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<p>[shrugs.] To each his or her own, I guess. I would think that in a a world where tiers 1 and 2 (your world, not mine) are separated by whether a one-professor linguistics department exists, that the buildings people study in might loom a little larger; that one school might be in a land-locked suburb and another in a 1,000 acre rural area might be important. People are free to create their own rankings. Mine would include size and breadth of student interests.</p>
<p>Hello all,</p>
<p>This is a quick reply to all the people who have contributed a response to my query. I am not the student, but the father of the student. I realize that all the schools I’ve listed are good. What I’ve heard about atmosphere from many people now is that Swarthmore is more intense, perhaps gives more work. My daughter went to Swarthmore and liked it very much, but also has at least one friend who chose Vassar and liked that very much. My son is hard-working but also somewhat laid back, and doesn’t like lots of pressure even though he functions well with it. I visited Vassar and Swarthmore with him. He liked both, but we both also liked the what seemed to be relaxed atmosphere at Vassar…We haven’t visited Pomona yet, but may later this month. Everyone seems to agree that Vassar and Pomona would be more relaxed. </p>
<p>It appears that biology is very good at Swarthmore but also good at the other schools. My daughter told me that two friends of hers at Swat who studied religions there liked it very much…we should check that out at Vassar and Pomona also…He also like to write, he has written some poetry and a couple of novels (unpublished, in manuscript form), so is interested in writing also…I think Pomona has some good writers and Swat and Vassar also have good programs.</p>
<p>… He will visit Swarthmore next week, and perhaps Pomona, as I indicated, toward the end of the month. Then he will make a choice. Again, thanks much to all of you.</p>
<p>estura</p>
<p>johnwesley - If Vassar had had even a 1-professor Linguistics department, I would have given it more serious consideration. That would at least represent an institutional interest in academic breadth. Also, suburb vs. rural is VERY different from “campus architecture.” Swarthmore and Pomona are both very suburban, Vassar is in a small city with access to NYC. Unless one has a strong preference in architecture that overrules academics or campus culture, all three campuses are beautiful.</p>
<p>To estura/OP: Academically for the subjects of interest, you can’t really go wrong among the three LACs. I would probably recommend Pomona from the little information given, for a more relaxed atmosphere–Swarthmore’s “intense” reputation is fairly earned, and one of the things I love about my school. If other things are equal, Swarthmore and Pomona have academically stronger student bodies than Vassar (as distinct from the strength of an academic department).</p>
<p>I guess there is some semblance of a logic here, although it does seem to exist in a worm hole all its own. Schools with an excessive emphasis on breadth at the expense of any kind of depth wind up losing a lot of cross-admits to bigger schools. For example, I don’t know of anyone who would choose Swarthmore over Vassar for Film Studies, even though Swarthmore has evinced its interest in academic breadth by hiring a professor or two. Does that make Swarthmore a “second tier” LAC? I suppose for some people it might.</p>
<p>Thanks for the comments on this topic of LACs to date. “Fit” is definitely an issue that resonates here. Perhaps I should begin a new thread–but your comments inspired to speak about a similar situation w/D & decision making time. We have a great challenge–D’s been accepted at Carleton, Kenyon, Swarthmore & Reed. I, too, adore Carleton (but it is not my decision~lol), where she completed their SWP. D thinks Reed (another school dad loves) a little more excentric, then she can handle for four years (from an overnight experience). She valued the outspoken nature of the students & sense of nurturing among the profs @ Kenyon. Swat, though not as generous as the LAC in Gambier, seems to be tugging at her heartstrings. I welcome comments, advice & suggestions-as you can make time.</p>
<p>“Carleton, Kenyon, Swarthmore & Reed”</p>
<p>They’re all excellent schools; she’ll get a fine education no matter which she chooses. :)</p>
<p>^^^If film is an already identified area of interest, then sure, it makes perfect sense to choose Vassar over Swarthmore. I’d say the same for Neuroscience, without even knowing whether Vassar has Neuro–Swat’s program simply isn’t that well-developed. </p>
<p>But for the undecided student, for in the OP’s case a student whose present interests are equally well-served at multiple colleges, overall breadth does matter IMO. One can still study film or neuroscience at Swarthmore, even if it requires more cognates than in a stronger program; while a very few students have special-majored in linguistics at Vassar, the available course offerings would make such a major pretty suspect (i.e. I assume that the student would be taking core theory courses in an abroad/exchange semester, since those areas cannot be covered in cognates).</p>
<p>well, you’re right about one thing:
</p>
<p>^As should be obvious, I have plenty of respect for Vassar. However, I do differ in opinion with you in contending that if the OP has no strong “atmosphere,” nor academic, preference, then Pomona and Swarthmore are better overall choices than Vassar.</p>
<p>If the OP DOES have a strong preference, then fit rules all.</p>
<p>So, if all things are equal, then Swarthmore wins by some wierd default process (I guess, it’s the one person Linguistics department), but if all things aren’t equal, then they don’t. That’s as clear as mud.</p>
<p>Thx, vossron–D leaning towards Kenyon this morning. </p>
<p>Gotta love being a parent…! ~ lol</p>
<p>:)</p>
<p>johnwesley - Please stop incorrectly summarizing my position. (By the way, Swarthmore’s linguistics department has three tenured professors.)</p>
<p>If all things are equal, then I believe that Swarthmore or Pomona will provide a more intellectually rigorous overall education, in addition to more academic breadth, than Vassar. If the OP has a specific preference otherwise, then satisfying that preference will be more fulfilling than “general” advice.</p>
<p>You, like anyone else, are free to disagree.</p>
<p>I do disagree. If Swarthmore’s Linguistics and Arabic Studies departments are anything like their Film Studies dept., they would not be enough to propel them ahead of the pack in terms of broad curricula, that is, unless one were to apply the rather desperate standard that “something is better than nothing”. On the contrary, if the result is that people graduate from Swarthmore convinced that they know anything about the film industry or that they can actually speak fluent Arabic, it may actually cause harm to the individuals involved. So, in that respect, it’s a close question whether Swarthmore is broadening its curriculum or merely adding to a long list of narrowly opportunistic faculty hires.</p>
<p>Having gone to Swarthmore, I’d say Pomona is the obvious choice.</p>
<p>^^ Sounds like someone got in over their head…</p>
<p>johnwesley - Actually, Film/Media Studies is somewhere between Cognitive Science and Arabic in terms of curricular development. Arabic is just about to add its first tenure-track line, which will help stabilize the program, but I agree that it’s not particularly strong at present. In the specific case of Arabic, a language offering, something IS better than nothing for the students who would not otherwise be able to study the language at all (especially those who can’t afford supplemental summer study). For film, the program is not really geared toward production, nor would I advocate for someone to attend Swarthmore if they were very interested in film.</p>
<p>However, Swarthmore’s linguistics department has three fully tenured professors and a few more visiting professors at any given time. They graduate ~30 majors every year. In terms of standalone linguistics at SLACs–please note, I am excluding universities and schools with heavy dependence on iffy consortium offerings like Wellesley w/ MIT–only Pomona/Pitzer and Reed can compare. Carleton is also investing in its linguistics program, but is still in the early stages, just having become “regularized” as a major in 2010.</p>
<p>It still boils down to a difference four professors, three of whom are in the same department. Your definition of “broadness” remains paradoxical, at best.</p>
<p>Guys: the OP has already left this thread and (if fully informed) decided to go to Swarthmore…save your breath.</p>
<p>Hey johnwesley-- were you rejected by Swarthmore or something? In other words, what did Swarthmore ever do to you?</p>
<p>I’m sorry. I was told I was welcome to disagree here. Never mind.</p>