<p>Torasee—I know. That’s why I cited complaints from students. I was saying that the “type” of education is the same—classical liberal arts education. I was not commenting on the quality of education.</p>
<p>I didn’t apply to large research universities myself but I think TAs are not all bad. Some students that I’ve talked to have had really good experience with TAs who are budding young scholars as well as brilliant teachers.</p>
<p>And, Universities do have the edge in the variety of courses offered. Plus with all the scholars and intellectuals from around the world attracted to Harvard’s grad and professional schools, there would be some “spill-over” effects that undergrads can benefit from.</p>
<p>“I would begin by eliminating Colgate - an excellent school, but below Bowdoin/Tufts. SAT-wise, student-wise, teacher-wise –> Bowdoin and Tufts will be equal (no question).”</p>
<p>Bowdoin doesn’t require SAT scores. Students going there may have high GPA’s but because they’re not submitting SAT scores, it’s hard to know if their good grades mean that much.</p>
<p>76% of the current first-year class at Bowdoin submitted SAT scores and 26% submitted ACT scores (there may be some overlap between the two but regardless the percentage of admittees submitting standardized test scores at Bowdoin is very high).</p>
<h2>In that case, let’s not forget the infamous “25 New Ivies” article in Newsweek last Fall, the one that listed Williams, Amherst, Middlebury, Swarthmore and Wesleyan specifically as examples of “a clearly defined group” of smaller liberal arts colleges where top students went “a generation ago”. And, then went on to call Bowdoin a “new ivy”. </h2>
<p>Bowdoin’s illustrious history speaks for itself.</p>
<p>According to admissions @ Bowdoin, the percent of students not submitting test scores = 15%. Not sure if that is of all applicants or of accepted applicants.</p>
<p>Regardless of initial score submissions, after students matriculate at Bowdoin they are required to submit their scores so that Bowdoin can submit that information on the common data set which gets used by US News. Bowdoin’s reported average SAT scores are the actual average of the SATs of their matriculated students.</p>
<p>I got a little lost there, Hellojane. By “These schools…” do you mean the original poster’s question about Tufts, Bowdoin and Colgate, or a subsequent poster’s reference to Wesleyan, Vassar and Bowdoin, or are you commenting on LAC in general. I am looking at all of these schools and I would really like to know more about the “cliquey drama.” I really want to avoid any school where there is that sort of social climate.</p>