Anonymous
Post 05/30/2014 21:49     Subject: Little Ivies?
Anonymous wrote:My son is a good solid student cracked just over 2000 on his SAT (2060) but was hoping to be in the 2100-2200 mark. Has a 31 on the ACT. He will take it again but this seems to be his range. He had his heart set on a particular ivy but both his adviser and he do not see it happening. He has talked to him at length about the little Ivies (adviser at school is originally from NY) so he is very familiar with those schools. We are not as familiar with them however, but he said they are prestigious carry a lot of weight after graduation and are going to give him that quintessential New England college experience he is seeking. Some schools he has suggested are Williams, Wesleyan, CT. College, Amherst, Hamilton and Bowdoin. What do you think? Certainly they do not have the cache of an ivy but would you say are more prestigious than a good top university? As an example UNC, Wake Forest, etc.....he is confused and so are we! Any input would be great, thank you.


OP, these stats MIGHT get your son into Colby, Bates, Hamilton or Wesleyan although a girl would only get in if she applied ED with slightly higher stats. Very likely he would get into Conn College or Trinity. NOT Williams, Amherst, Bowdoin or Vassar. Of course if your kid is first gen or a recruited athlete or a nationally recognized musician or artist that could make a difference. These stats would probably be okay for a boy at Wake but not UNC Chapel Hill.
Anonymous
Post 05/30/2014 08:39     Subject: Little Ivies?
There is a lot of good advice in this thread but I cannot help but chime in because when people talk about the "little Ivies" I think they sometimes mean schools that are easier to get in, or Ivy wannabes, but I think the title comes from the fact that they are small. A kid who loves Williams, or Wesleyan for that matter, is not likely to be happy at a school the size of Harvard, with an emphasis on graduate programs located in an urban center. And while some of the smaller schools are easier to get into than some of the Ivy-league schools, that should not be seen as the reason to go. I can't imagine a student ending up at Bowdoin because it was easier to get into; a student who chooses Bowdoin should do so because it feels right for that student otherwise there is a high probability they will want to flee when winter hits or when they run into their Professor for the fourth time in a week at a local chinese restaurant. As others have said, fit is far more important than prestige, and in the long run will serve students better in all ways (social, academic and in the end, job prospects). One thing to consider -- don't visit the small schools during the summer, they will likely be deserted and you will not get a good feel for them at all, whereas I think you could likely visit Harvard, Penn or the other urban Ivies during the summer and not lose too much because they are still very active places in the summer.
Anonymous
Post 05/30/2014 07:10     Subject: Little Ivies?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I personally wouldn't recommend real small schools for anyone who spent 8-12 years in a private school environment. Too much of the same old same old.

Even a private high school like Georgetown Prep has facilities to match many of the small schools mentioned here.


Some people like a change. Others like the small feel and would feel uncomfortable in a large school. Some people care about things other than facilities.


I agree. It's difficult to remain sheltered in a large university.
Anonymous
Post 05/29/2014 22:26     Subject: Little Ivies?
Anonymous wrote:I personally wouldn't recommend real small schools for anyone who spent 8-12 years in a private school environment. Too much of the same old same old.

Even a private high school like Georgetown Prep has facilities to match many of the small schools mentioned here.


Some people like a change. Others like the small feel and would feel uncomfortable in a large school. Some people care about things other than facilities.
Anonymous
Post 05/29/2014 21:34     Subject: Little Ivies?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:WILLIAMS 17% 2120 SAT
HAMILTON COLLEGE 29% 1997 SAT
CONN COLLEGE 36% 2000 SAT
AMHERST 14% 2060 SAT
BOWDOIN 18% 1989 SAT
TRINITY 36% 1970 SAT
BATES 27% 1960 SAT
WESLEYAN 24% 2070 SAT

These are all small schools 1600-2500 students for the most part. All in small New England towns, some are better than others, is this what interests your son? Most of student life takes place on these campuses. Some of the towns, like those that service Hamilton and Weslyean feel rather depressed. Williams is extremely isolated and in a very small town with one street that is "the main drag". While this kind of living is for some it is most certainly not for others. Hope you are planning an extensive visit to all of the schools that are considerations.

Some recent stats...obviously compared to colleges by and large all of these acceptance rates are lower than average and all the SAT scores are "up there"....start with this data as this could help your son or daughter size them up and see which might be a good fit. The NESCAC is super competitive.


chill!!!! She was generalizing..geez....you need a drink.

Trinity is in Hartford, CT. Not a "small New England town."
Anonymous
Post 05/29/2014 13:22     Subject: Little Ivies?
Anonymous wrote:WILLIAMS 17% 2120 SAT
HAMILTON COLLEGE 29% 1997 SAT
CONN COLLEGE 36% 2000 SAT
AMHERST 14% 2060 SAT
BOWDOIN 18% 1989 SAT
TRINITY 36% 1970 SAT
BATES 27% 1960 SAT
WESLEYAN 24% 2070 SAT

These are all small schools 1600-2500 students for the most part. All in small New England towns, some are better than others, is this what interests your son? Most of student life takes place on these campuses. Some of the towns, like those that service Hamilton and Weslyean feel rather depressed. Williams is extremely isolated and in a very small town with one street that is "the main drag". While this kind of living is for some it is most certainly not for others. Hope you are planning an extensive visit to all of the schools that are considerations.

Some recent stats...obviously compared to colleges by and large all of these acceptance rates are lower than average and all the SAT scores are "up there"....start with this data as this could help your son or daughter size them up and see which might be a good fit. The NESCAC is super competitive.


Trinity is in Hartford, CT. Not a "small New England town."
Anonymous
Post 05/29/2014 10:51     Subject: Little Ivies?
DH attended Middlebury after Prep. The experience was very similar.
Anonymous
Post 05/29/2014 10:51     Subject: Little Ivies?
Anonymous wrote:I personally wouldn't recommend real small schools for anyone who spent 8-12 years in a private school environment. Too much of the same old same old.


Even a private high school like Georgetown Prep has facilities to match many of the small schools mentioned here.



There's absolutely no basis to make this claim. Why in the world not attend SLAC ....IF its the right fit....?????? Regardless of the high school experience.
Anonymous
Post 05/29/2014 08:16     Subject: Little Ivies?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I personally wouldn't recommend real small schools for anyone who spent 8-12 years in a private school environment. Too much of the same old same old.

Even a private high school like Georgetown Prep has facilities to match many of the small schools mentioned here.


Do you say this based on some experience or expertise, or did you just pull that opinion from what "everyone knows"?


http://www.gprep.org/page.cfm?p=360


So, in other words, the answer to my question is that you just pulled that opinion without any actual experience or expertise.
Anonymous
Post 05/29/2014 07:58     Subject: Little Ivies?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I personally wouldn't recommend real small schools for anyone who spent 8-12 years in a private school environment. Too much of the same old same old.

Even a private high school like Georgetown Prep has facilities to match many of the small schools mentioned here.


Do you say this based on some experience or expertise, or did you just pull that opinion from what "everyone knows"?


http://www.gprep.org/page.cfm?p=360


While some private schools (Prep in particular) have academic and athletic facilities equal to or better than a typical SLAC, most SLACs have dorms, student unions and Greek housing that collectively make the overall experience different for students.
Anonymous
Post 05/28/2014 20:44     Subject: Little Ivies?
Bottom line there are many fantastic schools..choose what YOU want where you want it and don't get hung up on the name brands. I am so tired of people who seek out schools because its the school to go to.
My brother left a top liberal arts to attend a lesser one but still a good school and had the best 3 years of his life. Do whats good for YOU and dont' worry about everyone else.
Anonymous
Post 05/28/2014 20:15     Subject: Little Ivies?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I personally wouldn't recommend real small schools for anyone who spent 8-12 years in a private school environment. Too much of the same old same old.

Even a private high school like Georgetown Prep has facilities to match many of the small schools mentioned here.


Do you say this based on some experience or expertise, or did you just pull that opinion from what "everyone knows"?


http://www.gprep.org/page.cfm?p=360
Anonymous
Post 05/28/2014 19:30     Subject: Little Ivies?
Anonymous wrote:I personally wouldn't recommend real small schools for anyone who spent 8-12 years in a private school environment. Too much of the same old same old.

Even a private high school like Georgetown Prep has facilities to match many of the small schools mentioned here.


Do you say this based on some experience or expertise, or did you just pull that opinion from what "everyone knows"?
Anonymous
Post 05/28/2014 18:28     Subject: Little Ivies?
Anonymous wrote:I personally wouldn't recommend real small schools for anyone who spent 8-12 years in a private school environment. Too much of the same old same old.

Even a private high school like Georgetown Prep has facilities to match many of the small schools mentioned here.



DS just graduated from Amherst. He spent 11 years total at local private schools. And loved his time at Amherst immensely, certainly wasn't the SAMO for him. He wanted to attend a small school and chose it over a couple of ivy league and state schools. He's attending Harvard for grad school.
Anonymous
Post 05/28/2014 18:01     Subject: Little Ivies?
I personally wouldn't recommend real small schools for anyone who spent 8-12 years in a private school environment. Too much of the same old same old.

Even a private high school like Georgetown Prep has facilities to match many of the small schools mentioned here.