To clarify a number of posts, there are the liberal arts and there are Liberal Arts Colleges (LACs). The Carnegie classification for BC is R1 research university. BC may have a core curriculum with a focus in liberal arts (hey, so do UChicago and Columbia), but it is not an LAC.

The core curriculum at BC consists of: 1 arts, 1 cultural diversity (can overlap), 2 history, 1 literature, 1 math, 2 natural science, 2 philosophy, 2 social science (econ usually covers these for business majors), 2 theology, 1 writing

Many schools have gen ed requirements that include history, writing, natural science, etc. BC's core is a little bit heavier than some, with philosophy and theology, but not terribly different otherwise.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They are all LACs--just apply ED and have your checkbook ready !

Lehigh and BC are not LACs.

BC is VERY MUCH a LAC (just not a "small" LAC). Even School of Management students are required to take a full liberal arts core - in addition to their management core. They require 2 each of english, history, philosophy, social science, theology - that's 1/4 our your college career.

BC has graduate schools. LACs are undergraduate institutions

Being a research university vs an undergraduate college or not is NOT what defines being a Liberal Arts school. The focus of the curriculum does.

The C is for college. Universities are not LACs

So you are focusing on the C, while Boston College is a University. You are missing the point - BC's curriculum (as with all other Jesuit colleges and universities) is absolutely a Liberal Arts school - EVEN in the Cchool of Management (which leaves not much room for pure electives, by the way) . There are many other universities where one can go to business school that will not be liberal arts.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They are all LACs--just apply ED and have your checkbook ready !

Lehigh and BC are not LACs.

BC is VERY MUCH a LAC (just not a "small" LAC). Even School of Management students are required to take a full liberal arts core - in addition to their management core. They require 2 each of english, history, philosophy, social science, theology - that's 1/4 our your college career.

BC has graduate schools. LACs are undergraduate institutions

Being a research university vs an undergraduate college or not is NOT what defines being a Liberal Arts school. The focus of the curriculum does.

The C is for college. Universities are not LACs

you don't get it - but that's ok

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They are all LACs--just apply ED and have your checkbook ready !

Lehigh and BC are not LACs.

BC is VERY MUCH a LAC (just not a "small" LAC). Even School of Management students are required to take a full liberal arts core - in addition to their management core. They require 2 each of english, history, philosophy, social science, theology - that's 1/4 our your college career.

BC has graduate schools. LACs are undergraduate institutions

Being a research university vs an undergraduate college or not is NOT what defines being a Liberal Arts school. The focus of the curriculum does.

The C is for college. Universities are not LACs

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Colgate is much smaller and more rural than BC and Lehigh. I’d eliminate that one (since I would guess your son’s slight pref is medium sized and not in midd of nowhere, based on his two other too choices). Then I’d apply to BC ED1, and Lehigh ED2.

You didn’t ask this, but Franklin and Marshall would make a good back up- it is small like Colgate and similar vibe, v strong in finance/business placements, and there is a little more going on in Lancaster than a typical LAC setting.

Colgate Lehigh and BC are all smallish schools with D1 sports and active Greek (or equivalent) life. It seems like OP’s kid actually wants bro culture

Can you elaborate on BC? I know it doesn't have Greek life, but what do you mean by "equivalent"? It's actually the school I've been subtly pushing, precisely because it *doesn't* have fraternities? Is the bro culture there any different from, say, Georgetown (which I am quite familiar with)? Thank you.

This was one of the reasons I chose BC. I was very happy with it. It is a very social school but far more inclusive without Greek. Because of the way housing is set up, you really get to know your class well. Students want to live on campus and because of the seniority system you almost always live in a dorm filled with students from your own year (freshmen, sophomore, senior). For students who get 3 years housing - they choose to live off campus Junior year and return for Senior (best housing - plus another benefit that leaving campus Junior year means having no RA while you are still likely under 21 - most big parties are hosted at Junior apartments).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Colgate is much smaller and more rural than BC and Lehigh. I’d eliminate that one (since I would guess your son’s slight pref is medium sized and not in midd of nowhere, based on his two other too choices). Then I’d apply to BC ED1, and Lehigh ED2.

You didn’t ask this, but Franklin and Marshall would make a good back up- it is small like Colgate and similar vibe, v strong in finance/business placements, and there is a little more going on in Lancaster than a typical LAC setting.

Colgate Lehigh and BC are all smallish schools with D1 sports and active Greek (or equivalent) life. It seems like OP’s kid actually wants bro culture

BC does not have Greek like culture.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They are all LACs--just apply ED and have your checkbook ready !

Lehigh and BC are not LACs.

BC is VERY MUCH a LAC (just not a "small" LAC). Even School of Management students are required to take a full liberal arts core - in addition to their management core. They require 2 each of english, history, philosophy, social science, theology - that's 1/4 our your college career.

does Management school also require foreign language proficiency? (that would add probably another 2-4 semesters of FL for my kid)

When I went (many years ago) there was a FL requirement for BC Core but when I look online now I don't see one

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They are all LACs--just apply ED and have your checkbook ready !

Lehigh and BC are not LACs.

BC is VERY MUCH a LAC (just not a "small" LAC). Even School of Management students are required to take a full liberal arts core - in addition to their management core. They require 2 each of english, history, philosophy, social science, theology - that's 1/4 our your college career.

BC has graduate schools. LACs are undergraduate institutions

Being a research university vs an undergraduate college or not is NOT what defines being a Liberal Arts school. The focus of the curriculum does.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Colgate is much smaller and more rural than BC and Lehigh. I’d eliminate that one (since I would guess your son’s slight pref is medium sized and not in midd of nowhere, based on his two other too choices). Then I’d apply to BC ED1, and Lehigh ED2.

You didn’t ask this, but Franklin and Marshall would make a good back up- it is small like Colgate and similar vibe, v strong in finance/business placements, and there is a little more going on in Lancaster than a typical LAC setting.

Colgate Lehigh and BC are all smallish schools with D1 sports and active Greek (or equivalent) life. It seems like OP’s kid actually wants bro culture

Can you elaborate on BC? I know it doesn't have Greek life, but what do you mean by "equivalent"? It's actually the school I've been subtly pushing, precisely because it *doesn't* have fraternities? Is the bro culture there any different from, say, Georgetown (which I am quite familiar with)? Thank you.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Colgate is much smaller and more rural than BC and Lehigh. I’d eliminate that one (since I would guess your son’s slight pref is medium sized and not in midd of nowhere, based on his two other too choices). Then I’d apply to BC ED1, and Lehigh ED2.

You didn’t ask this, but Franklin and Marshall would make a good back up- it is small like Colgate and similar vibe, v strong in finance/business placements, and there is a little more going on in Lancaster than a typical LAC setting.

Colgate Lehigh and BC are all smallish schools with D1 sports and active Greek (or equivalent) life. It seems like OP’s kid actually wants bro culture

DP.
Undergrad enrollment
Colgate 3130
Lehigh 7394
BC 9982

F&M 1990

BC and Lehigh are not small. My guess is that Colgate is on the small side of what OP wants, which is a medium-sized private. I agree with the PP, ED1 to BC and ED2 to Lehigh.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hi all! Thanks for the input. Not STEM, but econ (if Colgate) or finance (if Lehigh/BC.) Reasonably high stats -- 3.92 unweighted, but mixed in with all those As is a C+ in APUSH in 11th, ughhhhh. 1500 SAT. Has consistently taken the most rigorous classes, great ECs, essays and rec letters should be strong.

We go back and forth between applying ED1 to Lehigh and probably nailing it down and being done, vs. shooting their shot at BC and Colgate -- for some reason Colgate is a tough admit from our school; 0/7 last year and 1/11 the year before. TBH I don't think Colgate is a great fit anyway, but for some reason my son is enamored with it. We are full pay so that helps at need-aware Colgate, I guess.

ED1 to BC - be sure to tap into "community" aspect of BC (both on campus and greater community of Boston/World) and the "educational curiosity" that Jesuits

ED2 to Lehigh

Finance at BC and the Carroll School of Management are very strong - and the BC alumni network ROCKS - not just for a first job but throughout your career.

Lehigh community on wall street is almost cult-like - they take care of their own

haven’t come across enough BC alumns on the street to have an opinion of their community and alumn help

Anonymous wrote:Colgate is much smaller and more rural than BC and Lehigh. I’d eliminate that one (since I would guess your son’s slight pref is medium sized and not in midd of nowhere, based on his two other too choices). Then I’d apply to BC ED1, and Lehigh ED2.

You didn’t ask this, but Franklin and Marshall would make a good back up- it is small like Colgate and similar vibe, v strong in finance/business placements, and there is a little more going on in Lancaster than a typical LAC setting.

Colgate Lehigh and BC are all smallish schools with D1 sports and active Greek (or equivalent) life. It seems like OP’s kid actually wants bro culture

Colgate is much smaller and more rural than BC and Lehigh. I’d eliminate that one (since I would guess your son’s slight pref is medium sized and not in midd of nowhere, based on his two other too choices). Then I’d apply to BC ED1, and Lehigh ED2.

You didn’t ask this, but Franklin and Marshall would make a good back up- it is small like Colgate and similar vibe, v strong in finance/business placements, and there is a little more going on in Lancaster than a typical LAC setting.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They are all LACs--just apply ED and have your checkbook ready !

Lehigh and BC are not LACs.

BC is VERY MUCH a LAC (just not a "small" LAC). Even School of Management students are required to take a full liberal arts core - in addition to their management core. They require 2 each of english, history, philosophy, social science, theology - that's 1/4 our your college career.

does Management school also require foreign language proficiency? (that would add probably another 2-4 semesters of FL for my kid)

No
https://www.bc.edu/bc-web/schools/mcas/departments/romance-languages/undergraduate-programs/language-programs/language-requirement.html

Thanks for this. My google skills are terrible at finding the FL requirement at specific colleges.

Anonymous wrote:Wow, 1/18 accepted at Colgate in last2 yrs from your school? You would think there would be a reason behind those stats. Did School previously have a pattern of accepted kids turning down Colgate’s offers or something? Whatever the reason, you might try to get past it by visiting & emphatically declaring your interest is sincere. This might be difficult to sell, as Colgate probably gets plenty of slick rich applicants who have been taught how to play the game.

At our public suburban school, the numbers look like that for ALL top 30 schools last year. 1/50 for Harvard. 2/60 for Cornell. 1/25 for Georgetown. 1/20 for Colgate. And half of these applicants have 1500+ SAT and 5.0 GPAs. I actually don’t understand why kids keep applying to these colleges that have no interest in them.