Curious to know how you introverts feel about smaller classes that are discussion/participation based (read: the kind of classes many small LAC’s pride themselves on).
I always assumed small, intimate classes would be perfect for introverts, but I just learned that’s not always the case. Do you prefer such classes or would you rather lose yourself in a vast lecture hall? Or does it just depend on the class? Also, if you feared group discussions before, did small, discussion-oriented classes help you stretch and grow as a student?
Rethinking the idea of small LAC’s here. Would love to hear thoughts from any/all introverts!
One of the things we wanted out of our kid’s college experience was that that be known, encouraged, and mentored by their college profs. I was an introvert who attended a large well regarded state university. I skated through, barely making a mark. I got good grades and had friends, but most of my profs didn’t know me from Adam. I don’t care too much what my introverted kid preferred – I know from experience that they’d likely get a lot less than they could and should from college in a big school environment, especially if they weren’t the type to scrap for opportunities and attention. So both of my kids attended LAC-sized schools. And both have ongoing relationships post-graduation with mentors/profs from that experience.
One of mine, who is very gregarious but really needs to recharge alone, much preferred large publics where he could disappear, as desired, in the large lecture hall, only coming out to participate as required in discussion sections. My other much quieter one, who also needs to be alone to recharge, took one look at older brother’s flagship and practically ran screaming from the room. For him, the intimacy of sub-20 students and the prof in the room was the only way he could envision college.
For each of them, I think it came down much more to learning style than introvert/extrovert. The first one, who is really too smart for his own good, wanted to be able to disappear in class and to avoid having to participate just for the sake saying something. He hates having to perform on command, and is the kind of person who can read the materials once and totally get it. The other one is much for of a kinetic learner – he needs to be actively engaged in the learning process and would suffocate in classes where he couldn’t be almost physically part of the process, which really only happens in a small setting.
After observing both of their experiences, I can understand that the LAC setting could be excruciating for the introvert. In smaller classes, the expectation to participate fully, with presentations, comments etc. every class, can be a big part of the experience.
I agree, stretching can be useful – but my first one was SOOO tired of being pilloried at his high achieving high school for not “playing the game.” One of this favorite high school teachers shared with me how, he would be staring out the window, looking totally disengaged, she would ask him a question thinking she’d “zing” him, and he would say something amazing. He was paying attention, he just didn’t think it was worthwhile to play the game of saying something just for the sake of being noticed. He had other high school teachers who thought he didn’t belong in their advanced level classes because he didn’t “play the game.” For him, just listening, reading, and learning from amazing profs at a big university, was so worth it. He had plenty of smaller seminars in his (double) major, and developed close relationships with world class faculty in his major, but being able to disappear in the gen eds or other big lectures, on his schedule, was a big plus and actually relieved a lot of stress.
I don’t mind big lectures, because personally I can learn from them just as well even if there are lots of people sitting there too.
My smallest class was about six to eight people, an intermediate Spanish class. We had to participate in discussion a lot, and you couldn’t hide because there were so few students. I didn’t enjoy that.
Introverts get their energy from being alone. It doesn’t have anything to do with being shy.
If your son is shy, you need to find out what he’s comfortable with. I’m an introvert, but I was a broadcasting/film major who had a variety of performance and discussion courses (speech, production, writing, philosophy…). Some were small (fewer than 30 students). Others were much larger. I’m very good at interacting with any number of people for an extended period. The key, for an introvert, is building small blocks into the day where you can be alone for a few minutes.
Has your son tried sample classes at different types of schools? That might help him decide what types of schools he likes.
I’m an introvert, I’m not exactly shy, I like to speak in groups (but not to groups), and I went to a big university and am glad I did so. Both my daughters went to smaller schools (one, an LAC, the other, a private university) and really liked their schools. LAC daughter didn’t talk much in class; private university daughter did, I’m sure.
^^^THIS! I agree with @austinmshauri. So many people conflate being an introvert with shyness or social awkwardness. There can be an overlap, but not always. (And extroverts can be shy.)
Some introverts don’t especially enjoy superficial small talk, large parties or crowds, but really thrive in discussion groups and meaningful personal relationships with a few people. Someone like that may bloom at a LAC. Another introvert might be happy to get lost in a large lecture hall without interacting. People are so diverse that it’s impossible to generalize.
8-| Once again, a poster trying to get help for their kid who isn’t very comfortable with other people is dragged down the “introverted” vs “shy” rabbit hole.
Well, she asked! So I tried to make a distinction that I thought would be helpful to THIS situation depending on what she thinks HER kid’s preference/personality is. Not trying to drag her anywhere. I am an introvert who WAS extremely shy and awkward as a kid/teen. I wasn’t so good at small-talk, but found I could come out of my shell, become “myself” and be known in small-group dicussions so I found small classes the most comfortable and rewarding setting in college. But other introverts may feel put-on-the-spot in that setting and prefer places where no/little interaction is required.
My D is in an honors program at a big flagship and is an introvert. She still developed relationships with several of her profs first semester. Introversion doesn’t mean afraid to approach people and seek out opportunities. She enjoys both her big and small classes, though most of her classes are small.
Well, she asked (as an extrovert) what we introverts think about the LAC vs. large lecture experience. Some of us answered that well, it depends. Because there are different kinds of introverts. Good night to all, I’ve had enough for now. OP, I hope you were not offended, I meant well. Guess I’ll pull out a book or turn to netflix or go to bed early.
OP is asking about fit. If her son is shy, he may need one type of environment, but if he’s an introvert, he may need another. Colleges cost too much to make a mistake, so she needs to understand what his needs are before she can determine whether or not a particular college can meet them.
MODERATOR’S NOTE:
Let’s move on from debating about what the OP asked, please. IMO, I thought the question was straightforward without hidden meanings.
It so depends on the kid! A quite kid may enjoy the give and take of a discussion class, even if not participating as often as the others. And a prof might be more likely to notice that what is offered really advances the discussion. Many learners are more alert in a class in which they may be required to speak. Others may prefer to listen to a lecture and take notes.
Lots of kids might not be good at getting a prof’s attention at a big school. It can require a certain “look at me!” quality that many kids don’t have (or care to exercise.) That may or may not matter, depending on whether kids will need recommendations/connections for opportunities on campus as well as after graduation.
I think you are asking good questions but the answers may be related more to how your child wants to learn and what he expects from the experience. I have a definite introvert (not shy, but generally very quiet) who only considered LACS and has been very happy with how it is working for him. But that’s only one experience. Ymmv.
I very much prefer smaller classes/discussions. I go to a public college but I was fortunate to have a discussion this quarter with only eight students. I don’t know why, but in smaller class sizes I’m more willing to participate in discussion.
I am an introvert at heart and when I was in school, I much preferred large lecture sections where I could be in the back. Unfortunately, most of my classes were smaller, seminar type classes. I worked really hard to develop a new persona when I went to law school. I am still an introvert at heart but I can fake being outgoing better than I used to. The ironic thing is my H is Mr. Extrovert. Yet, I am a trial attorney and he dreads appearing in court.
I would classify my S as an introvert when he graduated HS (much more confident and outgoing after college). We looked at a wide range of types of colleges. This was my S’s take on them.
Large University – We all knew that the large universities would be too big for him and we all felt he could too easily get lost in the shuffle at a school this size. He also did not like the idea of huge lectures. We drove through a large State U on the way to another school but did not get out of the car. These schools can offer a lot for the right type of kid but it was not a fit for him.
LAC - I thought a LAC would be great, but when we visited one he felt the setting was uncomfortably small – he thought that everyone would be in everyone else’s business. When I considered his comment I think he felt that he might never be able to kind of fade back into the woodwork if he wanted to – that he would have to be out there all the time. (Ironically my more outgoing D chose to attend a LAC and loved it.)
Mid-sized university - The mid-sized universities were a very comfortable fit for him and became the focus of his college search. Most of the mid-size universities we saw had class sizes in the 30’s which allowed for him to get to know professors but be in a comfortably sized group. The student body size allowed him to “find his people” but was big enough so if he ever wanted to escape from the crowd he could. He did attend a mid-sized university and had a wonderful experience.
