<p>So I've been brainwashed when I was younger into thinking prestige and name meant a solid education with an ensured successful career. However, now that I am facing college apps in a couple months, I finally opened my previously narrow mind. This yielded curiosity for me relating to liberal art colleges. If you know anything of them, or attend/have attended one, what can you say about it in terms of what you liked? In fact what was it like? Was it a good experience? Why choose a liberal arts education over the more 'conventional' kind?</p>
<p>hehe. One thing I realize is that its not the education college that prepares you for life after college. Its the environment, more specifically, the type of awesome really smart and hardworking people your around that prepares you for the real world. The people you meet in college is going to present a big slap into your face. Life in a successful career after college isn't going to be as easy as highschool...</p>
<p>Of course, the collaboration that is involved with study groups and working with other intellectual brigt minded peopl on really ridiculous chemistry problems and solving it stp by stp and having it explained to you. The pressure ,the environment. . Working with like minds really stimulates you to go and work beyond your limit and you will reap the rewards for that. You will be ten times more successful when you take on your life and career challenges just by being around highly successful ppl.</p>
<p>I remember hearing on this board that the difference between LAC's and big universities like the difference between fine dining and a buffet.</p>
<p>In a fine restaurant (LAC), the waiter is very knowledgeable and friendly and is willing to stop and help you make a decision. Only problem is that if you want something that is not on the menu, you're out of luck. </p>
<p>At the buffet (university), you see a huge selection of dishes, but you have to figure out what type of food you would like and serve yourself. Some of the food is great while some of it is awful. If you can't find what you are looking for, then they will make something in the back for you and bring it out.</p>
<p>In an LAC, the school is small enough to where you get to know you professors well and have greater access to them. The schools usually don't have grad schools, so the focus is the undergrads. Also, unlike many research universities, LAC's employ teachers to teach, not for research. Also, classes are usually smaller in LAC's. The course catalog might be limited because the school may be too small to offer that course every year.</p>
<p>At many universities, the administration lets you control what you do, but they may give you less guidance than you need. Still, there is a huge offering of courses for you to take, but not all of them are great. </p>
<p>LAC and universities are different and one might be perfect for one person while the other is great for another. Personal fit determines what is right for a certain person.</p>
<p>That was a weird post.</p>
<p>Even though I attended an art school, their liberal arts education was that of any liberal arts college. </p>
<p>CLASS SIZE, I think is one of the best assets of liberal art colleges. During my freshman year, up until the last year I was attending, every class was capped at no more than 20 students. The personal attention is definitely a plus, especially when you get to call your professors by first name. Class discussions are essentially mandatory, because you'll stand out if you dont participate, and part of growing and learning from a college expereince isn't just about sitting and listening, it's about sharing and exploring different ideas and thought.</p>
<p>I think many will tell you that career opportunities are limited to liberal art college students, but in all honesty that's the truth about any given university. A huge part of you getting a job has to do with you not sitting idle, but taking initiative in pursuing work experience, ie take up internships EVERY summer, get to know your career counselor at your school from year 1, look at companies/organizations you might be interested in working for.</p>