<p>I fully agree with you. I’ve spent time at both types of institutions and believe that, at least for the first two years, a smaller institution might better serve a timid student although the opportunities for high level research are much more limited. If I were the parent, I’d have the OP tour some of the better Midwestern LACs (like M2ck said, Depauw has a great program although it’s an extremely Greek school) as well as UIUC and some regional universities. Another possibility is the Missouri University of Science and Technology, a smaller research university that might give the OP merit aid (OP run the NPC to find out).</p>