<p>They all have a {building, library, dining room, …} that looks like Hogwarts.</p>
<p>I thought of another one that was practically universal, yet was touted as unique:
“We have the most awesome a cappella group!” Maybe this is ‘unique’ to the Northeastern LACs as compared to the rest of the world’s colleges, but definitely not unique to the 15 we’ve seen.</p>
<p>How about famous alumni? Having to hear at great length about the rivalry with another school? Having to be told for 90 minutes about how fabulous the school is and how happy the tour guide is and then, by the way, your chances of getting in are about the same as getting struck by lightning. If it’s a big school, how a big school can become small but a small school can’t be big and if it’s a small school, how they have everything a big school has but that it’s personal and intimate. Oh, and let’s not forget how the tour guide had a “love at first sight” epiphany the first time he or she set foot on the campus and how he or she just knew this was the right place to be. Also, how great the financial aid is and how the universe just wants to give you money and how amazing the study abroad program is. Also, how their version of housing is the ultimate for making friends and how, if the tour guide is living off campus, he or she misses the amazing dorm food.</p>
<p>On tour at McMaster in Hamilton, Ontario, the tour guide at one of the freshman/sophomore dorms cheerfully told a large group of parents/students that if you wanted to sleep or study this wasn’t a good dorm for you, as people frequently partied all night there. I had forgotten for a moment that we were in Canada.</p>
<p>How about climbing walls? I have no idea why this seems to be a requisite item now - but every college we have seen lately has a newish rec center with a climbing wall. Reminds me of going to a 12-year-old’s birthday party. Actually, when we saw the one at James Madison - it looked like that was exactly what was happening - a group of kids - either a day camp or a party were using it.</p>
<p>We were just recently at Bonaventure and they had a climbing wall. First one we’ve seen, but it was pretty cool. Little too much money being spent on the rec facilities these days though.</p>
<p>I’ve seen plenty of climbing walls.</p>
<p>I’ve yet to go on any tours, but I would imagine that 100% of the better schools have a singularly “amazing” track record when it comes to their grads getting into law/med/grad school and winning Rhodes/Marshall/Fulbright awards. </p>
<p>Also every top school’s athletes are really students first, and would have gotten in even if they weren’t athletes (as opposed to their rivals, who accept illiterates as long as they are good at sport X), and this is the only reason their athletic teams keep losing the big games to their big rivals (except Williams).</p>
<p>The big deal these days seems to be those programs abroad and internships. Every school harps on those. Also the fitness facilities and availability of apartments after freshman year are big items. Also the fun, fun, fun for the kids, the things to do on campus is emphasized along with class size. I don’t know how they get those average class size numbers but they are all low, even in schools that I full well know a lot of the classes are held in big lecture halls. I think they count the recitation sessions as classes as well to mitigate those numbers. </p>
<p>The subject of cost is really given a gloss over. The emphasis is on the great financial aid the school offers and that something can be worked out. Statistics are given in the most favorable light and need blind, meeting 100% of need, lots of loans, merit award given mainly on basis of SAT scores (which are downplayed anyway), and the definition of aid are not given a lot of time. I put a few adcoms in agony, I know asking a few directed questions. </p>
<p>The other crazy thing I noticed is ever so much construction occuring. You would not know that these are tough economic times with new dorms, athletic facilities, upgrading student centers occurring. A lot of new buildings even on old campuses. No wonder it’s so expensive to go to these schools.</p>
<p>You are so right about the construction. I’ve heard tour guides at UCLA say that UCLA stands for Under Construction Like Always.</p>