Anonymous wrote:Completely avoid Southern SLACs (Washington & Lee, Davidson). These schools are focused more on college societies and events than academics.

Generally mid-tier SLACS should be avoided(i.e. Sarah Lawrence). Generally these are filled with mediocre upper-middle class/wealthy kids. But sometimes very good schools are unjustifiably ranked low (i.e. Reed, Oberlin)

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Anonymous wrote:What does SWAMP stand for?

Swarthmore, Williams, Amherst, Middlebury, Pomona would be my guess. I've never heard of this acronym.

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Anonymous wrote:OP, seriously consider Wesleyan in CT. It’s a bit larger for SLACs. My daughter applied to a couple of the schools you referenced and ended up going to Wesleyan.

Not on our radar. Can you tell me more about why you think it’s a good fit?

DP DC graduated last year from Wes and had a wonderful experience. It’s a diverse student body that while intellectually engaged isn’t competitive at all......very collaborative. At 2,800 students it’s an unusually large LAC which can make a difference when compared to schools with 1200-1400 students. There’s a very robust arts community.....both fine and performing.....with hundreds of exhibitions and performances on campus every year. The location is also different from the usually more remote locations. Middletown is a short walk away with many restaurants and stores. The progressive housing plan was a great way to keep students on campus which enhanced the community. Many research opportunists and my DC built strong relationships with many of his professors. My other DC attends an Ivy and the Wes experience in my opinion is vastly superior.

OP, I am first poster who mentioned Wesleyan. The above poster is right on mark about Wesleyan. It’s just such a mixture of benefits of a SLAC but also larger than other SLACs s and also has a small grad program. It seems to us to be the best of all worlds. I would recommend that you at least look in to this school further if you’re not familiar with it.

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, seriously consider Wesleyan in CT. It’s a bit larger for SLACs. My daughter applied to a couple of the schools you referenced and ended up going to Wesleyan.

Not on our radar. Can you tell me more about why you think it’s a good fit?

DP DC graduated last year from Wes and had a wonderful experience. It’s a diverse student body that while intellectually engaged isn’t competitive at all......very collaborative. At 2,800 students it’s an unusually large LAC which can make a difference when compared to schools with 1200-1400 students. There’s a very robust arts community.....both fine and performing.....with hundreds of exhibitions and performances on campus every year. The location is also different from the usually more remote locations. Middletown is a short walk away with many restaurants and stores. The progressive housing plan was a great way to keep students on campus which enhanced the community. Many research opportunists and my DC built strong relationships with many of his professors. My other DC attends an Ivy and the Wes experience in my opinion is vastly superior.

Anonymous wrote:What does SWAMP stand for?

Anonymous wrote:Completely avoid Southern SLACs (Washington & Lee, Davidson). These schools are focused more on college societies and events than academics.

Generally mid-tier SLACS should be avoided(i.e. Sarah Lawrence). Generally these are filled with mediocre upper-middle class/wealthy kids. But sometimes very good schools are unjustifiably ranked low (i.e. Reed, Oberlin)

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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.

Criminal law.

Anonymous wrote:Macalester. Down to earth, not in the middle of nowhere (utban). Less of an elitist East Coast vibe than Carleton. A global focus. Not sure about the languages there however. I know it’s in the south but have her look at Rice too/ it sounds like it’d be a good fit in terms of vibe and interests. Good luck.

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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 wrote:Macalester. Down to earth, not in the middle of nowhere (utban). Less of an elitist East Coast vibe than Carleton. A global focus. Not sure about the languages there however. I know it’s in the south but have her look at Rice too/ it sounds like it’d be a good fit in terms of vibe and interests. Good luck.

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.