Well he does not want anything specific now. He is unsure of what he wants to do but has enjoyed the teaching style of his school, which mirrors that of many LACs.
I think another poster made the point about LACs being less likely to rely on TAs and that is a big advantage.
He was actually very much impressed by the tutorial style at Williams, and thought the location was beautiful (as I said, he is a keen hiker). He just did not see himself being there for four years.
Again, we are aware that most LACs are not in big cities, Trinity in CT being a notable exception. He just wants a place that is not entirely rural (like Williams) but still has decent transport to big cities for the occasional weekend trip.
Iâm surprised the Hamilton people havenât brought up Utica. It has got to be easier to get from Hamilton to Utica than from Bowdoin to Boston (!)
Even the Hamilton faithful appreciate the limitations of Utica (and Clinton).
@Publisher - who cares why? Itâs like someone asking âdo you like the green or the blue sweatshirt betterâ, and getting a response of âwhy buy a sweatshirt when they sell jackets?â.
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OP indicated that OPâs son is not interested in sports. (âindifferent to sportsâ & ânot concerned about athleticsâ)
The percentage of athletes at many LACs,including Amherst & Williams for example, is much higher than that at National Universities.
Additionally, as noted by another poster above, there is often a social divide between athletes and non-athletes at several elite LACs. This is noteworthy due to the small enrollment at LACsâtypically well under 2,000 studentsâcompared to universities.
Again,the point is why does OPâs son prefer an LAC ?
On post 5, I did this - I introduced Swarthmore- and @Landsdowne said - this question was just about these two and applying ED.
So - yes, itâs gone off trackâŠincluding by me.
Whilst I appreciate the comments and insights, there seems to be a lot of focus on the locations.
My son and I are well aware that LACs are usually located away from big cities. He would simply like a location that is not totally rural and has some access to big cities for the occasional weekend trip.
What attracts my son to LACs is their focus on undergraduate education and access to professors, in contrast to national universities which tend to focus on research often at the expense of the classroom experience.
Lastly, I would love to hear insights on other aspects of Amherst or Bowdoin; their social life, campus culture, and extracurriculars.
One thing I should have added; my son would prefer a place with little to no Greek life. The fact that both Bowdoin and Amherst do not have Greek life is a major advantadge.
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Who wants to go to Utica? And why would they?
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Hey, Iâm not here to judge.
In any event, the OP has signaled that we should move on. And, in that spirit I would say this: Amherst has done a fantastic job of transforming itself from its stodgy, preppy, self-regarding former self; racial and socio-economic diversity has lent it a humility that was lacking for most of its post-war existence as it grapples with 21st century divisions. OTOH, it also seems to me that the mantle of âthe old Amherstâ is still up for grabs. And, that mantle seems to have settled somewhere over Brunswick ME. Very similar appeal to a distant New England past (Hawthorne and Longfellow); a similarly inward looking main campus; and, despite the blandishments of Title IX, Bowdoin remains a clear powerhouse in the realm of male helmet sports.
So, yes. Itâs entirely understandable to me, why they would wind up as competing ED choices. The train station thingie is a red-herring, IMHO.
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With all due respect, I think youâre missing my point. A student can engage all that problem solving and intellectual curiosity and do so in spades - perhaps better than at the LACs - at Babson, which is an often overlooked option. Itâs a small, highly selective college with a focus on undergrad education and lots of liberal arts.
I think itâs splitting hairs to compare the academic advantages of the two because theyâre both superb. The biggest difference to me is the relative isolation of Brunswick vs the vibrant and diverse community in Amherst/Northampton.
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With respect to the study of government and politics, either of these schools could make an excellent choice.
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Bowdoin is an inclusive friendly place, with much to do. Brunswick is not rural, nor isolated. I have not heard anyone state there is an athlete/non-athlete divide, and some do believe that is the case at Amherst.
The part of town within walking distance has a coffee shop and a number of restaurants as someone mentioned above. The science center is on the coast about 15 minutes drive away, and in the summer/fall students swim there. Students do occasionally go to Portland for meals and concerts, but they spend most of their time on campus because they have everything they need there, and more.
My D19 liked the campus (layout and beauty) and vibe (friendliness of students) of Bowdoin more than Amherst. Other stated disadvantages of Amherst were that there was only one dining hall, and students of color were all sitting togetherâŠat Bowdoin there are multiple places to eat, including two primary dining halls, and relatively more interaction between all types of students. You can PM me if you have more questions.
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Perhaps anyone who likes art (especially Thomas Cole), running (as the site of a very popular 15K), spectacular scenery (as a train station of departure for the Adirondack Scenic Railroad), or rooftop dining.
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Or anyone who wants goods pizza! Jonnyâs is my favorite but Iâve had fantastic experiences with Utica pizza at tons of places. Not sure whatâs in the water there
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Thanks. Iâll check it out. Iâll be up that way this summer for a long distance bike trip along the Erie Canal.
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