I work for an LAC in the mid-Atlantic that is moderately selective. In my experience, it is no less rigorous than some of the more selective colleges. The faculty don’t expect less of students than at other colleges. If you want to go pre-med, for example, you still have to master challenging concepts and skills. Learning political theory won’t be any easier because it’s taught here. That said, the vibe is not at all competitive on campus. There are all kind of supports for student success, if they choose to take advantage of them. Students can build their own paths in more or less challenging ways, e.g. opting into a thesis, doing research, etc. Having been on a number of tours, this seems to be true at most LAC campuses. Encourage your student to get a feel for the campus environment and to look at the curriculum. Most of the general curricula of LACs are pretty open, as in no specific math requirement but rather a “quantitative skills” angle for which something like a philosophy class in logic might suffice. They should also look at course catalogues. Are there courses that interest them? A student may have disliked history in high school, but find that the courses in Art History or Classics sound fascinating.
I echo other posters in encouraging your student to look at the following LACs:
- St. Lawrence. Some interesting programs like Outdoor Studies and first semester study abroad options.
- Marist. A lot of applied majors with internship opportunities.
- Hobart and William Smith. Strong global ed program, a lot of interesting interdisciplinary majors like Architectural Studies.
- Union. Operates on the trimester so they would only take 3 classes at a time.
- Connecticut College. Has some different curricular tracks and an honor code. They self schedule exams.
- Bard. The senior projects may sound intimidating, but they seem to range from thesis-like papers to hands-on projects such as repairing a bell, if I remember correctly. It could be great for a student to explore a passion.
I hope your student finds things that they can get excited about.