<p>I've heard about the significance of class size as well as the fact that students benefit from direct teaching by the professors.. </p>
<p>I would like to know more about how the broad-based curriculum offered in LACs ( where you can take any modules from any subject and choose your major in your second year) any different from that in universities?</p>
<p>Correct me if I'm wrong, but students in US universities also have access to wide variety of subjects before they declare their major right?</p>
<p>I've come to the understanding that students in LACs have huge research opportunities and have high grad placements.</p>
<p>But, what sets LACs apart other than what I've mentioned? </p>
<p>If possible, I would also appreciate if LAC students/grads could enlighten me on the LAC experience. </p>
<p>A university’s college of arts & sciences (“CAS”) operates more or less like a LAC. It might be (although it does not have to be) much larger than a LAC, yet the CAS curriculum is virtually the same as a LAC’s. The system of majors, minors, free electives and distribution requirements is virtually the same. However, all national universities add graduate degree programs; most LACs do not (or have only very limited ones). Many universities also add undergraduate pre-professional degree programs in agriculture, architecture, business, communications/journalism, and engineering. Small LACs typically have few or no offerings in these areas. </p>
<p>So a university’s total population usually is much larger than a LAC’s. The campus usually is much larger. The professors’ time may be divided among teaching responsibilities, graduate student mentoring responsibilities, and research. Universities typically have far more course offerings, bigger libraries, and more student organizations. However, LACs typically have smaller class sizes, no teaching assistants, and an exclusive focus on undergraduate interests. So there are pros and cons to both. </p>
<p>Search around. Much has been written already on related subjects.</p>