<p>I'm asking because I recently chose the liberal arts school over the research university, and am now wondering if I should have gone the other direction. I felt like I would fit in much better at the liberal arts school, and could picture myself there more which is why I picked it. However, I am now thinking about life beyond these four years in school. The big, research university I got into has great national recognition and a strong alumni network, so I'm thinking I would have had more opportunities in terms of employment? Is this the case? I'm just worried that liberal arts schools are looked down on by employers when compared to the more well-known schools!</p>
<p>They may not necessarily be looked down on, but their small size may result in fewer visits to the career center since a visit to a large school career center will recruit from a larger pool of students than a visit to a small school career center. Students at small schools, particularly in out of the way locations away from where employers are based, need to be more aggressive at finding employers to apply to, rather than waiting for employers to recruit them by visiting the career center.</p>
<p>Don’t look back. There is a reason that when many big universities want to give their best students a great education they steer them towards an honors college that strives to mimic the intimacy of a liberal arts college.</p>
<p>I think the “big alumni network” is one of the most overrated things mentioned on college confidential.</p>
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<p>Agree. What the heck does it really mean, anyway? You’d think when you’re down to your last dollar in some skanky city, you just give a ring to your local alumni network office and they find you a cool job. </p>
<p>You are experiencing normal buyer’s remorse. Let it ride.</p>
<p>Be sure to work with your schools career center starting freshman year for internsihip opportunities, resume help, etc. Be proactive where you are. Your small LAC will also have alumni, and they may be even more proud of their school. At a small LAC in Indiana, I know alums do regularly hire students and graduates. They call themselves the “Wabash Mafia”. You may not get the big recruiters regularly, but you can still get in the door.</p>
<p>You posted recently you were deciding between Brown and Duke. Do you consider Brown the small LAC and Duke the big research U? Or for big research U were you meaning your state flagship? I am confused. Brown’s 9000 students and Duke’s 13,000 are not much different in size, and Brown is no research slacker. <a href=“About the Office | Research at Brown | Brown University”>About the Office | Research at Brown | Brown University; … <a href=“Researchers @ Brown”>Researchers @ Brown. What is your planned major and area of research interest?</p>
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<p>Absolutely.</p>