Liberal Art Pride

College Search & Lists
1

Hi! So I have a sister at Sewanee, and she and her friends absolutely ADORE their school. They have nothing but love for their student body, professors, curriculum, etc. I was just wondering if there are any other liberal art schools whose students have this mentality. I currently go to a high school whose students hate the school and vocalize it on a daily basis. I want to be surrounded by students who are intelligent, well-respected across the nation, and have tremendous school pride (and I don’t mean about the schools’ sports). Thank you!

2

I think this occurs at most schools. One big difference between HS and college is that more people make a decision where to attend college vs HS. Most people are not vocal about making choice mistakes.

3

It’s not unusual at all. Neither one of my children particularly cared for high school. One is now at a large public university. One is at a much smaller liberal arts college. Both absolutely love their schools and would not choose to be anywhere else. Their high school friends, who are at all types of schools, tend to feel the same about the colleges they attend.

4

Alumni giving is often used as a measure of school pride. I’m not convinced it’s a good means of doing so, but Forbes’ “Grateful Grads” ranking may be useful to you regardless. I’ve listed the liberal arts colleges in the top 50, as Sewanee was ranked #50.

  1. Williams
  2. Amherst
  3. Davidson
  4. Claremont McKenna
  5. Haverford
  6. Wellesley
  7. Wabash
  8. Washington & Lee
  9. Bowdoin
  10. Carleton
  11. Harvey Mudd
  12. Middlebury
  13. Hamilton
  14. Pomona
  15. Colby
  16. Colgate
  17. DePauw
  18. Smith
  19. Holy Cross
  20. Whitman
  21. Vassar
  22. Swarthmore
  23. Mount Holyoke
  24. Wesleyan
  25. Hollins
  26. Oberlin
  27. Reed
  28. Lawrence U
  29. Knox
  30. Trinity (CT)
  31. Lafayette
  32. Kenyon
  33. Sewanee

https://www.forbes.com/sites/sarahhansen/2018/08/21/grateful-grads-2018-200-colleges-with-the-happiest-most-successful-alumni/

5

I think alumni giving is important, but in terms of spirit I think the participation rate is more important than the amount given (the Forbes list uses both). I know that when I was on alumni council for my school (Swarthmore) they felt a bit burned by the higher participation rates of Williams and Amherst :slight_smile: They weren’t complaining (at least publicly to us) about the $$ amount given.

6

I guess that’s why when we get calls soliciting donations they ask “how about just one dollar?” if you decline to donate.