<p>Hi everyone. I was considering transferring from my current state university. My problem is that my school is just way too big and I like the feeling of a smaller school. I was considering an LAC as an option and not too familiar with any of them. I am a science major and wondering which LAC is right for me.</p>
<p>Does anyone know which LAC is best known (or even most prestigious) or does it depend on area of the country you are in? What are the most competitive LACs and which has the highest rated departments?</p>
<p>Any insight to LACs will be much appreciated! Thanks.</p>
<p>LACs all tend to be well known in their local area, and not us much nationally. There are many LACs that have good science programs. What do you intend to major in?</p>
<p>For recognition: SAW (Swarthmore, Amherst, Williams), Pomona, Harvey Mudd, and Claremont Mckenna I would think would be the most well known. But there are plenty of great LACs, Bowdoin, Middlebury, Colby, Davidson.</p>
<p>However, for science majors, I would say Harvey Mudd would be your best bet. You have the fame of the Claremont Consortium, and then a rigorous science/engineering program overlooked by few research universities.</p>
<p>I would say Amherst is probably best known right now, due to its recognition in college search books as an alternative Harvard. Swarthmore, Williams, Bowdoin, and Pomona seem to be equal in education and rankings prestige, but one won’t get the “Ah, what a great school” recognition they deserve, as these schools are quite small.</p>
<p>However, of course, there are plenty others just as great. (Harvard is the most well known university, but several other great universities as well.) Considering your interests you should also consider Carleton, Grinnell, Haverford, Swarthmore, Wesleyan, Williams.</p>
<p>for science, Wesleyan and Haverford are probably the strongest. they also get the most grant funding out of the LACs. Wesleyan will have more name recognition than Haverford, as H is quite small, even for an LAC. Harvey Mudd is more of a specialized LAC (very science/math heavy), but if you’re looking for something more balanced, Swarthmore, Amherst, Williams, Middlebury, Bowdoin, Carleton, and Grinnell are also great choices in addition to Wesleyan and Haverford (as mentioned in other posts). </p>
<p>Keep in mind some of these are in new england, some midwest, and some are west coast. also, the size of these schools ranges from ~ 1,100-2,800. the schools I have listed are generally (and I emphasize generally) are considered the most prestigious LACs and are the best recognized nationally (as best as an LAC can have national recognition)</p>
<p>Pomona College may be well known among the crowd here at CC, but even in Southern California where it is located, Pomona is not especially well known. I have noticed this for the over 30 years since I attended and graduated from Pomona. Most people think that Pomona College is the same thing as Cal Poly Pomona.</p>
<p>A big question is the definition of an LAC. Both Dartmouth and William & Mary are not technically LACs, but have a liberal arts focus, and could probably provide you with many LAC type benefits. At the same time, they do have significant name power.</p>
<p>Agree with hadc10- there are LAC type schools that offer more name recognition,a little larger, but act like LAC re educating undergrads. W&M and Dartmouth to be sure. Also, look at Brown, Rice, Tufts, Chicago, and Wake Forest.</p>
<p>Something people haven’t really been talking about is what the OP means by “well known.” OP: did you mean in terms of the normal populace? In that case, most people’s responses seem right. But if you meant “well known” for the people who matter when getting jobs in the sciences and esp. getting into grad school, well, any top LAC is going to be well known and well respected if they have a good science program.</p>
<p>LACs don’t have much name recognition to a lay-person, but they do have name recognition where it matters – ESP. for grad schools.</p>