<p>So I've been wondering something.</p>
<p>Why do people apply to small liberal arts schools that aren't generally known over equally good, larger universities??</p>
<p>I understand the small classes, personal touch, etc. But what about the actual academics...are liberal arts schools just that good?</p>
<p>I've heard the argument over education. At smaller liberal arts schools, if they're good, they'll have experts in the field teaching the undergrads. At schools like Harvard and Yale, they have students of the experts, grad students, teaching undergrads and the experts usually teach the grad students. There are exceptions, obviously.</p>
<p>And some people just like going to a smaller school, where they get to know everyone well rather than just a few people, and they like the small classes and teachers that actually care (or have to) about every student.</p>
<p>It depends on what you want. </p>
<p>Personally, I don't want to sit in a class of 400 where my professor barely knows me. The only thing a professor can do in that kind of environment is lecture.</p>
<p>I'd much rather be in a small class of anywhere from 3-20, DISCUSSING whatever I'm learning. I learn much better that way.</p>
<p>Plus, the people who go to LACs tend to be different than those who go to large universities. I love the quirkiness of the student bodies at LACs. </p>
<p>I would say that Williams/Amherst/Swarthmore are comparable to the Ivies. The education at those LACs and other top LACs is just as good as top universities. Obviously, not ALL LACs are that good, just like all universities aren't as good as Pton...</p>
<p>...So yes. They are that good. </p>
<p>Hahah, I'm a LAC enthusiast.</p>
<p>Edit: And name recognition means very very little to me.</p>
<p>Better education. At Harvard often large first yr classes, but at your small LAC always smaller classes, always taught by a professor and not a TF (Teaching Fellow at Harvard, TA everywhere else). Sure the Ivies and quasi-Ivies have the bigger name that more folks recognize but if you want the best bang for your buck look to small LACs.</p>
<p>Academically they're often better as teaching takes more precedent when a teacher comes up for tenure. Research, which matters much less for undergrads, plays a huge role in the big university teacher getting a tenure position.</p>
<p>Alrite, that's all understandable.</p>
<p>But here's my thing about name recognition of schools: it's a matter of personal preference, and that's good up to a point...but what about when it's time to get a job, doesn't the lack of a name brand school hurt in some/most cases?</p>
<p>It doesn't hurt at all. The networking for liberal arts colleges is amazing, and the people that matter (grad schools, good jobs) know liberal arts schools just as well as more 'well known' schools.</p>
<p>Paraphrasing the famous Bear Bryant (former Alabama football coach when asked on how he had such good teams): I do a terrible job on highly skilled athletes but a great job on motivating and getting the average athlete to rise as far as he can. I think this is in some ways what these relatively unknown LAC's can do, for the various reasons listed by others here, is take average to above average and really develop them. They may not provide what a truely gifted student might need in terms of student colleagues or absolutly top researchers in their fields. I went to such a school and thought it was a great experience, and found out that in the end I was "better educated" in and overall sense than others who went to say well known large state schools where they got lost.</p>
<p>I completely agree with brillar, it completely depends on what you want. I want to go to a school where I can personally know all of my proffesors and am able to have a connection with them. I also feel like LAC's are more flexible when it comes to alternative education, like internships and junior years abroad. But if that's not your cup of tea a bigger school would most likely be better.</p>
<p>I'll put it simply from my own personal experience. I visited a highly competitive, well ranked LAC outside of a major eastern seaboard city and found that the largest single lecture hall (I saw it, and sat in it) could hold only 75 students and was used typically for intro chemistry and showing movies on weekends. My dad, who went to an Ivy for UG, who was dead set against my visiting (let alone applying to) LACs, was converted.</p>
<p>If that doesn't tell you what LACs are all about, then I dunno what does.</p>
<p>OK, so I guess it depends on individual situations. </p>
<p>So for me, I'm from the East Coast, and I'm interested in business/finance. So two colleges I'm looking at right now are Pomona in California and the Stern school of business at NYU. I know they're completely different, but I want to keep all options open. But since my "career goal" is to work in finance, I think it makes more sense to stay close to home (and closer to Wall Street) instead of going across the country for a so-called better undergrad education.</p>
<p>That's where the question comes in...are LACs worth taking such risks?</p>
<p>Yes... and Pomona is hardly a risk. I went to a small school because I knew it'd keep me in check. My friends at the highly ranked state university are going to class not-so-often and taking lots of online classes... They get good grades, but are they really learning?</p>
<p>If I miss class I get a call from my professor. I can't BS my way through everything because we discuss it and it's obvious if I don't know what I'm talking about. I know all my teachers very well... Went to one's house for dinner with his family one night. </p>
<p>I guess some kids like the self-guided education of a big university... I prefer the way I have it at a small LAC.</p>
<p>LAC grads may not have the name brand recognition of the bigger schools... but let them prove themselves on the job and they're going to be as good as or better than anyone else. They know their sh**.</p>
<p>And as always, the only purpose of undergrad is to get into grad school so it really doesn't matter...</p>
<p>
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Why do people apply to small liberal arts schools that aren't generally known over equally good, larger universities??
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<p>It depends on who you want to know. Will the average man on the street know about Williams, Pomona, Swat, Amherst, etc? Probably not. However, people that you really want to know: to grad school, professional school and some lines of industry (LMany of the top LACs have an insanely strong and cohesive alumni) will know a top LAC.</p>
<p>My D felt the same way as NewEngSocSciMan and wanted an undergrad focused education, and this is what LACs are great at doing. The only Ivies that are really focused on undergrad education are Princeton, Dartmouth and Brown.</p>