<p>I've posted here before on Ivy vs. LACs, just to see what people thought about them in general. Well now that I'm getting all that extra information, I'm afraid I'm getting lost even more :( I really don't care about rural or urban setting, though I might be uncomfortable with a college TOO much in the middle of nowhere; I've never been into any class with over 40 people, and I'm not sure whether I'll be fine or not in large universities; I personally believe good LACs to be just as reputable as Ivy schools, so prestige will not be that big of a deal (if it's not then maybe I'll reconsider the issue); I would like a school with a strong student support system, with a vibrant student community (if it has mock trial, then it would be really nice); AND I have to go to grad school. My thread does seem to be leaning towards LACs at the moment being, but I'm really not sure :( Any help??</p>
<p>Go visit a few different types of schools - your large state U, a LAC, a medium sized private. Visit an urban school and then a suburban one. Sit in on classes that you could imagine yourself taking, eat in the dining halls…this is what visits are for - to clarify what kind of environment feels right.</p>
<p>Agree that visits can be important when you’re undecided about what might be a good fit. I love [my</a> small LAC](<a href=“http://www.ccis.edu/day/]my”>Start your college journey here | Columbia College) because the faculty to student ratio is 1:11, we have great student support services, and it’s just a really nice, friendly atmosphere. Cultures vary widely even across LACs, though, and it can be hard to get a feel for that without visiting. Emailing or video chatting with students at schools you’re considering would be helpful too though, and The Princeton Review site has a lot of helpful information about class sizes, “typical” students, and campus culture. Good luck!</p>
<p>Thanks for the replies, M’s Mom and Katrina. Unfortunately I can’t go visit the campuses for myself since I live outside the states, but maybe I’ll try video chatting with the students at the colleges I’m interested in. But based on what I said above, do you think I’ll be better suited at one type of school or another?</p>
<p>You’re really looking at some intangibles that will mean something different to every person. If you can’t visit, then you need to come up with an alternative system. You mention mock trial. You could contact the admission office and ask them to put you in contact with someone from mock trial assuming they have it. Look at what colleges go to national competitions in mock trial. Or maybe contact someone in the career office and ask what sort of programs they have for students at different levels to start preparing them for work. Start following the campus newspaper and online announcements. From what you’ve said, I would think you would lean towards an LAC. However, (I know-not helpful) there are lots of universities that may fit your requirements. Start doing the research and contacting the schools to see how they respond. Make sure you don’t just go through the admissions office since sometimes they are totally different from the rest of the campus.</p>
<p>sadilly, thanks for all the awesome suggestions!! I’ll follow your advice and do more research, I guess. I didn’t have a clue what “college research” meant, but now I think I have a notion of what’s going on ;)</p>