These two are both within the top of three of my college list. I’ve visited both, but if anyone could give pros/cons to either of them that would be greatly appreciated!
St. Lawrence has a great campus and an incredible location between the Thousand Islands and the Adirondacks. Ottawa and Montréal are not far as well. The general ambience on campus appears to be friendly.
Franklin & Marshall can be distinguished by the higher average SAT scores of their students. This may indicate the students’ greater academic preparation, which may impact the classroom experience.
Good luck.
St L has a more laid back outdoorsy vibe, F&M feels (so I’m told, we didn’t make it to campus), a more pre-professional vibe. Bigger Greek life at F&M; St L sports are big deal – D1 hockey team, Men’s Soccer etc.
St. Lawrence will be much colder and further away from NYC and Philadelphia
F&M is known to be a very rigorous school that demands a lot from their students. It’s often a safety and palce where kids who didn’t get into dartmouth, williams, and middleburry end up. SLU is much more chill, but is also an intellectually stimulating school at the same time. Kids are often more local up there. Both schools are good (and expensive).
SLU is much jockier, much more outdoorsy.
My cousin’s daughter is at F&M. I would characterize it more like Dickinson and Gettsyburg, not the step below Ivy and Middlebury. More like just below Bucknell or Lehigh.