<p>I only realized it today that I have no knowledge of Liberal Arts Colleges in the US as most of them are little known among Asian countries. But my one of my friends is recommending to choose Liberal Arts Colleges rather than National Universities such as MIT and JHU. Could someone tell me what are the differences between them? And what are the relative advantages/disadvantages?</p>
<p>Liberal Arts schools are typically small 2000-3000 students and the focus is on undergraduates. Typically there are no graduate students and all teachers are PhDs. National universities are often larger than 10,000 and the emphasis is on graduate students.</p>
<p>Familiarize yourself with the Patriot League. Some of the oldest and most prestigious LACs in the nation coupled with Division 1 athletics.</p>
<p>The advantages of liberal arts colleges are small classes, good faculty-student interaction, and relatively tight-knit student bodies. Limited course offerings are a drawback to liberal arts colleges, although some get around this with consortiums (5 College, Claremont, Tri-College). </p>
<p>Small universities often offer a good mix if you are not sure what you want size-wise. They are large enough to offer plenty of courses and research opportunities but maintain a small college feel. Universities like Dartmouth, Wake Forest, and Tufts fall into this category.</p>
<p>Another advantage: Higher rate of acceptance to graduate schools.</p>
<p>I really doubt that is true. Liberal arts colleges may send more students to graduate programs (per capita), but that isn't the same as a higher acceptance rate.</p>
<p>Check out this article Liberal</a> Arts Colleges by an admissions officer at Claremont McKenna College. I think this sums up the advantages of a Liberal Arts education.</p>
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Faculty-student relationships are the backbone of the liberal arts education. While research may be the primary concern of professors at many institutions, liberal arts colleges emphasize teaching with equal vigor. Personal attention, life advice, and academic guidance are just a few of the perks of small classes. Professors at liberal arts colleges want to talk with their students. They keep their ears open for interesting internship opportunities to pass along to their students. They invite students to their homes for dinner and they stay in contact with graduates and former advisees. These student-faculty relationships impart more than an understanding of a particular subject like history or biology; they are relationships the students remember long after they have moved out of the dormitory rooms and dining halls. Because of their focus on students, liberal arts colleges provide excellent preparation for professional school. Most have high four-year graduation rates and offer intensive academic and career counseling support from the very beginning. As a result, they often boast high acceptance rates to business, law and medical schools, as well as a high number of graduates who go on to PhD programs.
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<p>Can't get link to work - it's on the College Tool Kit .com website, by Adam Sapp</p>
<p>It seems so far that Liberal Arts Colleges are better choices for undegraduate studies since they have smaller classes and better faculty-student relationships. How about National Universities? What is better about them for undergraduate studies?</p>
<p>Big-time sports events; some professors are prominent in their fields for their research (though usually the more famous they are, the less teaching they do--especially undergraduate teaching); occasionally udergrads can help with the research; wider variety of subjects to choose from, and a wider variety of courses in each subject; usually better national name recognition; wider variety of clubs to join; larger enrollment offers more students with whom to find your social niche; liberal arts colleges are small enough that they can make you feel cramped--it's difficult to avoid a person you don't want contact with, and gossip will spread through the entire campus every time anyone does something really stupid...at bigger schools there is more anonymity and privacy.</p>