My position may arise somewhat out of concern as to where a trend to largeness, if it exists, could lead, more so than as to where it currently has, 2boys. However, I think the enduring presence of a distinct group of colleges with enrollments at or below about 2000 students serves the college matrix well in that this size range seems to best represent an undergraduate-focused style of education that has proven itself through time.
@doschicos While I agree with your point, I’d suggest Wesleyan as a large LAC of unclear identity.
That’s interesting because Wesleyan had a pretty clear identity to my family. It was on both my kids’ lists. It has some unique attributes in comparison to most of the NESCACs.
Especially, right now:
http://www.ew.com/article/2016/06/15/wesleyan-university-hamilton-scholarship
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2016/06/12/arts/ap-us-tony-awards-the-latest.html?_r=0
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/12/theater/hamilton-inc-the-path-to-a-billion-dollar-show.html
Well, even pre-Hamilton fame, one of the attributes I think Wesleyan has/had as a strength vs. many other LACs is a creative, artsy vibe - film scene, music scene.
Some of the mentioned colleges do indeed have distinct identities. However, with respect to these colleges the identities appear to be coincidental to their sizes, not a function of their sizes. For instance, Wellesley’s primary identity relates to its basic structure as an academically rigorous women’s college in the Boston area.
And, I gather the same (except for the Boston part) would be true for Vassar, Smith, Barnard, and Mount Holyoke.
I think this entire line of argument jumped the shark somewhere around post #56. Arbitrary are we, @merc81 ?
@doschicos I meant unclear identity in terms of LAC/research u distinction. At our info sesh, they kept describing themselves as “a liberal arts college, but also a research university,” which didn’t totally clear things up. I would classify it as a LAC, but then it does have more than 200 grad students.
I see your point. I guess the fact that it does get a lot more research grants than many LACs (can’t remember actual numbers) does differentiate it from other LACs as well and gives it its own niche - the LAC benefits AND the opportunities provided by substantial research grants.
The public lacs are larger, laid back, not at all preppy, and would be safeties for most students.
You can find them here:
http://www.coplac.org/
@circuitrider : The Platonic Form of an optimally-sized classic LAC cannot be known, but that does not make thoughts on the topic arbitrary. Nor do I think the thread jumped the shark earlier with this subtopic. The OP asked for opinions on “LACs on the bigger side” (#51). Some discussion of what that may mean in terms of numerical factors seemed warranted.
Wesleyan, mentioned – and a school with a strong image for lots of positive reasons – may represent a good size for a hybrid school, and therein may lie an additional fraction of its identity. Pure LACs, including some extremely successful ones, do tend to be smaller, however.
Thank you! I toured Bates today and really liked it… And Colby and Bowdoin tomorrow.
A few fun facts:
-
This year,Wesleyan received over 15,000 applications, making it, arguably, the most popular LAC in America.
-
Wesleyan is the only NESCAC college where the number of students pursuing the arts (as a major or a minor) approaches the number who pursue varsity athletics (about 25% each.)
-
Wesleyan is the only LAC that competes in the “university” category for the prestigious Apker Prize in undergraduate physics (all the others, Bowdoin, Hamilton, Williams, etc. are basically competing with each other in the baccalaureate category) and has won it three times in the past six years.
-
Wesleyan offers a free “fifth year” to seniors involved in sponsored research and awards them with a masters degree.
-
Wesleyan relied on the windfall profits from the operation and sale of “My Weekly Reader” for nearly twenty years to finance its post-WWII expansion. Remarkably, its first successful capital campaign of the modern era wasn’t completed until 2006.
-
When Wesleyan adopted co-education in 1969 (5 years before Amherst) it absorbed the equivalent of a Seven Sister college over the space of four years.
-
Wesleyan is the only LAC with an alum currently sitting in the Senate.
“7) Wesleyan is the only LAC with an alum currently sitting in the Senate.”
You may want to check with Chris Coons on that.
OP, have you considered Holy Cross?
What majors are you interested in?
^Duly noted. Prior to Michael Bennet (Wes 87) I had only been aware of Carl Levin (Swarthmore56) who retired last year. Good for NESCAC!
Re #72, point 3, actually a few LACs, such as Hamilton, Reed, Macalester and Amherst, produced Apker recipients in open fields with university students. The referenced categories were introduced introduced at a subsequent time.
You should definitely check out Brown as a reach school.
Also, check this out: Chris Murphy (D-CT) is a Williams grad.
Yay, Little Three!