Anonymous wrote:Howabout Franklin & Marshall, Bucknell, & Lehigh in PA?

they might be in the eastern mid west of PA--- but no the midwest.

I am from a very affluent area in MD (DC Suburbs) and the only school in the midwest that was ever mentioned was Oberlin. I didn't know Carleton existed until law school.

Anonymous wrote:Howabout Franklin & Marshall, Bucknell, & Lehigh in PA?

I don't think of PA as midwest.

Not to say those aren't great schools, and that they may have what the OP is looking for, but they don't fit the criteria.

I would say that Oberlin is the most prestigious, in that it's got 2 very well known components, the college and the conservatory. However just looking at the LAC parts, Grinnell might have an edge in terms of academics or selectivitiy. Really though, it's about finding the best fit for your kid.

Lehigh is a great school that many kids in this area don't know about. It's definitely worth exploring, however, it's primarily known for its engineering and business programs, hence, it's not a SLAC (not to mention, it's not in the midwest.)

Howabout Franklin & Marshall, Bucknell, & Lehigh in PA?

Anonymous wrote:How about Chatham University in Pittsburgh. It's a women's school with a charming campus.

True enough, but in terms of prestige, name recognition, etc., it is not in the same league as these other schools.

Anonymous wrote:Sorry, didn't mean to imply last of all, just last of the four OP asked about. St. Olaf's! Remember Betty White on the Mary Tyler Moore show was always talking about being from St. Olaf's! Never been there but I have been to Otterbein College, which one doesn't hear much about.

The St Olaf of Golden Girls fame was a fictional town. St Olaf College is in Northfield MN, which happens to be the same town where Carleton is located. It is a Lutheran college.

I've never heard of Carleton, either. Have friends who went to the Oberlin, Grinnel and Kenyon.

I'd say Oberlin and then Carleton. And I grew up in the Midwest, so that makes me an expert, right? Wash U - though they advertise and direct mail HEAVILY to kids in this area, from a faculty viewpoint they are focused totally on their quantitative measures of faculty productivity, which leaves little room for undergraduate teaching. I am so unimpressed ....

How about Chatham University in Pittsburgh. It's a women's school with a charming campus.

Sorry, didn't mean to imply last of all, just last of the four OP asked about. St. Olaf's! Remember Betty White on the Mary Tyler Moore show was always talking about being from St. Olaf's! Never been there but I have been to Otterbein College, which one doesn't hear much about.

Anonymous wrote:How could you (15:05) claim to be ivy league and know-it-all and not have heard of these schools? Unbelievable what self-absorbed people post here. In order:

Carleton (with an "e)
Grinnell (two "nns, two "ls")
Oberlin and Kenyon tied for last.

And of course U. of Chicago at the top but that is a University so doesn't count as a SLAC.

No, Oberlin and Kenyon might be tied for 3rd, I'm not quibbling with your order, but given that there are many many fine SLAC's in the midwest (Macalester, Lawrence, St. Olaf's . . . . ) and many less fine ones as well, I think it's fair to say that Oberlin and Kenyon aren't "last".

Actually, is was 8:25 who is the ivy-leaguer and claimed they hadn't heard of some of these schools. 15.05 was just repeating.

"DePaw and DePaul?"

No and no. DePaul has 16,000 undergrads and 9,000 grad students so is not small or a liberal arts college. DePauw fits the description but is not as prestigious as the other four. I base that on having gone to one of the high schools where everyone on this board wants their kid to be accepted, and not ever hearing about anyone who went there. Not so the other four.

Anonymous wrote:How could you (15:05) claim to be ivy league and know-it-all and not have heard of these schools? Unbelievable what self-absorbed people post here. In order:

Carleton (with an "e)
Grinnell (two "nns, two "ls")
Oberlin and Kenyon tied for last.

And of course U. of Chicago at the top but that is a University so doesn't count as a SLAC.

+1 C'mon 15:05 lay some more humble brags on us.