<p>Cre8tive-</p>
<p>That's AWESOME- go Wellesley :).</p>
<p>I agree with the OP--LACs just aren't for me. I don't know if "stuffy" is the right word, but I'd feel claustrophobic in any school under 2500 hundred people. To me, you can make a big school small, but you can't make a small school big. You can achieve one-on-one interaction with professors even at universities--USC, for example, has a program where the administration will pay for your meal if you go out to lunch with one of your professors. It's easy to find a community even at a school with 15000 students; just find a circle of friends, join a club, join a sorority/frat, anything.</p>
<p>Universities just provide more opportunities. At a school like USC with 16000 undergrads, there's ALWAYS something going on, new people to meet, new things to try. Big schools have more resources, more alumni connections, and more options for majors. I love schools with big sports teams and tons of school spirit. To me, a university is just a better fit than a LAC.</p>
<p>I've heard from a number of LAC grads how study abroad junior year helped them manage the claustrophobia of small schools. I liked the Puget Sound graduate's description: She said freshman year was wonderful--the size of the school was perfect for getting to know students and faculty without feeling overwhelmed by a very large campus--but sophomore year was less wonderful, as sophomore slump set in and the possibility of meeting new people diminished. Junior year abroad of course broke up the monotony and by the time they returned for their final year, they were very eager to return to the familiar environment and reunite with friends.</p>
<p>Schools like Amherst, Williams, Swarthmore, etc (top LAC) have alot of alumni from royalty. I know Reza Shah II (son of the Shah of Iran) matriculated at Williams before he had to leave for the revolution. If you check their notable alumni, you will find the presence of foreign dignitaries, statesmen etc.</p>
<p>Yea, while I agree with Alexandre to a point--one of the market forces driving the Ivy League myth is their enormous popularity among internationals--the other point that should be made is that many-- if not most-- internationals already have jobs waiting for them when they go back home. George Soros' son (Wesleyan `92?) is one example.</p>
<p>Correction: Actually, Soros is a naturalized citizen of the United States.</p>
<p>To the OP: ha. Do what you want with your ability to choose, but judging from your comments, you just seem really, really misinformed. Top LACs are among the elite schools of America.</p>