I was just sorting the linked list for LACs to make it easier for this group. I myself know next to nothing about who is strong in Environmental Science/Studies.
Apologies.
I didn’t see W&L on the College Transitions list, I don’t think they’re in their top 50. The College Transitions rankings differ a decent amount from the USNWR rankings, too! Thanks again for pulling out the LACs from that list to make it easier to comb through. My D26 waffles back and forth between Bio, Enviro Science, French, Chemistry…so I’m trying to have her get an idea of which schools are strong in which programs (it’ll all probably come down to some nebulous thing like “vibe” for her in the end, though!)
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Personally, I would have been surprised to see W&L in the T25 for an interdisciplinary major like Environmental Studies/Science. Though 90% of all departmental majors are in the liberal arts, less than half of all students are actual Arts&Science majors:
Huh, an artist’s blog? Parsing W&L majors seems oddly specific on a website devoted to dog portaits, lol.
I actually have intimate knowledge of the W&L Environmental Science program. W&L is an extremely strong school, and as such, I doubt many, if any, of it’s programs are ranked lower than #50 nationally. As I said in my first post on this issue, the school’s omission calls into question that list’s methodology and therefore validity for me.
I think there’s something in the methodology here. Colby is very highly rated in this field (maybe less so in dog portraits 
), to thd point of having 3 different majors within in field, but is omitted. Personally, I disregard most of these rankings as they seem to be mostly clickbait.
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I don’t disagree with you even though, again, I’m in no position to support or critique a ranking in this area.
W&L is a fantastic LAC, a random omission notwithstanding. It’s good additional information for the OP on the subtopic to know W&L has a strong Enviro Science program. Thank you.
No problem. This audience tends to like all things LAC even outside the NESCAC, so it’s generally topical.
Getting back to the point of your post, I’ll say again that I think any of the schools in the conference (and beyond) will be great for all of those areas of interest. I’ll just note regarding one of the NESCACs I know best that bio and chemistry are very strong areas at Wesleyan. There is a new Life Sciences building that will be completed in the Fall of '26 and directly across from it sits a beautiful and historic campus building that is being renovated in connection with the broader capital project and that building (Shanklin Hall) will be the new home of The College of the Environment. So the areas of bio / chem and environmental studies will be in very close proximity. I will also add the plug that interdisciplinary study is in Wesleyan’s bones. It’s very much who they are, so much so that they seem to take an almost nerdy pride in it. So, if it turns out that others are right and she finds her vibe there, she could have landed in worse places for her general interests of study. Having said that, the combo of Middlebury’s apparently top flight Enviro Studies program and their noted strength in foreign languages makes them a compelling consideration, too. As between those two schools, I think it would come down to general feelings about fit and where you want to be in terms of location.
I’ll be interested to follow along and see where she winds up. Good luck with it.
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I have a bit more time than usual today, so… just for kicks, let’s see if the rest of the private U’s and LACs could form academic “conferences” to compete with the Ivy League and NESCAC.
NESCAC / other LACs. Let’s call this the Rest of the Country Small College Athletic Conference, or ROCSCAC. Since none of the NESCACs are women-only, I’ll keep out Wellesley, Barnard, BMC, Smith, etc.:
Williams / Swat
Amherst / Pomona
Bowdoin / Carleton
Midd / Claremont McKenna
Wes / Vassar
Hamilton / Haverford
Colby / W&L
Bates / Colgate
Tufts / Davidson
Trinity / Richmond
Conn Coll / Grinnell
And now… Ivies / non-Ivy private elite universities. Let’s call this the Gothic League:
Harvard / Stanford
Princeton / MIT
Yale / Caltech
Columbia / UChicago
UPenn / Duke
Brown / Northwestern
Dartmouth / Hopkins
Cornell / CMU (or Vandy, Rice, ND, G’town, WashU, Emory…)
This is likely news to nobody here, but it seems pretty clear that while NESCAC and Ivy League are exceptionally strong, kids should not apply to them just (or even partly…) because they are in those hallowed leagues. We have an embarrassment of higher-ed riches in this country.
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It’s Fulbright time again. For the '24-'25 cycle, here are your NESCAC top producers:
Amherst - 16
Bowdoin - 15
Williams - 10
Middlebury - 9
Hamilton - 7
Wesleyan - 7
Bates - 5
Trinity - 2
Colby - 2
Conn - 1
Others that I randomly noticed: Oberlin topped the list with 19; Pomona 16; W&L 12; Colgate 9; Vassar 3.
As before, Tufts, with 13, is on the PhD list topped by Brown this year with 40 (Go Bruno!).
| Institution | State | Grants | Applications | Year | Top Producer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oberlin College | OH | 19 | 67 | 2024-2025 |  |
| Amherst College | MA | 16 | 53 | 2024-2025 | |
| Barnard College | NY | 16 | 76 | 2024-2025 | |
| Pomona College | CA | 16 | 53 | 2024-2025 | |
| Bowdoin College | ME | 15 | 37 | 2024-2025 | |
| Washington and Lee University | VA | 12 | 51 | 2024-2025 | |
| Pitzer College | CA | 11 | 71 | 2024-2025 | |
| Smith College | MA | 10 | 29 | 2024-2025 | |
| Williams College | MA | 10 | 36 | 2024-2025 | |
| Colgate University | NY | 9 | 30 | 2024-2025 | |
| College of the Holy Cross | MA | 9 | 44 | 2024-2025 | |
| Davidson College | NC | 9 | 29 | 2024-2025 | |
| Middlebury College | VT | 9 | 30 | 2024-2025 | |
| Carleton College | MN | 8 | 34 | 2024-2025 | |
| Claremont McKenna College | CA | 7 | 33 | 2024-2025 | |
| Hamilton College | NY | 7 | 36 | 2024-2025 | |
| Scripps College | CA | 7 | 34 | 2024-2025 | |
| Wellesley College | MA | 7 | 38 | 2024-2025 | |
| Wesleyan University | CT | 7 | 32 | 2024-2025 | |
| Bryn Mawr College | PA | 6 | 29 | 2024-2025 | |
| Lafayette College | PA | 6 | 15 | 2024-2025 | |
| Macalester College | MN | 6 | 23 | 2024-2025 | |
| Occidental College | CA | 6 | 31 | 2024-2025 | |
| University of Richmond | VA | 6 | 22 | 2024-2025 | |
| Bates College | ME | 5 | 46 | 2024-2025 | |
| Haverford College | PA | 5 | 29 | 2024-2025 | |
| Rhodes College | TN | 5 | 16 | 2024-2025 | |
| St. Olaf College | MN | 5 | 15 | 2024-2025 | |
| Colorado College | CO | 4 | 26 | 2024-2025 | |
| Dickinson College | PA | 4 | 21 | 2024-2025 | |
| Kalamazoo College | MI | 4 | 30 | 2024-2025 | |
| Kenyon College | OH | 4 | 24 | 2024-2025 | |
| Lawrence University | WI | 4 | 11 | 2024-2025 | |
| Reed College | OR | 4 | 22 | 2024-2025 | |
| Sewanee: The University of the South | TN | 4 | 11 | 2024-2025 | |
| Swarthmore College | PA | 4 | 38 | 2024-2025 | |
| United States Military Academy at West Point | NY | 4 | 22 | 2024-2025 | |
| Centre College | KY | 3 | 6 | 2024-2025 | |
| Denison University | OH | 3 | 18 | 2024-2025 | |
| Earlham College | IN | 3 | 7 | 2024-2025 | |
| Gettysburg College | PA | 3 | 7 | 2024-2025 | |
| Grinnell College | IA | 3 | 13 | 2024-2025 | |
| High Point University | NC | 3 | 14 | 2024-2025 | |
| Mount Holyoke College | MA | 3 | 19 | 2024-2025 | |
| Saint Michael’s College | VT | 3 | 11 | 2024-2025 | |
| University of Puget Sound | WA | 3 | 10 | 2024-2025 | |
| Vassar College | NY | 3 | 23 | 2024-2025 | |
| Westmont College | CA | 3 | 6 | 2024-2025 | |
| Willamette University | OR | 3 | 4 | 2024-2025 | |
| Bard College | NY | 2 | 32 | 2024-2025 | |
| Bucknell University | PA | 2 | 8 | 2024-2025 | |
| Colby College | ME | 2 | 18 | 2024-2025 | |
| College of Saint Benedict | MN | 2 | 6 | 2024-2025 | |
| Franklin and Marshall College | PA | 2 | 30 | 2024-2025 | |
| Gustavus Adolphus College | MN | 2 | 10 | 2024-2025 | |
| Hope College | MI | 2 | 9 | 2024-2025 | |
| Luther College | IA | 2 | 5 | 2024-2025 | |
| New College of Florida | FL | 2 | 6 | 2024-2025 | |
| Skidmore College | NY | 2 | 15 | 2024-2025 | |
| Southwestern University | TX | 2 | 5 | 2024-2025 | |
| St Lawrence University | NY | 2 | 6 | 2024-2025 | |
| The College of Wooster | OH | 2 | 9 | 2024-2025 | |
| Trinity College | CT | 2 | 15 | 2024-2025 | |
| Union College | NY | 2 | 12 | 2024-2025 | |
| Wheaton College (Massachusetts) | MA | 2 | 11 | 2024-2025 | |
| Whitman College | WA | 2 | 11 | 2024-2025 | |
| Agnes Scott College | GA | 1 | 2 | 2024-2025 | |
| Albion College | MI | 1 | 4 | 2024-2025 | |
| Alma College | MI | 1 | 2 | 2024-2025 | |
| Beloit College | WI | 1 | 10 | 2024-2025 | |
| Berea College | KY | 1 | 2 | 2024-2025 | |
| Coe College | IA | 1 | 5 | 2024-2025 | |
| Concordia College at Moorhead | MN | 1 | 2 | 2024-2025 | |
| Connecticut College | CT | 1 | 12 | 2024-2025 | |
| Cornell College | IA | 1 | 5 | 2024-2025 | |
| Emmanuel College | MA | 1 | 9 | 2024-2025 | |
| Furman University | SC | 1 | 4 | 2024-2025 | |
| Georgetown College | KY | 1 | 5 | 2024-2025 | |
| Hampshire College | MA | 1 | 1 | 2024-2025 | |
| Hanover College | IN | 1 | 5 | 2024-2025 | |
| Hendrix College | AR | 1 | 6 | 2024-2025 | |
| Hobart William Smith Colleges | NY | 1 | 11 | 2024-2025 | |
| Hollins University | VA | 1 | 5 | 2024-2025 | |
| Juniata College | PA | 1 | 12 | 2024-2025 | |
| Lewis & Clark College | OR | 1 | 14 | 2024-2025 | |
| Linfield University | OR | 1 | 6 | 2024-2025 | |
| Lycoming College | PA | 1 | 1 | 2024-2025 | |
| Meredith College | NC | 1 | 2 | 2024-2025 | |
| Millsaps College | MS | 1 | 2 | 2024-2025 | |
| Muhlenberg College | PA | 1 | 3 | 2024-2025 | |
| Ohio Wesleyan University | OH | 1 | 2 | 2024-2025 | |
| Sarah Lawrence College | NY | 1 | 3 | 2024-2025 | |
| Spelman College | GA | 1 | 7 | 2024-2025 | |
| St. Mary’s College of Maryland | MD | 1 | 4 | 2024-2025 | |
| Susquehanna University | PA | 1 | 2 | 2024-2025 | |
| Trinity University | TX | 1 | 7 | 2024-2025 | |
| United States Air Force Academy | CO | 1 | 4 | 2024-2025 | |
| University of Maine at Farmington | ME | 1 | 1 | 2024-2025 | |
| Ursinus College | PA | 1 | 4 | 2024-2025 | |
| Wabash College | IN | 1 | 9 | 2024-2025 |
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Does Fulbright still exist? I seem to remember that the Fulbright foreign scholarship board resigned en masse back in June. And I know Fulbright was on the chopping block to be cancelled entirely at some point earlier this spring. But maybe it’s still limping along somehow.
Appears to be. They still have a webpage and are reviewing applications for the '25-'26 cycle. That’s all I know and it’s based only on what I see on their website.
It would be a shame to see it go away.
Fulbright posts status updates here:
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Curious to know if anyone is using AI (like ChatGPT) when searching for info about colleges?
On my search engine every query spits out a AI generated answer which I then double check for sources, usually supplied in the form of footnotes.
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It is highly variable from country to country - each country has their own Fulbright staff that are separate from the US staff. Just speaking to one example: Fulbright ETA’s to Colombia were cut in half this year, and Colombian universities stepped in with funding to help support the remaining Fulbrighters for this coming year, while funding uncertainty continues in the US.
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It’s also different depending on which Fulbright program. The ones for faculty are subject to insane DEI scrutiny and hundreds of approved recipients lost their funding after they were approved by the country but before Marco Rubio approved them.
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Okay I’m a bit biased, but:
ChatGPT prompt: Rank the NESCAC schools based on campus beauty:
Response:
Ranking NESCAC (New England Small College Athletic Conference) campuses by beauty is somewhat subjective, but many rankings and student impressions generally agree on certain standouts. Here’s a widely accepted, informal ranking of the most beautiful NESCAC campuses, based on architecture, setting, landscaping, and overall aesthetics:
1. Middlebury College (VT)
- Highlights: Breathtaking views of the Green Mountains, classic stone buildings, manicured quads.
- Vibe: A blend of rugged Vermont charm and collegiate elegance.
2. Williams College (MA)
- Highlights: Nestled in the Berkshires, surrounded by hills and woods, with a walkable campus and striking mix of traditional and modern architecture.
- Vibe: Mountain-town meets Ivy-league energy.
3. Bowdoin College (ME)
- Highlights: Coastal Maine beauty, pine trees, open greens, and historic brick buildings.
- Vibe: Quiet and pristine with New England charm.
4. Amherst College (MA)
- Highlights: Rolling hills, old trees, and stately academic buildings—plus views of the Holyoke Range.
- Vibe: Refined and understated.
5. Colby College (ME)
- Highlights: Hilltop setting with sweeping views, newer buildings complement historic ones, and surrounded by nature.
- Vibe: Bright and open, with lots of natural light.
6. Bates College (ME)
- Highlights: Pretty brick architecture, a small lake on campus, and lush landscaping.
- Vibe: Friendly and cozy, more compact than others.
7. Hamilton College (NY)
- Highlights: Beautiful stone buildings and quads, set on a hill overlooking the Mohawk Valley.
- Vibe: Classic and tranquil.
8. Wesleyan University (CT)
- Highlights: Gothic and modern architecture mix, leafy streets, and hilltop views.
- Vibe: Artsy, with a more urban feel than others on this list.
9. Trinity College (CT)
- Highlights: Grand Gothic Revival architecture and a dramatic hilltop location in Hartford.
- Vibe: Imposing and collegiate, but urban surroundings can feel disconnected.
10. Connecticut College (CT)
- Highlights: Arboretum setting, classic New England architecture, and a water view.
- Vibe: Serene and green, but architecture is less distinctive than peers.
11. Tufts University* (MA)
- Note: Technically part of NESCAC for athletics but not considered a “traditional” NESCAC liberal arts college.
- Highlights: Hilltop views of Boston, mix of styles, urban edge.
- Vibe: Dynamic but less idyllic.
Curious to know if others get a different response based on the same prompt. Is it telling me what I want to hear?
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Gave it a try. Some differences in the rankings, plus the subjective tiering.
Ranking the NESCAC schools by campus beauty is subjective, but here’s a general consensus based on setting, architecture, landscaping, and overall aesthetic appeal. This ranking reflects a blend of student/alumni sentiment, college guidebooks (like Princeton Review), and visual impressions:
Top Tier – Stunning Natural Beauty and/or Historic Charm
- Middlebury College (VT) – Nestled between the Green Mountains and Adirondacks, with panoramic views and classic stone buildings.
- Williams College (MA) – Gorgeous mountain setting in the Berkshires with a mix of historic and modern buildings.
- Amherst College (MA) – Classic New England campus with open green spaces and a hilltop view of the Holyoke Range.
- Colby College (ME) – Perched on Mayflower Hill, with sweeping views, a clean layout, and extensive recent beautification projects.
Upper-Mid Tier – Attractive, Well-Maintained Campuses
- Bowdoin College (ME) – Coastal charm, historic buildings, and tree-lined paths in Brunswick.
- Hamilton College (NY) – Located on a hill with both historic and modern architecture; the Root Glen adds natural beauty.
- Bates College (ME) – Compact, walkable, with a central quad and a blend of red-brick buildings and modern facilities.
Middle Tier – Pleasant but Less Distinctive Aesthetic
- Wesleyan University (CT) – Eclectic architecture and nice grounds; some areas lack cohesion, but many students love its artsy vibe.
- Trinity College (CT) – Gothic revival buildings and sweeping lawns, but located in a less picturesque urban setting.
Lower Tier – Functional with Pockets of Beauty
- Connecticut College (CT) – Some attractive buildings and a great arboretum, but more understated overall.
- Tufts University (MA) – Not always included in NESCAC rankings (especially athletically), but if included: hilly campus with views of Boston, but less cohesive or traditionally “collegiate” than others.
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I still believe it’s the case that the free ChatGPT option does not have access to the internet. So for any prompt that one asks, ChatGPT would be limited to information that was used to train it…obviously that can be dated and/or not fully informed. (Disregard if any of you are using paid ChatGPT where I think most versions do have access to the internet.)
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Is this thread going to devolve into quoting ChatGPT? Maybe I should stop visiting it 
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