<p>I am very introverted. On one hand, I love discussing academics with my teachers whom I get to know well, which is an advantage of a small college. I think it would also be easier to take advantage of opportunities at a smaller college.
However, I hate being stuck in group projects and class discussions where participation counts as a grade, and some days I don't feel like talking at all. So the idea of an LAC also concerns me. I stayed overnight at a tiny honors college, followed by a small discussion based class, and it was horribly uncomfortable for me. I feel more comfortable being able to escape into anonymity.</p>
<p>I have found that rollins college (a great school fyi)
has a group called introverts united . I can not tell you any more than that but it does have contact info on the website.</p>
<p>If you truly want to go through life anonymously then a large school might be a better fit. However you might find yourself growing into your new life as a college student. Visit both types of schools and see how they feel.</p>
<p>Small LAC without a doubt. So easy to disappear at a big Uni., and so hard to get quality time with profs. Introverts have no trouble hiding out at tiny LACs (I went to one).</p>
<p>I would apply to both and make your decision in the spring of senior year. You will go through growth by then and may have a clearer idea of what you want. There are advantages and disadvantages to both big and small, and IMO there is a benefit to putting a variety of school types on any application list.</p>
<p>At good LACs, most non-STEM classes will be heavily discussion-oriented, and the professors will be adept at extracting participation from everyone. While you might find this uncomfortable, it also might help you grow. </p>
<p>If you really want to disappear in class, pick a large U with big lecture classes.</p>
<p>I guess it depends on what you want to do. If you want to break out of your shell a little and become more outgoing, then a smaller school would be best. But if you would rather not participate in small group stuff then the bigger school would be better. You said the class you sat in on was uncomfortable, so maybe a LAC isnt the best option for you.</p>
<p>I’m trying to help my very introverted (HS Junior) son figure this out as well. I think he’s leaning more toward a larger school right now. Not so much for the ability to be anonymous in class, but for the more diverse (not quite the right word, but I can’t think of a better one) social scene – more opportunity to find a club or activity that will appeal and maybe attract other introverts, and less pressure to go out with “everyone else” or risk appearing antisocial when you really need your downtime to recharge. </p>
<p>A couple of thoughts on participating in large/small classes:</p>
<p>1) The class you visited was probably partially uncomfortable for you because you were a guest – a class that you’ve been in from the start would probably not feel as awkward to you</p>
<p>2) At some point you’re going to need a faculty reference for a job or internship or grad school – this requires a prof who knows how you are, and that is much harder to achieve at a big school, and pretty much requires you to choose to either attend office hours or speak up in those huge lecture classes.</p>
<p>My S was very quiet in HS and as a freshman. He thrived at a mid-size school (5,000 or so people) which had small class sizes. He felt the LACs were just too small and that there would be too much of everyone knowing your business and we all felt he could get lost in a huge school. Interestingly, my more outgoing D chose to attend a LAC. I suggest you visit a few different types/sizes of schools with your S and let him tell you where he feels comfortable.</p>
<p>^^^I guess every kid is different by my introverted/shy son ended up having very definitive opinions on the type/size of schools he liked as well as opinions on individual schools As with every college tour for any type of kid, the day will be to some extent dependent on outside factors such as the tour guide, admissions representative, weather etc. We visited his top choices again after he was accepted to allow him to cement his opinion as to where to attend.</p>
<p>BUT the jist of what I wanted to say is that a mid-size school might be worth consideration by the OP. For my S a mid-size university was intimate enough for him to be able to develop strong relationships but large enough for him to feel like he had some “space” when he wanted it. I’m not saying this is the right answer for everyone, but I’m just passing along something that was successful for my S.</p>
<p>Big schools tend to have bigger groups of kids in activities. While it can mean a better chance to get lost in the crowd, it also allows less input or control. A larger group swirling around you.</p>
<p>Small schools will have smaller groups, usually. Uh, lots of visibility.</p>
<p>And, any size U can break kids out into discussion groups or project teams.</p>
<p>I’m with SDonCC. Apply, decide later. Get to know the schools. Dig into what they have that works for your special interests. See what you really think about your abilties by next spring. Good luck. This is hard, one way or another, for more kids than you realize.</p>
<p>My son is a big time introvert. He’s not shy at all but he is an extreme introvert. The sheer amount of people at many schools would be too much for him. He has no problem talking in class, small talk with random people is a whole different matter…lol. He likes the idea of small schools especially because of the idea that you will be forming relationships withpeople and they won’t just be some nameless face that you pass every Mon, Wed, and Fri at 11:10. When we visit campuses, he is on the lookout for quiet, out of the way spaces that he can recharge if needed. Plus his headphones make it easy for him to tune out the external noise. I’ve also made sure he paid attention to the campus organizations to see if his particular interests are represented.</p>
<p>Think about the types of students at these schools On the whole, small selective LACs are probably filled with bookish introverts! Although you can’t generalize for everyone, I think you’d find a lot of people similar to you at a LAC and you could help each other be more expressive.</p>
<p>I’ve known introverts who thrived at large state universities because it was easier to be anonymous. I’ve known introverts who thrived at smaller schools because they did well in smaller groups of people.</p>
<p>It’s really not the size of the school as much as the school’s atmosphere and your individual personality. Introverts certainly aren’t all the same. Visit different types of campuses as much as you can. Good luck!</p>
<p>missmbv- Although every school is different, my experience (after visiting many different schools of many different sizes with 2 kids) is that LACs often have a relatively high proportion of athletes as compared to larger schools. This is because LACs often have a lot of sports teams and the percent of athletes on campus (granted they are often not the uber-jocks found at the larger schools) is relatively high because the number of athletes has to be compared to the LAC’s smaller student body.</p>
<p>I have done a few college visits, including a very large U and a small LAC, but it didn’t sway me toward either type.</p>
<p>The reason why I am trying to determine which is better is because, despite looking at all aspects- academics, location, etc., I am still having trouble narrowing down schools. Right now my list is around 20, (3 safeties, 8 targets, 8-9 reaches) not including the colleges every so often that I include on a whim because something caught my interest.</p>
<p>Also, I am concerned about choosing the right environment, as the wrong one could be disastrous. I’ve always been the most interested, curious, hard-working student in class- peek in any of my high school classes near the end, and you’ll likely see me scribbling away furiously while the rest of my classmates socialize- but I have no motivation outside of class. It continues to baffle my teachers when I don’t turn in assignments, and while most of them won’t comment on my lateness/extend deadlines because of how I act in class and the quality of what I do turn in, I know that won’t pass in college.</p>
<p>So, a large school and large classes would likely make me much less stressed, but I am not sure which I’d find more motivating.</p>
<p>I agree with happy1 that a mid-size university might be a good fit for you. I had to choose between a LAC and a mid-size university and chose the university. I am fairly social with my friends, but introverted and happy to be alone alot of the time. My school offers small and larger classes and great academics but I won’t feel stifled by the smallness of a small student body. I can remain fairly anonymous to most people but still find a good group of friends and be social when I want because of the housing system. Also, you may find that the right class may excite you and so make you interested in participating!</p>