<p>Here are a few specific questions: How friendly and engaging are the profs at the schools? Are classes discussion based? Do the schools provide good career and grad school advising and assistance?</p>
<p>I don’t think you’ll be able to differentiate these three schools much on the basis of these questions. All three have friendly and engaging profs, discussion-based classes with intellectual, hard-working students, and provide good grad school advising. Can’t speak to career advising-perhaps someone else can. I suspect the answer depends on what kind of career and what part of the country.</p>
<p>Bigger differences related to culture and geography and how that impacts student life. What are you looking for?</p>
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<p>Agreed. You pretty much defined liberal arts colleges, which these all are. What other factors are important to you? Does prestige (whether to the layperson or to grad schools/employers) matter?</p>
<p>Actually, it does seem from my child’s visits to the schools that the profs are more engaging at some of these schools than others. Also, she sat through several lectures (i.e., not much talking by students) when she attended classes. So, I think that all these schools may aspire to these qualities but might not actually have them. I’m trying to find out how close these schools come to these ideals.</p>
<p>I think this decision comes down to – somewhat middle of nowhere (Amherst), REALLY middle of nowhere (Grinnell), or proximity to major city (Carleton).</p>
<p>If cost is not an issue, it would be counter intuitive to turn down Amherst for either Carleton or Grinnell. It may be the first time that would have been done.</p>
<p>Why would it be “counterintuitive”? They’re all top 20 LAC’s … certainly you’re not suggesting that the proper way to choose among 3 top 20 LAC’s is by USNWR ranking, are you? Anyway, I’m quite sure that people have turned down Amherst for Carleton and Carleton for Grinnell before.</p>
<p>“it does seem from my child’s visits to the schools that the profs are more engaging at some of these schools than others”</p>
<p>I would argue that the number of data points collected at each school during your child’s visits would probably be too small to be representative of anything. How many classes could she/he have sat in? 4 or 5 at most? What S learned by sitting in on classes at various LACs was that he loved the small classes. It did reinforce his sense of the student culture at each school though, so that was useful. </p>
<p>What might be marginally more helpful is to look at the data on the rate my prof website for a particular dept. in a specific LAC and see what students say about the faculty, with the caveat that new faculty have no ratings and generally those who post represent the extremes - loved it or hated it. And of course, these students have no way to compare their experiences to those of their peers in other schools: It’s only a reflection of their expectations for a class or prof and how well or poorly those were met.</p>
<p>Good point, M’s Mom. Thank you.</p>
<p>I have read that Carleton alumni give back to their school far more than most other schools, and I think that says a lot. We went to a Carleton interview event earlier this year, and I was really impressed in talking with the alums, as to how strong their network is. They really reach out to current students, help them with internships and finding jobs. It really seemed like they’re a family looking out for each other.</p>
<p>Apart from the culture and geographic aspects of these schools, the other pts of differentiation that I think might matter is that Carleton is on a quarter system, while Amherst and Grinnell are on the semester system - there a pros and cons associated with each that are worth exploring. The other difference is that Grinnell (and possibly Amherst?) have no distribution requirements to fulfill (only the requirements associated with your major). They may also have different academic strengths/opportunities that are worth checking into, but to provide useful information, we’d need to know more about your D’s interests.</p>
<p>I think that we’ve read just about everything official (from the schools themselves) and unofficial (in college guides) about these schools. We know about the Carleton trimester system, the lack of core requirements at Grinnell and Amherst, the different majors and emphases available. What I’m interested in at this point is finding out whether these schools deliver on what they promise.</p>
<p>Speaking for Grinnell, absolutely. It’s an extraordinary school and it has exceeded our expectations, which were pretty high to start with. I initially had no interest in it for S having lived my whole life on the coasts, but H delved more deeply into the culture of S’s prospective LAC choices and realized, correctly, that it was the perfect fit.</p>
<p>What is it you think they promise?</p>
<p>Ds is a freshman at Carleton and has had a remarkable experience. He’s had dinner at the homes of a couple of profs, just like you hear about but wonder whether that really happens. 
He’s stretched himself in ways that surprise me and has had to suffer some character-building adversity (being cut from his sport). But even the bumps were handled well by the college, I think. An example: Ds found himself over his head in MV Cal his first semester. He had a 5 on the BC Cal exam, but that was junior year, so it had been a year since he had had calculus. We weren’t sure that MV was the right placement, but he went ahead and took it. Argh. He was borderline failing toward the end, but we were thrilled that Carleton had so many ways for a kid in that situation to save face. There is something called “scrunching” a class, for instance. You can Google it. He went to his prof, his adviser, etc., got lots of different advice. He wanted to stick it out and try for an A on the final to salvage a C in the class, but common sense said that it wasn’t likely (and what would happen to his other two classes, which were going well, if he spent all his time on MV?). Anyway, I was happy that even at the late date the school had systems in place so that he didn’t have to take a possible F. The parents’ listserve is a wealth of information. The FA office has been phenomenal, answering tons of questions.</p>
<p>But I bet M’s Mom could tell great stories about Grinnell, too. At some point, it’s just a leap of faith that all will work out and that you’ve made a great choice. And for most people who’ve done all the work on the front end, like I’m sure you have, it WILL work out.</p>
<p>But if you’ve got really specific questions/concerns, I can try to answer on here or in a PM. On this day last year, we were on the Carleton campus still trying to figure it out. 
Good luck!</p>
<p>Mom’s Mom and Youdon’t Say, thanks for the comments. That is what I’ve been looking for. I know that there are no guarantees in life; I just wanted some reassurance, and have received it (at least about two of the schools).</p>
<p>As far as career services go, Amherst might have the edge. Especially if you’re looking to go into business, it has the advantage of being on the east coast and many top banks and companies recruit there. Although I’m sure they recruit at Carleton and Grinnell too, Amherst seems to be a better feeder school into those jobs. My dad works at a top bank and the only three LACs they recruit on campus as much as the usual targets (ivies, duke, etc.) are Williams, Amherst and Swarthmore. Amherst also has the benefit of the 5 college consortium. You get your great, small, close knit LAC with a great campus except with a great college town that caters to the 28,000 total undergrads that go to the schools in the area. Cross register classes, socialize with other kids, you never have to stay inside the bubble if you don’t want to. It’s the best of both worlds. </p>
<p>By the way. Amherst, MA is not in the middle of nowhere. Hampshire county is full of restaurants and shops, there are always multiple events going on at the 5 colleges (if you want concerts, UMass is right there and always available to Amherst students. they bring in a ton of great shows). Northampton has some amazing restaurants and Amherst’s campus is right next to downtown. Carleton maybe a little closer to a major city but Amherst wins in the surrounding area. Amherst Mass inspired Frost and Dickinson</p>