Defending National Champs and Number 1 ranked.
But lost, so out.
1 Like
Damn. Good run though and great to see 3 NESCACs in the Elite 8.
2 Likes
Big shoutout to Bates at NCAAs for swimming this year: National Champions in 100 Breast, 400 Medley Relay and Coach of the Year!
6 Likes
Hello! Is there a dedicated thread about the social life at the various NESCAC schools? EX: the SLAC that I attended has a large number of areas on campus for the kids to socialize or study during the day, incl an amazing dining center where kids never feel crowded.
Don’t know but plus one for Bates. Said as Wesleyan grad.
4 Likes
You’ve come to the right place! Let’s start a new thread. Here are a few of the most interesting social centers in NESCAC, just off the top of my head. I’m sure there are others:
Amherst
Not yet opened, but an impressive architectural solution to an old problem: Amherst’s outgrowing its original campus. This building allows students to transition between its hilltop and newer dorms below:
Wesleyan
Another way to knit together a diverse campus is to reuse an old, forgotten facility (an 1898 gymnasium) by turning it into a new Hogwarts-like meeting hall:
Williams
The Williams College Paresky Center is a great place to spend those cold Berkshire nights:
Bates
As mentioned by @Franklynn above, Bates yields nothing to its fellow NESCACs as a place to gather:
Campus Construction Update: Dining Commons opens | News | Bates College
Hamilton
As noted, NESCAC loves to use student centers as a way to ameliorate the inevitable growth spurts that small colleges go through. In this instance, Sadove Center literally straddles Hamilton’s vaunted “light” and “dark” sides (it’s traditional main campus and the more artsy Kirkland campus), and replaces the former Bristol Student Center which has been repurposed:
2 Likes
Another favorite gathering spot for Bates: The Ronj, a student-run coffee house. On a campus with few dining alternatives (which is intentional, as Commons is meant to be a space that brings everyone together), the Ronj provides an alternative for coffee and light snacks, and it’s a popular space for studying and socializing. My daughter and her friends practically live there during peak study weeks.
5 Likes
Our oldest son is a freshman at Wesleyan! Our youngest son is now looking at other NESCAC schools.
3 Likes
Thank you!
2 Likes
Our oldest son is a freshman at Wesleyan. Our youngest son is looking at other NESCACs.
1 Like
Williams has a student-run coffee house, too, called Goodrich. It sounds very similar to The Ronj. They have a terrific IG page, but not an updated website. https://www.instagram.com/goodrichcoffee/
2 Likes
Ooh! My S26 will be happy to hear this! He’s excited to start at Williams in the fall, but one thing he’s loved about visiting his older sister at Bates is spending time with her and her friends at The Ronj.
3 Likes
Students also hang out at Tunnel City on Spring Street, but since it’s a private business, they can’t use meal swipes (and it’s pricey).
I hope that your son has a wonderful experience. My daughter loved Williams, and I miss going up to visit–such a lovely little town and beautiful part of the world.
5 Likes
On another topic, with the record number of applications this cycle, it seems test optional is working for the NESCAC schools, any thoughts on whether these schools should remain test optional or start requiring testing again like the Ivies.
I vote yes! Clearly there are students with meh standardized test scores thriving at NESCAC schools and other highly selective institutions.
4 Likes
Yup, I have one of those kids!
And I have a second kid who has very high test scores, so I’m glad he gets to use them in his application process. Test optional is a great way to ensure applicants can put their best foot forward.
4 Likes
Another vote for test-optional. Given Williams stated goal of admitting more need-seeking students, I suspect that they will stick with test-optional admissions unless long-term studies show that test-optional students have significantly worse outcomes than the general student population.
1 Like
Agreed, although I have heard about come concerns that test optional outcomes have been mixed and there was a Record opinion piece last year calling for reinstating testing arguing that as Dartmouth has found that it deters low income candidates from reporting good scores and thus works in favor of high income students who can bolster their apps with ECs/Sports.
I also hope they stay test optional. Bowdoin was the first test optional college, implementing that policy in 1969, which is before they went co-ed (in 1971.) I’m not sure I would be shocked by any developments in college admissions(!), but if Bowdoin went back to requiring tests, well, I might in fact be shocked. It is such a part of their ethos, and the admissions team highly facile at choosing applicants who will fit that school based on the data available to them.
Bates, Colby, Wesleyan, Connecticut Co, and Trinity were also TO before the pandemic. The remaining five NESCACs went TO in response to the pandemic, so if any were to revert back to requiring tests I would choose from that group.
One caveat: all the NESCACs strongly prefer to have a test score from potential recruited athletes, then admissions tells the coach to tell the student whether or not they should apply with a test score.
3 Likes
Got it, the fact that athletes are required to submit scores leaves the question why are there different processes for athletes and does that create a perception of lack of transparency where the holistic process conceals differential treatment? Required testing puts everyone in the same boat.