<p>Can someone please give me a holistic detailed pros & cons list of going to a Research University (such as Rutgers) vs going to a smaller liberal arts college (such as the College of New Jersey)? Much appreciated !</p>
<p>This topic has been done to death on CC. Below are just a couple of threads yielded by a quick search. There are many, many more.</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/1074540-liberal-arts-college-vs-university.html?highlight=lac+vs+research[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/1074540-liberal-arts-college-vs-university.html?highlight=lac+vs+research</a></p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/1152114-variety-classes-choose-large-research-uni-vs-lac.html?highlight=lac+vs+research[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/1152114-variety-classes-choose-large-research-uni-vs-lac.html?highlight=lac+vs+research</a></p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/1053322-universities-over-lacs.html?highlight=lac+vs+research[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/1053322-universities-over-lacs.html?highlight=lac+vs+research</a></p>
<p>Most choose on the basis of fit and feel.</p>
<p>There are the usual pros and cons. But whether an individual student will encounter more pros at one type of school, versus more cons at the other type of school, depends on the student (including such factors like intended major, whether s/he is advanced or on-level, post-graduation goals, etc.). It also depends on how much the student cares about each pro and con.</p>
<p>Also, note that some features (breadth requirements, availability of a specific major, etc.) are more specific to the school, rather than type of school.</p>
<p>You’re also likely to get responses from people that will vow it is simply IMPOSSIBLE to receive individualized attention or partake in seminar style classes, traits associated with LAC’s, in a research university, but I for one can attest to having had what some would classify as a typical LAC-like experience in my first year of college at a research university. So, don’t believe that just because a particular school of interest is a research university, it won’t be able to offer the benefits associated with an LAC to any degree. On that token, it would also be a mistake to believe that no LAC can offer certain traits that are commonly found in research universities (research opportunities, higher level courses, etc.).</p>