When looking on the internet for information about Colby, many people have it set as their dream school, claiming great prestige and etc. Also, with a median ACT of 33, RD acceptance rate of around 13%, this really seems like it should be the elite university to go to. However, why are they then ranked so poorly? Barely in the top 100 for math, and pretty much under the radar when it comes to computer science and other subjects. Why is there such a disconnect between their admissions criteria and their rankings? Why should I want to go there?
Does Colby College really have a median ACT of 33 ? My guess would be that the median ACT score is significantly lower. Colby is a test optional school. For those who submit ACT scores, the 75% is 33.
Small LAC located in very cold Maine. Solid school with a good reputation. Not much to do outside of class.
The population of Waterville, Maine (home to Colby College) is about 16,430. This is similar to Potsdam, New York (16,100) which is the home of the engineering school Clarkson University. Both have a similar climate.
@Publisher ah that makes sense, and yes I am pretty sure that their median has risen from around 30 a few years ago to 33, but it must be skewed by being optional.
@excalibur123 Not sure where you are getting that Colby has a ‘poor’ ranking. It’s regarded as a top LAC. Ranked #18 in US News if you’re into rankings.
@wisteria100 ranked poorly in math, other subjects. By no means is it a bad school, and I would be happy to go there. However, it is a good school with elite school admissions requirements (13% rd).
I recommend you examine your premises before proceeding further. For example, undergraduate math programs have not been ranked by credible sources as far as I’m aware (which isn’t to say that some aren’t markedly stronger than others, of course). And, as @Publisher referenced above, Colby’s middle-range ACT among those who submitted scores covers from 31 to 33.
It is very cold there.
It is very expensive.
Yes, it is cold, but the students seem to adjust to the weather. We visited my son who is a sophomore last weekend. Beautiful school even with the snow. The students work hard, and yes they play hard. There are many internship and work opportunities over the summer. Also, there is Davis Selects and the new scholarship program for families with income up to $150,000 so maybe more affordable to many.
We did have dinner in Waterville, which was quite crowded – we actually couldn’t even get into one restaurant.
Colby is a great college. The alumni, president and board are investing physical plant, instructors and students. New baseball, softball and athletic fields. New downtown housing and meeting space just finished. New hotel, fieldhouse, ice rinks and academic spaces being built. Expanded scholarships and research grant opportunities. Great alumni network. Strong faculty. Super bright students. Is Colby different or does it stand out from the other top LACs, no it’s probably the same as most of them. But that tier is in a league of its own. Go to Colby or not, but anyone that graduates from Colby will have spent 4 years at a great college with plenty of opportunities in front of them.
I believe this is Colby’s first test-optional year, @Publisher and @excalibur123 , so your logic, while correct for a school that has been test optional, is not right in this case.
Colby is well-funded and makes a lot available to its students both on and off campus. It appeals to kids who want outdoorsy ways to spend time (especially skiers). Classes are small and it’s not unusual for profs to invite students over for dinner. The campus is lovely. Because it’s remote, the energy stays on campus and there’s a strong sense of community. For a student looking for this kind of experience, it can be perfect. If it’s not your cup of tea, there are hundreds of other options.
Colby’s previous test flexible policy would support this reasoning, however, though to a lesser, and largely unknown, degree. As stated for prior years,
I would say if you need convincing to go to Colby, then it might not be the right school for you. There will be a subset of students who instantly see the appeal of being at a small liberal arts college in rural Maine, not too far from the coast, not too far from the mountains, and not too far from Portland or Montreal for road trips, although most probably eschew cities in general or they would have chosen an urban school. They will see the beauty of the winters and rejoice in the spring and savor the summer and crisp fall. When it comes down to it, I would certainly not pick one school over another because of a ranking, and then try to convince yourself of your happiness there. College is such a unique time in one’s life - use the time to find yourself, don’t get lost in a ranking! If you can’t see the appeal of Colby, then move on. I knew a Harvard Med Student who spent his first two years at community college. College is what you make of it and no ranking is going to solve your problems or be your salvation. Find the college that speaks to you. And have fun! - For what it’s worth - i say this as a dartmouth grad - who went there because dartmouth has its own skiway. As a physician, nobody gives a crap where I went as an undergrad. Nobody even cares where i went to medical school.
Thank you everyone for the responses. I did not mean to put down Cobly. Rather, I was trying to find its place in the competitive LAC seen. I understand that there ranking individual college programs is often extremely arbitrary and up to the whim of the ranker. I had just thought that it was odd that a school which had the admissions profile of an elite school only seemed to do mildly well in terms of its ranking. Again though, rankings do not always correlate with prestige.
@excalibur123, if you are trying to figure out if a program is right for you, look at the courses offered, when they are offered, what’s required for the major, and the faculty. At this point, you should really focus on the learning experience for an undergraduate.
If you are accepted and still interested, attend the revisit and meet with faculty to find out how they’ll support you in your goals. If you want to do research, how does that happen? Is it really competitive? If you think you will want to go to grad school, how can they help you prepare and make that a reality? If you wanted to go abroad with this major, what are the options?
After doing that due diligence, the only ranking that matters is the one you give it for its ability to be what you want it to be for your next 4 years.
@gardenstategal thank you for the detailed response. I think that is very good advice applicable to any college. I have just been a bit optimistic regarding my chances lately so I have been caught comparing and looking at schools.
Otherwise, does anyone know how well Colby places in tier 1 grad schools?