Anonymous
Post 09/23/2025 14:26     Subject: Merit at less SLAC vs WASP or similar..
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:there was a very insightful comment on one of these threads - schools like swarthmore williams and amherst will provide a ton of opportunities for kids to have their choice of - while one of these schools ranked btw 20-30 for SLACs will provide less options, but similar quality of the opportunities. Meaning Williams may get you any of 10 PE or IB opportunities, while a Colgate or Bucknell may get you 1 or 2 - as long as you aren’t picky, you will have the same quality of choices

What can Amherst get you that Hamilton or Claremont McKenna can’t?

For the popular major of economics, CMC and Hamilton may be stronger than Amherst. In this analysis of economics departments based on faculty publishing, for example, CMC placed 3rd, Hamilton 7th and Amherst 8th:

Economics rankings: US Economics Departments at Liberal Arts Colleges | IDEAS/RePEc https://share.google/pr46JaNYIkgJjBYnf
Anonymous
Post 09/23/2025 13:35     Subject: Merit at less SLAC vs WASP or similar..
agree with PP, with one exception. I would say Amherst or Williams as full pay over a Bucknell or Richmond half price. But you should present the option to your kid that they would get the difference as a nest egg to start life. A Bucknell degree and pipeline to the street with nearly $200k in your pocket may be a tough decision over Williamstown for 4 dreary years!
Anonymous
Post 09/23/2025 10:55     Subject: Merit at less SLAC vs WASP or similar..
Anonymous wrote:full pay for Williams and Amherst, similar to what I would say for all ivies. Then take the merit


This is the right answer. Only because OP said they can cash flow it. Seriously, if you can cash flow it this shouldn't even be a discussion. Let you kid go where they are most comfortable.
Anonymous
Post 09/23/2025 04:43     Subject: Merit at less SLAC vs WASP or similar..
Anonymous wrote:Nice problem to have OP, love your confidence that your student will get into a WASP school. I would have this debate after acceptances and if you can afford it (which it sounds like like you can) ED where your DC really wants to go.


+1. Hubris
Anonymous
Post 09/23/2025 04:40     Subject: Re:Merit at less SLAC vs WASP or similar..
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Definitely not worth it now. WASP isn’t even stable. Pomona has already fallen as a low tier college now.


Low tier? You are ridiculous.

It’s not ranked this year, because it dropped so far down. Word is that they’re having endowment issues



False. Pomona was ranked 7 in the 2026 rankings issued yesterday by USNWR liberal arts colleges
Anonymous
Post 09/23/2025 04:36     Subject: Re:Merit at less SLAC vs WASP or similar..
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Definitely not worth it now. WASP isn’t even stable. Pomona has already fallen as a low tier college now.


Low tier? You are ridiculous.


Other adjectives to describe this PP:
Striver
Insecure
Hostile
Jealous
Unbalanced
Petty
Uninformed
Sad
Loser

And I don’t have a kid who attends, attended or will be applying to Pomona. Good luck to all who have it on their list. It is clearly an excellent school.
Anonymous
Post 09/23/2025 03:47     Subject: Re:Merit at less SLAC vs WASP or similar..
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Definitely not worth it now. WASP isn’t even stable. Pomona has already fallen as a low tier college now.


Low tier? You are ridiculous.

It’s not ranked this year, because it dropped so far down. Word is that they’re having endowment issues
Anonymous
Post 09/23/2025 03:36     Subject: Re:Merit at less SLAC vs WASP or similar..
Anonymous wrote:Definitely not worth it now. WASP isn’t even stable. Pomona has already fallen as a low tier college now.


Low tier? You are ridiculous.
Anonymous
Post 09/23/2025 03:15     Subject: Re:Merit at less SLAC vs WASP or similar..
Definitely not worth it now. WASP isn’t even stable. Pomona has already fallen as a low tier college now.
Anonymous
Post 09/22/2025 21:46     Subject: Merit at less SLAC vs WASP or similar..
Anonymous wrote:OP here sorry should have added what we can afford. Solidly upper middle class and will pay college from cash flow. Will not impact life, but would like to give kid some of the savings as nest egg to buy house etx. So money does matter, but we would not struggle with full pay - would be nice to save it though lol
Lol, if you can afford full pay from cash flow you are not upper middle class. You are well into the rich category.
Anonymous
Post 09/22/2025 20:11     Subject: Merit at less SLAC vs WASP or similar..
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:there was a very insightful comment on one of these threads - schools like swarthmore williams and amherst will provide a ton of opportunities for kids to have their choice of - while one of these schools ranked btw 20-30 for SLACs will provide less options, but similar quality of the opportunities. Meaning Williams may get you any of 10 PE or IB opportunities, while a Colgate or Bucknell may get you 1 or 2 - as long as you aren’t picky, you will have the same quality of choices

What can Amherst get you that Hamilton or Claremont McKenna can’t?


the elite are obsessed with rankings - Amherst ranking and the related trappings are what it gets u vs those other two
Anonymous
Post 09/22/2025 19:32     Subject: Merit at less SLAC vs WASP or similar..
Anonymous wrote:there was a very insightful comment on one of these threads - schools like swarthmore williams and amherst will provide a ton of opportunities for kids to have their choice of - while one of these schools ranked btw 20-30 for SLACs will provide less options, but similar quality of the opportunities. Meaning Williams may get you any of 10 PE or IB opportunities, while a Colgate or Bucknell may get you 1 or 2 - as long as you aren’t picky, you will have the same quality of choices

What can Amherst get you that Hamilton or Claremont McKenna can’t?
Anonymous
Post 09/22/2025 19:30     Subject: Merit at less SLAC vs WASP or similar..
there was a very insightful comment on one of these threads - schools like swarthmore williams and amherst will provide a ton of opportunities for kids to have their choice of - while one of these schools ranked btw 20-30 for SLACs will provide less options, but similar quality of the opportunities. Meaning Williams may get you any of 10 PE or IB opportunities, while a Colgate or Bucknell may get you 1 or 2 - as long as you aren’t picky, you will have the same quality of choices
Anonymous
Post 09/22/2025 18:34     Subject: Merit at less SLAC vs WASP or similar..
full pay for Williams and Amherst, similar to what I would say for all ivies. Then take the merit
Anonymous
Post 09/22/2025 18:30     Subject: Merit at less SLAC vs WASP or similar..
Anonymous wrote:This older Forbes article placed Amherst first and Williams third among colleges worth their price tags:

10 Expensive Colleges Worth Every Penny 2017 https://www.forbes.com/sites/nataliesportelli/2017/04/26/10-expensive-colleges-worth-every-penny-2017/

Do you just clog threads with links