Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It might just be people trying to get others to not accept offers at the SLACS because of the small number of spaces offered. So, don't always believe what you read on the net.

It’s definitely something that is discussed online. I think SLACs offer tons of good opportunities. But BIPOC, non-wealthy, and/or non-athletes have described not fitting in some of these schools. So it’s definitely a consideration for those of us researching them.

Oh for Pete’s sake. You people need to get lives and stop living weirdly through your kids. It’s creepy and ridiculous.

Umm. I’m not living through my kid? So in the college search, you and your kid have not looked at all for fit? You realize people might be looking for different things or concerned about different things? Again-I think SLACs are wonderful—the size, the focus on teaching/undergrad studies, etc. But these issues are legitimate even if they do not matter to you/impact you.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Please, people, name the colleges you are talking about. Particularly you, OP. So bizarre to come here to "give advice" to other parents but not to mention the school in question. Are you worried that you'll somehow be outed?

They aren’t really parents. They are trolls.

Why is anyone whose opinion is counter to yours a troll?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It might just be people trying to get others to not accept offers at the SLACS because of the small number of spaces offered. So, don't always believe what you read on the net.

It’s definitely something that is discussed online. I think SLACs offer tons of good opportunities. But BIPOC, non-wealthy, and/or non-athletes have described not fitting in some of these schools. So it’s definitely a consideration for those of us researching them.

Oh for Pete’s sake. You people need to get lives and stop living weirdly through your kids. It’s creepy and ridiculous.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Didn't high school have a lot of athletes, people in plays, etc.? Don't know why college would be any different.

Time to grow up.

(New Poster)

Time to grow up ? Please reread your post; you are making the point that LACs are just like redoing high school. I agree.

It's not re-doing high school. High school has groups doing the same things most colleges do regardless of size. If a kid cannot adapt socially, that's not the college's fault.

Someone 18-22 needs to learn how to interact with a college community. The social environment will not be tailor made for you.

I appreciate your perspective, but I still disagree.

LACs are more cliquish than high schools and this is a problem because students spend 24 hours of each day on campus. There is no break from the segregation. At least during high school one ate breakfast & dinner elsewhere & slept at home.

Larger schools require more maturity due to diversity on all levels--social, academic, athletic, as well as economically. If a student wants to segregate at a large school, then it is easy to join a fraternity or sorority or live in a group theme house; but large universities also have lots of independent students as well as the opportunity for occasional anonymity. In short, LACs are like living in a small town where everyone knows everyone's business and each person has a place while large universities are more like living in a city amid diversity in all of its forms. LACs delay real life--which is fine if that is what one prefers.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I see a lot of folks here don't really get the benefit of SLACs. Here's some food for thought: (1) Unlike the competitive club culture at Ivys, UCLA, Georgetown, etc. my DC is able to participate in almost any club he wants. In fact, he's welcomed with open arms. (2) Want to conduct research with a Professor? At Ivys, UCLA, Georgetown, etc., undergrads compete with graduate students for positions. My DC gets to do cutting edge research with amazing professors without having to worry about some grad student pushing him out. (3) Want to live with a D1 athlete even though you aren't one? Not gonna happen at the majority of large schools. At my DC's school, there are no frat/sorority houses. Nor are there dorms or halls for athletes. Everyone lives together. Period. (4) Enjoy fighting to get into Freshman classes with 100+ students? NO? Well, the average student:teacher ratio at DC's school is 9:1. That's pretty standard at top SLACs. And because DC knows his teachers, they are able to write recommendations for him. Cues up my last point... (5) Looking for real world work experience? DC was able to secure an amazing internship for summer 2024with an alum based on a rec from one of his teachers. He's a Freshman.
I went to a much larger school and had a very different undergrad experience. Do I think big/small/medium schools are for everyone? Absolutely not. But, I do know that SLACs can be life changing and that this purported NARP/athlete divide is not present for most kids. I visited for family weekend in October and was blown away by the happiness on campus. The kids love being there, mine included.

This is exactly what my DS is looking for. Do you mind sharing what college this is?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Please, people, name the colleges you are talking about. Particularly you, OP. So bizarre to come here to "give advice" to other parents but not to mention the school in question. Are you worried that you'll somehow be outed?

They aren’t really parents. They are trolls.

Anonymous wrote:I see a lot of folks here don't really get the benefit of SLACs. Here's some food for thought: (1) Unlike the competitive club culture at Ivys, UCLA, Georgetown, etc. my DC is able to participate in almost any club he wants. In fact, he's welcomed with open arms. (2) Want to conduct research with a Professor? At Ivys, UCLA, Georgetown, etc., undergrads compete with graduate students for positions. My DC gets to do cutting edge research with amazing professors without having to worry about some grad student pushing him out. (3) Want to live with a D1 athlete even though you aren't one? Not gonna happen at the majority of large schools. At my DC's school, there are no frat/sorority houses. Nor are there dorms or halls for athletes. Everyone lives together. Period. (4) Enjoy fighting to get into Freshman classes with 100+ students? NO? Well, the average student:teacher ratio at DC's school is 9:1. That's pretty standard at top SLACs. And because DC knows his teachers, they are able to write recommendations for him. Cues up my last point... (5) Looking for real world work experience? DC was able to secure an amazing internship for summer 2024with an alum based on a rec from one of his teachers. He's a Freshman.
I went to a much larger school and had a very different undergrad experience. Do I think big/small/medium schools are for everyone? Absolutely not. But, I do know that SLACs can be life changing and that this purported NARP/athlete divide is not present for most kids. I visited for family weekend in October and was blown away by the happiness on campus. The kids love being there, mine included.

Anonymous wrote:Please, people, name the colleges you are talking about. Particularly you, OP. So bizarre to come here to "give advice" to other parents but not to mention the school in question. Are you worried that you'll somehow be outed?

Anonymous wrote:I see a lot of folks here don't really get the benefit of SLACs. Here's some food for thought: (1) Unlike the competitive club culture at Ivys, UCLA, Georgetown, etc. my DC is able to participate in almost any club he wants. In fact, he's welcomed with open arms. (2) Want to conduct research with a Professor? At Ivys, UCLA, Georgetown, etc., undergrads compete with graduate students for positions. My DC gets to do cutting edge research with amazing professors without having to worry about some grad student pushing him out. (3) Want to live with a D1 athlete even though you aren't one? Not gonna happen at the majority of large schools. At my DC's school, there are no frat/sorority houses. Nor are there dorms or halls for athletes. Everyone lives together. Period. (4) Enjoy fighting to get into Freshman classes with 100+ students? NO? Well, the average student:teacher ratio at DC's school is 9:1. That's pretty standard at top SLACs. And because DC knows his teachers, they are able to write recommendations for him. Cues up my last point... (5) Looking for real world work experience? DC was able to secure an amazing internship for summer 2024with an alum based on a rec from one of his teachers. He's a Freshman.
I went to a much larger school and had a very different undergrad experience. Do I think big/small/medium schools are for everyone? Absolutely not. But, I do know that SLACs can be life changing and that this purported NARP/athlete divide is not present for most kids. I visited for family weekend in October and was blown away by the happiness on campus. The kids love being there, mine included.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It might just be people trying to get others to not accept offers at the SLACS because of the small number of spaces offered. So, don't always believe what you read on the net.

It’s definitely something that is discussed online. I think SLACs offer tons of good opportunities. But BIPOC, non-wealthy, and/or non-athletes have described not fitting in some of these schools. So it’s definitely a consideration for those of us researching them.

Anonymous wrote:https://williamsrecord.com/161/opinions/bridging-the-athlete-and-non-athlete-divide-calling-for-more-conversation/
There seem to be a few articles on this topic if you do a Google search. But this divide is not created by the students but is there because of how athletics works at these schools.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
LACs are not real life--they are like living in a bubble.

Virtually all residential colleges are not real life and like living in bubbles - public, private, large, small, urban, rural - at least as long as you live in university-owned and run housing and eat in the university dining halls. But that's really the only reason to make them residential. They are supposed to provide a bridge or transition from living at home to living on your own. Many schools have apartment-style junior/senior housing with kitchen facilities and reduced dining plan requirements to push students along in this transition to independence.

Suggesting that non-LACs are somehow not organized around this same principle ignores reality and indicates bias. Having a larger number of people in the bubble does not make it less bubble-like. Maybe a remote, rural, campus is less real in the sense of security issues or contact with people outside the campus, but there are plenty of remote, rural, non-LACs and even the urban campuses are literally set-up to minimize security issues, including having campus transportation services and campus police patrolling off campus, in a way that is not real life. And that's OK. That's part of the educational process you are signing your kid up for when you send them to a residential college.

Sorry, but to blunt, you have no idea about the differences between small rural, isolated LACs and large universities. I have degrees from both & have been involved in college & university issues for several decades and my experience is quite different from your imaginary world.