Anonymous
02/26/2021 13:19
Subject: SLACs for intellectual, well grounded student
Anonymous wrote:OP back. This is peak DCUM. Very helpful advice confirming what the feel we got from the Carleton info session. Great suggestion in Wesleyan and interesting info on median HHI. Exactly what I was looking for. DD was poking around Wesleyan’s site last night found a couple programs that “look cool” and decided to sign up for an info session. Will put Lawrence and Dickinson on the list.
And, of course, peak DCUM snark. I don’t need to defend myself to anyone. But I will explain. My kid attends a large public school that primarily sends kids to big state schools and engineering. I’m my kids college counselor. Of course you don’t need to be as involved if your kid is headed to WM, VT, UVA, JMU. These schools are financially stable, have a large variety of good programs and enough kids that most people can find a community.
SLACs are a different beast. PP snarked you would think it is a marriage. That’s actually a good analogy for SLACs. You are in a rural area with a limited number of people who often have a lot in common for 4 years, unless you get a divorce and transfer. And those are 4 years when you wait her make smart or very stupid decision that shape your future.
With my older kid, we could visit Oberlin, Kenyon, Wooster, Denison in a few days and from there develop a good college list based on what she liked and didn’t like. Good luck it’s that when many SLACs don’t have students in residence and most who do have closed campuses.
I also think people just have different approaches to college admissions. Some have good private school counseling or hire private counseling. In my mind, college admissions is when you teach you kid how to make a complicated decision in the real world. So they have the skills to make their next decision about a job or grad school on their own.
And college admissions is a great learning and growing opportunity. It’s a heart decision (my dream school!) and a head decision (what programs are available? What internships and study abroad? How is grad school placement?).
And if we are sinking $250,000 into college, it’s a business decision. And even in my 40s I didn’t fully appreciate the last one. But, I am forever thankful my older child’s school has a large endowment and had all the resources they needed to open campus in the fall, test and test and test and do in person, rather than remote classes. Endowments aren’t sexy. They do get kids back on campus safely for in person learning in a pandemic.
Ultimately, my kid will make the decision, just like her sister did. But, when you walk a kid through how to make a good decision, they end up very confident about and empowered in their college decision.
At the end of the process, my older daughter had 4 good, and somewhat different options in her opinion. 5 in ours (I still think she would have liked Macalester). She discussed the pros and cons of each option with us but we didn’t put a thumb on the scale. She headed down the basement for a week and she emerged with what has proven to be a great decision and was able to articulate an adult sounding answer for choosing it that was both head and heart.
And every semester, she reviews the college bill and goes into her college fund with us and transfers her tuition payment. This isn’t the fun part. But, she is more than equipped to make the next big decision in her life without our input unless she asks for it.
And, of course, it was much easier to make a list before COVID made it so hard to figure out how grades and test scores would be evaluate. What is a match. With kid 1, it was pretty clear. With kid 2, I have zero idea.
So there is your explanation. I will say after kid 1 finished, kid two was immediately asking when we could start hers (here’s a Fisk guide and give me a few months please!). She sees where this ends and is excited about choosing her college. So, it works for us. You do you.
I have been following this with interest. My daughter sounds very similar to yours and is considering the same schools. You don't sound over-involved to me at all, particularly since you haven't hired a college counselor. These are good questions to be asking in junior year. And Covid makes it harder. Good luck!
Anonymous
02/26/2021 13:18
Subject: Re:SLACs for intellectual, well grounded student
Anonymous wrote:OP, I haven't read through this entire thread so forgive me if I repeat what others have said.
My 3 kids ("intellectual and well-grounded" I guess) have gone to W&M and 2 of the SWAMP SLACs so I know a little about this subject.
My WM kid has also heard bad reviews of the St Andrews program. But the IR program at WM is very good, and the school is a bargain.
Please don't write off Haverford - all my kids really liked it and the kids we know who go/went there like it and have done well post-grad. For the arts, the large, open makerspace made an impression on me. It was in this converted gym building, full of light and windows - very beautiful https://www.aia.org/showcases/186611-haverford-college-visual-culture-arts-and-m
Haverford is also need aware, so if you're not applying for aid, your kid gets a little admissions bump.
Tufts should be on her list - it's a little bigger, but has a great IR program.
As you know, most of the SLACs mentioned are reaches, so I wouldn't write off Williams or Amherst just for that reason - they're not any harder to get into than Bowdoin, Bates, Middlebury, Tufts, etc. Look at what SLACs take kids from her high school. While looking at Naviance for DC2 we noticed that one of the SWAMP schools seemed to accept a kid or two from his school every year. His stats matched so he applied - and got in, RD no less. Turns out one of the deans went to that HS and so they think highly of it.
Good luck!
Thank you! Exactly what I was looking for.
Anonymous
02/26/2021 13:16
Subject: SLACs for intellectual, well grounded student
Anonymous wrote:I recommended Lawrence. My senior applied early action as a safety school and got accepted with a great merit aid package. It has made the long wait until March/April SLAC results more bearable. DD liked what she read about the student body (academic but not overly competitive) as well as the possibility of doing music through the conservatory, even as a non-major.
Thank you. DCUM hive mind being very helpful. Second Lawrence shout out. I don’t know anything about it. But sounds good for a kid who plays and instrument and thinks she wants to continue for recreation. My other kids did EA at a different Midwestern SLAC and having a good safety was an enormous relief. So, I’ll have her check it out.
Anonymous
02/26/2021 13:16
Subject: SLACs for intellectual, well grounded student
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Sure, I know all this. School is my kids’ life. I know a ton of details. And they know a lot about the case I’m working on and my colleagues and wins or losses at my work. Why do people need to criticize something as abnormal just because it’s not what they do? That’s the part that seems abnormal, actually.
Not sure why you think abnormal is a criticism. The kid who can throw a 90-mph fastball or get a 1600 is abnormal. The people here are atypically involved when it comes to college choice. As, I suspect, is knowing the details of our work. I think it’s cool that your kids are interested in your work but mine would be bored to tears by mine, or my wife’s, or yours for that matter - no budding lawyers here. (“School is my kids’ life” is probably not what you meant to say. I hope that have more than that in their lives.)
OT, but I would like to know what kind of law PP does that PP's kids find it so interesting. I am a lawyer, but it would largely be a snooze-fest to go too much into it. I did bounce some trial arguments off my HS'er, which was insightful.
Anonymous
02/26/2021 13:13
Subject: Re:SLACs for intellectual, well grounded student
OP, I haven't read through this entire thread so forgive me if I repeat what others have said.
My 3 kids ("intellectual and well-grounded" I guess) have gone to W&M and 2 of the SWAMP SLACs so I know a little about this subject.
My WM kid has also heard bad reviews of the St Andrews program. But the IR program at WM is very good, and the school is a bargain.
Please don't write off Haverford - all my kids really liked it and the kids we know who go/went there like it and have done well post-grad. For the arts, the large, open makerspace made an impression on me. It was in this converted gym building, full of light and windows - very beautiful https://www.aia.org/showcases/186611-haverford-college-visual-culture-arts-and-m
Haverford is also need aware, so if you're not applying for aid, your kid gets a little admissions bump.
Tufts should be on her list - it's a little bigger, but has a great IR program.
As you know, most of the SLACs mentioned are reaches, so I wouldn't write off Williams or Amherst just for that reason - they're not any harder to get into than Bowdoin, Bates, Middlebury, Tufts, etc. Look at what SLACs take kids from her high school. While looking at Naviance for DC2 we noticed that one of the SWAMP schools seemed to accept a kid or two from his school every year. His stats matched so he applied - and got in, RD no less. Turns out one of the deans went to that HS and so they think highly of it.
Good luck!
My 3 kids ("intellectual and well-grounded" I guess) have gone to W&M and 2 of the SWAMP SLACs so I know a little about this subject.
My WM kid has also heard bad reviews of the St Andrews program. But the IR program at WM is very good, and the school is a bargain.
Please don't write off Haverford - all my kids really liked it and the kids we know who go/went there like it and have done well post-grad. For the arts, the large, open makerspace made an impression on me. It was in this converted gym building, full of light and windows - very beautiful https://www.aia.org/showcases/186611-haverford-college-visual-culture-arts-and-m
Haverford is also need aware, so if you're not applying for aid, your kid gets a little admissions bump.
Tufts should be on her list - it's a little bigger, but has a great IR program.
As you know, most of the SLACs mentioned are reaches, so I wouldn't write off Williams or Amherst just for that reason - they're not any harder to get into than Bowdoin, Bates, Middlebury, Tufts, etc. Look at what SLACs take kids from her high school. While looking at Naviance for DC2 we noticed that one of the SWAMP schools seemed to accept a kid or two from his school every year. His stats matched so he applied - and got in, RD no less. Turns out one of the deans went to that HS and so they think highly of it.
Good luck!
Anonymous
02/26/2021 12:58
Subject: SLACs for intellectual, well grounded student
I recommended Lawrence. My senior applied early action as a safety school and got accepted with a great merit aid package. It has made the long wait until March/April SLAC results more bearable. DD liked what she read about the student body (academic but not overly competitive) as well as the possibility of doing music through the conservatory, even as a non-major.
Anonymous
02/26/2021 12:57
Subject: SLACs for intellectual, well grounded student
Also, the difference is kid 1 we could physically put on a campus and let her see how it felt. Did a flyin program and spent the night at a couple of the top choices. She also had friends at St. Olaf and Oberlin.
Here, the campus is a bunch of empty building, if we can go on at all. So, kid 2 is judging based on virtual everything. Which is helpful, but not the same.
DCUM hive mind is good for waiving people towards or off SLACs. Also snarky. And, it has been helpful Wesleyan is a great find. And snarky. Which is fine.
There is another thread on Middlebury. But Vasser, Middlebury, Hamilton and Tufts or schools she missed in he Fiske Guide opinions still helpful for avoiding. The goal is get her on campus to make a call in time to ED a reach. That is that a lot of time. So we need to be surgical.
Here, the campus is a bunch of empty building, if we can go on at all. So, kid 2 is judging based on virtual everything. Which is helpful, but not the same.
DCUM hive mind is good for waiving people towards or off SLACs. Also snarky. And, it has been helpful Wesleyan is a great find. And snarky. Which is fine.
There is another thread on Middlebury. But Vasser, Middlebury, Hamilton and Tufts or schools she missed in he Fiske Guide opinions still helpful for avoiding. The goal is get her on campus to make a call in time to ED a reach. That is that a lot of time. So we need to be surgical.
Anonymous
02/26/2021 12:49
Subject: SLACs for intellectual, well grounded student
Anonymous wrote:Is she not interested in the Ohio schools your other child looked at?
I went to Wesleyan and agree with that recommendation. I didn't find it isolating and I liked that there were buses and trains to Boston and NY.
She is. But that part was easy. She was on campus with her sister for Ohio and MN and has a feel of the schools. So, like Oberlin, Macalaster, St. Olaf, Carleton. Not so much: Kenyon (too remote), Denison, Wooster. Done. It’s he NE schools se can’t really visit.
Wesleyan is a great idea. Lawrence is also interesting.
Anonymous
02/26/2021 11:13
Subject: SLACs for intellectual, well grounded student
Anonymous wrote:Is this level of involvement/knowledge normal? I'm not trying to be snarky, I'm genuinely curious. My oldest is a college freshman (and my younger is in 8th grade). I knew what her GPA was, and that she was much more into math and science, and I knew what she got on the ACT. But I definitely wouldn't be able to rattle off that that she got "4As, and a B+ in an AP" that "skewed her GPA" or the exact number of APs she took and her scores. Or what lab sciences she took.
No, I don't think so. I don't even completely understand the OP's explanation of the differences between her kids. We all have differences between our kids! They all deserve to chart their own courses with college. I don't understand why every thought is so micromanaged.
Anonymous
02/26/2021 11:06
Subject: SLACs for intellectual, well grounded student
Anonymous wrote:Sure, I know all this. School is my kids’ life. I know a ton of details. And they know a lot about the case I’m working on and my colleagues and wins or losses at my work. Why do people need to criticize something as abnormal just because it’s not what they do? That’s the part that seems abnormal, actually.
Not sure why you think abnormal is a criticism. The kid who can throw a 90-mph fastball or get a 1600 is abnormal. The people here are atypically involved when it comes to college choice. As, I suspect, is knowing the details of our work. I think it’s cool that your kids are interested in your work but mine would be bored to tears by mine, or my wife’s, or yours for that matter - no budding lawyers here. (“School is my kids’ life” is probably not what you meant to say. I hope that have more than that in their lives.)
Anonymous
02/26/2021 10:32
Subject: SLACs for intellectual, well grounded student
Is she not interested in the Ohio schools your other child looked at?
I went to Wesleyan and agree with that recommendation. I didn't find it isolating and I liked that there were buses and trains to Boston and NY.
I went to Wesleyan and agree with that recommendation. I didn't find it isolating and I liked that there were buses and trains to Boston and NY.
Anonymous
02/26/2021 09:48
Subject: SLACs for intellectual, well grounded student
Anonymous wrote:Dual degree program between Columbia and Sciences Po?
Interestingly enough, yes. This kid is doing a whole other international search on her own, is becoming fluent in French and has mentioned this program. I haven’t dug into it. But, I only have the bandwidth for American colleges and in COVID, she must have solid American options. So the deal we struck is she researches and applies internationally and if she comes up with a good option, it gets full consideration. And she mentioned this program. With COVID, overseas concerns me, but we’ll see where we are in a year. Since we have walked through research and admissions in American colleges, she knows how to do the work. If she want to spend the time and do it, more power to her. If she doesn’t, she probably shouldn’t overseas anyway.
With COVID, she seems to have narrowed her focus more in on UToronto, but especially McGill and U BC. It’s a very different option but an interesting idea. We’ll see how far she pursues it.
Anonymous
02/26/2021 09:37
Subject: SLACs for intellectual, well grounded student
OP back. This is peak DCUM. Very helpful advice confirming what the feel we got from the Carleton info session. Great suggestion in Wesleyan and interesting info on median HHI. Exactly what I was looking for. DD was poking around Wesleyan’s site last night found a couple programs that “look cool” and decided to sign up for an info session. Will put Lawrence and Dickinson on the list.
And, of course, peak DCUM snark. I don’t need to defend myself to anyone. But I will explain. My kid attends a large public school that primarily sends kids to big state schools and engineering. I’m my kids college counselor. Of course you don’t need to be as involved if your kid is headed to WM, VT, UVA, JMU. These schools are financially stable, have a large variety of good programs and enough kids that most people can find a community.
SLACs are a different beast. PP snarked you would think it is a marriage. That’s actually a good analogy for SLACs. You are in a rural area with a limited number of people who often have a lot in common for 4 years, unless you get a divorce and transfer. And those are 4 years when you wait her make smart or very stupid decision that shape your future.
With my older kid, we could visit Oberlin, Kenyon, Wooster, Denison in a few days and from there develop a good college list based on what she liked and didn’t like. Good luck it’s that when many SLACs don’t have students in residence and most who do have closed campuses.
I also think people just have different approaches to college admissions. Some have good private school counseling or hire private counseling. In my mind, college admissions is when you teach you kid how to make a complicated decision in the real world. So they have the skills to make their next decision about a job or grad school on their own.
And college admissions is a great learning and growing opportunity. It’s a heart decision (my dream school!) and a head decision (what programs are available? What internships and study abroad? How is grad school placement?).
And if we are sinking $250,000 into college, it’s a business decision. And even in my 40s I didn’t fully appreciate the last one. But, I am forever thankful my older child’s school has a large endowment and had all the resources they needed to open campus in the fall, test and test and test and do in person, rather than remote classes. Endowments aren’t sexy. They do get kids back on campus safely for in person learning in a pandemic.
Ultimately, my kid will make the decision, just like her sister did. But, when you walk a kid through how to make a good decision, they end up very confident about and empowered in their college decision.
At the end of the process, my older daughter had 4 good, and somewhat different options in her opinion. 5 in ours (I still think she would have liked Macalester). She discussed the pros and cons of each option with us but we didn’t put a thumb on the scale. She headed down the basement for a week and she emerged with what has proven to be a great decision and was able to articulate an adult sounding answer for choosing it that was both head and heart.
And every semester, she reviews the college bill and goes into her college fund with us and transfers her tuition payment. This isn’t the fun part. But, she is more than equipped to make the next big decision in her life without our input unless she asks for it.
And, of course, it was much easier to make a list before COVID made it so hard to figure out how grades and test scores would be evaluate. What is a match. With kid 1, it was pretty clear. With kid 2, I have zero idea.
So there is your explanation. I will say after kid 1 finished, kid two was immediately asking when we could start hers (here’s a Fisk guide and give me a few months please!). She sees where this ends and is excited about choosing her college. So, it works for us. You do you.
And, of course, peak DCUM snark. I don’t need to defend myself to anyone. But I will explain. My kid attends a large public school that primarily sends kids to big state schools and engineering. I’m my kids college counselor. Of course you don’t need to be as involved if your kid is headed to WM, VT, UVA, JMU. These schools are financially stable, have a large variety of good programs and enough kids that most people can find a community.
SLACs are a different beast. PP snarked you would think it is a marriage. That’s actually a good analogy for SLACs. You are in a rural area with a limited number of people who often have a lot in common for 4 years, unless you get a divorce and transfer. And those are 4 years when you wait her make smart or very stupid decision that shape your future.
With my older kid, we could visit Oberlin, Kenyon, Wooster, Denison in a few days and from there develop a good college list based on what she liked and didn’t like. Good luck it’s that when many SLACs don’t have students in residence and most who do have closed campuses.
I also think people just have different approaches to college admissions. Some have good private school counseling or hire private counseling. In my mind, college admissions is when you teach you kid how to make a complicated decision in the real world. So they have the skills to make their next decision about a job or grad school on their own.
And college admissions is a great learning and growing opportunity. It’s a heart decision (my dream school!) and a head decision (what programs are available? What internships and study abroad? How is grad school placement?).
And if we are sinking $250,000 into college, it’s a business decision. And even in my 40s I didn’t fully appreciate the last one. But, I am forever thankful my older child’s school has a large endowment and had all the resources they needed to open campus in the fall, test and test and test and do in person, rather than remote classes. Endowments aren’t sexy. They do get kids back on campus safely for in person learning in a pandemic.
Ultimately, my kid will make the decision, just like her sister did. But, when you walk a kid through how to make a good decision, they end up very confident about and empowered in their college decision.
At the end of the process, my older daughter had 4 good, and somewhat different options in her opinion. 5 in ours (I still think she would have liked Macalester). She discussed the pros and cons of each option with us but we didn’t put a thumb on the scale. She headed down the basement for a week and she emerged with what has proven to be a great decision and was able to articulate an adult sounding answer for choosing it that was both head and heart.
And every semester, she reviews the college bill and goes into her college fund with us and transfers her tuition payment. This isn’t the fun part. But, she is more than equipped to make the next big decision in her life without our input unless she asks for it.
And, of course, it was much easier to make a list before COVID made it so hard to figure out how grades and test scores would be evaluate. What is a match. With kid 1, it was pretty clear. With kid 2, I have zero idea.
So there is your explanation. I will say after kid 1 finished, kid two was immediately asking when we could start hers (here’s a Fisk guide and give me a few months please!). She sees where this ends and is excited about choosing her college. So, it works for us. You do you.
Anonymous
02/26/2021 09:03
Subject: SLACs for intellectual, well grounded student
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Is this level of involvement/knowledge normal? I'm not trying to be snarky, I'm genuinely curious. My oldest is a college freshman (and my younger is in 8th grade). I knew what her GPA was, and that she was much more into math and science, and I knew what she got on the ACT. But I definitely wouldn't be able to rattle off that that she got "4As, and a B+ in an AP" that "skewed her GPA" or the exact number of APs she took and her scores. Or what lab sciences she took.
No, it's not normal. I am exhausted just reading it.
+1000
Anonymous
02/26/2021 08:55
Subject: SLACs for intellectual, well grounded student
Anonymous wrote:Sure, I know all this. School is my kids’ life. I know a ton of details. And they know a lot about the case I’m working on and my colleagues and wins or losses at my work. Why do people need to criticize something as abnormal just because it’s not what they do? That’s the part that seems abnormal, actually.
This is the nature of the anonymous forum that is DCUM! Shake it off, develop a thick skin, and take it with a grain of salt. FWIW, my high schooler is a slacker, so I have to know what kind of classes he has registered for and what kind of grades he is getting. Middle school sibling, OTOH, gets straight A's and studies without any monitoring.