I’m impressed by the extent to which my AI “pilot” relies on College Confidential for its data. 
3 Likes
We’re just having some fun. Plus, AI is the future, so get used to it. 
2 Likes
Free Chatgpt (GPT-4o) can now access the internet.
1 Like
If ChatGPT is the future of college confidential, I’ll be sad!
I have no problem with using AI in appropriate contexts (I actually went to MIT AI lab for grad school), but I come here to talk to humans…
8 Likes
I see it as one more tool to help sort through all the noise. If you could instantly query many sources at once on a topic (e.g., which liberal arts colleges have the best theater programs), it could provide some useful information to help guide your search, especially if there is consensus among the sources. Like many applications of AI, it can be a useful starting point. But I agree, I prefer to talk to humans and get their real-world input.
1 Like
We should all have to pass a Turing test to post on CC! 
4 Likes
Can’t get there on Bowdoin or Amherst. I like the towns they are in a lot and the campuses are laid out nicely and neatly. Bowdoin’s is very ‘cozy’ and there are one or two buildings that are fun to look at. But neither campus is anything close to an architectural wonder. They’re nice campuses but they’re a little light on the ‘really cool buildings’ factor in my own subjective opinion.
I prefer the Williams natural setting to the Middlebury but might give the architecture edge to Middlebury. They are both very nice campuses with nary a blade of grass out of place.
Overall, as much as I admire the schools in this conference and appreciate their varied settings, I can’t say any single one of the campuses is “stunning”. Like Elaine in Seinfeld, I think that word gets thrown around too casually.
I also think ranking Conn almost dead last just shows that AI too can be lazy and subject to bias based on other criteria. Having Conn and Trinity constantly bringing up the rear in all discussions NESCAC borders on the hackneyed (and b4 anyone asks, no, no kid at either).
For example, I think Conn has at least as nice a campus as Amherst. So, sure, one might prefer one over the other, but Amherst in the Top Tier and Conn in the bottom is, IMO, about academic pedigree and prestige talking. From a purely aesthetic standpoint, they both represent a monolithic architectural theme with Amherst departing a bit more than Conn. They’re both in very nice settings, and Amherst is in an actual town whereas Conn is out just a bit from New London. OTOH, Conn really has that “top of hill” feel and has a view of the Long Island Sound to prove it. And for the architectural conformists among us (I’m a member), Conn’s architecture is very consistent and classic.
8 Likes
I don’t think there’s any doubt that AI favors the first letter of the alphabet.
3 Likes
What is everyone’s thoughts on Trinity College and Allegheny College? How are the areas surrounding both schools like?
1 Like
I know absolutely nothing about Allegheny College and not too much about Trinity.
The Trinity campus is nice and in terms of architecture shows some of the most dramatic and IMO attractive buildings in the NESCAC. But like the others, there are a few eyesores.
I don’t know all of its strengths but I know it punches above its weight in terms of sending kids into banking and has a strong econ major.
The area surrounding Trinity is what always comes up. I’ve been in tough urban environments so it takes a lot to phase me. I’ll be honest: it’s not great and a little rundown but I wouldn’t describe it as scary. I think attending Trinity means walking with your head up and aware of your surroundings and using sound judgment when off campus (e.g., don’t wander around aimlessly alone off campus at night, etc.).
I wouldn’t have hesitated to send a kid there if that’s out it had worked out.
3 Likes
Couldn’t agree more. Putting Conn Coll at the bottom of any “Prettiest Campus” renders the list itself suspect in my mind. Or fraught with bias towards a particular type. The place has awesome water views and a freakin arboretum. They ain’t got that at Amherst. Not sure how you walk around that campus and not get an overwhelming sense of “chill.” They say art isn’t about the work but how the work makes you feel. Conn Coll feels pretty good relative to the others, IMHO.
And I also agree that most Conn Coll and Trinity references here tend to negative or ill-informed relative to the other NESCACS. They are all more tightly banded than revenue-generating rankings and some of these posts would imply. They all send busloads of kids to the Street or consulting or Law and Medical Schools.
With respect to Trinity, yes it does lean a bit more to finance and economics, but being in the State Capital affords kids interested in Poli-Sci internship opportunities with the state and the city that are easily accessible.
With respect to the campus, again, I think it’s very pretty and self-contained. The area around it isn’t great, but doesn’t feel unsafe. One hears about random incidents, but it feels like there is an invisible force field around the campus so those are pretty infrequent. I’d be more worried about UChicago on that issue.
9 Likes
The area around Trinity is “run-down urban”. What Trinity seems to have done well is translate its urban Hartford setting into an asset. There are a lot of internship and volunteer opportunities available to students – actively promoted by the school – that you’re just not going to find around most LACs, which tend to be a bit more isolated.
Allegheny is not a NESCAC and it’s in a bit of a sleepy town about an hour from Pittsburgh. Different place, different vibe.
Both are excellent schools.
4 Likes
This is what I keep reading and was hopeful that it’s now different. Thanks for your feedback! What other tough urban environments have you been at that you are comparing Trinity to?
@IndySceptic thank you for your thoughts on the area surrounding Trinity.
In my research, I’ve read that some students are apathetic, unmotivated, some not happy at Trinity, some even have transferred. Wondering if you both know if that’s still the case today, as the reviews I’ve read are from 3-4 years ago.
Oh and thoughts on Connecticut College too? Overcrowding still an issue?
1 Like
Thank you! I appreciate this info about Trinity’s urban asset.
Yes, Allegheny is not a NESCAC, but I asked because at the top of this thread, discussion was opened to include Allegheny. Good to know it’s considered a good school too!
1 Like
This is true at every school. You can see the freshman retention rate (B22), as well as how many graduate in six years (B4-B21) in each school’s Common Data Set (CDS.)
3 Likes
Trinity’s six-year graduation rate is 84% according to their latest CDS. Connecticut College’s six-year grad rate is 82%. That places them on the lower end of the NESCAC schools.
1 Like
Oh, man. You name it. My background in athletics has taken me to some rough places. Chicago’s South Side, Miami’s Overtown and Liberty City, parts of Jacksonville, Fl are pretty rough, several rough spots in Atlanta. Heck, even where the Cotton Bowl is located in Dallas (been to the Red River Shootout a few times) is pretty sketchy. Here in Seattle there aren’t many super rough places by comparison but White Center and parts of Rainier Beach and the CD, as well as parts of downtown, can be rough in the evening.
I would probably compare the area around Trinity to some of the Seattle areas but more physically run down.
I wouldn’t get concerned about generalizations of apathy or a few transfers. You get that everywhere.
I personally like Conn but don’t know much about them other than I really like the campus and location and the two or so people I know who attended (members of the Washington bar) had a great experience.
1 Like
@TheMonaLisa , Unfortunately I don’t have great insight on this (as in, I don’t have any kids there) outside of the few kids I know who recently went to both. They were all happy at both and their parents are happy they are all happily employed.
My Trinity friends said the career opportunities benefit greatly from those connections to Hartford’s public and private institutions. As implied earlier, a lot of internships on the resume make the job hunt that much easier Senior year. My one friend’s son had them during the school year and summer, so no lifeguarding, knife selling or or house painting to have to paper over during their finance interviews. Not that there’s anything wrong with those summer jobs.
My other friend’s daughter who went to Conn Coll is doing a gap year before Law School. Don’t remember where, but don’t recall any talk of overcrowding. She really liked it there.
1 Like
Conn had one big class a couple of years ago. They’ve been right-sizing since then. My kid is a 2028 and their class was 458, which was on target.
5 Likes
Would I send my kid to Trinity? Yes, depending on their other choices - its academics are above average. Good network and placement stats.
Perhaps because we normally enter Trinity from Broad St near Ferris, we are exposed to the Eastern part of the campus. Quite an unattractive half of Trinity - very little that is redeeming architecturally in that section.
No decent nearby cafes, nor restaurants, nor hang out spots. Just nothing nearby.
That is perhaps a reason Admissions wants visiting families to enter from the Summit side. We’ve known families who have turned around immediately and skipped admissions visits after entering campus for the first time off Broad St.
And agree on Conn College - very attractive, with “breathtaking” views.
2 Likes