The Most Rigorous Schools?

College Search & Selection
27

<p>Maybe it’s more challenging in areas that you haven’t taken courses in?
Like if you’re taking mostly science courses, and it’s known more for churning out writers than for tons of science PhDs ?</p>

<p>If that’s the case, Warblersrule has researched LACs strong in the sciences, published on threads such as this one:</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/408717-inquiring-list-lacs-highly-focus-science.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/408717-inquiring-list-lacs-highly-focus-science.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>There are these “% phd” lists, by discipline (which require large caveats), floating around on CC, and other info such as ratings in Ruggs and Gourman:
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/237567-colleges-strong-biology.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/237567-colleges-strong-biology.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/swarthmore/61287-phd-production-chemistry.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/swarthmore/61287-phd-production-chemistry.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Also, it’s possible you are jumping to unwarranted conclusions; You may have had particularly strong courses in high school, but upper-level courses in the college may be quite a bit tougher than their entry-level courses. You might talk to upperclasmen in your areas of interest to get some feedback on this.</p>

<p>Personally, if I were transferring from an LAC, I would be tempted to seek a larger school. The key advantages to an LAC are: fit with your fellow classmates (strike one in this case, evidently), and class size. The biggest class size impact is on entry level courses, which you may be taking now. Past the underclass years, larger schools are likely to offer more courses related to your areas of interest, which can start looking like a bigger consideration as you move forward.</p>

<p>You might look for places that actually make an effort to integrate their transfer students socially. It can be hard to break in socially past freshman year, when many people have already found their groups.</p>