My son was admitted to these fine schools, and decision day is fast approaching. He does not qualify for need-based aid, but did receive a $25k per year merit award from Trinity. We’re fortunate to be able to cover the full price tag, but wouldn’t be upset to save the $100k if he goes to Trinity.
He’s currently leaning towards majoring in history, although we’re encouraging him to consider economics (or at least minoring in economics).
We visited all three schools, and he enjoyed each of the visits. He’s a pretty decent athlete and is planning on playing club soccer in college. Colgate’s vibe seemed to suit him best, although he tends to hang out with more of an intellectual group in high school rather than the jocks, so I think he would fit in fine with Wesleyan’s reputedly “quirky” student body. Trinity’s Hartford location has its pluses and minuses, but would be useful for internships if he elects to major in political science.
Certainly Colgate and Wesleyan are a bit higher in the prestige pecking order than Trinity, but based on his educational goals and personality, we’re not sure if they’re worth the extra cost. Any insights are welcome.
I would think that if the vibe was right at Colgate, Trinity is also a good fit in this regard. Trinity is quite strong in economics (even if it’s just a minor. ) Trinity also had s couple of special history/humanities offerings.
If he’s truly ambivalent, follow the money. I don’t feel like these two schools are of particularly different calibre. FWIW, while my kid ultimately chose a different school, Trinity stayed in the running for him until the end whereas Colgate did not.
I’m less concerned with prestige than I am with vibe. Colgate and Trinity have pretty different immediate neighborhoods. If DS is as flexible as you describe him to be, then sure, saving $100K over four years makes a lot of sense. But, let’s be clear: There’s a reason Trinity is offering you a 25% discount; they have rightly concluded that is the only way an upper-middle class family would be persuaded to send a kid with his stats to that neighborhood. And, as a follow-up question, would you really be putting that savings away in a lock-box somewhere or would it just merge into other family spending anyway?
@circuitrider Sure, Trinity’s gritty location is a driving factor in the scholarship offer, and I’m sure that will play a role in our son’s decision. Trinity’s campus is really quite terrific, but outside the campus walls is not so grand. As for the $100k savings we’d realize should he choose Trinity, those would be earmarked for graduate school should he go that route. But even without those funds, we would be able to pay for graduate school out of pocket so long as my income stays stable (and so far thankfully I’ve been able to keep working from home in the midst of COVID-19).
@RelicAndType ”breathing down his neck” is an overstatement. We’ve told our son that the choice of majors will be his, but my wife and I have discussed with him practical outcomes of different academic paths, and that an economics degree would likely open up more doors than a history degree. But he’s not yet 18 years old, and we’re confident he’ll make the choice of major that’s right for him.
everyone on the CC message boards always says to follow the money, but I think the connections and strength of alumni he will find at Colgate and Wesleyan are worth it, in your case, since it seems you can afford them.
as far as colgate vs wesleyan, that’s a personal preference. Colgate is certainly preppier and jockier, on average. And Wesleyan is more liberal and crunchy, on average.
Trinity will have great strength of connections and alumni network too. Trinity has no problem filling whatever percentage they desire of full pay non-URMs each year.
With that said these are all fine schools, all good for history. For economics, I would choose Colgate and Trinity before Wesleyan…both have excellent placement of students into a variety of finance jobs.
As I indicated in my original post I am confident my son could fit at any of the schools as he is comfortable associating with a wide variety of people, although I think the more athletic orientation of Colgate (and perhaps Trinity) might suit him better than the artsier environment at Wesleyan. That being said, while I found Greek life to be an integral part of my college experience, I’m not sure if he’ll want to go that route, which would give Wesleyan an edge.
Lots for him to ponder over the next 3 weeks. But we’re happy that he has such wonderful options, and we don’t feel he’ll go wrong whatever choice he makes.
I just hope that for him and all incoming freshmen that they’ll be able to have a normal academic year, which is surely in doubt at the moment.
My son decided on Colgate. He felt that Colgate’s strengths in his likely choice of majors (history or economics) and the overall campus vibe suits him best. The school put him in touch with current students to discuss whether students who don’t go Greek can have a good social experience (he’s unsure on that issue), and they must have alleviated his concerns. Now we just have to see whether they will be on campus in the fall.
