<p>Small liberal arts college or huge renowned university?</p>
<p>I see the benefits of each. I can't decide between Lawrence University in Appleton Wisconsin and UW Madison in . . . well, Madison. I have visited both and enjoyed both visits, and now it is time to choose. </p>
<p>Any insight?</p>
<p>This decision is usually very subjective. In your case, even geography is almost exactly the same…so that isn’t much of an objective criteria to be evaluated! Are there any objective criteria to be considered in terms of cost for you?</p>
<p>We will mention the economic and political situation in Wisconsin…but will also mention the hits that private school endowments have taken over the past few years.</p>
<p>There will be attempts to give you reasons why the large uni is better than a small LAC and visa versa. It is likely you would leave either of these schools with an excellent education. However, your undergraduate experience will be very different at each place.</p>
<p>Are you sure of a major, or are you thinking about different ones? Do you know what you’d like to do after undergraduate school? OVer the 4 years, many students changes majors and also change their post-graduate plans, but, going in, it might help us give you some advice. </p>
<p>Tell us something about what you like about each place. Not what the viewbooks or tour guides said, but what YOU like. That might help us help you, too.</p>
<p>Will you have a chance to go back and visit each school? If yes, I suggest you find a table at the cafeteria or a coffee spot-type place in the student union where kids hang out. Spend at least an hour (go to more than one spot…and spend more time, if you can) listening to conversations and looking at all of the students who walk in and out. See if that will help you get a sense of where you might fit in better and find people you would enjoy meeting and being with for four years.</p>
<p>Many years ago, I had the choice of a small LAC or large state Uni. Both equally well known. I had an exceptional experience at the small LAC…which was in a consortium with other schools. Had great research opportunities in a humanities field, as did other students who were in the sciences. Students from this school were admitted to all top business recruiting programs (Ibanks, consulting etc.) as well as graduate schools. </p>
<p>I’m sure I would have been OK at the large Uni, but, for me, I’m not sure I would have gotten as much out of my classroom and social experiences. It really depends on which fits better for YOU.</p>
<p>My best advice is to re-visit both, preferably for overnights, and preferably close together. Impressions can change after a second visit, and doing them close together should facilitate a pretty easy comparison. Hopefully, one will rise to the top.</p>
<p>It also depends on what you want to do with your degree and field of study. If you are independently wealthy (don’t need to look for a job after graduation), then choose whichever make you feel good. If you are going to find a job, on average, UW Madison will give you a better chance.</p>
<p>I also recommend that you go to UW CC site for an opinion. I am not sure if Lawrence U has a CC site…</p>
<p>My DD is at a small northeastern LAC. She chose it over a bigger university (although no where near as big as a flagship university) because of the support and availability of professors. She is very happy with her decision. She always goes to a professor’s office hours whenever she has questions. Her professors know her name. That kind of environment is what she was looking for.
Good luck with your decision.</p>
<p>Sometimes it helps to “try on” a decision. Pick two days. On the first day pretend you’ve picked one of the schools. Spend the whole day with that thought and see what feelings come up. Then do it with the other school. </p>
<p>Best of luck to you.</p>
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<p>Although the prevailing opinion is that LAC profs are more available than those at larger univerisities, I would say that I could make the same points mentioned above about my daughter’s state-supported university. If a student wants to visit with a professor at a university, it is easy to do. </p>
<p>In choosing between the two schools (I have visited Lawrence and have been to plenty of large university campuses though not Wisconsin), accessibility of professors would not be my biggest concern. Initially, my daughter wanted a small LAC, but farther into the process, she decided that if she went to a small school and did not like the faculty in her major or the other students majoring in her major, she would be very limited with choices. I would also add that she is VERY personality driven and has little patience for many personality types that shall go unmentioned here. The personality thing may not be a concern to you at all.</p>
<p>The larger university offers more choices for majors, activities, sports, etc. The large state university also may offer a wider socioeconomic mix of students, which may or may not be important to you. Best wishes with the decision.</p>
<p>Hey, thank you for the responses! I have not completely decided on a major but I’m leaning toward psychology and/or biology. Medical school may or may not be in the future; I’m still thinking.</p>
<p>At the UW I am impressed by the college town and incredible offering for activities and classes. I come from a very small town, so while the enviorment will take getting used to, I enjoy stretching myself.</p>
<p>For Lawrence, they are very personable and have spent time talking to me and helping my parents with fin aid forms. I would also have to opportunity to play basketball at the D3 level. The town is still large, but much closer to what I’m used to.</p>
<p>I visited Madison on Monday and am going to Lawrence in ten days. I hope to go back to Madison again before May to sit in on a class and spend some time exploring alone. I was with a large tour group, and it was a little overwelming.</p>
<p>Here’s some different advice: Take everybody’s advice, think about it, and then make a decision.</p>
<p>Once you’ve made your decision, don’t second-guess yourself. Kick back and enjoy your decision.</p>
<p>If you don’t second-guess yourself, you will never go wrong, I promise. ;)</p>
<p>I am delighted to read a post from a student who can see success ahead in two very different paths. I think you will do well wherever you go. The smaller pond might let you be a lion on campus, which is rather fun. When it comes time to get letters of reference, there would be someone who knows you very well and that can translate into an outstanding letter of support. </p>
<p>I’m with heyalb. Once you choose, dive in and love it.</p>
<p>Congratulations on getting into two very fine schools. If at all possible, spend the night on both campuses. My son learned so much about the schools he was interested in when he had the chance to do that. You meet more students while they’re doing what they normally do on campus, I think it was much more valuable than all those info sessions!</p>
<p>agree with the overnight visits. Hopefully you can stay with someone who is majoring in what you think you will. Good luck</p>
<p>My D had the same quandry last year. She was accepted to a small LAC and a big Flagship which, with merit offers, wound up being almost the same.</p>
<p>She ALMOST chose the LAC, but after sleeping on it decided it was too small and she, an adventurous type, would get a bit stir crazy. </p>
<p>She is at a flagship in a town similar to Madison–very bustling, lots to do, youth-oriented. She loves it, and has already developed good relationships with professors. She did have a good number of prerequ’s out of the way via APs, which helped. She isn’t in lots of huge entry-level courses. And she’s in the honors program and is taking advantage of that. </p>
<p>She also said even though she’s happy w/ her decision, she realizes now if she’d chosen the other path she would probably also be having a good experience, just a bit different (a friend is at the LAC). When you have 2 good choices, neither one is necessarily wrong. I agree w/ the poster who said that once you pick, embrace your choice.</p>