Huge Public Vs. Tiny LAC With Less Prestige?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>So, that dang May 1st deadline is approaching quite quickly. I've been admitted to extremely different institutions: UofMichigan (ann-arbor) and College of the Holy Cross (Worcester, MA). And of course, in my mind the debate rages on.
On one hand, umich has an excellent reputation, very top-rated academics in all departments. No one can disagree that umich is a great school with tons of opportunities.
On the other hand, HC is a great place. Great profs from what I've heard, and from day 1 I'd be in a SMALL class setting with PROFs, not grad students teaching. And, the more I hear about UofM (I'm in-state so I know many people there) the more I hear that the grad student teachers don't disappear as you move up, they're still teaching 200 even 300-level courses. Plus, at HC I've felt so welcomed, everyone I've communicated with has been almost shockingly nice. And I'm catholic, and the whole Jesuit thing is right up my alley. But, there's not as much prestige or name recognition of HC. I'm going to be a poli-sci, pre-law major, so networking and connections are of course vital, as is admittence to a top law school.</p>

<p>What would you choose, and, more importantly, WHY? How do I go about evaluating these schools fairly so that I'll end up at the best school for me?
Thanks for the help!</p>

2

<p>If you stay in Michigan, you will get more networking mileage out of UofM. But if being a name rather than a number is important to you, and you feel more comfortable and welcome in the Jesuit environment, and you expect you'd be cared for and do well, and they offer what you need, I'd think HC would be hard to pass up.</p>

3

<p>holy cross is a great place and i almost went there. worchester isnt a very fun place...reminded me of a 1950's factory town. i don't need a city, but it would be nice to know if the town had something to do. </p>

<p>The students there drink a lot and have a lot of fun. i stayed over like a tuesday wednesday and got wasted. if you like to work hard/play hard its a great place to go as the students have great professors and know how to drink. </p>

<p>all the priests at my high school highly recommended it and thought it was second only to georgetown with regards to the catholic colleges.</p>

<p>also just a side note, holy cross is super expensive</p>