College Discussion - View Single Post

Katja · 02-25-2008, 12:51 PM

Thanks so much to all of you for your thoughtful ideas. Very helpful. Icy is right-on-target with our concern---we don't want to sacrifice our D thriving in a challenging enough LAC for the sake of decent merit $$, & to do so would be a terrible disservice to our D.

I imagine that all of us struggle with wanting our kids to realize their full intellectual potential, & merit money could seduce us away from what's most important. We want our kids to be with other internally motivated, excited-about-learning students who are also striving to be the very best that they can be intellectually, socially, emotionally, physically, etc. Icy's insight is right-on---we all learn from the people with whom we socialize, interact, discuss, etc. So, a good reminder to me to not to sacrifice the right college for the $$.

Our D has visited schools in the NE, & particularly liked Bowdoin, Williams, Amherst, & Swarthmore. She prefers a co-ed school so Wellesley was out.
Do you all think that these 4 schools are as incredible as they seemed to us on our visit? Are there other schools out there that are as exciting intellectually? (I got to go to some classes & was amazed as well)

My D also wants some safety schools that she's equally excited about, since it's hard predicting whether she'll get into any of these 4 schools. She wondered if she could find equally great schools that might offer merit $$ (thoughtful kid

, & that's our current quest.

Thanks to all of you for your Oberlin & Grinnell comments. Do you all think that those 2 schools are at least as intellectually & socially stimulating as the schools my D loved in the NE--Williams, Swarthmore, Amherst, & Bowdoin? And, what do you all think, is Bowdoin in that "league" of intellectually stimulating & fabulous schools?

Thanks, quaere, nngmm, bethie, & all of you who have talked about Grinnell, & Grinnell's small classes, which is one of my D's priorities. We're both eager to visit Grinnell, & it sounds like Grinnell & Oberlin might be real possibilities, & I'd be curious what you all think about Carleton & Macalester as stimulating places where kids thrive in their intellectual, social, & emotional growth?

Also, Icy's comment on retention rates is quite helpful & we'll look at those rates in the LACs. Keeping the retention rate above 90 at a LAC in terms of kids being satisfied/happy is what we all want for our kids, so we'll make sure to look at those numbers.

I also find it helpful to hear the wide difference in merit $$ that our kids received from various schools. Like preironic's comment on which colleges gave what, & which were most stingy.

Thanks for the Wash & Lee suggestion, Iputt59, & for the Davidson idea, Rachacha & GreatGirls. Do these schools tend to be relatively conservative in their student body & faculty? My D is somewhat liberal, & currently goes to school with a good mix of conservatives & liberals, & the mix works fine for her but she'd probably prefer a bit more open environment to express questions, different perspectives, etc. She would want to "fit in" & feel stimulated by open discussions with friends & in the classroom about politics, religion, ethical questions, meaning of life, etc.

Appreciate Great Lakes Mom's "rarified air" thought, & N.E.Dad's insights as well re this matter. Love the way Icy said this: If your daughter has earned it and has the ability to thrive in it, then let her develop in the rarefied air of intellectualism, hard work & prestige". Excellent thought that I need to hold onto in this.

I'm curious, originaloog, about what it was about Oberlin that your wife didn't like. When we visit Oberlin, anything helpful for us to keep in our minds as we look & listen, etc?

Sorry that this message is so, so long. I look forward to knowing more down-the-road so that I might be able to help others at least a bit as much as you all have really helped & are helping me with this important process.

Thanks so much!!
~Kat

02-25-2008, 12:51 PM	#39
Katja New Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Threads: 5 Posts: 25	Thanks so much to all of you for your thoughtful ideas. Very helpful. Icy is right-on-target with our concern---we don't want to sacrifice our D thriving in a challenging enough LAC for the sake of decent merit $$, & to do so would be a terrible disservice to our D. I imagine that all of us struggle with wanting our kids to realize their full intellectual potential, & merit money could seduce us away from what's most important. We want our kids to be with other internally motivated, excited-about-learning students who are also striving to be the very best that they can be intellectually, socially, emotionally, physically, etc. Icy's insight is right-on---we all learn from the people with whom we socialize, interact, discuss, etc. So, a good reminder to me to not to sacrifice the right college for the $$. Our D has visited schools in the NE, & particularly liked Bowdoin, Williams, Amherst, & Swarthmore. She prefers a co-ed school so Wellesley was out. Do you all think that these 4 schools are as incredible as they seemed to us on our visit? Are there other schools out there that are as exciting intellectually? (I got to go to some classes & was amazed as well) My D also wants some safety schools that she's equally excited about, since it's hard predicting whether she'll get into any of these 4 schools. She wondered if she could find equally great schools that might offer merit $$ (thoughtful kid , & that's our current quest. Thanks to all of you for your Oberlin & Grinnell comments. Do you all think that those 2 schools are at least as intellectually & socially stimulating as the schools my D loved in the NE--Williams, Swarthmore, Amherst, & Bowdoin? And, what do you all think, is Bowdoin in that "league" of intellectually stimulating & fabulous schools? Thanks, quaere, nngmm, bethie, & all of you who have talked about Grinnell, & Grinnell's small classes, which is one of my D's priorities. We're both eager to visit Grinnell, & it sounds like Grinnell & Oberlin might be real possibilities, & I'd be curious what you all think about Carleton & Macalester as stimulating places where kids thrive in their intellectual, social, & emotional growth? Also, Icy's comment on retention rates is quite helpful & we'll look at those rates in the LACs. Keeping the retention rate above 90 at a LAC in terms of kids being satisfied/happy is what we all want for our kids, so we'll make sure to look at those numbers. I also find it helpful to hear the wide difference in merit $$ that our kids received from various schools. Like preironic's comment on which colleges gave what, & which were most stingy. Thanks for the Wash & Lee suggestion, Iputt59, & for the Davidson idea, Rachacha & GreatGirls. Do these schools tend to be relatively conservative in their student body & faculty? My D is somewhat liberal, & currently goes to school with a good mix of conservatives & liberals, & the mix works fine for her but she'd probably prefer a bit more open environment to express questions, different perspectives, etc. She would want to "fit in" & feel stimulated by open discussions with friends & in the classroom about politics, religion, ethical questions, meaning of life, etc. Appreciate Great Lakes Mom's "rarified air" thought, & N.E.Dad's insights as well re this matter. Love the way Icy said this: If your daughter has earned it and has the ability to thrive in it, then let her develop in the rarefied air of intellectualism, hard work & prestige". Excellent thought that I need to hold onto in this. I'm curious, originaloog, about what it was about Oberlin that your wife didn't like. When we visit Oberlin, anything helpful for us to keep in our minds as we look & listen, etc? Sorry that this message is so, so long. I look forward to knowing more down-the-road so that I might be able to help others at least a bit as much as you all have really helped & are helping me with this important process. Thanks so much!! ~Kat