<p>How does the size of a college affect the students? </p>
<p>I currently go to a very small highschool of about 200 and I like it because of the size - we have a very close relationship with schoolmates and peers. We get a lot of one-on-one feedback from teachers.</p>
<p>What factors should I be looking for while searching for colleges are similar to my high school?</p>
<p>Thank you.</p>
<p>The size of the college can definitely pose some adjustment issues. However, for me, it was always about how much attention the college could devote to undergraduate education. For instance, I wanted to be in a majority of small classes where I could get to know the professor through group discussions and small classroom settings. You generally only get that at smaller schools. Bigger schools with renowned graduate/professional programs generally devote more resources and their better professors to those programs, so that undergrads don’t get that much exposure. For instance, I go to a small college and I have a friend who is taking a class this semester (of size 15 students) with a Nobel laureate. That would be so much more interesting to me than sitting in a lecture hall with 300 other students every class.</p>
<p>On a slightly different note, schools these days are doing a better job in general of trying to help kids find their ‘niche’ in school. I know at several of the ‘large state universities’ they have programs for first year students that are almost completely designed to help you find your smaller group that you will be with and know for your 4 years. These programs do work and if you go to a larger school, you should definitely find a way to participate in these (Some include a summer camp prior to the year, others are just the orientation period prior to the semester, still others try to have first year classes with the same students). Big schools definitely have some classes that are larger, but if you participate in those extra ‘first year’ programs, you will find your small group of friends.</p>
<p>Thank you very much, 93tiger16 for the insight. I would really like to go to a school where I get attention as you do.</p>
<p>Thank you, stanatedj for your response. I will also look into such programs.</p>
<p>You’re probably looking for schools with 1,000-3,500 students (roughly).
For example, Hendrix is small and has a good orientation program.
If you’re thinking of larger schools (6,000+) or very large schools (25,000+), look for schools that have “living-learning communities” and (depending on your stats) an Honors College</p>
<p>*How does the size of a college affect the students? *</p>
<p>Larger schools can offer more majors. They can also offer more sections for various classes, so a student isn’t restricted to taking X class at only a certain time or day. </p>
<p>Also, larger schools often have more than one prof teaching the same class, so if you don’t like one prof, you can try to select the class taught by another prof.</p>
<p>Some of this depends on the tier you’re aiming for, but with smaller classes you may find a higher level of competition- or it could be frustratingly limited. It’s about more than class size averages.</p>
<p>Also, look at your possible majors. A large dept, even at a small school, is going to be different than a smaller one (which has its own liabilities- course offerings, etc.) And, if you are thinking of STEM, lab facilities can matter.</p>