<p>Hey guys. So I'm trying to decide between UCLA and Colgate and May 1 is almost here! I know that they're very different schools, but I love both and feel that I would be happy at both. My concern is that I don't know if I want to go on to grad school, and I've heard that it would be smarter to go on to grad school if you go to a smaller, less known liberal arts college like Colgate, because it lacks name recognition and stuff. UCLA, of course, doesn't have this problem, but it's gigantic, which has its own disadvantages. So what do you guys think? Is the trade off worth it? Personal attention from professors vs. advantage in the work field? Huge classes and maybe not graduating on time vs. lack of resources and name recognition?
Which one would you choose and why?</p>
<p>Welcome back PurpleWhale - it’s been a while. First of all, you now go onto my recent thread of CC’s 2011 Top Ten Most Interesting College Choices!</p>
<p>No wrong choice here, but these schools are so dissimilar that you must have a basic preference - east or west, cold or warm, urban or rural, etc. I concur that the person on the street would be more familiar with UCLA. The people who matter - including employers and grad schools - would certainly be impressed with Colgate. Colgate would be my choice for the intimacy and the overall quality of the campus experience.</p>
<p>If you want personal attention from professors and an intimate social scene, then go to Colgate. It’s an excellent school that both grad schools and employers will recognize.</p>
<p>What do the schools’ websites tell you? What do you think of the programs, institutes, facilities, courses etc? Of course, that will depend on what you are looking for when you scroll through their pages and what you find.</p>
<p>If you want personal attention in an intimate college setting with a university feel, enroll at Colgate. You will always belong there- well after graduation when you return to give back!</p>
<p>We’re comparing apples and oranges - maybe more like apples and orangutans - but I’d not only put Colgate in the same stratosphere, I’d say that if you’re looking for small group intimacy and intellectual growth among academically-similar peers, Colgate is superior. If you’re looking for big school, rah-rah, world-class resources and big city vibrancy, then it’d be UCLA. It’s like asking whether you’d prefer a cruise on the QE2 or a weekend out on a CEO’s yacht.</p>
<p>Hey guys thanks for all the input. I’m leaning towards Colgate right now, but I’m worried that its nice intimate atmosphere might become stifling after a few months. It also seems that most students there are pretty athletic and spend lots of free time doing athletic things. I can’t even dribble a ball. Would that be some sort of social stumbling block? Thoughts?</p>
<p>First things first… A nice and intimate environment sounds like the ideal place to express yourself. There are plenty of friends to make, things to do besides recreation, and you will get lots of access- en route to a first class education!</p>
<p>There were never hot bods on QE2 which was generally full of an older set. </p>
<p>So to talk about hot bods you might as well refer to a Carnival cruise ship (souvenir mugs, limbo contests, casinos, wall to wall sun loungers) where the young set like to go on their one week vacations. Then there is the private yacht whose guests are those that the owner has invited for an exclusive gathering (including bods, no doubt). </p>
<p>Is this comparison fair when comparing UCLA to Colgate? </p>
<p>Re, the graduating on time: UCLA students are exceeding school projections, and graduating quicker than expected – exceeding = lesser time, strange juxtaposition.</p>
<p>bluebayou: I believe the OP is an int’l. So would this mean whichever one is farthest away from his/her homeland? ;)</p>
<p>I don’t see any merit from Colgate. I’d agree with an earlier poster, of The 'gate not being worth full price when you have instate fees for UCLA. </p>
<p>There are a lot of great LAC choices in CA, none of them interested you?</p>
<p>To each his/her own, best of luck at The 'gate…</p>
<p>The deposit checks are due. Where was your letter with deposit sent?</p>
<p>I hope it’s to zip 13346. If so, it will receive all the attention that the Class of '15’s incoming 720 members expect and deserve, in a beautiful, calm, and traditional bucolic college setting, with superb facilities (check out Trudy Fitness Center, Case and Ho, our most recent renovations/new builds, website readers) and with D1 ice hockey! Don’t get that in LA, do you?</p>
<p>But no matter where you go, good luck with your studies!</p>
<p>This is great news! Congratulations on your choice!</p>
<p>I understand that California is now the 5th largest state represented at Colgate, displacing Penn. So don’t be surprised by the number of freshmen from your state. With facebook as a tool and other means you will be able to reach out and learn so much about them, how they plan to organize their travel to/from Syracuse airport and on to Hamilton, what they intend to bring or buy in Hamilton for their dorms and for the changes in season etc. Your August arrival with all the information on your colgate.edu class page make anticipation very exciting. I remember my preparations so well…</p>
<p>So keep up the good work in high school and in your community. Great things ahead!</p>
- but I’d not only put Colgate in the same stratosphere, I’d say that if you’re looking for small group intimacy and intellectual growth among academically-similar peers, Colgate is superior. If you’re looking for big school, rah-rah, world-class resources and big city vibrancy, then it’d be UCLA. It’s like asking whether you’d prefer a cruise on the QE2 or a weekend out on a CEO’s yacht.</p>