<p>I would say that any school LAC or not that is not a suitcase college offers plenty for students to do rural, suburban, urban. Sometimes it is the kid, not the college, that is the issue and that they don’t “like” what there is on campus therefore there is “nothing to do”–similar to the full fridge syndrome where they stand in front of an open refrigerator saying “there is nothing to eat”…</p>
<p>I went to a smaller LAC, never lacked for activities to either student led or offered by the school.</p>
<p>I’m so glad there are choices. My S was accepted to our state’s flagship, U C Berkeley. He didn’t really want to attend, which appeared crazy to all his (and our) friends. I did, however, know our 18 year old son and how his underdeveloped frontal cortex worked. He had thrived in his small rural high school, he knew everyone and they knew him. But in situations where he had to show up and demand attention from strangers, he would just fade into the background, while being extremely polite. Perhaps he could have made it through UCB, but it wouldn’t have been the full or rewarding experience that a more competitive, dare I say demanding, student would have. </p>
<p>He really responded positively to the LACs we visited and ultimately choose the one where he felt most at home. It was not even the highest ranked LAC he was admitted to. He’s having a full and amazing experience, both academically and socially. The merit aid he received made it as affordable as UCB. He’ll have to go to graduate school for his chosen field, but by then he’ll have matured quite a bit and know the rewards of asserting himself.</p>
<p>I don’t think there is one type of institution that is inherently better than another, there are just different kinds of students.</p>
<p>bopambo–I like hearing stories like your son’s. I think people here get too caught up in having to have their children at the “best” schools, whatever that means, that they forget that there millions of people attending these other schools that get into law school, medical school, grad programs, move on to get their PhD’s, etc. that did not attend those 10 “top” colleges. A friend of our’s has 2 masters degrees and 2 PhD’s (from Harvard) after having attended a LAC that has been bashed on this board and worthless…just one example of many.</p>
<p>Yawn. MNCollegeMom- there is a recognition by MOST (not all) posters on CC that there are many excellent schools outside of the highly selective top 30 or so. We all have stories of successful people who went to “lesser” schools. That’s not the issue. </p>
<p>Just as it is silly to insist that you are doomed if you do not attend a top 10 school, it is also not helpful to take the position that a small, isolated LAC is the preferable choice for every student. And the fact is, there isn’t as much to do on weekends at some schools as opposed to others. I have some friends nearing retirement who are looking at different college towns with a view to enjoying activities at the school. There is quite a range. Some students need a different type of social stimulation and may not be as agile as others at seeking out comparable peers.</p>
<p>***bopambo:
I don’t think there is one type of institution that is inherently better than another, there are just different kinds of students. ***</p>
<p>Well put. Its whatever floats your boat</p>
<p>hamburgers>hotdogs
football>baseball
etc.</p>
<p>and if orange and red pants are coming back can the full Cleveland be far behind?</p>
<p>omofwildchild - I have to comment on your post. You say " it is also not helpful to take the position that a small, isolated LAC is the preferable choice for every student. And the fact is, there isn’t as much to do on weekends at some schools as opposed to others…" But the poster wasn’t saying that it was the preferable choice for every student at all. The poster’s POINT was (as another said below) “whatever floats your boat,” its not posssible to generalize all LACs and all students. But then YOU go on to suggest in general there is not much to do at many small, rural LACs. I’m sure there are students that would feel that way, but I don’t believe that most of LAC students who go there feel that way. My D is always busy, busy, busy at her rural LAC. She goes to so many social functions I sometimes worry I sent her to party central. Other LACs are less party focused but more intellectual event oriented, which suits those students. I know two students from a very, very small LAC in the middle of nowhere who claim that their LAC experience was the best of their life (one went on to Columbia Law, the other is chosing between Chicago, and Wash U for grad school). Another friend’s son just transferred from his small LAC to a school in DC because he wanted to be in the city. It wasn’t a good fit for him (and frankly wasn’t from the start, he went to play sports, never toured other schools, and then got injured literally day one). Just like saying you can’t get a quality, personal experience at a large research U is a unfair generalization (even though some have had that experience), it is also unfair to say that kids are bored and don’t have much to do at LACs. Some kids are far more bored at big schools where they can’t find a niche.</p>
<p>And as the source of that original comment regarding Northwestern, I’ll state that I’ve lived for many many years nearby Northwestern campus, have spent enough time on campus, know employees/administrators, and was even accepted to Northwestern’s MBA program. I believe I’m familiar w/campus and my observations are fair.</p>
<p>DD is just the kind of kid who according to this description would be better off at a LAC. However, she is at a larger state campus (which she loved at first sight and was her first choice bar none). She has had to fight for classes, pester professors, and is competing for internships. Yet, this is precisely what she needed to overcome her reluctance to do just that. In the process of ‘fighting’ she’s had to break out of her shell. So, in her case, the challenge of a larger university is of benefit.</p>
<p>I must have misunderstood your post, Momofwildchild, so sorry to the extent my post attributed something to you that you didn’t mean. I very much object to people (seemingly purposely) misconstruing posts and setting off on some tangential argument. I certainly don’t want to be guilty of that.</p>
The comment was “there isn’t as much to do on weekends at some schools as opposed to others.” Saying College A doesn’t have as much to do as College B doesn’t mean that College A doesn’t offer enough activities to its students; it’s simply a matter of comparative magnitude. For example, 400 available courses at a LAC is a lot for a student who only needs to take four each semester, but that’s not as many as a university that offers 3500. </p>
<p>It’s true that many activities are available at all types of colleges and locations, but it’s rather obvious that certain activities are much more available in some locations than others. To take familiar colleges in my home state as examples, if you want hiking, canoeing, rafting, or something similar, Western Carolina is a great choice. If you want art and wine nights at museums, lots of ethnic food/restaurants, opera and theatre productions, clubs for dancing, or basically anything other than a Wal-Mart around town, NC State is a better bet.</p>
<p>As for the party central comment, rural colleges do have a slight bump in binge drinking rates. Mostly white student bodies, high percentages of athletes, and large Greek scenes, which are frequently attributes of rural colleges, are also associated with high binge drinking rates.</p>
It’s true that this works for many students. I was a fairly pushy undergrad and consequently got a lot out of my university and the neighboring one; I’ve always said universities are great for go-getters. Many students seize the opportunity to reinvent themselves in college. </p>
<p>For others, being thrown into the deep end of the pool and told to swim doesn’t work. You’ll run into many grad students and professors who complain about students who just sit there like bumps on a log in class, and it’s unfortunately rare for students to come to office hours. I had a student admit last quarter that I was the first TA she felt comfortable approaching outside of class! There’s only so much you can do to reach out to students, especially in large classes. It’s really very frustrating. For someone like my sister, who was extremely shy in high school, a LAC environment is fantastic. The transformation in her confidence and maturity has been absolutely amazing.</p>
<p>I’m not comfortable nor sold on the idea that universities are for “go-getters” and LACs are for introverted shy wallflowers who need to have their hands held socially/academically. </p>
<p>For one thing, this certainly isn’t true of most Oberlin students who tend to be very outspoken and sometimes excessively blunt about expressing their viewpoints…whether in class discussions or in dining hall-co-op/late night chats about politics, literature, and current events. </p>
<p>If anything, most of my college classmates who later went on to become TAs/grad students at elite universities are often shocked and disappointed at how many/most undergrads they TA/tutor are often so disengaged and even more easily intimidated by more extroverted outspoken classmates…even when they’re not saying anything of much actual substance. I observed some of this firsthand at several universities ranging from directional state universities to elite universities…including some Ivies.</p>
<p>Cobrat, you make a good point. My incredibly extroverted son picked as his first choice an excellent LAC because he pictures himself there in small classes with engaged, smart students discussing facinating, intellectual questions. This was very important to him. I am not saying that is true generally of all LACs or all students who choose LACs, but it is just points out another way in which generalizing on this subject fails.</p>
<p>I hope you weren’t refering to my post as that isn’t at all what I meant. My point was that large universites and small colleges offer different levels of administrative and faculty accessibilty. Ability or willingness to battle the bureaucracy is not a one-size fits all scenario.</p>
<p>My son and his peers at his LAC were extroverted, articulate and assertive but at the same time appreciated and benefited from the nurturing personal attention that their school afforded them. This is not handholding or babysitting. This is a warm and supportive academic and social environment. My son is now attending graduate school at a large university and feels the difference in user-friendliness is marked.</p>
<p>Your son’s reasons for choosing his first choice was the same reason why I applied and ended up attending Oberlin. </p>
<p>Moreover, no one who knew me…especially during my HS/college years would ever consider me to be a “shy introvert”. If anything…they’d ROTFLOL at the very suggestion of that. Also, if it means anything, the Myers-Brigg test placed me as an ENTJ.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Actually, that’s from stereotypes of LAC and its target student population thrown about in past discussions about comparing LACs and universities.</p>
<p>I’d forgotten all about that test. Never did know what the letters stood for, but the description for S was eerily correct. I looked up S’s “score” and it was a ENTP. One letter off from you (whatever that letter means)!</p>
<p>I went to a LAC long time ago. When D1 was looking at colleges, LAC vs Uni, someone said to her, “LAC is a nice transition from high school to college, but most students grow out of LAC after few years.” Looking back, I think it was the case for me. Our kids went to a small high school, and both wanted a large U. D1 loved her experience at a large U, and we hope D2 will also.</p>