This. The 25th percentile SAT is 1320/1350. And 75th is 1470/1500. Neither of those represents a marked or even noticeable difference in caliber of students.

The real differences are that a) W&L is remote while Richmond is close to, well, Richmond, b) Richmond is about 2/3 bigger (3000 vs 1800), c) Greek concentration (75% for W&L and ~20% for UR), and d) W&L has 30% varsity athletes vs 15% for UR. No one has convinced me they have different caliber of students intellectually. W&Ls rejection rate is higher probably because it fills about 2x its class ED as compared to UR. Thats not necessarily more selective.

2 people from my high school attended in the 2000s
. They were both outgoing, popular, preppy athletes. Likely UMC for our small town.

Anonymous wrote:Is Roanoke College similar to these?

um no.

Is Roanoke College similar to these?

I think any kid is in good shape if it comes down to choosing between these two great schools!

Anonymous wrote:Richmond is not urban lol.

+1 it's beautiful but there is nothing you can get to from campus without a car.