Hey CC, I am here to ask questions again. I am currently a senior enrolled in U.S. private boarding school.
As with all the seniors, this is the time of the year to make college decisions. I, too, am concerned with my future but recently came to a decision to attend American college. I do not intend on making this post a chance thread but I do want to know what credits/benefits/advantages does LAC has for international student over the big universities. I am NOT looking forward for a debate but curious to listen to perspectives of those international student like me who is interested or currently enrolled in LAC schools. (Please keep mind that when I am talking about big schools or LAC schools I am referring to high-ranked colleges. You know, all the top 10-30 schools you see on US news ranking)
Just to brief my POV, as an international, I feel like I am greatly disadvantaged in both college administration and career field in U.S.( I am aware that it is rightly so since I am in a foreign soil, and I do not have grievances about it). Therefore, I believe going to ivy league schools or top colleges will benefit me the most. Couple reasons for thinking such way. First, I do not plan to be a U.S. citizen, which means that I will most likely not going to work in U.S. but work oversea or in my mother country. So, reputation of the school becomes important to me. Secondly, I have read other posts that said how LAC schools have small-size classroom and close-knit community where you actually gets to know the people. But I know that only few of the classes in big universities have many students and will be smaller for classes of your major. As you can see, I do not see greater advantage in attending top LAC schools over top big universities.
Please do not be offended by my POV (if you were, I’m sorry), but as you can see, I am writing this thread to know more about LAC schools. I truly believe they are amazing schools that many people dream of.
I’ll be open to any rebuttal but like I said I am not here to debate. I just need your help/knowledge on LAC school’s benefits.
So, international students, why choose LAC school over the big universities? Is it a better environment? people? accessible professors? financial aid? I would appreciate anyone’s comment. Thank you for sparing your time to read this and have a merry christmas:)
Some people like all the things you listed about LAC’s, the small class sizes, making friends, hanging out with professors.
Others like the feel of a major university with big time sports, many choices of courses and majors, the lower cost (perhaps), being near their family and friends.
One is not better than the other except to the individual.
The biggest reason for an international NOT to go to an LAC is if you plan to return to your country after undergrad and want a degree with some name recognition back home. Most people in China have never heard of Amherst or Williams but they know UCLA.
If you plan to continue your studies in the US (grad school) or hope to immigrate/work in the US, than an LAC can give you a great undergrad education.
Hi. Depending on your long term professional and academic goals, your decision should greatly vary. The above poster is correct when saying that if your plan is to complete academia at the undergraduate level, a LAC school is not “worth” the investment as opposed to attending say Cal or Brown. As an international student, I decided to attend a LAC school since im deadset on entering either medicine or pharmaceuticals, both of which demand an education at the graduate level. The atmosphere and the benefits of a LAC, some of which you mentioned, are extremely conducive in crafting an optimal application for graduate school. Pm me if you want to know more about my personal experience in my school and why I rejected offers to other schools,
Even highly notable universities such as UC-Berkeley can be out-performed by more than a dozen LACs based on the students who choose to attend (to the extent this can be readily measured):
Thanks for the response guys. However, unfortunately, I have not confirmed 100% yet on whether I want to stop at the bachelor’s level or going to graduate school. I originally planned to end with bachelors, but I am open to advancing to graduate level.
After doing some research and based on your comments, it seems like if I want to go back to my home country or work internationally it would be better to go to big universities like ivy leagues, for their name recognition. But vice versa if I intend to work on the U.S.
I have another question to ask. If I were to attend LAC schools, what I find ideal is to build an optimal application for graduate study. But I do not know much about matriculating to LAC and going straight to graduate school. From my understanding, the trend is that you go to LAC and get a practical education/knowledge, and go to ivy league graduate schools. However, how common is this case? and how realistic is this for international student? Sorry for asking so many questions and not knowing stuffs, but I would greatly appreciate your help. Thanks
Top LACs overlap with Ivy League colleges on the undergraduate level. Generally, whatever a graduate can do from one, they can do from the other. For example, highly regarded law schools and MBA programs appear to value and admit students from both of these classes of schools:
The very top LACs are Ivy League caliber and the students who go there have tremendous success with employment and grad school admissions in the same manner as the students who graduate from the other top universities.
However, if you are returning to your own country, it probably would be best to attend a larger research university with an international name. It is not reasonable to assume that an employer or business contact on the other side of the world would know the difference between small colleges in the USA. For all they know, Amherst and Williams are no different than community colleges, so you want to go someplace they are likely to have heard of - even if it isn’t as selective or rigorous as the top LACs.
International students from top LACs have excellent graduate school prospects. However, how likely it is that YOU personally have excellent prospects will depend on your ability to do excellent work there. They have the resources, the network, the support to ensure you’ll as go as high as you can, but you’ll have to put in the work and take advantage of the incredible resources.