Pros/Cons- Small vs. Big Colleges?

Small schools:

Pros:

-Smaller class sizes.

-More accessable professors.

Cons:

-Everybody knows everybody's business (i.e. GOSSIP!).

-Not a lot of diversity, it'll mostly be students who are just like you.

Large schools:

Pros:

-Some students prefer the anonymity of not having everyone know their name.

-More diverse student body (students of all races, religions, etc.).

Cons:

-Some classes are HUGE and may have 100 students or more.

-Your professors will be less accessable.

In the end, it all comes down to where you feel comfortable. I toured several schools in the process of my search and decided on a small school. For one, I knew I wouldn't have to walk a half hour or drive just to get to class on time. Big colleges equal way bigger campuses due to having more dorms. Another was class size. I prefer a smaller teacher to student ratio than big colleges tend to have. If I need help, I don't want to have to fight the many other students for some of my professors time. As far as learning ability, I don't see that there is that much of a difference really. I had some really great teachers that knew their stuff at a small four year I went to. I was getting the same education as people at a big university. Extra-curriculars, there's always plenty to do. At my small university, we had events through out the year on top of the different clubs and such. Plus, if you had enough interest, you can always start an organization on campus. You can make friends anywhere there are lots of people and even in small colleges, there are lots of people. Very interesting people.

I really enjoyed my small college experience and wouldn't trade it for anything.

Well, the bigger the college, the wider the range of extracurriculars, the more frequent the parties, etc.

If academics is your main concern, then my idea would be to attend a college that was small and that offered no degrees higher than the one you're after. In a smaller college, you will definitely get more attention from faculty and staff if you want it--at a huge university, your teaching assistants won't be there for you much at all, and forget about regular faculty in the first two years. So that means matriculating in a smaller college that doesn't offer a graduate program in your major.

But if you're a pretty strong student, then the neglect of the big university won't impact you and you'll enjoy the full range of social and extracurricular activities.

Went to one of the biggest public universities in the country - I would not change anything, and I had a few very different good schools to choose from after accepted. I think "resources" sums up my reasoning. A research university especially usually have more money to offer students (even if you are a Humanities major like me), larger libraries and computer labs, etc., more study abroad programs, hopefully more scholarships, and more of an agenda for improving their reputation and therefore what they want to do for students to keep them around.

Large departments seem small if you do extracurriculars and meet people with the same interests - class sizes are usually limited in the upper-division courses anyway, but if there's an honors program or if you can get permission to waive prereqs you can take grad-level stuff freshman year in some cases, etc. - it's more up to you if your school is flexible (you may want to ask someone from the school).

Living in a dorm can help you meet friends, but so do clubs, class, departmental research projects (yes, even in the Humanities aka oral history, plays) lectures, readings, whatever. I even met some friends completely online because of forums and interests. Basically, a large university can seem small, but you'll always have the resources of a large university (impossible the other way around). Also, if you are competitive, the Honors program at my school felt like its own liberal arts college.

My sister recently picked a college. And she had varieties like in the city and in the middle of no where. It really depends on your major because some small colleges may not have your major. Small colleges are better in a way because you get smaller 30 people in a class rather than 300. Big colleges are better because not so many people know your business and they seem to be safer.

Well I go to a fairly small college!

Pros:

-Smaller classes- u can really get to kno ur professor one on one

- Everyone knos every1 && it's more tight knit

-It's easier to find ppl who are interested in the same things you are

-smaller campus= less walking and more walking which r both good![More Walkin]- What I mean is it's smaller so you're more likely to walk places instead of driving so it's good excercise!! [Less walkin]- Even if you don't have a car u can still get where u need to go and it won't take forever!

Cons-

-Everyone knows everyone AND their business especially those who live on campus

-If you're a sports fan u dnt get to play in the big leagues like Div 1 ftball

-less ppl so not as wide of a selection when it comes to friends

- I kno my skool is kinda "cliquey" too

I'm blank 4 now but if I think of sumthin I'll let u kno!

I can only speak about small college because I attended UNCA - a small liberal arts college.

-smaller classes

-the ability to get to know people is easier because people know eachother.

-class work was more hands on and group oriented b/c of smaller class size

-if you skipped class - they knew! (wink)

-not a lot of greek socail interactions (very little frat or sororities)

-quicker to get to class when you're running late (happens a lot trust me, and when you are late you don't have time to drive or wait for a bus).

-smaller schools do not have as many degree programs

-harder in smaller schools to find a academic group of interest (science club, etc)

-sports are limited (my school didnt even have a football team)

-can often be more expensive if not a state funded school

-class work was more interactive

-bigger schools are more diverse

if i had to go back I woud not have not switched to a bigger school because i liked the fact that i knew a lot of people and didn't feel like just a "number" in class. I was a student . And they gave more one-on-one attention.

Big colleges don't mean much as far as social life/individual attention. As long as your college has a good teacher to student ratio, you will get the attention you need. As far as social life, it's natural to find a group of people and more or less hang out with them, regardless of how many you see every day. The beauty of a big college is if you stop liking your current group, you can find another, but if your shy (like I am) it's really not as bad as you think. At most I hang out with about 15 people, same as I did in my tiny private high school.

Isn't the student going to learn more, be challenged more and develop better skills in a class of a dozen or so students with an experienced PhD level professor than in an auditorium of 350 students being taught by a grad student?

This is why I prefer undergraduate only schools like College of the Holy Cross. All of the focus is on the undergraduate student and all professors are PhDs. There are no grad students teaching. Schools with prestigious graduate schools tend to give undergrads the short end of the stick and focus their energy on graduate programs.

I go to a small school and love it!

Really it depends on you.

If you want to go to school ot party and get an education on the side: go to a big state school

If your main focus is academics and you are going to try and get as many on campus leadership opportunities: go to a small school where there is higher competition among peers but more spots to stand out.

If I would have went to Notre Dame instead of Valpo I would not have the positions I have now because of the sheer volume of people( I am an RA, chem lab aid, judicial board coordinator, and treasurer of the premed club)

Of course no professor will recognize you by name at a big school. At a small school they will recognize you by face. My professors and a lot of my classes will go to their houses for a barbecue or go to the beach for class. Much more fun and much more individualized at a small school. anything between 5,000 and 10,000 is small and will get you this attention.

hope this helps. good luck!