<p>^ i hate this research uni vs. LAC argument. I think both can work perfectly fine and the best place depends on the student and also the field. There are lots of generalizations that are not necessarily valid and usually overly simplistic. I teach in a gigantic school and we know all of our majors by name, we have a strong PhD program but also involve interested undergrads in our research (and and yes every year I fully fund an undergraduate to come to our conference and most of us mentor them into graduate school). It is not at all unusual, it just doesn’t fit the stereotype. Any student who stands out enough to get into a great LAC also as the outstanding qualities and wherewithall to seek out and be brought under the wing of faculty at a research university. But they should go where they feel most comfortable.</p>