<p>I recall seeing a college guide book from the mid-50’s some years ago (not Barron’s, which wasn’t doing it yet). I recall the thing that really jumped out at me was the low ranking and median SATs were for Dartmouth, which was then considered a place for not too smart party animals. It was also ranked below many colleges that it dwarfs in reputation today. The 60s must have been a great decade for its reputation.</p>
<p>Webb Institute is a small specialized engineering college with 80 students. All students receive full scholarships, and it is still a competitive school.</p>
<p>It is interesting reading the discussion of then and now. Nobody has mentioned the limited diversity that was still a factor in the 60’s. That played a part in where students applied.</p>
<p>The bigest change for me is in the % of those accepted, but I don’t think 40 years ago people were aplying to 10 plus colleges, like it is today.</p>
<p>A couple of months ago while killing time in a small town library, I stumbled upon a Barron’s college guide from 1978, which would have been the middle of my college years (sigh). What struck me the most was the fact the college tuition and fees only needed another zero to reach current tuition and fees.</p>