<p>edit: should have been private or state universities...</p>
<p>Even at my elite public charter school, where people who go to the best colleges tend to do quite well, VERY few people are applying to LACs below the top-5. </p>
<p>And then there are the more obscure schools like St. John's -no one in their right mind, chicano, black, or white-as-a-ghost would apply to that school from a public hs in the midwest (ok, so I dated a guy from St. John's -THAT was a weird one... now I have to make fun of the school whenever possible)</p>
<p>"Out of curiosity, mini, do you have pell %s on Carleton?"</p>
<p>Two years ago (latest numbers I can find), 10%. That means that the percentage of students with family incomes under $40k at Carleton is less than half the percentage of those under $30k at Smith. </p>
<p>I have often wondered about how the degree of political outspokenness at Smith (relative to other fine schools of similar ilk) translates from family income. I work in a social service profession, with lots of female social workers. Many of them are extremely bright and talented, and of those, many come from very poor families. Their degree of political outspokenness is quite striking relative to their peers, and I often wonder whether what one sees at Smith (and something which my d. values highly, even though all of her political-related concerns are expressed off campus) is a late adolescent version of the same phenomena.</p>
<p>Hmm... I don't know. You also have the colleges like Hampshire and Wesleyan, where the student body is very well-off, and there is political outspokenness. To a certain extent, political leaders on college campuses and in real life tend to be people who don't have to work as much, who HAVE the time to be politically active. Perhaps people who are at least from backgrounds where they have been exposed to a lot of socioeconomic diversity and injustices are most likely to be politically OPINIONATED, though.</p>
<p>Financial Aid Statistics
Full-time freshman enrollment: 399
Number who applied for need-based aid: 242
Number who were judged to have need: 209
Number who were offered aid: 208
Number who had full need met: 161</p>
<p>{{Perhaps people who are at least from backgrounds where they have been exposed to a lot of socioeconomic diversity and injustices are most likely to be politically OPINIONATED, though.}}</p>
<p>Ted Kennedy exposed to diversity? Diverse brands of scotch maybe. Or Kerry, Bush, et al.?</p>
<p>{{{I know Middlebury is one of the worst elite college in terms of diversity}}}</p>
<p>Not because they arent trying. Read the stats. Middlebury has the highest Blacks acceptance rate of any top LAC. It goes back to my point. Blacks will not enroll at a college that far from a major city and very rural.</p>
<p>rlt: that's fine. Mini was talking primarily socioeconomic diversity. I was originally talking both ethnocultural and socioeconomic. Since everyone on this forum seems to care about different things, it's sort of hard to keep everyone happy with my statements (speaking of PC). I still think I'll apply to Middlebury, b/c I know their ES dept is fabulous AND egalitarian, and I'm from a rural area myself so I think I'd like that.</p>
<p>"Mini was talking primarily socioeconomic diversity. I was originally talking both ethnocultural and socioeconomic."</p>
<p>Statistically, Smith's ethnocultural diversity is exactly the same as Wesleyan's and Bowdoin's(and a little more than double that of Middlebury); then there is also the age diversity thing.; and there are substantially more international students than at Bowdoin (and more than Wesleyan.) Much less diversity in chromosomal arrangements. </p>
<p>I don't want to make the case that particular levels of diversity are a good "thing" or a bad "thing' for a private college - only that they are a "thing", and will impact the kind of exerience one has at them.</p>
<p>{{{Mini was talking primarily socioeconomic diversity.}}}</p>
<p>Midd spent 50mm on a new science center--which youll greatly benefit from as an ES major. Life is a tradeoff; you cant have the latest most sophisticated science equipment and labs and increase your pell grant recipients significantly. The also built new athletic faculties and dorms, aka chalets. There is only so much capital available.</p>
<p>You also dont know how many low income students applied to Midd. You cant accept student who dont apply. Midd is need blind, so in theory they arent cherry picking the wealthy students.
Smith does go to high schools Midd doesnt to recruit low income or city students. I had this discussion last year with a Midd admission officer. They dont have the resources to send admissions officers to schools where the yield is next to zero. Its very difficult recruiting to Vt (read, midddle of nowhere) They have the same difficulty going to high schools in the PNW or Calif. Who has heard of Midd? --lol</p>
<p>Im in agreement with mini:</p>
<p>I don't want to make the case that particular levels of diversity are a good "thing" or a bad "thing' for a private college - only that they are a "thing", and will impact the kind of exerience one has at them.</p>
<p>{{Midd spent 50mm on a new science center--which youll greatly benefit from as an ES major.</p>
<p>Hah... how about : "Midd spent 50mm on a new science center--which you WOULD greatly benefit from as an ES major."</p>
<p>Since I had mono after I was accepted to schools last year and my GPA fell, I think of myself back to square one in terms of not knowing where I could be accepted. Since these are all good schools, I can only HOPE I have options.</p>
<p>My fantasy news release from Midd: Middlebury, VT (Jan. 16, 2010) Today, black students attending Middlebury College were asked if they felt in any way isolated while attending school there. Both said "No."</p>
<p>oh well -I mean, Smith is better for diversity COMPARED to other colleges, but it's not all roses. One of my black friends is trying to study junior year at two predominantly black institutions, which she thinks she'll prefer socially. And students tend to self-segregate at Smith to a limited degree, just like all schools I've ever seen.</p>
<p>{{My fantasy news release from Midd: Middlebury, VT (Jan. 16, 2010) Today, black students attending Middlebury College were asked if they felt in any way isolated while attending school there. Both said "No."}}}</p>
<p>I believe Midd may have finally broken into double digits for Black enrolment.
Dont quote me on that though. ;)</p>
<p>{{{And students tend to self-segregate at Smith to a limited degree, just like all schools I've ever seen.}}}</p>
<p>Ill never forget the day I took my daughter to visit Colgate. We went to the dining area for dinner and to see if the food was edible. The dinning area was overflowing with students,however; there sat a Black girl eating alone at a table that could seat 4 but not ONE student would sit with her even though some were standing around waiting for a seat or table to eat at. I have to admit I developed a small lump in my throat.
I cant post what I said under my breath because TD and Roger are trying to keep the board for G audiences.</p>