Amherst
Williams
Midd
Bowdoin
Wesleyan
Colgate
Vassar
TY!
Best for what purpose? I.e. PhD study in economics, professional school, or (what kind of) employment?
For PhD study in economics, a good math department and a strong math emphasis in economics courses is preferable.
None of those schools stand out one way or the other to me. They seem comparable in general. BTW, when did Colgate become a LAC?
I’d definitely consider Colgate a LAC. It calls itself one.
Erins dad, yes it does count as an LAC according to US News
At Vassar and Wesleyan economics is relatively less popular. I wouldn’t hold that against the departments, but you may want to use this as a slight favorable consideration for the remaining five schools.
Do you mean for scholarly output or feeding into Wall Street?
Less popular can mean smaller classes, but it can also mean fewer or less frequent class offerings. However, these can often be checked by looking at the school’s catalog and class schedules, rather than making assumptions based on the major’s popularity.
“I wouldn’t hold that against the departments”
Was that the assumption?
But I agree with the rest of your post. The OP should not presumptively eliminate Vassar or Wesleyan. Still, some criteria for ordering these schools was requested.
@merc81of Wesleyan and Vassar, which would u think would more likely get me into Wall Street or nyu stern for grad school?
You wrote that “you may want to use this as a slight favorable consideration for the remaining five schools”.
@cowycam7: I’m honestly a bit out of my league with that type of assessment. Of course you could do it from either; but you are justifiably interested in identifying the well-worn paths, the identification of which is exactly where I am out of my league.
One thing I do recall, though, is that CrewDad posted a useful link regarding Vassar’s econ/business in the Vassar forum.
@ucbalumnus: “slight.” What more can I say.
Economics is a fairly mainstream major so it would be splitting hairs. You should get a solid academic experience at any of the listed schools in that area so make your decision on other characteristics of the school that appeal to you.
(See, “Econ at Vassar.”)
People don’t generally realize this, but Economics is actually the third most popular major at Wesleyan, surpassing even Film Studies.
http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/wesleyan-university-1424 
Most people consider Bates to have the strongest program in Econ in LACs. There have been rankings in the past based on research citations. Any of the top 25’schools have good programs.
@cowycam7 Based on your stats, these schools dont seem realistic.
@2019Parent have you seen my EC’s?
You’re good for these schools, @cowycam7. Don’t worry about a thing.
Merc81-
I don’t think we do the OP any favors in assuring her that these schools are anything but a reach. As of the end of her sophomore year she had a 3.25 average. Even if she is able to attain her goal of getting a 3.9 for her last two years of HS her UW GPA will be below average for all of these schools. Her main EC (high level figure skating) is impressive, but it won’t be a hook at schools like these that don’t have competitive skating programs. She can certainly apply to these colleges as stretch schools but she should also add in some matches and likelies.
@Sue22 thanks. I have added bu and gmu (maybe colgate) as match/safeties, and I will try to get a 3.5 as a final gpa, which means that I must get at least a 3.95 by the end of 11th grade