<p>LACs, by definition, have chosen to committ themselves to undergraduates. But what universities have displayed that same level of committment. How does one spot such a school? What are the telltale signs? </p>
<p>I think this is an emormously healthy dicussion for those wanting the LAC intimacy as well as the big time resources of a university.</p>
<p>universities with:
smaller student/faculty ratio
larger percent classes under 20
fewer sections taught by TAs
higher graduation rate (relative to similar universities)
higher retention rate after 1 year
higher "professors accessible" and "professors interesting" ratings in Princeton Review
an expressed policy of committment to undergraduates (shows intent)
undergraduate involvement in scholarship and research
ratio of grad to undergrad enrollment
faculty office hour requirements
when you walk down the hall, are faculty in their offices or labs?
number of seminar sections
are undergrads guaranteed 4 years of housing?
are faculty offices in close proximity to classrooms?
effectiveness of academic and professions advising system
early alert system for students in difficulty
faculty act like they care (e.g. show up for class, comment thoughtfully on papers, willing to speak at length with prospective students and current students, and so on)
availability of support services and counselling
comfortable housing
streamlined registration and bursar
lectures and social/cultural events for undergrads
flexible, convenient, appealing food service
effective, proactive service for job placement grad school</p>
<p>Tufts is an excellent candidate.</p>
<p>a few more signs of undergrad committment</p>
<p>teaching is emphasized in the promotion and tenure process
university rewards teaching excellence with more than a name on a plaque
faculty arrange for review sessions and study groups
faculty incorporate an optimal amount ot technology and media into lectures
faculty make lecture notes, problem solutions and/or examples, and chapter outlines available on the web
student attendance is monitored
student attandance at classes in high
faculty are appropriately flexible about deadlines and assignments for students who are overwhelmed, ill, have a family crisis, and so on
faculty reply promptly to emails and are available via email
faculty make themselves accessible evenings and weekends
alumni involvement and giving rate is high</p>
<p>Princeton and Dartmouth have that reputation. Perhaps WUSTL as well? I'm sure there are others.</p>
<p>Among the large state U's Wisconsin has always had a higher level of commitment to ugs than most.</p>
<p>One more point:
I have noticed a difference in decorum toward undergraduates among faculty at lower-quality undergraduate universities. Second-rate faculty at second-rate universities are more likely to exhibit an unprofessional demeanor: arrogance, sarcasm, impatience, condescension, self-importance. Do you know what I mean?</p>
<p>I would argue that no universities have (or even can) display the same amount of commitment to undergrads as LACs do. </p>
<p>However, universities which are relatively UG focused when compared to other Unis would include: Rice, Princeton, Yale, Dartmouth, Tufts, UChicago.</p>
<p>Rice is another.</p>
<p>The College of William & Mary is a candidate, my writing class last semester was only 5 people, for being a public university, William & Mary focuses very much on undergrads, I love it</p>
<p>Haon,</p>
<p>I agree with you list, but sort of disagree on the LAC point. Some of those schools (Princeton and Dartmouth especially) are incredibly undergrad focused, essentially like LACs. The grad schools are fairly seperate.</p>
<p>Wake Forest</p>
<p>wake forest and university of richmond, but a list can be found on princeton review.</p>
<p>as you can see, not a single university.</p>
<p>u chicago's #1 on that list.</p>
<p>Undergrad focus was why I decided on Dartmouth over the other Ivies and top universities.</p>
<p>For undergrad focus, I don't think you can beat Dartmouth, although I know that Princeton has a similar rep.</p>
<p>I also agree that if undergrad focus is high on your list you can't ignore the better LAC's. For me, it came down to Dartmouth, Swarthmore and Williams. I chose Dartmouth because it seemed to be a great blend of University-college.</p>
<p>As an undergrad, I would prefer to be part of what is considered the priority of the school. For grad school, I would also prefer to be part of the main priority of the school.</p>
<p>Columbia also puts a lot of focus on its undergrad program. Most grad students on campus say that the undergrads get way too much attention for this high profile of a university and that the grad school deserves more. Columbia has a 7:1 faculty:student ratio for undergrads. That should be able to tell you something about the school. Columbia College is also the smallest Ivy college.</p>
<p>How about Duke? My son applied to it, so I'm curious.</p>
<p>I think this is THE most important college selection criteria. Thanks,</p>
<p>slipper--</p>
<p>Professors at LACs will be splitting time between teaching UGs and doing research. Professors at Universities will be splitting time between teaching UGs, teachings Grads, and doing research. Even professors at undergraduate-focused universities such as Princeton or Dartmouth will be spending time with grad students. This means they'll be spending less time teaching or researching, which is why I believe that no University can ever be as UG focused as an LAC; LACs are 100% UG focused...some universities may be 90%+ UG-focused, but can never be 100% UG-focused as all LACs are. </p>
<p>Whether the difference is significant is a separate debate. I happen to believe that it is, which is why I chose a top LAC over Dartmouth. However, there are plenty of people at Dartmouth who chose it over a top LAC (like fountainsiren) who obviously believe it to be a non-significant difference.</p>
<p>I'll echo William and Mary.</p>
<p>USNWR rated it #1 among public schools for commitment to teaching the only time the study was done, in 1995.
5600 undergrads
12:1 student to faculty ratio</p>
<p>Haon, a great majority of the departments at Dartmouth don't have grad programs. There are only some grad students in the sciences, so for a great majority of students there aren't grad students to compete with. Also, you will never see a class or discussion taught by a T/A.</p>