<p>Can somebody please tell me the difference between a University (Princeton) and a college (Willams)?</p>
<p>Strictly speaking, a university is for both undergrad and grad students while a college is for only undergrads.</p>
<p>Personally, I think there is no clear distinction between the 2. There are some "colleges" that have grad students, i.e. Dartmouth College. There are some "universities" that have no grad students, i.e. Denison University.</p>
<p>Let's dictionary dot com this, shall we? (Yay procrastination on what I really should be doing!)</p>
<p>University: an institution of learning of the highest level, having a college of liberal arts and a program of graduate studies together with several professional schools, as of theology, law, medicine, and engineering, and authorized to confer both undergraduate and graduate degrees. Continental European universities usually have only graduate or professional schools. </p>
<p>College:
1. an institution of higher learning, esp. one providing a general or liberal arts education rather than technical or professional training. Compare university.<br>
2. a constituent unit of a university, furnishing courses of instruction in the liberal arts and sciences, usually leading to a bachelor's degree.<br>
3. an institution for vocational, technical, or professional instruction, as in medicine, pharmacy, agriculture, or music, often a part of a university.<br>
4. an endowed, self-governing association of scholars incorporated within a university, as at the universities of Oxford and Cambridge in England. </p>
<p>Yeah... for the most part though, they're pretty much interchangeable (at least in the U.S.).</p>
<p>In general, Universities offer doctoral degrees and house post-grad professional schools such as medical, dental, law and veterinary. Also, universities are a collection of Colleges that are administered separately to some extent, and headed by Deans.</p>
<p>But I guess there are exceptions, such as those sakky mentions. By the way, is Denison composed of different colleges, such as a College of Arts and Humanities, College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, etc.?</p>
<p>speaking of colleges & universities,
I am trying to convince someone to go to a 4 year university instead of doing 2 years at a local community college then transfer and complete 2 more year at a university. Overall, 2 year colleges don't really provide you a "college experience" and don't really challenge you as much. But the money problem is the reason for a 2 year community college. if it's better to transfer in 2 year and save money, why doesn't everyone do that? I know it depends on each person's situation too, but what else should I try to say to convince?</p>
<p>I'm not too sure of the difference either--but lately there have been several cases where very elite institutions have insisted on being called "college" rather than "University"--they carry it as a badge of honor-in other words "any old place can call itself a university, but it takes something very special to be a college"--I have no idea why it's such a big deal--a rose by any other name--but it makes me laugh.</p>
<p>Chaoses: I'd be careful with that one. Plenty of kids are really glad they did the 2 + 2 thing, especially those for whom money is a consideration. Contrary to the stereotype, many community college students are actually much more mature than "regular" college students, and they do not necessarily miss the "college experience." And why doesn't everyone do it? Because they can afford to do something more fun.</p>
<p>Apparently Denison once did offer graduate degrees (a really long time ago), hence the name university.</p>