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I wanted to know the pros and cons of both types of higher education institutions. I am going to start applying for some school this fall/winter and wanted to get some insight into both big campus universities as well as small liberal arts colleges. I am leaning more towards liberal arts colleges due to their more intimate settings, lack of the greek and sorority community and crazy campus parties. I am not the partying type and would rather be in a place to focus on my school work with other ambitious students.
I have been looking at liberal arts college in NY and MA area as certain possibilities. Although they're some bug universities I wouldn't mind to attend (Columbia, Boston U, Tufts, John Hopkins, Georgetown) I would like the intimate surrounding more. I know there's quite a lot of women's schools there too which seem nice.
So here's some questions for the city data consensus.
What type of schools did you attend and why?
Did you like the social scene and student activities?
Did you feel you got a good education where you attended?
06-24-2012, 01:26 PM
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Quote:
What type of schools did you attend and why?
Large university. Small colleges tend to have very limited research opportunities, and getting some research experience as an undergrad is basically required if you want to go to grad school in the hard sciences.
That said, there are some very good liberal arts colleges that do have those sorts of opportunities for undergrads (Reed and Haverford come to mind).
Quote:
I am leaning more towards liberal arts colleges due to their more intimate settings, lack of the greek and sorority community and crazy campus parties. I am not the partying type and would rather be in a place to focus on my school work with other ambitious students.
There are plenty of large universities (including state schools) that are filled with lots of ambitious students. The Greek system can be completely ignored, and no one is going to make you attend a party.
I wanted to know the pros and cons of both types of higher education institutions. I am going to start applying for some school this fall/winter and wanted to get some insight into both big campus universities as well as small liberal arts colleges. I am leaning more towards liberal arts colleges due to their more intimate settings, lack of the greek and sorority community and crazy campus parties. I am not the partying type and would rather be in a place to focus on my school work with other ambitious students.
I have been looking at liberal arts college in NY and MA area as certain possibilities. Although they're some bug universities I wouldn't mind to attend (Columbia, Boston U, Tufts, John Hopkins, Georgetown) I would like the intimate surrounding more. I know there's quite a lot of women's schools there too which seem nice.
So here's some questions for the city data consensus.
What type of schools did you attend and why?
Did you like the social scene and student activities?
Did you feel you got a good education where you attended?
The big universities offer a much wider selection of courses, which is important. If the school is too small, you're stuck taking basic Philosophy, basic science, etc. for your general distribution requirements, and those can be very dry. The potential anonymity/impersonality issue at big universities is dealt with handily when you decide on a major. Your department of choice will take you in and personalize the experience. You'll be welcomed into the fold of their "family". Small departments looking to recruit students will be friendly with you if you just express an interest in their subject/discipline. Big universities offer some very interesting, even exotic, choices for a major, as well as for distribution requirements.
The social scene and student activities are extremely limited at small schools. The Greek system at big universities isn't even on a lot of students' radar. The frats and sororities are off-campus. You don't even need to know they're there. I wasn't even aware of any party scene when I was in college. Your reality is what you make it. Big universities may have special-interest dormitories, like language dorms, and the like. That can help make the college experience more intimate. You can find a good group of friends to hang out with by taking advantage of such options.
I went to a small private college for freshman year and hated it. I went to a big university the rest of the time and loved it. So many more choices at the large university! I thrived. I got better grades, because the courses were much more interesting.
Thanks JasonF and Ruth4truth. I guess I didn't elaborate on what schools I was looking at what I said liberal arts colleges. I was thinking about applying to Barnard in NYC, Smith College, Colgate, Bard, maybe Brandeis, etc. Those schools are some of the top liberal arts schools in the country, so they are not "bad" schools from what many people think of liberal arts colleges.
I prefer the smallness and intimacy of the campuses and from the rankings and reviews of the schools I listed above, the quality of education and the faculty are amazing. I guess my introverted personality would fit in more at a smaller school than a larger one.
I wanted to know the pros and cons of both types of higher education institutions. I am going to start applying for some school this fall/winter and wanted to get some insight into both big campus universities as well as small liberal arts colleges. I am leaning more towards liberal arts colleges due to their more intimate settings, lack of the greek and sorority community and crazy campus parties. I am not the partying type and would rather be in a place to focus on my school work with other ambitious students.
I have been looking at liberal arts college in NY and MA area as certain possibilities. Although they're some bug universities I wouldn't mind to attend (Columbia, Boston U, Tufts, John Hopkins, Georgetown) I would like the intimate surrounding more. I know there's quite a lot of women's schools there too which seem nice.
So here's some questions for the city data consensus.
What type of schools did you attend and why?
Did you like the social scene and student activities?
Did you feel you got a good education where you attended?
1. I went to a mid to large University in the North East- something along the lines of the ones you named. My kids go to smaller schools. I went to a larger school because it had the best program in my field that I could get into. That should be your first criterion in my estimation.
2. The social scene was great. You have to understand that in a larger University, social groups are not correspondingly large, although that option is there. Social groups develop the way people want them to, which is usually small enough to allow for meaningful interraction. My first group were the guys on my floor at the dorm- maybe 15 guys. The next group was the people in my major in the same class- that was maybe another 15 people which rotated every semester so that after a couple years I got to know about 50people well enough to call a friend.
3. Yes, I'm very happy with the education I got. I went on to a prestigious grad program, in part because my undergrad program was well known and well respected.
1. I went to a mid to large University in the North East- something along the lines of the ones you named. My kids go to smaller schools. I went to a larger school because it had the best program in my field that I could get into. That should be your first criterion in my estimation.
2. The social scene was great. You have to understand that in a larger University, social groups are not correspondingly large, although that option is there. Social groups develop the way people want them to, which is usually small enough to allow for meaningful interraction. My first group were the guys on my floor at the dorm- maybe 15 guys. The next group was the people in my major in the same class- that was maybe another 15 people which rotated every semester so that after a couple years I got to know about 50people well enough to call a friend.
3. Yes, I'm very happy with the education I got. I went on to a prestigious grad program, in part because my undergrad program was well known and well respected.
The schools I listed have a good department in what I am looking to major in, they also have good research and internship opportunities. The recognition of the school along with it's alumni/alumna connection is also a good thing for getting into a top grad school.
What type of schools did you attend and why?
I went to medium (at the time) state university for my undergrad, and a large one for grad school.
Did you like the social scene and student activities?
I was never into the social scene at college.
Did you feel you got a good education where you attended?
Yes. My undergrad experience had me well prepared for grad school. My grad school experience had me well prepared for life after college (i.e. I was competitive in the job market and found the employment I wanted before I even defended my dissertation.)
I will add this: I currently work at a small university (very few masters programs and no doc programs). A lot of people think that since it's not one of The Big Ones, that it's substandard. Our students quickly find out that isn't the case at all. Many of those that wind up transferring to a large university wind up coming back to us because they like being more than 'just a number'. Additionally, our program is actually quite tuff and leaves them well-prepared for future endeavors (usually grad/professional school).
I wanted to know the pros and cons of both types of higher education institutions. I am going to start applying for some school this fall/winter and wanted to get some insight into both big campus universities as well as small liberal arts colleges. I am leaning more towards liberal arts colleges due to their more intimate settings, lack of the greek and sorority community and crazy campus parties. I am not the partying type and would rather be in a place to focus on my school work with other ambitious students.
I have been looking at liberal arts college in NY and MA area as certain possibilities. Although they're some bug universities I wouldn't mind to attend (Columbia, Boston U, Tufts, John Hopkins, Georgetown) I would like the intimate surrounding more. I know there's quite a lot of women's schools there too which seem nice.
So here's some questions for the city data consensus.
What type of schools did you attend and why?
Did you like the social scene and student activities?
Did you feel you got a good education where you attended?
Before I answer your questions, I'd like to state the caveat that I've yet to read the other responses that have preceded my post--so if I'm duplicating answers, then I apologize in advance.
First of all, I think you listed some fine choices--I hope money/financial aid will not be a problem. Moreover, the cost of living in each of those cities, NY, NY, D.C., Boston, etc. is not going to be cheap. At some point you may want to live off campus and you might want to take that into account now because dorms tend to be zoos, especially for freshmen (even if it isn't a party school).
I went to a state-supported party school. I partied. I had a good time, yet at the same time, I got my work done and I worked a job. It can be done.
Moreover, I had some great profs who challenged me in a way that made me want to work harder rather than give up (some of my peers opted to give up when challenged). In addition, my many profs were available to help me out if I visited them during their office hours. I've heard that oftentimes big time profs at hardcore fancy pants schools like Johns Hopkins, etc. don't have time to deal with undergrads and shuffle the off to their TAs. It's not because these profs are jerks (while some are), but the pressure to publish is extreme in a setting like Columbia or Johns Hopkins where you'll likely take classes under assistant profs rather than associate or full profs. These assistants are still trying to secure their tenure applications and that comes with a list of publications they must meet in a certain time frame--hence the pressure.
I really enjoyed the social scene at my school, UC Santa Cruz. Hey, it was the 90s and Californy, what else can I say?
I think I got a superior education at UCSC. I think the UC system is great. But this is important for anyone going to college, whether it's at a state school or a fancy pants ivy league kind of thing--you get out of it what you put into it, especially if you plan on majoring in the humanities like philosophy, history, English, etc. In college, they don't try to force you to learn like they do in high school. You're on your own and that's where you'll need accessible profs.
So my suggestion to you is to think very hard about these expensive colleges. What about SUNY system? Might be a better bang for your buck. If money's not an object, then certainly shoot for something like Johns Hopkins.
I could elaborate if I knew more about your possible field of study, but I'll reiterate the gist of this post--put your all into it and you'll reap its rewards. Those rewards may not be fame and fortune--and if that's what you're seeking, then I'd suggest culinary school or film school--or take up an instrument, put on a blue wig, and try to become the next Katty Perry.
I think the size of the school depends on your major. Some majors work best at a smaller school, some at a larger school, and for some majors, it's not a concern. I went to a small-medium (about 12K undergrads) arts and media school. I majored in creative writing and television so I wanted a school with small enough classes that I could receive more intimate feedback, but a school big enough to host its own on campus studio, station, and have potential connections in the bigger markets. I have no complaints about my education despite some people poo-pooing the school. I also was not into college sports or the frat/sorority scene and glad that my school didn't feature heavily in these. The social scene at my school could have been a bit better but I think that's more because it was transitioning from being primarily a commuter school to one with a more central campus (it's located right in downtown Chicago so there isn't the typical quad found at small colleges). Of course, being in Chicago was by itself a major boon vs. being at a small college in the middle of nowhere.
I think if you're going into an arts field, a smaller school is almost mandatory. For a STEM major, the complete opposite is true since, as mentioned, the larger schools will have more research opportunities (though there are a couple of relatively small school with good reputations in these areas). Location is also a big thing. A small liberal arts college in the Boston/NYC area means that your campus is virtually extended to the city itself. Contrast that to a small college in a more isolated region and that small college will fill downright claustrophobic.
Before I answer your questions, I'd like to state the caveat that I've yet to read the other responses that have preceded my post--so if I'm duplicating answers, then I apologize in advance.
First of all, I think you listed some fine choices--I hope money/financial aid will not be a problem. Moreover, the cost of living in each of those cities, NY, NY, D.C., Boston, etc. is not going to be cheap. At some point you may want to live off campus and you might want to take that into account now because dorms tend to be zoos, especially for freshmen (even if it isn't a party school).
I went to a state-supported party school. I partied. I had a good time, yet at the same time, I got my work done and I worked a job. It can be done.
Moreover, I had some great profs who challenged me in a way that made me want to work harder rather than give up (some of my peers opted to give up when challenged). In addition, my many profs were available to help me out if I visited them during their office hours. I've heard that oftentimes big time profs at hardcore fancy pants schools like Johns Hopkins, etc. don't have time to deal with undergrads and shuffle the off to their TAs. It's not because these profs are jerks (while some are), but the pressure to publish is extreme in a setting like Columbia or Johns Hopkins where you'll likely take classes under assistant profs rather than associate or full profs. These assistants are still trying to secure their tenure applications and that comes with a list of publications they must meet in a certain time frame--hence the pressure.
I really enjoyed the social scene at my school, UC Santa Cruz. Hey, it was the 90s and Californy, what else can I say?
I think I got a superior education at UCSC. I think the UC system is great. But this is important for anyone going to college, whether it's at a state school or a fancy pants ivy league kind of thing--you get out of it what you put into it, especially if you plan on majoring in the humanities like philosophy, history, English, etc. In college, they don't try to force you to learn like they do in high school. You're on your own and that's where you'll need accessible profs.
So my suggestion to you is to think very hard about these expensive colleges. What about SUNY system? Might be a better bang for your buck. If money's not an object, then certainly shoot for something like Johns Hopkins.
I could elaborate if I knew more about your possible field of study, but I'll reiterate the gist of this post--put your all into it and you'll reap its rewards. Those rewards may not be fame and fortune--and if that's what you're seeking, then I'd suggest culinary school or film school--or take up an instrument, put on a blue wig, and try to become the next Katty Perry.
Thanks for the insight. I enjoyed it. Honestly, I would love to go to UC Santa Cruz (or UC Berkeley) if I wanted to stay on the west coast (I'm from the PNW). I would love the laid back atmosphere and warm weather of Cali along with the liberal mindset that most people there have. I think the reason why I am choosing schools in the NE is because of the schools and careers that will be more geared to my intended major (Political Science).
I am a transfer student (in my early 20s) so I won't be a teen kid going out into the world on my own for the first time. I have looked into a few Suny schools which I am also going to apply to as "safe schools" just in case. Suny Geneseo I heard is really good and undergraduates end up going to pretty prestigious grad schools afterwards.
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