<p>What is truly the difference between these two?
If I know what I want to major in, should i eliminate LACs from my list?
(I'm a Junior in HS)</p>
<p>Universities have graduate students in addition to undergraduate students. Liberal Arts Colleges (generally) only have undergraduate students. Some universities have the reputation of being “pre-professional”-students are very focused on a particular career. Liberal arts colleges tend to be much smaller than universities. However, there is no reason to eliminate liberal arts colleges from your list, as a world class education is available at many of them. Liberal arts colleges, as well as universities, have many majors to choose from. What do you think you would major in? Also note that the average college student changes his major at least once.</p>
<p>If I know I want to major in something Business, likely Business school… then should I scratch them off the list?</p>
<p>Differences b/w LAC and universities:
- Course selection/# of courses offered
- Name-recognition
- Amount and caliber of research being done</p>
<p>Few 18 year olds have ever studied Business in high school. Some find it kind of dull once they do, and are then surprised to find that something completely different rocks their world. It happens - maybe more often than not. The major difference in many LAC vs. Univ comparisons is really just size and personal attention. You might have the idea that LACs are decidedly non-pre-professional, but then, so is Harvard. There’s no undergraduate Business department there.</p>
<p>It’s an interesting question, because there’s no fine line. Some LACs have PhD programs (Bryn Mawr), and some have law schools (Washington & Lee). Some LACs are more pre-professional (Claremont McKenna) than some universities (Chicago). Some LACs offer engineering (Bucknell) and business (Skidmore). Some LACs have many courses available (5 college consortium).</p>
<p>The most you can generalize is that LACs are usually relatively small (1000-2500 students) and consist almost entirely of undergraduate students.</p>
<p>Yes or No: If I want a Business Degree, are LACs for me? (that rhymes)</p>
<p>I was told technically a ‘college’ has only one college but a university offers more than one. For instance, Illinois Wesleyan University can be called a University because it offers degrees in both College of Liberal Arts and College of Fine Arts. This is what they said in their college visit presentation.</p>
<p>Do you want to major in economics? Do you want to major in “business,” whatever that means? Liberal arts colleges will not grant a degree in “business.” Someone else will have to tell me universities that grant a degree specifically in “business.” I know that some universities have “business schools.” As a 16/17 year old, can you be absolutely sure that you want to major in “business?” If you go to a business school, you may be limiting your options if you change your mind. I am saying this as the mother of two 17 year olds, also juniors.</p>
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<p>The two LACs that specialize in business are Bentley and Babson.</p>