Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The admit rates seem to show things are changing but they don't really seem to be changing that much.

how so?

At our school, the same kids are getting into the same schools in the same numbers as they always did more or less. But every is applying to a large number of schools. More applications per student will drive down admit rates but it is still the same number of kids sorted through all the institutions in the end.

Anonymous wrote:The admit rates seem to show things are changing but they don't really seem to be changing that much.

how so?

The admit rates seem to show things are changing but they don't really seem to be changing that much.

Williams and colby are competitive. But I don't think admit rates in general are that useful without looking at the stats. Look at Harvard or Yale or Princeton that have admit rates that keep dropping do low...but the same top kids that apply are still the ones getting in.

Anonymous wrote:No or few supplements and no application fees can also attract more applications.

I swear one LAC where I really wanted one DC to apply had three supplemental essays - maybe just to dissuade folks from applying!

Anonymous wrote:No or few supplements and no application fees can also attract more applications.

DC had perfect stats, a strong hook, and chose Colby over the other LACs in the region. It wasn't because of fee, because we're full pay. And it wasn't the lack of required supplements, because they went to the work of demonstrating interest in every way possible. Maybe it's the PP (who got triggered over the mere mention that Colby was competitive with Williams) who isn't looking at all the information? Making assumptions about the caliber of the Colby applicants?

No or few supplements and no application fees can also attract more applications.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Actually, Colby admitted 8% of applicants to class of 2025.

https://news.colby.edu/story/class-of-2025-admitted-to-colby//

IDK if there is merit, but I've heard/read in a number of places that Colby went test optional last year and their apps soared (understandably as so many kids could not take ACT/SAT).

Colby and everywhere else. Stop looking at admit rates without looking at the admissions stats to understand who is going to these different institutions.

Anonymous wrote:Actually, Colby admitted 8% of applicants to class of 2025.

https://news.colby.edu/story/class-of-2025-admitted-to-colby//

IDK if there is merit, but I've heard/read in a number of places that Colby went test optional last year and their apps soared (understandably as so many kids could not take ACT/SAT).

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What does he love about each. Mine loved Williams, hated Bowdoin, and loves Colby now (didn't get into Williams).

Actually has only seen Williams in person, he is basing Bowdoin on what he has heard and read. He loved the mountains, tutorials, academic seriousness without the intensity of say Swarthmore, small chance of getting into the Oxford program junior year and liked the idea of a rural setting. He also liked the small campus. I loved the musuems (he hiked with his brother while I visitted them).

That's useful info. Less selective than Williams but similar in those respects: Colby, Hamilton, Colorado College (but check the block schedule), Whitman, St. Lawrence

Did a little quick research. Williams had a 12% admit rate last year while Colby was 9.7%. That doesn't sound less selective.

Just stop. Colby is less selective than Williams. You don't just look at admit rate.

Actually, Colby admitted 8% of applicants to class of 2025.

https://news.colby.edu/story/class-of-2025-admitted-to-colby//

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What does he love about each. Mine loved Williams, hated Bowdoin, and loves Colby now (didn't get into Williams).

Actually has only seen Williams in person, he is basing Bowdoin on what he has heard and read. He loved the mountains, tutorials, academic seriousness without the intensity of say Swarthmore, small chance of getting into the Oxford program junior year and liked the idea of a rural setting. He also liked the small campus. I loved the musuems (he hiked with his brother while I visitted them).

That's useful info. Less selective than Williams but similar in those respects: Colby, Hamilton, Colorado College (but check the block schedule), Whitman, St. Lawrence

Did a little quick research. Williams had a 12% admit rate last year while Colby was 9.7%. That doesn't sound less selective.

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Anonymous wrote:My kid attended Bowdoin but, because financial aid was important, she really didn’t have any lac safeties. The safety was UMd. I realize St Mary’s could have been a liberal arts safety but we thought UMd offered more as far as rigor.

Other schools on the list: Hamilton, Vassar, Wesleyan, Colby, Bates

Really loved Vassar and Wesleyan.

Did your DC EA to any LACs known for providing merit?

No - my kid ED’d to Amherst and wasn’t accepted. Ended up accepted at Bowdoin RD.

I'm confused. I didn't think Bates or Colby were need blind.

What does this have to do with being need blind?

The PP said that their DC didn't really have any LAC safeties b/c financial aid was important. I assumed that meant that the DC only applied to need-blind LACs, so confused to see those two schools on the list.

Probably more important that they meet need

PP here - Yes, we targeted schools that met full need and, fwiw, I don’t think any of the packages had loans. It was something I hadn’t realized, I guess because I hadn’t thought it through but some of those LACs that were closer to matches for her gave her a no-loan package even though they weren’t no loan schools.

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid attended Bowdoin but, because financial aid was important, she really didn’t have any lac safeties. The safety was UMd. I realize St Mary’s could have been a liberal arts safety but we thought UMd offered more as far as rigor.

Other schools on the list: Hamilton, Vassar, Wesleyan, Colby, Bates

Really loved Vassar and Wesleyan.

Did your DC EA to any LACs known for providing merit?

No - my kid ED’d to Amherst and wasn’t accepted. Ended up accepted at Bowdoin RD.

I'm confused. I didn't think Bates or Colby were need blind.

What does this have to do with being need blind?

The PP said that their DC didn't really have any LAC safeties b/c financial aid was important. I assumed that meant that the DC only applied to need-blind LACs, so confused to see those two schools on the list.

Probably more important that they meet need

Anonymous wrote:Which nescacs are need blind?

Amherst and Bowdoin are need blind no loans.

Williams and Hamilton are need blind wth loans.