Anonymous
Post 01/08/2026 12:24     Subject: Why are WASP so elite?
When I was choosing what college to attend, I spoke to someone from my high school who was studying at a rural LAC at the time. One of the questions I asked her was, "Do you ever wish you went to a more urban school?" Her response was to the effect of "I know I'll probably live in a city for many years after I graduate, so I don't mind getting to try something different." I ultimately attended said school and had a great time there, and I fully agree with her remark.
Anonymous
Post 01/08/2026 12:22     Subject: Why are WASP so elite?
Anonymous wrote:Williams for a rural experience
Amherst for a college town experience
Swarthmore for a suburban experience
Pomona for a west coast experience
Barnard/Reed for the urban experience

You aren't better than others for choosing one over the other.


you also aren't at a worse off for choosing one over a R1 university. I think this is the sticking point.
Anonymous
Post 01/08/2026 12:19     Subject: Why are WASP so elite?
Williams for a rural experience
Amherst for a college town experience
Swarthmore for a suburban experience
Pomona for a west coast experience
Barnard/Reed for the urban experience

You aren't better than others for choosing one over the other.
Anonymous
Post 01/08/2026 12:18     Subject: Why are WASP so elite?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:This is such a dull navel-gazing thread.

These small schools are fine, safe bubbles for a certain kind of student to be coddled in. Kind of similar to a boarding school or academic summer camp for older kids. I agree that the locations are mid for most of them. But college is a time to push boundaries and experience life, not stay protected in a small coddling bubble.

My kids are city kids and couldn't be less interested.



Brooklyn kid here going off to a rural SLAC. how isn't this pushing boundaries and experiencing life. he's lived in a city for 17 years.

+1, apparently going out to buy matcha on the weekend is “pushing boundaries” nowadays.


He's been doing that since he was 9! And they have "out lunch" here starting in 5th grade. He knows the good halal carts and where to eat in Chinatown. It's fine.

I used to always laugh as a certain nyc person: raised in the city, went to Williams for 4 years, then back to the city. Now I'm raising one! But hey, it's better than going to NYU or, gasp, a school in Boston. Gotta try something new sometime. Will he end up in some rural town in his 20s? I would bet about 5mm he will not. So why not take this time to try something new
Anonymous
Post 01/08/2026 12:16     Subject: Why are WASP so elite?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:If you’re over 80 that’s when one wants to slow down and locations of Colby, Midd, Hamilton and Colgate are fine. Think of Henry Fonda in the movie On Golden Pond. When your 18 most kids enjoy civilization and what a city offers or Southern schools with warm weather big time football as in Ole Miss. Davidson checks both boxes and in NE only Haverford, Holy Cross, Swarthmore/Haverford. With $4 billion plus endowment Williams will continue its dominance.


I enjoyed being in the middle of nowhere Williamstown. Many wealthy people live in the berkshires for a reason, they’re gorgeous. Most people went to NY Boston or LA after college. I don’t know how 4 years of your life in a gorgeous rural town is exactly oppressing your youth- especially when you go home for extended times for breaks and internships.

Parents here love kvetching about any and everything. Most college kids can’t even afford the lifestyle of an urban college. It’s sad hearing responses from people who clearly didn’t grow after college.
m

I loved my time in Williamstown too. Since then, I’ve lived in several major metro areas and am now in the mid-size city. I don’t think I missed out on anything. That was probably the one time in my life when I could have the rural New England town experience.
Anonymous
Post 01/08/2026 12:13     Subject: Why are WASP so elite?
Anonymous wrote:Can’t imagine spending more than 4 hours at Colby, Colgate, Hamilton, or Midd. But their boosters will tell us there is a Walmart and a Panera 15 minutes away assuming it’s not snowing.

You sound like an incredibly week person.
Anonymous
Post 01/08/2026 12:10     Subject: Why are WASP so elite?
Can’t imagine spending more than 4 hours at Colby, Colgate, Hamilton, or Midd. But their boosters will tell us there is a Walmart and a Panera 15 minutes away assuming it’s not snowing.
Anonymous
Post 01/08/2026 12:05     Subject: Why are WASP so elite?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:This is such a dull navel-gazing thread.

These small schools are fine, safe bubbles for a certain kind of student to be coddled in. Kind of similar to a boarding school or academic summer camp for older kids. I agree that the locations are mid for most of them. But college is a time to push boundaries and experience life, not stay protected in a small coddling bubble.

My kids are city kids and couldn't be less interested.



Brooklyn kid here going off to a rural SLAC. how isn't this pushing boundaries and experiencing life. he's lived in a city for 17 years.

+1, apparently going out to buy matcha on the weekend is “pushing boundaries” nowadays.
Anonymous
Post 01/08/2026 12:01     Subject: Why are WASP so elite?
Anonymous wrote:If you’re over 80 that’s when one wants to slow down and locations of Colby, Midd, Hamilton and Colgate are fine. Think of Henry Fonda in the movie On Golden Pond. When your 18 most kids enjoy civilization and what a city offers or Southern schools with warm weather big time football as in Ole Miss. Davidson checks both boxes and in NE only Haverford, Holy Cross, Swarthmore/Haverford. With $4 billion plus endowment Williams will continue its dominance.


I enjoyed being in the middle of nowhere Williamstown. Many wealthy people live in the berkshires for a reason, they’re gorgeous. Most people went to NY Boston or LA after college. I don’t know how 4 years of your life in a gorgeous rural town is exactly oppressing your youth- especially when you go home for extended times for breaks and internships.

Parents here love kvetching about any and everything. Most college kids can’t even afford the lifestyle of an urban college. It’s sad hearing responses from people who clearly didn’t grow after college.
Anonymous
Post 01/08/2026 11:57     Subject: Why are WASP so elite?
Anonymous wrote:This is such a dull navel-gazing thread.

These small schools are fine, safe bubbles for a certain kind of student to be coddled in. Kind of similar to a boarding school or academic summer camp for older kids. I agree that the locations are mid for most of them. But college is a time to push boundaries and experience life, not stay protected in a small coddling bubble.

My kids are city kids and couldn't be less interested.



Brooklyn kid here going off to a rural SLAC. how isn't this pushing boundaries and experiencing life. he's lived in a city for 17 years.
Anonymous
Post 01/08/2026 11:56     Subject: Why are WASP so elite?
If you’re over 80 that’s when one wants to slow down and locations of Colby, Midd, Hamilton and Colgate are fine. Think of Henry Fonda in the movie On Golden Pond. When your 18 most kids enjoy civilization and what a city offers or Southern schools with warm weather big time football as in Ole Miss. Davidson checks both boxes and in NE only Haverford, Holy Cross, Swarthmore/Haverford. With $4 billion plus endowment Williams will continue its dominance.

Anonymous
Post 01/08/2026 11:49     Subject: Why are WASP so elite?
Anonymous wrote:In real estate industry it’s Location, Location, and Location. Agree sell Midd, Hamilton/Colgate, Colby/Bates, Trinity/Conn College. Hold Amherst/Williams to a lesser extent Bowdoin. Hold to Buy Holy Cross and W&L. Strong buy Davidson!

Mostly subjective Bs.
Anonymous
Post 01/08/2026 11:45     Subject: Why are WASP so elite?
In real estate industry it’s Location, Location, and Location. Agree sell Midd, Hamilton/Colgate, Colby/Bates, Trinity/Conn College. Hold Amherst/Williams to a lesser extent Bowdoin. Hold to Buy Holy Cross and W&L. Strong buy Davidson!
Anonymous
Post 01/08/2026 11:41     Subject: Why are WASP so elite?
Anonymous wrote:This is such a dull navel-gazing thread.

These small schools are fine, safe bubbles for a certain kind of student to be coddled in. Kind of similar to a boarding school or academic summer camp for older kids. I agree that the locations are mid for most of them. But college is a time to push boundaries and experience life, not stay protected in a small coddling bubble.

My kids are city kids and couldn't be less interested.


You’re not much better. Your kids will spend a majority of their lives in or near a city. It’s reasonable to take 4 years, slow down, and develop in a place outside of the bubble they know as cosmopolitans.

Mind you, many lacs aren’t even in rural locations.
Anonymous
Post 01/08/2026 11:36     Subject: Why are WASP so elite?
This is such a dull navel-gazing thread.

These small schools are fine, safe bubbles for a certain kind of student to be coddled in. Kind of similar to a boarding school or academic summer camp for older kids. I agree that the locations are mid for most of them. But college is a time to push boundaries and experience life, not stay protected in a small coddling bubble.

My kids are city kids and couldn't be less interested.