<p>@AgilityAce Interesting that you picked Colby and Bates, despite the two being very different (and Bates being very similar to Wesleyan in terms of “vibe”). I’d be interested to know your sample size, as @circuitrider said, most of the schools you mentioned are much larger. Also, how do Colgate, Holy Cross, and Bucknell differ from your average NESCAC school? Those three schools are probably “to the right” of some NESCACs (like Wesleyan and Bates) but certainly no further right than Trinity or Williams, no larger in terms of enrollment, and would fit right in if their athletic programs dropped to DIII. I would argue alumni support is just as good, if not better, at smaller schools (like NESCAC), because of the intimate experience and willingness to help out others of the school - this goes for Colgate as much as Wesleyan (and they are exactly the same size school/alumni body). In terms of being contradictory - you mention horribly insular “elite” liberal arts colleges as a bad thing, and then go right ahead and mention some in your list of “better” schools…?</p>