<p>I don’t know if I can generalize about LACs and research universities as types, but the evidence I’ve seen recently is that students who seek it out can get great mentorship at research universities (and, of course, more opportunities, because there are more things happening), but faculty at LACs are much more likely to reach out to talented students on their own motion, and that LACs may well go an extra mile for their students. </p>
<p>Last year, I met a student who had been completely funded by her elite LAC to accompany some of her professors to the national convention in the field where she was thinking of maybe applying to graduate school. I was pretty impressed. I’ve also had occasion to listen to faculty of a small department at a top LAC talk about their current students, and I was bowled over by how well the faculty knew them.</p>