<p>I want to hear from people who were set on going to tiny LACs -- but didn't.</p>
<p>Story: I have always wanted to attend a private liberal arts college. Small class sizes, personal faculty attention, memorable classroom discussions, relaxed learning environment and lots of opportunities for undergrad research would definitely be part of my ideal institution. The "name brand" factor is not so important to me.</p>
<p>I was recently accepted to such a place: Occidental College in Los Angeles. However, while it offered me a modest merit scholarship, it gave me $0 in need-based aid -- and it costs about 40k a year.</p>
<p>Now, I was also accepted to UC Berkeley. Because its in-state tuition is so inexpensive (maybe 20k annually), it's looking like the most financially feasible option right now. I adore Berkeley (the city, campus, history, etc.), but I'm terrified of getting lost among its 24,000 undergraduates, dealing with the red tape and huge lecture halls, and the infamous cutthroat competition. But it may be my only option.</p>
<p>I am going to try to appeal to Oxy, but I want to hear from people who were set on going to tiny LACs and ended up, for one reason or another, at huge public universities.</p>
<p>How did you cope/adjust to the size?
Do professors ignore you and if so, how do you deal?
Do you feel like your education is being shortchanged?
If you are a humanities major (I'm studying English), do you miss discussion in your classes? Is it competitive?
Above all, are you unhappy?</p>
<p>I was never overly interesting in going to an LAC, but I am an english major at Berkeley, so I can at least speak on that subject. There are some large english classes, but there are also alot of small ones. I can tell you that the english major here is outstanding. The professors are great (most of them) and are very eager to talk and hang out during office hours if you're interested. English at Cal is anything but cut throat. Its difficult, but its not cut throat like you'll see in majors like eecs. I've taken a class with Robert Hass, who was the United States Poet Laureate and winner of the MacArthur Genius Fellowship and I can say he was one of the most personable, easy going people I've ever met. And there are many other's just like him, but maybe not as famous. Do a little reseach on the english program at berkeley and you'll see how stellar it is.</p>
<p>I would have much preferred a LAC I believe, but due to financial realities it was never in the cards. I'm going to attend one of the largest universities in the country next year in contrast (UF) simply because as a NMF I have a full ride and I cannot turn down the opportunity for a good education debt free. </p>
<p>In a perfect world I'd be at a LAC, but sometimes life doesn't turn out like that.</p>
<p>gatordan - Yea...if I go to Berkeley, I'll graduate debt-free too. I think I'm leaning that way now. I wish I had realized this financial problem earlier...dang.</p>