The title of this thread hints at a misconception that some people might have about the NESCAC schools. They're not "Little Ivies" any more than the Ivies are "Super-sized NESCACs". There's a fundamental difference in culture between these types of schools and they tend to attract different kinds of students -- although with very similar credentials and accomplishments. I can attest to this as a NESCAC school grad with two kids who attend/ed an Ivy. My kids' school has a much more competitive, rather than collegial, vibe among students, both academically and socially. Also, there's a big difference in how faculty relate to students. As an undergrad, it was easy for me to develop close relationships with professors who mentored me, starting in my first semester. My kids have really had to push to get to know faculty members beyond their TAs and non-tenured assistant profs, who come and go as they seek to establish their careers. Without question the Ivies and other major research universities have an extraordinary array of academic resources and extracurricular opportunities, but students at the NESCAC schools and other top SLACs will not be bored or at a loss for opportunities to learn and grow. When I went on to an Ivy law school, one of my profs, whose daughter was applying to my undergrad school, told me "You can tell the grads of these (SLAC) schools -- they know how to write and they're not in love with the sound of their voices."

It always amuses me when people write that "employers" will not hire someone from such and such school because they are almost inevitably referring to business/investment banking/law firm or some such employer. There's a whole wide world out there of different employers.

Agree with PP. Williams, Wesleyan, Bates, Bowdoin and to a lesser degree Conn College are all rather remote so you need to be OK with that first and foremost. They are also quite small, again not for everyone. But the NESCACS are no doubt all excellent schools and super highly regarded.

I liked Bowdoin, Amherst, Conn College and Wesleyan the best when I was looking but in the end went to UVA (Va resident and my parents just couldn't justify the crazy tuition prices when I got into a perfectly great school)!

Anonymous wrote:One word: small. Fish tank small. Some kids are okay with that. All these little Ivies (emphasis on "little") also tend to be in the middle of nowhere. Again, some kids don't mind and find the isolation creates a "contemplative" environment. Works for some, I guess.

I think that applies to Williams, but not Amherst (near U. Mass and several other schools) or Wesleyan (not too far from NYC). But of the three, Williams is the one I'd attend if I had a do-over (admitted to all three but went to Princeton). I loved the feel of that school and the town, but the remoteness scared me off. No regrets, just curiosity as to what it would have been like to attend a smaller school.

Agreed w/PP. The top notch employers definitely recognize Wiliams; Wesleyan et. al. Here's the deal...sign up; get accepted; attend; graduate and see how quickly you get a job and let us know!

Anonymous wrote:Then how is many people don't know about Williams!

Grad schools and employers in many fields know Williams and the other NESCAC schools quite well. If you want bumper sticker cred with random folks, go elsewhere. Not judging, just saying.

Then how is many people don't know about Williams!

Anonymous wrote:Williams is one of the top SLAC and really in a different league from the other colleges you mention here.

I agree with this. I went to Trinity, and got a great education there. Really, you cannot go wrong with any of those schools but Williams is head and shoulders above the rest.

Anonymous wrote:I went to Middlebury (very similar to Williams from reputation perspective) and those who know we impressed when I went job hunting. After a few years college doesn't matter.

No. Not at all.

One word: small. Fish tank small. Some kids are okay with that. All these little Ivies (emphasis on "little") also tend to be in the middle of nowhere. Again, some kids don't mind and find the isolation creates a "contemplative" environment. Works for some, I guess.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Liberal arts is stupid and a waste , I would focus on a career change

Are not is, where is my liberal arts assistant when I need her

A liberal arts school would have taught you to use punctuation correctly.

Anonymous wrote:Liberal arts is stupid and a waste , I would focus on a career change

Are not is, where is my liberal arts assistant when I need her

Liberal arts is stupid and a waste , I would focus on a career change

My brother was recruited by a few NESCACS and ended up playing for a D1 school. He regretted not playing for a NESCAC because he got very little playing time and could have gone to a much better academic school but was lured in by the Division 1 allure. All excellent schools, you could not go wrong, they have an excellent reputation along with top notch sports. Good luck.

Anonymous wrote:Sorry, meant "were". Anyone who is in a senior mgmt/executive position knows what the top schools are, and the NESCAC schools have great reputations in this area (that was OP's original question.) It really only matters for your first job, though - after that you're on your own with performance. I'm 40 now and no one cares who went to Harvard and who went to Va Tech - those who perform succeed.

I have found that in the DC area having gone to a top school is expected. The people who stand out are the ones who didn't. I agree that it doesn't matter where you went after you've been out for a while, and it also doesn't matter much (at all?) in terms of getting hired once you get a graduate degree.