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What do LACs have that universities don't? Access to professors? You can get that a larger university. You just have to seek it.
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<p>Look, you can think they are not right for you but I can't believe you are going to seriously argue with some of the highly-informed people on this list that they don't have anything to offer. I'm sorry, but I can't help but question what your background in higher education is. LOL</p>
<p>I agree semiserious, but the OP and some additional posters have voiced opinions which many here would find inaccurate and misleading. Thus the rather strong response defending the LAC world.</p>
<p>Yes, I think you are missing out in not considering LACs. LACs are typically quite diverse. they often provide need scholarships and many have large endowments and attract a true cross section of student population by being able to address tuition needs.</p>
<p>If you think you are just going to find a rich, preppy, whitebread crowd at an LAC, what do you think you'll find at Stanford and most Ivies- lol</p>
<p>An LAC is the ultimate undgrad experience. It is about little else as (with very few exceptions) there are no grad programs, no grad students and thus no grad students to be TAs, to do research etc. You'll be in small classes with professors and if they need an aide for research, it will be you.</p>
<p>If you don't want a small, intimate setting, with direct contact with professors and administration, where your needs as an undergrad are first and foremost, then, yes, bypass the LAC route.</p>
<p>Like said in the 2nd or 3rd post, Macalester College is a great LAC in the St. Paul/Minneapolis area. Its a pretty diverse place, and 14% of the students are international.</p>
<p>Why the hell would wall street want kids from LACs?</p>
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Why the hell would wall street want kids from LACs
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<p>Uh, it might have something to do with the fact that the top-LACs have been feeders to Wall Street for more than a century.</p>
<p>If you are not from the northeast, you may not understand how respected the top LACs are among Wall Street and NY/Phila/Boston sons and daughters.</p>
<p>Yeah, people on this board tend to think that going into a strong "business" major or "pre-med" concentration will lead them to top MBAs and jobs - truth is going to a LAC will do just as well if not better.</p>
<p>Yes, LAC people have good luck getting first jobs on Wallstreet. This has a hell of a lot to do with alum connectioins rather than just skills though, don't kid yourself</p>
<p>What about Drew? It's only 45 minutes or so from Manhattan and runs a couple very interesting programs there (Wall Street Semester, Semester on Contemporary Art, Semester on the United Nations). They also have a summer science research institute that gets a lot of funding from all the pharmaceutical companies in the area and actually provides stipend and housing for students who are accepted. It's a strong school--always around the bottom of tier 1 on U.S. News LAC rankings--and from what I hear surprisingly eclectic given how wealthy the area is.</p>