| As usual, Carolyn and Asteriskea have both nailed it. The educational value is in having the school fit the student. The problem is with generalizations and hearsay on both sides. There is no winner here.
Undergraduates are not being shortchanged at Harvard. That is a myth that is continually perpetuated on this forum and elsewhere. My daughter, who is currently an undergrad, is still pinching herself to see if she is really there. There are opportunities galore... inside and outside of the classroom. Harvard students are busy ... in activities that don't exist in many schools. No, Harvard does not have the small, nurturing atmosphere of a LAC. My child does not need that, nor do most students there. You've heard that it's not a hand-holding school? Very true. The advising does leave a lot to be desired ... though most students are resourceful enough to talk to upperclassmen and proctors and utilize other resources. The biggest problem is that there are too many courses to choose from. And by the way, Harvard College is a liberal arts school, though students may take courses at Harvard University's graduate schools if they like.
On the other hand, my son who is at a top twenty LAC, is on top of the world too. If he has a question, his professors generally email him back within the hour. He has no TAs. His courses are absolutely intriguing. His advisor is fantastic. But make no mistake. One school is no easier than the other. Both of my kids are working equally hard. (No, it's not true that once you're in ... it's easy ...)
Both have professors that they like and professors that they are not enamored with. Both are equally happy, because each made the right choice ... both could see themselves nowhere else. In three short months, I can see how each of them have blossomed. Both are happier than they've ever been in their lives. That, to me, clinches the educational value.
Oh, and for the record, I am paying almost exactly the same amount of money for both schools. Worth every penny, in both cases. |