LACs vs Universities

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Lately, I have been seconding guessing myself and thinking I have been doing the whole college thing wrong...</p>

<p>To start off, I would like to describe myself and the types of things I am looking for in a college. I have a 98.06% average in school, and I am top 10% of my class. I have a true passion for business- I have been in FBLA since Freshman year, and have held the position of Secretary and President. I have won the outstanding business student in my school for the best two years, and have even taken business classes last summer at Oxford University with a summer program. Point being, I am a hardworking, intelligent student looking for a business-related career (I think?).</p>

<p>Looking for a college where I will be happiest is the most important factor to me. I am looking for a more personalized education; I want a medium to small college, where classes are small and you can know your professors on a personal level. Socially, I am looking for a college where the majority of students are like me- I would say I am smart and hardworking, but not geeky or nerdy. I am just a normal kid, who is looking for other kids who just want to have a good time. I don't party in high school (I could be kicked out of Peer Leadership or National Honors Society), but I would not be opposed in college. HOWEVER, I don't want the social scene to be dominated by drinking and parties. I wouldn't want to party every weekend. Everything in moderation! </p>

<p>Here comes the meat of the post-</p>

<p>Out of the colleges I have looked at, the ones I liked most were the LACs; they are small, personalized, and socially a good fit. I looked at schools like BU or GW (which would be on the safety sides) and felt like I would not belong. My top choices right now are Colgate and Hamilton.</p>

<p>And I looking at this the wrong way? For business, should I be looking at big universities? LACs are AWESOME, but they do not have business majors- they have economics. From what I read, economics is the best business degree- but would going to a LAC limit myself or my opportunities? Would it limit the potential jobs I could get? Or should I just go to grad school anyways to get an MBA (after college)?</p>

<p>And for clarification purposes, could someone state the differences between LACs and Universities? What are the advantages and disadvantages to each?</p>

<p>Thanks so much!</p>

2

<p>You are looking at it correctly … for YOU. I would also add Claremont McKenna and Dartmouth to your list. At Claremont Mckenna, you can also hang out with the geniuses at Pomona and Mudd.</p>

<p>As for the differences between University and LAC, aside from size, the chief differentiator is the focus of the faculty. At a University, the chief responsibilities of a Professor are research publication, and mentoring of Ph.D. students. At an LAC, some research also, but then the mentoring of undergraduate students. LAC’s have a very low % of Ph.D. students, if <em>any</em>.</p>

3

<p>Howlong, You will not be penalized in your career path if you choose to attend a small LAC and study economics instead of business per se. Wall Street and Fortune 500 companies recruit at LACs, some more than others. Top LACs also do very well in business school admissions. Career counseling is generally strong and many LACs have good connections for summer internships. </p>

<p>If you have any doubt contact the career counseling departments and ask them what businesses their alums are working for or what business schools they’ve attended.</p>

<p>The advantage of attending a small LAC is entirely fit. If it’s a good fit for you socially and academically you will thrive and your good grades, relationships with professors who will write your recommendations and friendships with future successful alums will all benefit you. Whether a small LAC or a large university is better depends entirely on what’s right for YOU. </p>

<p>If you like Hamilton and Colgate, then I’d suggest you take a look at Williams, Amherst, Bowdoin, Kenyon. Pomona and Claremont McKenna are also great choices.</p>

4

<p>What I’ve seen is that the top LACs do exceptionally well in terms of business placement -places like AW, Colgate, Midd, and a few others. If you major in econ at these places you’re set. On the other hand, after the higher ranked LACs business placement somewhat drops off. In this case you would be better off at a BBA program.</p>

5

<p>You are definitely looking in the right direction. LACs offer much more personalized attention than large universities – this can be seen in how much attention you get in the classroom and in office hours with your professors, your class sizes in general, how often students interact with each other (group work, etc). Some LACs do or do not have the greek scene, and how large the greek scene at each campus varies as well. I think LACs give students the opportunities to not only explore various areas of the curriculum but also to explore more about themselves individually.</p>

6

<p>If you are interested in doing Business, I recommend you take a look at the Wall Street Journal Feeder Rankings.</p>

<p><a href=“wsjclassroomedition.com”>wsjclassroomedition.com;

<p>Despite the mixed response it received, it paints a picture of where Liberal Arts Colleges stand when compared to research universities in terms of population of students in Business, Law, and Medicine. Now, the first four schools should not be a surprise, but LACs do prepare their students well for a career in Business.</p>

<p>(off topic. 100th post!)</p>

7

<p>Since I like the LACs, could anyone suggest some good econ LACs on the east coast? Are Colgate and Hamilton good for these majors?</p>

8

<p>I think both would be fine for what you want. Keep up the grades, be on the look out for summer internships (which are pretty rare these days.) With any luck, the economy will be looking up by the time you graduate and may even reboot the whole MBA bandwagon.</p>

9

<p>Funny you say get a summer intership- I’m at my marketing summer internship right now! :stuck_out_tongue: I do marketing for a small business near my area.</p>

10

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<p>Having come out of a LAC with math-econ major, the LACs that have been most represented in the different Wall St. positions I’ve had since were Williams, Amherst, Bowdoin, Colgate, Middlebury, Hamilton, Colby. All of these are going to have solid econ depts for what it seems like you’re looking for.</p>