Eh -- I don't know what the point is in "ranking" the NESCAC schools. (Or the Ivies, either, for that matter...) That approach is, in my view, not at all productive.
In any case, I do not think that the below is accurate. My evidence is that one of my kids final short list was Amherst, Brown, and Bowdoin. And he chose Bowdoin. He visited all three, along with several others that he was accepted to. He went first with me, and then went on soccer visits by himself. In the end, he just really thought Bowdoin was his best personal fit. We were confident that he could get the same education at all three, so ... he went with Bowdoin.
My other son had declined Bowdoin and Amherst -- and had Conn, and two little schools in the Midwest left on his list. He was really expecting to go to Conn, because he really, really liked Conn's science field studies and their research program. At last minute, he decided against all of the NESCACs and went to Earlham College, because he really liked their Biology professors, their Eco-focused field research program, and was excited about their Biology-focused foreign studies. Plus, he loved how diverse the student body was.
So, in the end, he declined all of the NESCACs ... and he is super-glad that he did.
My opinion is that - ultimately -- "ranking" schools is not super productive.
My advice is this:
Don't worry about rankings. All of the "Top 50" schools offer the same superb education for undergraduates, anyway. If you DO feel the need to choose based on rankings, then find a ranking service that uses "outcomes" as their most significant metrics (US News does not.)
Also consider:
If your kid wants to go to grad school, there is ZERO benefit in attending an Ivy League school for his undergrad years. (If he does not want to go to grad school, then he probably is not really looking that hard at the Ivies or any of the NESCACS, anyway.
Look:
If all of his schools are good, solid, academic schools, then the priority should be what school is his best "fit. "
Forget about the US News "rankings." There are much better metrics to use and way more important considerations to prioritize, anyway.
In any case, I do not think that the below is accurate. My evidence is that one of my kids final short list was Amherst, Brown, and Bowdoin. And he chose Bowdoin. He visited all three, along with several others that he was accepted to. He went first with me, and then went on soccer visits by himself. In the end, he just really thought Bowdoin was his best personal fit. We were confident that he could get the same education at all three, so ... he went with Bowdoin.
My other son had declined Bowdoin and Amherst -- and had Conn, and two little schools in the Midwest left on his list. He was really expecting to go to Conn, because he really, really liked Conn's science field studies and their research program. At last minute, he decided against all of the NESCACs and went to Earlham College, because he really liked their Biology professors, their Eco-focused field research program, and was excited about their Biology-focused foreign studies. Plus, he loved how diverse the student body was.
So, in the end, he declined all of the NESCACs ... and he is super-glad that he did.
My opinion is that - ultimately -- "ranking" schools is not super productive.
My advice is this:
Don't worry about rankings. All of the "Top 50" schools offer the same superb education for undergraduates, anyway. If you DO feel the need to choose based on rankings, then find a ranking service that uses "outcomes" as their most significant metrics (US News does not.)
Also consider:
If your kid wants to go to grad school, there is ZERO benefit in attending an Ivy League school for his undergrad years. (If he does not want to go to grad school, then he probably is not really looking that hard at the Ivies or any of the NESCACS, anyway.
Look:
If all of his schools are good, solid, academic schools, then the priority should be what school is his best "fit. "
Forget about the US News "rankings." There are much better metrics to use and way more important considerations to prioritize, anyway.
Originally posted by Unregistered
View Post
Comment