@chembiodad this doesn’t sound like a healthy conversation. If it were me (assuming she sent her LOCI’s a month ago), the only thing coming out of my mouth to my daughter at this point would be “Hamilton for the win!”
Also, come move in and move out day, you are going to be super happy they are at the same school, both logistically and emotionally.
@Chembiodad Has she deposited at Hamilton? Or are other schools she was admitted to still in play?
@happy1, Yes, totally different majors - one STEM, one poli sci/IR, so at Hamilton that’s different sides of campus. While they have their own lives, sports, etc., they share many friends and have always benefited from 1+1=3.
@ams220, Yes, deposited at Hamilton as that was always a top-5 choice for DD - poster on the wall, wears a school shirt, but still leaving a crack open for Middlebury.
Good to hear! Congrats!
Hi @happy1 ! I think we’re all on the same page, here. DD has two perfectly wonderful choices to make between Carleton and Hamilton.
@circuitrider thank you so much for the links re federally funded research, that was so ineteresting! Is there any data on privately funded research? I heard what you said about not needing research to get into a good grad school, but since one of my kids is interested in going into research for a career, I want her to have a lot of exposure to help her verify that this is what she wants. Seeing the dollars re federal funding tells an important story, but of the little I know (I’m not a science person!), I know that there is a lot of private money in research too (e.g. pharmaceutical co $). Thanks!
The funding measurement can be very misleading as the amount that trickles down to undergraduates can’t be separated out, so it’s seems to be apples and oranges to me.
@circuitrider, agree, both are great choices to have, and given her preference for Hamilton’s location she’s decided that’s her selection - unless Middlebury calls and then…
We also have twins (not college age yet) – and a HS junior considering liberal arts / strong in STEM schools. We really liked Hamilton. A former professor of mine who has been there many years feels that the school has always been strong but in many ways is on the rise.
Wesleyan definitely seems strong in STEM and for that reason it is still on S’s list…but I would worry that the waitlist might encourage false hopes. It has gotten very popular and acceptance rates have been going down every year.
I am surprised Carleton didn’t make your D’s final list but I think you mentioned geography as a factor. Anyway she has some great options - congrats to her and your family.
I’d encourage her to go to the school that is the best fit regardless of where her twin goes. She could request to live in a different dorm, and they probably would few if any classes together.
Another vote for Carleton among the schools where she has been accepted.
@momcinco, thx for the feedback regarding Hamilton being viewed as on another rise - I say another because it has been a top-20 LAC for decades.
I think the combination it’s strength in both STEM and Humanities with an emphasis on writing, the newer science and fine arts buildings, its setting of being two schools joined in a very unique way and it’s open curriculum have realty increased its appeal.
Yes, both of my DD’s were accepted at Carleton, but decided the distance wasn’t for them.
@intparent, they agree that having completely different majors, living in separate dorms and the size of the campus will enable them to have the best of both worlds.
@melvin123 asked
I’m no expert, but, I’m thinking that if you take that larger figure “All R&D Expenditures”
https://ncsesdata.nsf.gov/herd/2015/html/HERD2015_DST_18.html
…and subtract it from the smaller federal sum:
https://ncsesdata.nsf.gov/herd/2015/html/HERD2015_DST_20.html
…you should arrive at an approximate figure for the level of private funding. In Wesleyan’s case, it’s about half and half. In answer to @Chembiodad 's query, how do we know how much of it “goes to undergraduates?” The answer is “All of it.” since the doctoral student footprint at Wesleyan is actually quite small (~100 people) and every professor teaches undergraduates.
@circuitrider, but you need to also separate out the graduate students at Wesleyan.
Separate question: Does anyone know why the endowment at Wesleyan is so much smaller per student than its peers?
Can you explain why?
Because Wesleyan is nearly twice as big as some of its peers, Amherst, for example.
But that doesn’t hold true for other similar schools such as Middlebury, Smith, Washington and Lee, Williams, Wellesley or at smaller undergraduate focused ivies; it seems like there’s more behind it.
Like Tufts? Why is it no one ever asks why Tufts endowment is so much smaller per student than its peers?
Yes, another good example
@circuitrider, when referencing the Forbes grateful grad index, Wesleyan’s 10-year giving rate is quite good so maybe it’s a endowment performance issue. I don’t know the history of same, but holding off on large capital projects and switching to need aware raises a flag – would appreciate insight if anyone has any.
She isn’t even into the other two schools. I wouldn’t look at it any more. Have her accept Hamilton and move on, since it seems like her top choice in every other way except that. (Way easier for you as parents, too, if they are at one school 
).