Is staying at my elite LAC worth it?

Student Lounge College Life
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I’m a junior at an “elite” liberal arts college (a CC “top liberal arts college”) and I’m seriously considering whether it will be worth the money to continue for my senior year. I transferred into this college my sophomore year from a less competitive liberal arts college and I’ve had significant difficulty getting science departments to let me into their courses because they’re dubious (and belittling of my last college) of my pre-reqs. I’m now convinced my previous college had much better science departments and more serious courses anyway, despite the non-serious students.

The major that I’m stuck with, an interdisciplinary program that emphasizes breadth over depth (won’t be taking any classes higher than the 200-level), is a mess and I keep ending up in humanities and social science courses that aren’t interesting to me and involve way too much busy work and unproductive discussion for my taste. I’m really struggling to stay motivated. The two lab science courses I was able to get into during four semesters were disappointing and felt like high school level classes. Making matters more difficult, it seems as though all of the courses I need to take, or actually want to take, are only offered once every 4 or 5 years.

I’d like to go to grad school, but I won’t have the courses I should have for the programs I’m looking into. If I stay, I’ll likely need to spend a couple of semesters after I graduate taking necessary undergrad courses at a university. I’m not sure whether I should stick it out and spend (it really feels as though I’m wasting money) the money or just finish up at a state university. I’m happy enough with the social life and the location of the college, but its hard to justify the high tuition for what I’m getting out of this place. I’ve been taking summer courses at a local state u and I’ve enjoyed them–they’re down to business, no nonsense, and actually rewarding. They also costed a 1/17th of the price.

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Can you go back to the previous school?

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Would you graduate in another year if you transfer again?

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Seems like you are dissatisfied academically with the school you are at. Can you return to your previous school?

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Although this is anecdotal, I think this is a good example of how rankings don’t necessarily determine program or school quality. Undergrad rankings are primarily based upon inputs, not outputs.

Anyway, never taking anything above a 200-level class is a grave disservice - to your major in general and to graduate school. Most graduate schools won’t want a student who hasn’t taken upper-level classes in his or her area, and those classes are usually the ones that equip you with the skills and deep knowledge to succeed in your area in a career, too.

That said, if you are a junior, consider that most colleges require you to get 60 credits in residence to graduate from that college. So even if you could transfer to begin fall 2016, the earliest you could likely graduate is spring 2018 (unless you attended over the summer and overloaded on classes to try to finish up earlier, and even then, that would probably get you to fall 2017). Even if the public school is cheaper than the LAC, consider that you will have to spend at least two more years there, vs. one year at the LAC. Will you still be saving substantial money? Will it still make a big difference in the classes you can take?

Can you get what you need in those summer courses you take?

It’s also worth finding out whether you can return to your previous college.