<p>Not to beat a dead horse (and for the record I agree with HV51’s advice regarding choosing schools beyond the numbers) but as numbers are being put out here I wanted to throw my .02 in:</p>
<p>1) I think we are mixing up stats for admitted applicants and matriculated applicants. For example, Lafayette’s 75% admitted applicant SAT score is actually 1430 last year. Top 10% ranking was also 75% for admitted (compared to 65% for matriculated). I am not in the admissions game other than as an Alumni recruiter but the info on the other schools websites led me to believe that the numbers quoted above are not for students choosing to attend.</p>
<p>2) At some of these schools (F&M, for example) SATs are optional and according to their website their numbers reported exclude SAT scores for non-submitters. You can draw your own conclusions on the effect of SAT’s reported if 20% (roughly of your admits do not submit.</p>
<p>3) Lafayette has taken a very noble stand against school rankings and does not officially report stats to publications. I believe this makes their reported data look somewhat different and inconsistent if/when comparing to other schools who are trying (understandably) to put themselves in the most flattering light.</p>
<p>4) With 2,400 students, Lafayette is one of the smallest Division 1 schools in the nation. Roughly 100 students are playing Division 1 football. That is 8% of the male population! Approx. 25% of the student body is made up of Division 1 athletes. This may skew the admission comparison when comparing to three similarly sized, Division 3 institutions.</p>
<p>Good luck with your decision. I hope Lafayette is the one as (I am sure you figured out by now) I loved my time there. I think the College remains tremendously under marketed for what it is and what it has to offer. I hope you take my post in that light!</p>