<p>In reply to Conformist1688’s post:</p>
<p>Yeah, that is what I was trying to refer to. Doing research at UCL might not be possible until your final year. Freshmen here can jump into research and remain with it for all 4 years, both in school and during summer. While it’s obvious that seniors at LACs would be more prepared, the freshmen contribute significant work as well. And you get more time to explore and learn about the research field that interests you directly. I would think that UCL emphasizes focusing on one topic (with knowledge from multiple labs about what their work entails), while LACs emphasize looking around until you can find one you want to specialize in for your final year.</p>
<p>Studying abroad at UCL might make finding research very difficult there, however. Pomona’s UCL study abroad is one of the only ones I know that has an active research component in it. I wouldn’t have considered the program otherwise. </p>
<p>In reply to your post (after mines):
Actually, there is a research dissertation requirement for science majors in LACs as well. All molecular biology students at Pomona, for instance, must do an experimental theses, and those interested in a career in research must do experimental theses for biology. </p>