A Note to Applicants about the "Preppy Northeast, LACs, and Privates"

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Why do your parents feel that an LAC would "give you little job prospects?"

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<p>It's just their mindset. In Latin America, universities follow the German model: focused towards spitting out technocrats and administrators. In my opinion, this is a big reason for their convoluted history of institutionalized corruption, military coups, religious superstition, nepotism, et al. A liberal arts education would go a long way towards a more introspective, open-minded society. One can dream...</p>

<p>By the way, my parents have no say in my decision as I've told them so. I will most likely will attend a LAC.</p>

<p>I want to go to Amherst! :)</p>

<p>Dwincho, interesting comment about Latin America. My nephew was raised down there, and went to Williams for college. (his mother had gone to Smith) When he told friends down there where he was going, of course no one knew Williams. He had a wonderful experience there and said he couldn't possibly have gotten an equivalent education in the country that he came from. His sibs weren't as academically oriented and went to college locally. Needless to say their experiences were very different.</p>

<p>Nyriki-- This is off topic, but I got waitlisted at Dickinson and yet got into Wellesley, haha. My guidance counselor was baffled, to say the least. Dickinson was my match/safety too... Maybe they picked up on that fact? ;)</p>

<p>Anyway, LACs are tremendously underrated. All of them. </p>

<p>WesDad is correct in saying that most schools have a liberal arts foundation, whether they're true LACs or not. Just like at any other college, at LACs you can major in biology, physics, chem, etc., and attend a top grad school or find great job placement after graduation. I looked into some big universities, but realized that I'd only have one chance to have that small, undergrad-focused experience. </p>

<p>And as for the preppyness... The Wellesley upperclasswomen I've spoken to are elated that they can go to class in sweats (or pajamas!) and not have to worry about impressing anyone.</p>

<p>Nyriki, if your interested in internships and/or study abroad at a small LAC, I would definitely check out Kalamazoo College. Under the 'K-Plan' everybody has the opportunity to participate in an internship or externship sophomore year, study abroad at no extra cost junior year, and develop a 'Senior Individualized Project' senior year. Something like 80% choose to study abroad, which beats every other college I've seen.</p>

<p>"It's just their mindset. In Latin America, universities follow the German model: focused towards spitting out technocrats and administrators. In my opinion, this is a big reason for their convoluted history of institutionalized corruption, military coups, religious superstition, nepotism, et al. A liberal arts education would go a long way towards a more introspective, open-minded society. One can dream..." the latin american universities are nothing like german universities!!!"focused towards spitting out technocrats and administrators" i don't think so..</p>

<p>"Being Latino, I can tell you first-hand that most immigrants do not know LACs, or even get the concept" most of us don't know because most of LAC don't have international reputation , and it's noy only LAC.i'm sure that 90% of students don't know Rice , Emory Vanderbilt, WUSTL, Brown , Northwestern.. to name a few.i say this because i went to university in brasil(2and1/2 years of mechanical eng) and i remenber one day i was telling some of my classmates that i wanted to go to either northwestern or USC.. and none of them knew those schools..here people are familiar with Harvard princeton( mainly because of tv-show fresh prince of belair) ucla berkeley stanford columbia cornell Upenn U michigan, U of wisconsin,Yale,MIT,U of chicago..those are the most popular</p>

<p>I’m glad random Brazilian people have no bearing on my future plans. :)</p>

<p>Thanks Catfish! I'll definitely check them out :)</p>

<p>"I’m glad random Brazilian people have no bearing on my future plans. " In respect to othe forumers i will not answer you like i should..Keep the word respect in your mind!!!</p>

<p>I in no way see my comment as disrespectful. I’m just saying that what random people know in Brazil (or don’t know for that matter) has little if any impact on the American higher education system and job market. I understand that you are saying that you perceived that Brazilin people knew more about some schools than others, but, so what? This happens in this country too, and most likely every country in the world. I don’t expect everyone in every country to know every American school (to me just knowing some is great). I don’t even expect people in some areas of this country to know schools in their own states. I couldn’t name one school in Brazil if I tried. What does that mean? Nothing, of course.</p>

<p>"In one-corner, the black greek life (Alpha's!)"</p>

<p>-It’s all about the Sigmas…… :rolleyes:</p>

<p>In Black Greek Life??? Sigmas??? Dear, Alphas, Kappas, and Deltas are hte only ones that ever mattered or are mentioned.</p>

<p>You go head with your Lady Sigmas, just know that they wer incorporated by the Alphas. I'm suprised that any sista at Northwestern would choose anything over AKA, which is based in Chicago and has more to offer, especially in that metro area, than any other group in the NPHC.</p>

<p>Alphas Kappas and Deltas, huh? You need a good dose of the Midwest or the South! The Ques and Sigmas hold their own, always have, and always will!</p>

<p>What is an LAC?
This is irritating me..this not knowing..lol</p>

<p>Oh its a liberal arts college ok...nvm</p>

<p>kk19131, what is Ques? I didn't even know that was a greek letter, but there is no Ques...the largest in the Midwest is actually AKA, and they're based in Chicago. There are 9 (no Ques), in this order of notability and size:</p>

<p>1.Alpha Kappa Alpha (Sor)
1.Alpha Phi Alpha (Frat)</p>

<p>2.Delta Sigma Theta (Sor)
2.Kappa Alpha Psi (Frat)</p>

<p>3.Omega Psi Phi (Frat)
3.Sigma Gamma Rho (Sor)</p>

<p>4.Phi Beta Sigma (Frat)
4.Zeta Phi Beta (Sor)</p>

<p>Iota Phi Theta is new to the NPHC.</p>

<p>For sororities, AKAs and Deltas will always clashed, but Alpha Phi Alpha is the undisputed head fraternity, with such historic alum such as Martin Luther King, Thurgood Marshall, W.E.B. DuBois, Duke Elington, and Edward Brookes.</p>

<p>“but there is no Ques.”</p>

<p>-“Ques” is a nickname for members of Omega Psi Phi… So, there are indeed Ques … ;)</p>

<p>“but Alpha Phi Alpha is the undisputed head fraternity with such historic alum such as Martin Luther King, Thurgood Marshall, W.E.B. DuBois, Duke Elington, and Edward Brookes.”</p>

<p>-I know many who would disagree with this… Like everyone in the other four frats. As for “historic alumni”, all the frats boast those. I don't even know how to declare a "head frat", nor do I believe there is one. lol</p>

<p>It's cute that you tried to teach me about the NPHC.... as if I didn't know.... :rolleyes:</p>

<p>kk19131, I don't want to turn this thread into a debate on black greek life, but Alpha Phi Alpha was THE first black greek organization, going back to the orgins of Frederick Douglass. Most every first in politics and government were Alphas, from...</p>

<p>First in Congress
first Senator
founders of the NAACP
founders of SCLC
founder of National Urban League
founder of the United Negro College Fund
first (3) Presidential Medal of Freedoms given to Blacks
first prominent Black historian
first black mayor of a major city (Cleveland + Washington D.C., San Francisco, Chicago, Atlanta)
first Black Nobel Prize winner
(Every NHPC member has it's list, but none have one nearly as profound as this)</p>

<p>I know that being black fraternities, all are going to rub shoulders, but most should and will acknowledge that as the first black greek organization, historically, Alpha Phi Alpha has always been at the forefront being the first to open up wings in almost every aspect of government (from DuBois & Douglass, to forming or leading most every major civil rights organization (except C.O.R.E.) to Brown vs. Board of Education, to being elected first officials in Congress and the Senate, to being the first black to become tenured department heads at our top universities.</p>

<p>We can argue about today but really it is beating a dead horse to disagree that Alpha Phi Alpha paved the way for where black men and all black greek organizations are today.</p>