Anonymous
Post 09/06/2025 14:56     Subject: Which among WASP would you choose to ED and why?
Anonymous wrote:I grew up near Swat and boy were those students miserable. Amherst by a mile.



I thought Pomona had the friendliest, happiest-seeming students. Amherst was a close second. Applying ED to either confers only a small boost though, given small size and institutional priorities.
Anonymous
Post 09/06/2025 14:41     Subject: Re:Which among WASP would you choose to ED and why?
Of the four I have only seen Swarthmore and Pomona; my DD ultimately decided she did not want a SLAC and did not apply but of the two, I would lean towards Pomona. However, other than the relationship with nearby schools that each enjoys, they seem quite different to me and that would be a very student-specific decision given the difference in geography and overall vibe.
Anonymous
Post 09/06/2025 14:40     Subject: Which among WASP would you choose to ED and why?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I loved Amherst when I visited a million years ago, so I'd ED there. Although I didn't see Swarthmore and I think I might have loved it too.

But if I had a kid who had so little opinion on geography etc . . . that they were asking this, I'd have them ED to a SLAC that was also excellent and a little easier to get into. Grinnell or Middlebury or something. (I don't have a kid who wants SLAC so I am not that knowledgeable). Why pick a WASP?

Absolutely. Go down a rung and ED might actually help. (Bowdoin is not down a rung.)


Bowdoin’s stats are nearly identical to Middlebury’s. Biggest difference is that Middlebury is much larger.

Don’t make the mistake of excluding Bowdoin from the WASP tier; tons of athletes and a very difficult admit. Midd (relatively speaking) is a much easier admit, especially because it takes 70% of its class ED.

Probably the school most likely to join WASP + Bowdoin in the next decade is CMC.


Bowdoin isn’t a more difficult admit than Middlebury.
Anonymous
Post 09/06/2025 14:30     Subject: Which among WASP would you choose to ED and why?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I loved Amherst when I visited a million years ago, so I'd ED there. Although I didn't see Swarthmore and I think I might have loved it too.

But if I had a kid who had so little opinion on geography etc . . . that they were asking this, I'd have them ED to a SLAC that was also excellent and a little easier to get into. Grinnell or Middlebury or something. (I don't have a kid who wants SLAC so I am not that knowledgeable). Why pick a WASP?

Absolutely. Go down a rung and ED might actually help. (Bowdoin is not down a rung.)


Grinned and Middlebury aren’t “down a rung”
Anonymous
Post 09/06/2025 14:26     Subject: Which among WASP would you choose to ED and why?
Anonymous wrote:NP - DD really wants to ED because she wants to be done. I don’t love this approach but it’s her college journey.
Williams was top choice on paper. Then visited. Town was way way too small for her although it offered everything she wants. (Same with Bowdoin.). We have an athlete friend at Amherst and for various reasons she is not interested. Pomona is too far.
Likes Swat incl being able to take classes at Penn, H’ford, BMC. Lots of interesting class options for her possible majors.
Kid was also interested in U Chicago but they changed financial aid calculator so now way too $$$$.
Btw we are not full pay at all but NPC has come back very doable.


Williams still sounds like the play all things considered. Ok the town is a bit small, but you said it "offered everything she wants". You aren't going to find everything you want at any college. So pick the one that offers the most of things you want.

Good luck!
Anonymous
Post 09/06/2025 14:23     Subject: Which among WASP would you choose to ED and why?
Amherst, no question.

(For non-WASP, Middlebury or Davidson.)

But generally, I'm in the camp of mid-size unis being much better learning enviros and ED cards to play. Look at Vanderbilt, Brown, UofChi, WashU, Dartmouth, Rice, etc.
Anonymous
Post 09/06/2025 14:11     Subject: Which among WASP would you choose to ED and why?
Anonymous wrote:My kid would pick Bowdoin over WASP.


Mine thought the same and then went to revisit day.
Anonymous
Post 09/06/2025 13:59     Subject: Which among WASP would you choose to ED and why?
My kid would pick Bowdoin over WASP.
Anonymous
Post 09/06/2025 13:55     Subject: Which among WASP would you choose to ED and why?
I grew up near Swat and boy were those students miserable. Amherst by a mile.
Anonymous
Post 09/06/2025 13:49     Subject: Which among WASP would you choose to ED and why?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I loved Amherst when I visited a million years ago, so I'd ED there. Although I didn't see Swarthmore and I think I might have loved it too.

But if I had a kid who had so little opinion on geography etc . . . that they were asking this, I'd have them ED to a SLAC that was also excellent and a little easier to get into. Grinnell or Middlebury or something. (I don't have a kid who wants SLAC so I am not that knowledgeable). Why pick a WASP?

Absolutely. Go down a rung and ED might actually help. (Bowdoin is not down a rung.)


Bowdoin’s stats are nearly identical to Middlebury’s. Biggest difference is that Middlebury is much larger.

Don’t make the mistake of excluding Bowdoin from the WASP tier; tons of athletes and a very difficult admit. Midd (relatively speaking) is a much easier admit, especially because it takes 70% of its class ED.

Probably the school most likely to join WASP + Bowdoin in the next decade is CMC.
Anonymous
Post 09/06/2025 13:43     Subject: Which among WASP would you choose to ED and why?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:There is no benefit to applying ED to any and they will openly tell you that. So no reason to get locked in when one has the same chance of acceptance in RD.

This. I actually think many full-pay families wind up selling their kids short by making game-theory based decisions about ED and especially ED2.


What do you mean? Do you think ED/ED2 kids could have done better waiting to see options during RD? I’ve seen kids who we thought were high stats (you never know exactly, but sounds like they are) get shit out during RD.
Anonymous
Post 09/06/2025 13:24     Subject: Which among WASP would you choose to ED and why?
Anonymous wrote:I will just share with you my DD's Swarthmore experience. She applied there ED, was deferred, and then was accepted in the RD process. Apparently most of their ED admits are recruited athletes, which DD was not.

My kid was accepted ED to Swarthmore (and is not a recruited athlete). Naviance data will show you ED and RD acceptances from your HS. Ceteris Paribus, ED to the WASP school with the highest ED acceptance from your HS.
Anonymous
Post 09/06/2025 13:07     Subject: Which among WASP would you choose to ED and why?
Anonymous wrote:The only LACs worth applying to ED are the larger ones like Wesleyan (3000-ish), Midd and Vassar.

Some are so tiny (1200-ish) that there are just not that many ED spots to be had after the athletes grab most of them.

Spoken like a true ignoramus. You’re certainly entitled to your incorrect opinion but be need to share this inaccurate nonsense with others.
Anonymous
Post 09/06/2025 12:59     Subject: Which among WASP would you choose to ED and why?
The only LACs worth applying to ED are the larger ones like Wesleyan (3000-ish), Midd and Vassar.

Some are so tiny (1200-ish) that there are just not that many ED spots to be had after the athletes grab most of them.
Anonymous
Post 09/06/2025 12:53     Subject: Which among WASP would you choose to ED and why?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I would not ED to any unless I'd visited and truly fallen in love. My unhooked kid was accepted to Swat RD. We had visited.junior.year and she really thought she wanted to go. But when we visited for Swatstruck (accepted student day) she realized it was not for her. Polling DCUM is not the way to pick one of these schools


Very helpful reply. Thanks! Do you mind sharing your DD’s stats, what you think was the difference that got her into RD of such a tough-admit school, and why she didn’t like it after accepted student day? Again this is very helpful. Thank you!


DD had low 1500s SAT and a 4.0 unweighted GPA from public school. She's a pretty intellectual kid whose interests go deep and are interdisciplinary, which I think is drew her to Swat and why she got in there. Admitted students day was interesting ... the admitted students wound up eating lunch in the cafeteria with a random Swarthmore student who was not part of the Swatstruck event and who was pretty critical of the school. He complained about it being small and cliquey and told them he wanted to transfer. It depends on your point of view, but it was either the worst possible lunch pairing or maybe it was a blessing in disguise. A lot of what he said underscored some of her concerns about Swarthmore. Ultimately I think Swat was also smaller and more suburban than she wanted, but needless to say, she was not "Swatstruck."


Depends on different perspectives. FGLI and URM students typically tend to attend Swat as their absolute first choice, and deeply appreciate the unparalleled opportunity and generous aid. Fit is really important for such a small school.