<p>I am in the sort of final stages in my college selection process. I have been accepted to a few schools so far but and still waiting to hear back from some others. My final four possibilities are two small (less than 2,000) colleges and two larger more prestigious options. I keep going back and forth about what would be better. Any input would be much appreciated.</p>
<p>(the final schools are Randolph-Macon College, St. Mary's College of Maryland, William and Mary, and UVA) </p>
<p>A little about me if you think it matters:
I care about school. I do well and challenge myself. I've maintained a high GPA with the hardest class load possible. I'd like a school where i can continue to challenge myself but i do like being able to go out to parties and such with friends. I need a sort of work hard play hard college environment.</p>
<p>RM undoubtedly a party school, UVA definitely has its fair share of parties, definitely work hard play hard as the other poster stated, William and Mary…I’m pretty sure they might have some parties if you look but I don’t think it’s as work hard play hard as UVA, and I don’t know about St. Mary’s.</p>
<p>You can’t really recommend either, it depends on the students preference. At least, that’s how I see it. There are pro’s to big schools as well as pro’s to small schools.</p>
<p>A large university can be exciting or impersonal. A small school can be supportive or stifling. Among the most common reasons for transferring, size is near the top of the list, with too big and too small getting pretty even play. Small colleges commonly translate into smaller classes and more faculty contact. They can, however, be too homogeneous or lacking in specific curricular offerings. Large schools may offer opportunities such as editing a daily newspaper or studying Swahili that a smaller school can’t equal. Extroverts and self-starters may thrive on a big campus. Students who are shy or who lack the self-discipline to work when there are endless temptations to do otherwise will probably be better served by a small college where they won’t be as likely to fall through the cracks.</p>
<p>The thing is that smaller schools need to be very strong to compete with bigger well known schools. I’d choose Amherst, Williams, Pomona and a couple others over almost any university in the country, but after the top 25 or so LACs they lose their strength IMO. If I were you I would rule out the first two. Its W&M or UVA if you want the best opportunities, given your question W&M seems like it might be the best bet.</p>
<p>W&M is the best combo of small school, great academics, challenging student body, fun social scene ( not Animal House fun, though) of your list.</p>
<p>W&M is better for academics if you want a challenge. Social scene is fun but not as loud as UVirginia. Do you want to be one of 15,000 or 5500? Thats the issue.</p>
<p>My theory is that you go to a small undergraduate school because the best opportunities at a large University are usually reserved for Graduate students. When large schools/universities comment that there are a lot of opportunities for undergraduates, they are typically trying to market how they are “different,” but the truth is even if there are a lot of opportunities, those aren’t the same as they would be for graduate students. I think having professors teach the classes is invaluable because grad and TA’s are usually teaching because they have to in order to get their PHD or graduate degrees. Yes, a small school might start to get to you if there aren’t options around and there is also such a thing as “too small” which only the individual can define. Also, I think it depends on what kind of student you are. Smaller schools do not typically have all their tests in multiple choice format and even the most basic of classes are going to be fairly rigorous (unless the Univ of Minnesota 500 student econ class or the 200 or so in intro bio). So while there are cracks to avoid if you struggle, the academic rigor might not be as formidable as a smaller LAC, which is why so many people try to get into the Honors programs of larger U’s.</p>
<p>Long story short - save the big university (UVA) for grad school.</p>
<p>thanks modadunn-- that was quite an in depth answer. and i have been thinking and talking to a lot of different people and that was really just what i needed to here. I think i feel more at home at the smaller campuses but i’ve been afraid that i’d be sacrificing academic opportunities. I don’t know if i can write off W&M yet (I got a 5 in AP Bio so they said i’d have automatic lab access which sounds pretty good), but I’m thinking you’re definitely write about UVA.</p>
<p>This is the argument of all college problems… LAC or Big University, and the truth is, both have valuable offering that the others do not. At a LAC you will normally have close connections with the professors and faculty. This is good and bad. It is good because you can continually ask questions about the material, and challenge theories,etc one on one with your professor. It is bad because if ten professors make up a department at a small school, and you don’t like 8 out of 10 of them… your shiz out of luck. There is something to be said about big schools… they have a wide variety of academic offerings, but less connections with your instructors, at least at the intro level courses.</p>
<p>At a LAC it might be easier to find a summer internship because they can focus on less people, etc. At a university you might have to search for internships yourself if you have not built connections with your profs. or faculty. </p>
<p>A small school social life might be more “chill” more social drinking and smoking while at a big university you will always find huge parties, but will you find a place where you can argue whether Socrates was real or not over a beer… chances are slim to none.</p>
<p>I think more than anything a liberal arts education is very valuable whether it is from a LAC or university in a lib. arts department. Honestly if I had to choose UVA or W&M I would probably choose UVA. Both are amazing schools, but I feel that for myself… UVA would offer more in terms of top notch education, GREAT social life, good sports, and good location. </p>
<p>Now I also want to put something into perspective, as one of the above posters has stated “Do you want to be one of 15,000 or 5500? Thats the issue.” Either way you are one of six billion… what you achieve and put yourself out to do at either university is up to you, it takes knowing one person sometimes to get your life going.</p>
<p>If you put a cactus in a forest it will die. If you plant corn in the desert it will die. The problem is not the corn or cactus, its the environment where its planted. UVa and W&M are two entirely different environments. The OP is describing an environment more towards W&M than UVirginia. If you think the environment doesnt have a factor in your life, then move to Darfur. The cost of living is much better than America.</p>
<p>I would personally choose UVA over the other three options, with W&M coming in at a close second.</p>
<p>I think a big university is a much better choice only because you have the opportunity to meet so many other people and it really gives that “college-feel” as opposed to a smaller school, which may just seem like a larger version of HS. </p>
<p>Also, my perception has always been that if you are a good student (and don’t need too much personal support academically) the point of a small school is kind of lost. There are a lot more opportunities at bigger universities and I personally like the “impersonal” feel. </p>