<p>Another point that other posters are dancing around.
LACs tend to have more distinct personalities than larger schools, because of size, and each child tends to react slightly differently. She may well be able to winnow the list more after additional visits - are there any LACs closer to home that she could visit more easily - say potential safeties? her reactions to those schools can help reduce the list if cutting it down is really important time and effortwise.</p>
<p>This is how my D did this - we made a long weekend driving visit early spring junior year, to a mid-sized private university and a LAC - that led to a decision for LACs. Then late spring junior year we made a quick trip to visit family and combined it with a visit at what became her safety. At that point she was able to read about the schools that she was considering visiting in the long summer trip to the NE, and pared down the list considerably. She left Carleton on the list, but we decided to visit only if she was accepted.</p>
<p>A little off-topic, but, my DD was in what seems to be a very similar position to yours - wanted to move far away to a very different climate, similar list, grades and scores, etc. She, on her own, decided to apply to big in-state u, and a small in-state LAC that would have given her substantial merit money as both financial safeties and "distance" safeties. She said that while she really wanted to go far away, what happens if something happens to you or Dad or grandparents, and I don't want to go so far away?? I thought that was very mature.
In the end she had 3 safeties (and was admitted by Christmas in each) - big state U which was almost free, in-state LAC with merit and moderate cost, out of state LAC with merit and moderate cost.</p>
<p>It is easy to put together a New England tour of the main LACs using Boston as a base including Williams, Amherst, Middlebury, Bowdoin, Wesleyan and Dartmouth (in many ways a large LAC) are all within short driving distances and easily covered over three days. Our D particularly liked Middlebury for its gorgeous campus, beautiful location, academic feel and reasonably large size.</p>
<p>I would have to add my two cents for Grinnell. It is very similar to Carleton, don't miss it. I actually think the physical plant is nicer at Grinnell and Grinnell is certainly no more isolated than Carleton.</p>
<p>I really do suggest that she have a California LAC or two on the list. So many kids really have second thoughts about going far from home once they get to senior year. Pomona and the other Claremont Consortium colleges are quite appealing, particularly around February. That said, there are so many appealing LACs all around the country...sometimes it almost feels like too many to choose from!</p>
<p>If you are going to be in the Boston area, don't forget Wellesley. It is 13 miles outside the city in a suburban town, has outstanding academics and a beautiful campus, and cross-registration with MIT. Very easy access to Cambridge and Boston. </p>
<p>If you are going to Carleton, you might want to check out St. Olaf's, since it's in the same town. If you are checking out Ohio schools, don't forget Kenyon.</p>
<p>Wesdad:<br>
Came to the same conclusion. Minneapolis-St. Paul (liked a lot) was more accessible and felt MUCH more appealing than Des Moines. The town of Northfield was much larger and Carleton a bit larger. Lots of small things added up. Flying was another big issue. Minneapolis airport as a major hub makes getting back and forth to Carleton much easier (no change of planes, only about a 35 minute ride to campus). School even provides a $10 shuttle!
Felt like you had the best of both worlds - a great, friendly college town with easy access to the big city when you needed it.</p>
<p>About accessibility: Williams is surprisingly accessible because it is about 40 minutes from the Albany airport. There are school provided shuttles at break times, and buses and limos for other times. So it is not as hard to get to as it seems.</p>
<p>onemoreparent: I hope other posters are also allowed to answer this question. My S is at Williams which he was immediately drawn to.</p>
<p>He did not like the quiet feel of the Swarthmore campus. Although he likes nature (hence Williams, not UChicago) he felt the Swarthmore campus was buried in leaves. So much is housed in one or two large buildings that the campus doesn't seem to have a bustling feel of kids out and about. And everyone seemed to be studying. He is also very liberal (his Facebook status) but he does not like a PC environment, being too self-mocking, ironic, whatever for that.</p>
<p>I think he was also a bit worried about stories of grade deflation. But the joke was on him on that one. On the Boalt scale Swarthmore is listed as the the toughest school to get an A at (89.5) on their scale, but Williams is #2, right behind it at 89. However, he finds Williams a very fun loving place, which he treasures.</p>
<p>This winter study period he is studying The Tempest at the same time he has been cast in a student production of the play. Seven of the ten kids in the class are also in the play. That's fun at Williams. He's just a loose kind of guy, and he felt Williams, for all its rigor, has a looseness to it that he experienced at the info. session and every time we went to visit. After all, a purple spotted cow as a mascot?</p>
<p>onemore, personally, I really liked Swarthmore. I wish I had gone there.</p>
<p>For my son, it was really a matter of finding other schools that better fit his goals and temperament.</p>
<p>First, he felt that his area of interest -- art and art history -- is not major focus at Swarthmore, despite access to wonderful museums. </p>
<p>Second, although he was interested in urban environments Philadelphia and especially the suburbs thereof left him flat.</p>
<p>Third -- and I think this was the most important though also most intangible, factor -- he felt that the blatant intellectualism of Swarthmore was a tad pretentious. Although confidently brainy and creative, he is not one to wear his intellectual prowess on his sleeve and found the unrelenting seriousness of the kids he met at Swarthmore to be exhausting. They were smart, they were funny, they were kind, but they also seemed to worry about everything you could possibly imagine.</p>
<p>Small LACs have definite personalities. How an individual will react to them is sometimes quite surprising. That's why visits are so critical to the process. </p>
<p>Going into the process Williams was at the bottom of my son's list. Too remote, too jock-y. But in a last minute, fortuitous visit something about the place "spoke" to him and he went on to have four profoundly good years there. He'd do it again in a heartbeat.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Third -- and I think this was the most important though also most intangible, factor -- he felt that the blatant intellectualism of Swarthmore was a tad pretentious. Although confidently brainy and creative, he is not one to wear his intellectual prowess on his sleeve and found the unrelenting seriousness of the kids he met at Swarthmore to be exhausting. They were smart, they were funny, they were kind, but they also seemed to worry about everything you could possibly imagine.
[/quote]
Momrath pretty much describes my D's impression. In my D's eyes, Swat suffered from an uninspired nuts and bolts info session by an admissions rep (recent grad) who was a bit too full of himself. She interpreted the quiet campus and the preoccupied students as lacking the level of intimacy she was looking for. Later in the day, the witty, enthusiastic, down-to-earth, knew-everyone-who-walked-by tour guide at Haverford projected the "love" she was looking for. Her one day snapshot, YMMV.</p>
<p>My son had the same reaction to Swarthmore--he had the sense the students took themselves too seriously (for his tastes). He did apply to Haverford, as it seemed more laid-back socially. The visits are really snapshots, but if you combine them with info from guidebooks, etc., I think your kid can get a pretty good picture of the personalities of the schools. Our hope for our son was that he find a school that was a "best fit" for him and he did. I think it's nice to hear all these parents chime in about their kids' wonderful colleges because they really all are wonderful and a great fit for a certain set of kids. We felt our college visits were like a nationwide treasure hunt and we found lots of jewels. The "Jewel of the Prairie" was the one that most captivated my son in the end.</p>
<p>Thanks for all the information about Swarthmore (and the reasons why your sons or daughters did not "feel at home" there). </p>
<p>I think what berthievt says about finding the "best fit" is very important -- when my kids read your responses, they had different reactions: my older son liked the points your children didn't. He really identified with the Swat students "who worry about everything you could possible imagine" and the "quiet feel of the campus" is what he seems to be looking for. </p>
<p>My younger (who still has 3 years to go before college) is confident Swarthmore will not be on his list of colleges!</p>
<p>Well, that's the way it should work. For every kid who loves Vassar there is another who prefers Wesleyan. Each are passionate about why.</p>
<p>So, if your kids click with Swarthmore, it's a fabulous school. I was only offering the world according to one 17 year old male. </p>
<p>Now the difficult task is getting in. Swat isn't easy, and I wish both your sons good luck! We'll be pulling for them.</p>
<p>bethie: I really like "the jewel of the prairie." I want to go there today! Though I also want to go to Smith, UChicago, and D has turned me into a passionate Barnard convert. Am even thinking of movie to the city for a stint since my CC is easily commutable.</p>
<p>When we first went to Grinnell (the town), I was in shock--it looks like a movie set from the 40's. And I grew up in rural MN. It has grown on us ever since, but it is the campus that is the real treasure--for the kids who love it. It isn't everyone's cup of Joe, but it is unquestionably wonderful. I'm trying to think of what Miss Jean Brodie said--something like, "For those who like that sort of thing, that is the sort of thing they like."</p>
<p>I don't mean that the town isn't also great--it just takes a little getting used to. Some people might not get it, but we have been so happy with the warmth.</p>