Oberlin because my kid is a musician (but won’t play professionally). Pre-science PhD. LGBTQ. And because we raised him in NOVA, but I think it’s important for for him to experience life outside the UMC NOVA bubble. As an aside, of all the SLACs, Oberlin has the highest percent of public high school kids or close. Despite there no being much difference in parent income. So, it definitely draws from UMC areas with good publics. A surprising (to me) number of DMV kids there from strong publics. It’s true the NE and CA are also well represented.

But once you leave campus, it’s a bright red, Trump sign waving area. And think it’s good for my kid to really understand that there are people who are very different from him. And learn to co-exist. What he does with that experience when he graduates is up to him. But I think he will put serious thought into where he goes next. And no take a job in a very red area without a lot of thought. He’s been called a fa**ot while standing in line in the grocery store and been in town with a couple of girls who were sexually harassed. It’s up to him to decide if he wants to live with that long term.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Grinnell is frickin loaded. They support kids with a lot of opportunities during their 4 years.

Sure, but all that money can’t change the location. Our DC visited and concluded, despite our efforts, it would be depressing to go there based on the tiny town, isolated location, difficulty with flights (so fewer friends would visit and easier to get stuck in a random connecting airport during a storm, which almost happened during visit), Trump signs on the drive in, multiple gun shops in town (stands out more when there’s so little else), and small/boring (in their view) campus. The academics are, however, first rate, and they are known for their merit aid. Facilities are very good. An alum we know was very positive on their experience from decades ago. Would recommend visiting if possible cause not everyone will react the same way. Some athletes might prefer schools with shorter commutes for league games, as only one other school is in the same state. Did not visit Oberlin or Kenyon.

To each their own. Hamilton, NY and Lewiston/Brunswick/Waterville are not exactly metropolises.

lewiston is the meth capital of the world

Hamilton is actually in Clinton NY - Colgate is in Hamilton, NY. In any of these places you will have 2k-3k kids your age to hang out with and will find things to do, i think its more about what appeals to your child and where they can feel like they can grow and study what they want. Unless they want to be in a big city which is a different vibe all together. A huge portion of the kids at Oberlin are from the NE or CA so it doesn't really have a mid-west feel in the student body

Oberlin has a top conservatory. It's very appealing to musicans who also want a broader liberal arts education.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Grinnell is frickin loaded. They support kids with a lot of opportunities during their 4 years.

Sure, but all that money can’t change the location. Our DC visited and concluded, despite our efforts, it would be depressing to go there based on the tiny town, isolated location, difficulty with flights (so fewer friends would visit and easier to get stuck in a random connecting airport during a storm, which almost happened during visit), Trump signs on the drive in, multiple gun shops in town (stands out more when there’s so little else), and small/boring (in their view) campus. The academics are, however, first rate, and they are known for their merit aid. Facilities are very good. An alum we know was very positive on their experience from decades ago. Would recommend visiting if possible cause not everyone will react the same way. Some athletes might prefer schools with shorter commutes for league games, as only one other school is in the same state. Did not visit Oberlin or Kenyon.

To each their own. Hamilton, NY and Lewiston/Brunswick/Waterville are not exactly metropolises.

lewiston is the meth capital of the world

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Grinnell is frickin loaded. They support kids with a lot of opportunities during their 4 years.

Sure, but all that money can’t change the location. Our DC visited and concluded, despite our efforts, it would be depressing to go there based on the tiny town, isolated location, difficulty with flights (so fewer friends would visit and easier to get stuck in a random connecting airport during a storm, which almost happened during visit), Trump signs on the drive in, multiple gun shops in town (stands out more when there’s so little else), and small/boring (in their view) campus. The academics are, however, first rate, and they are known for their merit aid. Facilities are very good. An alum we know was very positive on their experience from decades ago. Would recommend visiting if possible cause not everyone will react the same way. Some athletes might prefer schools with shorter commutes for league games, as only one other school is in the same state. Did not visit Oberlin or Kenyon.

Dartmouth is surrounded by trump signs and gun shops.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Grinnell is frickin loaded. They support kids with a lot of opportunities during their 4 years.

Sure, but all that money can’t change the location. Our DC visited and concluded, despite our efforts, it would be depressing to go there based on the tiny town, isolated location, difficulty with flights (so fewer friends would visit and easier to get stuck in a random connecting airport during a storm, which almost happened during visit), Trump signs on the drive in, multiple gun shops in town (stands out more when there’s so little else), and small/boring (in their view) campus. The academics are, however, first rate, and they are known for their merit aid. Facilities are very good. An alum we know was very positive on their experience from decades ago. Would recommend visiting if possible cause not everyone will react the same way. Some athletes might prefer schools with shorter commutes for league games, as only one other school is in the same state. Did not visit Oberlin or Kenyon.

Yea, well, with a 9 percent acceptance rate and one of the most geographically diverse student bodies of any college in the country, it attracts plenty of applicants who aren’t discouraged by such trivial stuff. Grinnell is doing just fine without your kid.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Grinnell is frickin loaded. They support kids with a lot of opportunities during their 4 years.

Sure, but all that money can’t change the location. Our DC visited and concluded, despite our efforts, it would be depressing to go there based on the tiny town, isolated location, difficulty with flights (so fewer friends would visit and easier to get stuck in a random connecting airport during a storm, which almost happened during visit), Trump signs on the drive in, multiple gun shops in town (stands out more when there’s so little else), and small/boring (in their view) campus. The academics are, however, first rate, and they are known for their merit aid. Facilities are very good. An alum we know was very positive on their experience from decades ago. Would recommend visiting if possible cause not everyone will react the same way. Some athletes might prefer schools with shorter commutes for league games, as only one other school is in the same state. Did not visit Oberlin or Kenyon.

To each their own. Hamilton, NY and Lewiston/Brunswick/Waterville are not exactly metropolises.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kenyon has the top DIII swim team -- that's why my kid applied.

Kenyon is without question a back up school for kids who really wanted but got rejected from the Northeast schools. Grinnell and Oberlin are for kids who are not interested in the northeast.

Wrong, and so provincial.

Agree, the number of provincial people in the DMV is surprising to me.

You’re going to need to explain how noting that Kenyon is rarely a first choice school for anyone, which is readily apparent from its speaker, anemic yield, makes someone “provincial.“

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kenyon has the top DIII swim team -- that's why my kid applied.

Kenyon is without question a back up school for kids who really wanted but got rejected from the Northeast schools. Grinnell and Oberlin are for kids who are not interested in the northeast.

Wrong, and so provincial.

I’m not wrong at all. Facts are facts: Kenyon has an extremely low yield, meaning that the vast majority of its accepted applicants chose to go elsewhere.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Grinnell is frickin loaded. They support kids with a lot of opportunities during their 4 years.

Some athletes might prefer schools with shorter commutes for league games, as only one other school is in the same state.

Referring to other schools in their athletic league, of course.

Anonymous wrote:Grinnell is frickin loaded. They support kids with a lot of opportunities during their 4 years.

Sure, but all that money can’t change the location. Our DC visited and concluded, despite our efforts, it would be depressing to go there based on the tiny town, isolated location, difficulty with flights (so fewer friends would visit and easier to get stuck in a random connecting airport during a storm, which almost happened during visit), Trump signs on the drive in, multiple gun shops in town (stands out more when there’s so little else), and small/boring (in their view) campus. The academics are, however, first rate, and they are known for their merit aid. Facilities are very good. An alum we know was very positive on their experience from decades ago. Would recommend visiting if possible cause not everyone will react the same way. Some athletes might prefer schools with shorter commutes for league games, as only one other school is in the same state. Did not visit Oberlin or Kenyon.

Grinnell is frickin loaded. They support kids with a lot of opportunities during their 4 years.

Anonymous wrote:when there are similar schools on the East Coast? Not trying to be snarky; genuinely wondering what these schools have that a Bates/Bowdoin/Colby/Hamilton does not.

May be getting need based, athletic or merit money? May be not getting into your preferred choice schools. Maybe wanting to experience life away from your bubble.

Anonymous wrote:My kid applied to and got into several NESCACs but chose a midwestern LAC. The midwestern vibe is different. That’s real.

East coast snark/ sarcasm/ hyper-competitiveness had been the water she swam in her whole life. Leaving the east coast allowed her to recognize these traits as choices/defenses, rather than some de facto part of being human, or a signifier of “smarts.” Only in the absence of these traits (or at least their diminished influence) could she begin to explore who she might be without them.

This is not to say that there aren’t amazing, friendly, non-competitive students attending the east coast schools. Of course there are. But the vibes between the midwestern LACs and the east coast ones really are different. If you’ve experienced what I’m talking about, maybe this post will resonate. If not, that’s okay too. But this would be my answer to the OP’s Q.

+1. I am from the Midwest and went to college there. Kid didn’t even apply to East Coast schools. It’s enough. I know the vibe difference.

Anonymous wrote:Merit Aid is the big one.
Trying to live in a different part of the country for four years and away from East Coasters?

THIS. I wanted my DC away from the East Coast. Doesn’t attend any of those schools, but went to another school and is amazed at how friendly and welcoming folks are. Made friends right away. DC rudeness has been tough on all of us.