<p>We are viewing the course catalog from a very well-liked but not prestigious small LAC (less than 2000 students) that my son was accepted to, and frankly I'm not impressed. The school offers nowhere near the depth and breadth of courses you find in more popular and prestigious schools of the same size. The course titles are very basic, like what a community college might offer! And when compared to the quantity of courses offered at large universities, there is no comparison.</p>
<p>But since my son prefers a well-rounded liberal arts education (he's going into economics/business/public policy), as long as the instruction is challenging and the profs are inspiring, how important is it that he doesn't get to take courses such as "Feminist Films of 1820's Guam" or similarly specific topics?</p>
<p>Courses are important. I would look at the catalog to determine if there are 4 years of courses worth taking. Naturally you give up breadth when there are only 2000 students, but if offerings are weak compared to other schools of 2000, I'd pass.</p>
<p>The last catalog I'd looked at before last week was the one for DS's school of 5000. Then last week I saw one for a school of 40,000. Wow! Amazing offerings. Yet the quality of DS's school is so much better I'm happy he's where he is compared to the behemoth.</p>
<p>The constriction of the course catalog- or more to the point, what is actually offered- can be a very real problem, and is a legitimate area of concern.</p>
<p>Where it can come up most is in upper-level electives. Your son might get interested in some particular sub-area of his major, only to find that his school has no offerings in that sub-area. Or a particular course he wants to take is only offered once every two years, when they find a visiting prof. with that interest, and then it conflicts with something else that is only offered then.</p>
<p>There are some liberal arts colleges that have viable, active cross-enrollment options with neighboring colleges. And some that are within universites that have many more availalble offerings at their other colleges, or graduate programs where qualified undergrads can also take courses. Such arrangements can expand the effective course catalog.</p>
<p>Have your son construct his 4-year academic program from the catalog with alternates in case something isn't offered or that faculty member is on sabatical. If he's spending a semester or year abroad, he'll need to plan fewer semesters. Take note of pre-reqs and sequencing and how often various classes are offered. Find out how difficult it is for freshman to get the classes they want-are they last to pick?</p>
<p>If he finds that he has more courses than he can possibly take during his time there, then the question is answered. If he is feeling constricted by senior year, that too is the answer.</p>
<p>The other thing that needs to be considered is class size. A large school will have broader offerings, but basic and required classes tend to be extremely large. The tradeoff to more extensive course offerings at large schools is more individual attention at small schools.</p>
<p>"If he finds that he has more courses than he can possibly take during his time there, then the question is answered. "</p>
<p>The question is not answered, because, hopefully, interests develop during college; whole areas, and particularly sub-areas, that he may not know anything about right now may become a consuming interest down the road. These cannot be fully anticipated prior to college.</p>
<p>"The tradeoff to more extensive course offerings at large schools is more individual attention at small schools,"</p>
<p>Perhaps the optimal plan would be those schools with viable, active cross-enrollment agreements. Or transfer down the road to larger school w/ more offerings.</p>
<p>Thanks for all of your responses, parents. I will take some of your suggested questions and ask them of the school during our forthcoming campus visit.</p>