<p>Many science students coming out of top LACs, for instance, get to publish research -just like University students. I don't think good LACs are anything like "high school: part 2" as you put it, unless you had teachers in high school who actively did research and published and expected you to do research for their classes...</p>
<p>however, hanna1, if you are a brilliant, ground-breaking researcher yourself, then I yield the argument to you b/c then clearly you know what makes a good researcher</p>
<p>Though I am admittedly UChicago biased, a good case can be made for science education at LAC's, and here it is: <a href="http://www.collegenews.org/prebuilt/daedalus/cech_article.pdf%5B/url%5D">http://www.collegenews.org/prebuilt/daedalus/cech_article.pdf</a></p>
<p>Well, I am certainly going to try UChicago out. Having gone to a small high school and Smith College for a year, I imagine I will learn a lot about education at a university vs. LAC in the process. I hope the University is wonderful though, b/c I never wanted to live in the city, and I have a feeling getting accepted to a highly selective LAC as a junior is even less likely than it was before.</p>