<p>I knew that someone would disagree with me on the inverse relation between grad school and undergrad, but I stand by it. I admit that there are some exceptions, but I would say it holds more often than it fails. I would much rather go to a Princeton than a Harvard because at Harvard the focus is on grad students and at Princeton the focus is on undergrads. Almost anywhere you go undergrads will play second-fiddle to graduate students (ND and Princeton are some of the few exceptions). If you go in knowing that and are alright with being taught by grad students (I think we do a great job teaching, honestly) then that is cool. However, if you want to be the focus, it is important to go to a school where undergraduates are the focus (i.e. a liberal arts college or a university that focuses on undergraduate education).</p>
<p>As for my ability to generalize, I feel that I have a good sample. I have friends who are grad students across the country who I talk with regularly, and I would say that my experience as a graduate student is not unique. Also, given that most college students go to large state schools, I think that means that my experience does generalize to the majority of college students.</p>
<p>Just realize if you are going to a large research 1 school that the focus is going to be on research and grants, not undergraduate teaching. Most of the faculty at these schools view teaching as a waste of time and a burden (not all, but it is fair to say most). The benefit of a school that focuses on undergraduate education, whether it be a Princeton, ND, or a LAC, is that you have a bit less of this (although it is still there) because the faculty know that teaching is an important part of the job/tenure criteria.</p>