<p>CTCL preaches a different way of looking at schools. It was a great starting point for D as we really knew very little about the colleges and where to begin in putting together a list of possibilities. She applied to 2 CTCL schools and 2 schools with similar profiles that were not CTCL schools. She ended up at a CTCL school howevre it could just as easily been one of the other schools. She is still pleased with her choice and is now a senior.</p>
<p>I think the CTCL approach is more widely recognized now than when the book was originally published. Still valid and it really helped us.</p>
<p>I think there maybe a CTCL website and that this consortium of schools and their reps now travels around the country so parents and potential students don’t have to visit them all.</p>
<p>"I think there maybe a CTCL website and that this consortium of schools and their reps now travels around the country so parents and potential students don’t have to visit them all. "</p>
<p>There is a CTCL website, and they do have CTCL college fairs. But I’m not sure why you would say parents and potential students don’t have to visit the schools at all. All schools have websites. Do you recommend not visiting any and simply going by the website?</p>
<p><em>**why doesn’t the DD love Eckerd- what are the complaints- we looked at it and My D still mentions it- she is interested in Biology </em></p>
<p>I’m not the poster with the DD at Eckerd, but I have a relative who’s at Eckerd. Like the other poster, he likes it but doesn’t love it. He’s doing well, and he loves his professors and they’ve been very helpful. (FYI, he’s not a science major, although I’ve heard their marine biology program is very good). He’s not so crazy about the administrative side of things - had a housing issue that was not resolved and a couple other annoying things. Also, he says that transportation to get off campus is poor and the food is bad. Based on my experience with this kid, he’s NOT a picky eater, so that says something.</p>
<p>Many good points made above. I so have it in my head that DS#2 should be at a small school–such a shy, quiet kid who I think would get lost in a larger place but he really does not seem interested. I guess shoving him into a small school doesn’t necessarily mean he’d interact any more with his profs than at Enormous State U. (Dang! I hate having to re-think my position! )</p>
<p>Another parent with a kid at CTCL college here. I think my D’s experience is definitely less than advertised. I think money and location have a lot to do with this – some of the smaller LA colleges are hurting and cannot attract top professors to remote locales. She chose a major that she thought was strong at her school but turns out not to be the case. There are strong depts. there, but if yours is not one of them, there may be very little offered. It all depends on individual professors – her original advisor was ill-suited to be one, had no clue about how to be supportive. All ego and intellect, no sensitivity to young adults at all. Of course, there are people like that everywhere. The other thing she regrets about choosing a small school (even though that was her own choice), is that the social scene is very limited. She is not a drinker and is hard pressed to find things to do on the weekend, and people to do it with. It would have been easier in a larger school.</p>
<p>ingerp, I was thinking about small vs large today while waiting for my D, who is on the shy side, to come out of school-- 1100 kids there. It seemed SO big at first, but of course it isn’t, and the more we look the better I feel about larger schools. Kids get involved in their departments there, and the departments are big enough to accommodate different personalities and students who grow over their 4 years, while still giving them some shelter. Whereas in a smaller place there are maybe 3 profs in your field…hmmm.</p>
<p>@bethsmom: My dd did complain about transportation, so she has a car there this year. She has not complained about the food though. She is not a science major either.</p>
<p>Since my dd has only had experice at Eckerd, which is a small LAC, I don’t have any basis of comparison. I do know because of the small class size she feels very comfortable in approaching her professors, and when we went for Family Weekend earlier this year, they all knew exactly who she was. The courses are taught by full professors, not TAs, as you may find in large universities. My dd had thought at one point, she might want to go to UCLA. I think she would have been drowning there.</p>
<p>The flip side of that is a larger school is likely to have more clubs and student organizations where a shy kid might meet people.</p>
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<p>What mousegray said. At my son’s CTCL school, there was a choice between going to a party at a frat house (and presumably drinking)…or not…not really other options.</p>
<p>There is a pretty big spread in student population with the CTCL schools. D only looked at schools in the 3k range. Many of the schools are under 2k and that was too small for my daughter. My son is looking in the 3k - 9k range and will maybe look at one of the CTCL schools. D has had an excellent experience and would make the same choice given a secind chance (although as a senior she is ready to move on to bigger and better things).</p>
<p>Gwen, missy–these are all things I need to hear. Beyond twisting his arm to apply to a few small schools, I know it’s really out of my hands. And heavens–I did not go to a small school, nor did any of my siblings. I <em>know</em> kids are having great experiences and finding successful careers from all sizes of schools.</p>
<p>I don’t want to hijack the thread, but does anyone have suggestions for what I would consider mid-size schools (~5,000-ish)? We are in the mid-Atlantic. DS is not Davidson-caliber but will apply to Elon. He seems to think 2,000 is too small, but I’m still trying to steer him away from 40,000.</p>
<p>I’ve been on this board for seven years now–2 D’s that went through the app process & have flourished at their respective universities–and I want to say that CC has been invaluable in discussing (sometimes ad nauseum) this question.</p>
<p>Knowing my daughters, I figured D1 would pick a large school, and I was right. Adjacent State U. was perfect for her pre-med track, and being a huge football fan she had all the Division I rah-rah she needed. Just as sure…I thought D2–a little introverted, more into the arts–would choose a smaller school. WRONG. After coercing her to visit quite a few under 10,000 student colleges, we checked out a different adjacent State U from D1, a 40,000-student flagship university that she just fell in love with, and as a sophomore she has said a number of times she’s in the perfect setting.</p>
<p>Bottom line is that CC allowed me to see both sides, but in the end–pending finances–it’s the kid that has to make that choice.</p>
<p>Interesting points here, especially from Missypie. I, too, heard the lines that small liberal arts colleges are great because professors will contact your student if they are missing class or not turning in work. It is interesting to hear that is not necessarily the case. I, too, thought my somewhat disorganized student would do better at a small college where he would get more attention and opportunity, he is now seriously considering large flagship state U, (if he gets in), primarily for the cost. He has matured a lot this year. It will be interesting to see how things play out.</p>
<p>The CTCL schools were generally too small or too isolate for my son. He may apply to Clark, but the surrounding area seems limited and the possibily of being able to get a job to offset the higher cost seems less likely than at a bigger University.</p>
<p>Much to think about as we finally finalize the list!</p>
<p>Hmmm… we’ve been looking at under 5,000 schools, preferable around 2500, quite a few from the CTCL group, but lately my daughter has been itching to look at larger schools because of the greater options. This makes me a little nervous because she is so shy and I fear she will easily get lost in a larger class environment. </p>
<p>As a high school junior we still have time to explore and have looked at 2 small schools and one state school, with another state school this weekend. She’s not really interested in any of these schools, just going with friends. I’m okay with that as it gives her a view without any pressure. We’ll begin in earnest in the spring and we’ll have her first set of SATs back so we’ll have a better idea of possibilities then.</p>
<p>I’ve also noticed that she has been breaking out of her shell somewhat this year. Her sister (who cast a very big shadow) is gone 2 years now and I think that has helped her come into her own. So who knows, maybe a little larger (5-7,000?) will be okay. </p>
<p>It’s really been interesting to me, who went to a very small college, to see this process unfold. D was at a summer program at a huge U, and while she was homesick at times she loved the place and the program and had no trouble negotiating the city or the place. And her best experience with tours was a big flagship U-- where she was welcomed into classes, students befriended her, a prof took her for coffee…we were looking it as a backup, now it’s way up the list! So far, all I’ve learned is to expect surprises.</p>
<p>@CA_MOM - no, you go to the fairs as a way of prescreening the schools. then visit the ones that appeal to you. If all of them seem appealing, then visit them all!</p>
<p>Daughter had looked at two of them. I don’t know about all of the schools but the two that we looked at were for a very specific type of kid that does not fall under the “typical” 18 year old. I really liked both schools, but I agreed that the student body did not seem to be a fit for my daughter. I do however think that they offer a great environment for students that don’t fit the mold of their highschool. I am hoping that one of my extended family members will take a look because I think either of the schools we looked at would be perfect for her. The kids seemed a bit quirky but very interesting, and I enjoyed the obvious signs or social awareness on the campus’.</p>
<p>There are pros and cons for both big schools and small schools. I know that one of my biggest mistakes in my life was going to a big school. Don’t get me wrong, I loved my school and the friends I made were life long, but if you are not self motivated you can end up in big trouble. I don’t even think I ever saw my advisor and I was clueless on how to select classes in a timely manner. Also, at a lot of big schools certain courses are only offered certain semesters and you can be SOL if it happens to be one in your major. Then there is always the possibility of simply being closed out. </p>
<p>The first few years you are in huge lecture classes, for the most part, with a zillion sections taught by TA’s and no contact at all with Professors - and most of the time the lectures and classes aren’t even taught by full Professors but Assoc. or Asst. Professors because teaching is not their first job. That is research and getting published. </p>
<p>I can honestly say I have never heard from everyone who went to or presently is at a small school say their professors haven’t known them by name. Most almost always mention being invited for dinner at their Professors homes. </p>
<p>The one complaint I hear from kids about small LACS is that they are usually in very small towns far away from a big city but for most kids that is not an issue as their life and friends are on campus.</p>
<p>My D thought she wanted a small LAC initially, but we also looked at a couple state flagships, too. We went from Guilford (she said it made her feel sleepy) to UNC-chapel hill and she realized she loved the energy of a big campus–the hustle and bustle and greater diversity. She is at a flagship in the honors program and LOVES it. Semester 1 and already knows a couple of her profs and has had good advising (several manadatory appts, I guess so kids don’t get overlooked). </p>
<p>I guess it is all about ‘fit’–and this just fit her better. Best friend is at a CTCL school and having a great experience too–but my D feels it would have been too small and not offered enough course options…she’s like a kid in the candy store choosing between all the offerings.</p>
<p>She came in with a good number of AP and college credits, so she hasn’t had to be in tons of entry level courses. And the ones she is in are big, but she doesn’t mind–again, a fit thing. For some kids they would get lost in that.</p>
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