<p>Shock of the day 1:</p>
<p>Some LACs have TAs. Their alias? Mentors.</p>
<p>My LAC has them, and has proven very helpful. The groups that show up for these ‘mentor’ sessions hardly exceed 15 people. So, we have our TAs as well. With smaller class sizes and an overall more intimate environment to boot (Don’t get defensive on me, I’m not saying that’s a better situation). But I very much prefer that. And so do many others. </p>
<p>Professors at basic levels of courses though, can be indeed hit or miss. Which is why you do your research (going through the course reviews, upperclassmen etc) to make sure you don’t land on an academic/GPA landmine. And it’s easy to ask around - the small community is relatively close knit and access to upperclassmen is welcome.</p>
<p>Alumni network - admittedly, by sheer numbers alone, LACs can’t match up with big Us in alumni. Which is why the good LACs have something which I call “selective prestige” - known by the companies and academics and organizations that matter. A good LAC, like Amherst, Williams, Swarthmore (and dare I say it? =p) Pomona will be known by companies, consulting groups, grad schools, firms and the like. That’s who you want to know your school. Sure, it’s nice to have the man on the street worship you for going to Princeton. If you really get high on that stuff - go for it. LACs are not your thing. The mediocre LACs are another issue altogether in this case.</p>
<p>In a general sense of the word, LACs are more focused on education in the traditional/ or less traditional sense of the word, depending on how you look at it. Professors are there as much for you as they are there for their research. Profs also take sabbaticals to pursue their own research, so it’s not as though you have a dinosaur teaching you nanotechnology, as many narrow minded idiots squeal off all the time. Generally smaller class sizes, very few big lectures, a more intimate learning environment, get to know your classmates better, wider availability of research opportunities relative to class size.</p>
<p>My oft repeated advice is always the same. After taking all the differences in LAC versus a Uni into account, another thing you must consider is this - Is it a good school? Or a bad school? That’s what’s important. The really good LACs give you all you need to succeed and more. Same goes for the really good big Us.</p>