<p>BobbyCT - why would you say that Carleton is in a different league? In terms of what? </p>
<p>Informative - I’ve decided that I will leave Brown out, because I will want to have an undergraduate experience that is rigorous and more personal. I’ve heard that the professors at Brown could give lectures that seem generic and right-off a boring powerpoint template, whereas teachings at a small LAC like Vassar/Carleton could be more exciting, interactive and definitely more time to spend with the professors personally. But i would love to hear your views. </p>
<p>Also, what about comparing job opportunities after graduate for Vassar and Carleton? And the type of students that go to Vassar and Carleton - how different are they?</p>
<p>In broad general terms, LACs tend to be a bit more suited as grad school prep colleges, and Big U’s tend to be a bit more suited for job prep (they tend to have more BA/BS “job prep” majors), so looking for job prep differences between two LACs might be tough.</p>
<p>For a U.S. applicant, I’d guess that there won’t be many interesting jobs available with a BA in public policy, ethnic studies or urban studies; there will be tremendous competition from MA earners. But for an international, I sure don’t know if that applies.</p>
<p>Thanks vossron - I do agree that Big Us tend to have better job prep (and reputation for getting good jobs too). However, will the strong alumni network (im assuming vassar has one) sort of allay this issue for the small lacs? I’ve heard Vassar students are often able to secure great jobs at NYC through alumnis working there. </p>
<p>As for the BAs im planning to take, i might want to work with NGOs dealing with subjects of my BAs. But how much does your major weigh in your future job options? I was told that your major won’t weigh much, because ultimately it is who you are that will get you the job. Please correct me if i am wrong.</p>
<p>The alumni network does matter. Small LACs have smaller networks but also fewer students competing for the attention of alumni. The networks are also often tighter. Carleton’s alumni giving rate, for example, is the highest of any college - LAC or university - in the country. </p>
<p>A new program instituted last year to link graduating students to this network has been very successful and emulated by a number of schools. Links to articles in The Financial Times and Chronicle of Higher Education about the “Engagement Wanted” program are below: </p>
<p>In addition, a program offering “test runs” of career interests via 1-4 week externships with alums is very popular. Alumni in the field not only offer their time but also often offer up their homes for the externship duration to students from outside of the area needing a place to stay. Below is a link to the program’s site and a related article in the Financial Times profiling a Carl alum working as an international economist with the US Treasury Dept who hosted 2 Carleton students, one from a small town in Minn, one from Kenya.</p>
<p>@informative…how can you post something so low grade about carleton…I am not from US and I have heard about Carleton…It is really a good school and many people(not only in the US but also outside the US) have heard about it! Only one thing I see carleton lags behind is in money awarded…otherwise its best of the bests…</p>
<p>I agree with confidential 2015. Carleton seems to be less freehearted compared to Vassar when it comes to financial aid. </p>
<p>Based on their common data set - Average FA package:
Carleton - US$31789
Vassar - US$39069 (staggering $8k difference)</p>
<p>Whereas the aid for internationals: (No. int.studs with FA, average FA package, total FA)
Carleton - 89, US$32328, US$2.8million
Vassar - 130, US$46,600, US$6.18million</p>
<p>However I wonder if the remarkably successful 300+million dollars fundraising campaign this year at Carleton will change things up a little. what do you all think?</p>
<p>^ Keep in mind that Carleton also gives some non-need-based (“merit”) aid, while Vassar does not. And in comparing the numbers of international students and total FA dollars awarded, keep in mind that Vassar’s student body is about 22% bigger than Carleton’s, roughly 2,450 to 2,000.</p>
<p>that’s very true bclintonk. Are u in anyway affiliated to Carleton? u certainly come across as a fervent supporter of Carleton. :)</p>
<p>What about the geographical location of Northfield vs. Poughkeepsie? Does Vassar’s accessibility to NYC trump Carleton’s to Twin Cities in terms of summer internships, work experiences etc etc? And even post-graduate job prospects - since companies and private firms at NYC can conveniently recruit students from Vassar. How about recruitments being done at Carleton?</p>
<p>While I definitely cannot opine on “most” schools, I can only say that EVERY school that I have toured has clearly stated that their ED is a benefit over RD to the applicant. Now it may only be a few %, but it was still a benie.</p>
<p>Maybe a bit, but to get the full picture you need to compare more than just the average size of the FA packages. There may be significant differences in the student need profiles and in total costs. </p>
<p>Both schools meet 100% of need; neither one is a no-loan school.
Vassar’s average debt at graduation is $19910, Carleton’s is $20083. So the averages are close enough that in any individual case, one school or the other might have the advantage for total out of pocket costs.</p>
<p>If a school’s Common Data Set section C7 “Level of applicant’s interest” says anything other than “Not Considered” then you know that applying ED helps. But in this case both Carleton and Vassar say “Not Considered” so that’s no help. ;)</p>
<p>The difference between male/female ratios is not as great as you might think.</p>
<p>Vassar: 43% men; 57% women
Carleton: 47% men, 53% women</p>
<p>I went to Vassar and loved it, but as a male graduate be prepared for a life time of silly grins and people asking you The Question: “When did Vassar go co-ed?” Answer: 1969, well before any of the Ivies. Yet it’s been a long time since any female Ivy Leaguer had to respond to “I thought [Yale/Princeton/Penn, etc.] was a boys school.”</p>
<p>The issue of the value of ED has been brought up a few times on this thread so I decided to see how much of a difference there was in acceptance rate at Brown, Vassar and Carleton between ED and RD. According to each schools 2009-2010 Common Data Set</p>
<p>*As a disclaimer, I did not double check these number and calculations. </p>
<p>I am not drawing any conclusions about whether applying ED gives a better chance of acceptance than RD. There may be valid reasons for these differences. At first glance, however, it would seem that statistically ED offers a higher percentage acceptance rate. (assuming the applicant has strong credentials, GPA, test scores,etc.)</p>
<p>I think most of us conclude that at many schools applying ED gives at least a slight boost, but no conclusions can be drawn from the numbers, because the two pools of applicants are different (for ED many “dream school” applicants, for RD many “throw away” applications).</p>
<p>^I agree. It is unfortunate, however, how many students that are not qualified for a particular college think applying ED will get them in. I have heard so many kids tell me that they are applying to college X Early Decision so they can get in, as if its automatic.</p>
<p>Thanks BobbyCT, vossron, lurkerdad and everyoen else! you’ve all been really helpful. I hope im not shooting too high for either schools, i know im within the range, but im not a fantastic applicant, which is why i thought applying through ED is rather crucial.</p>
<p>Anyway, how bout the geographic location for both schools?</p>
<p>Vassar is about a 90 minute drive from Manhattan and surrounding suburbs. New Jersey and Connecticut are a similar distance. If you want to be in the tri-state area, it is a good option.</p>
<p>Carleton, on the other hand, is within 30 minutes of the twin cities of Minneapolis and St Paul, a great metropolitan area. They are very different but similar in the sense that both offer a variety of entertainment and cultural activities.</p>
<p>They are both great schools and locations so I would not worry about that.</p>
<p>Not only are the app pools different, but ED includes recruited athletes and legacies, which receive an automatic boost. But even after stripping away all of the special admits, adcoms at several top 20 schools have publicly stated that ED gives the unhooked applicant a small boost. At Duke the adcom said it was as much as 10%. At Brown it is only a few %.</p>