<p>I'm from a super-tiny school. Like, 16 people in my class, 6 people in the class above me. I've been in a small private school my whole life. Honestly, I'm also not a social butterfly, so I've always thought that going to a large school would just make me just another number. But, I've been wondering which is really more important when it comes to that: student population or student/teacher ratio? I want to have good relationships with my professors so that I can get recommendations for post-college activities. </p>
<p>Junior
4.0 GPA
NHS
Student Council
Yearbook Editor
Soccer
Pianist
36 on ACT
2260 SAT, 2350 superscore
Going into Pre-Medicine</p>
<p>Some schools I'm considering right now: Ole Miss, Southern Arkansas University, Rice University, Brown, and, well, let's just say I'm having a pretty tough time. lol If any of you have suggestions, feel free to tell me. Actually, scratch that, please tell me. But, mostly, I want to know which is more important: population vs. ratio.</p>
<p>Your stats are terrific, certainly in the Ivy League range, but given your background and preferences I think you should consider the top liberal arts colleges (LACs). They’re smaller and provide a campus environment where most students know each other, professors are very accessible, and students and professors often interact outside the classroom as well as in it. Even among LACs there are size differences, however. My daughter’s LAC, Haverford, is on the small-and-intimate end, with about 1100 students, and it’s a terrific school, especially strong in biological sciences which would be ideal pre-med training.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t pay that much attention to ratio. Those numbers can get easily skewed. bclinton is right, go for a small, high-quality LAC-- you have the stats for it and obviously have been well prepared for that kind of education. At a couple you might get significant merit aid. Besides Haverford, consider Middlebury, Bowdoin, Colby, Grinnell, Connecticut, Vassar, Oberlin, Reed, Dickinson, Whitman, Pomona… and there are more.</p>
<p>Thanks! When I think about it, I probably haven’t looked at enough liberal arts colleges. One I did like was Carleton College, but the location is…iffy for me.</p>
<p>researching4emb is right, ratios can be skewed up by faculty members who do more research than teaching. At a LAC, you are practically guaranteed to have small classes. On many college web sites you can find a “Common Data Set” document that contains details (in section “I”) about average class sizes.</p>
<p>With your stats, I’d predict that the next four years at Southern Arkansas would be profoundly frustrating and unfulfilling for you. I’m guessing that it’s on your list because they’d give you a full ride. No surprise there - you’d probably be the only person on campus with your level of intellectual orientation or achievement. </p>
<p>Basically, a large campus will feel large and a small one will feel more intimate, regardless of the ratio. The LACs above are all good suggestions. Davidson would be another good one to check out. I’m going to guess that since SAU and Ole Miss are on your list, they’re relatively close to you geographically and you’re interested in merit scholarships. If that’s the case, look at Rhodes in Memphis. It often pops up on CC threads as having good merit aid opportunities. There’s a prolific CC poster named Curmudgeon whose daughter (pre-med, I believe) turned down Yale several years ago for a full ride at Rhodes and loved it.</p>
<p>@DumbitDown: It’s too far from where I live. I’m graduating a year earlier than most, and I don’t think I’m fully prepared to be on my own 100%. </p>
<p>@gadad: Actually, I have visited Rhodes! I am considering it too, but I forgot to mention it.</p>
<p>Stats are great. You should look at the NESCAC schools (i.e., the little ivies). Those schools seem to be good for you academically and are small. Among the 8 little ivies that I think would suit you:</p>
<p>Middlebury, Williams, Tufts, Amherst, Wesleyan, and Bowdoin. Check those schools out.</p>
<p>Also, everywhere you go will have a large population of students then your high school. I wouldn’t worry as many kids come from schools ranging from 25 kids to 700 kids (and that’s in their graduating class alone!). So don’t worry too much as these good schools, while having many people inevitably (for any school. I.E. more than your high school), they will have good student teacher ratios, so your average class size should be small.</p>
<p>Sounds like a LAC would be a pretty good idea - but some of the smaller universities would work too. Can you give us more information on what you are looking for:</p>
<p>1) urban/rural/suburban
2) what part of the country
3) what you want to study or do later
4) the culture - preppy, rah-rah, artsy, intellectual, quirky, granola - give us some adjectives
5) deal breakers/must haves-single sex, religious, techie,
6) and finally, do you need financial aid?</p>