<p>Hey, I’m knew to College Confidential and have a few questions concerning liberal arts colleges and ivy leagues. </p>
<p>First of all, which do you prefer? Why?</p>
<p>I prefer the LAC because of its smaller class sizes, more intimate community feel, and concentration on reading/writing skills. I would rather be in a writing or reasoning class than doing research at a major university. That’s just me though.</p>
<p>Which is better for what kind of person? Why?</p>
<p>Every school has every type of person. Generally speaking, if you have a pretty set idea of what you want to do, or want access to a dizzying multitude of course selections, an Ivy league University is more your speed. If you want a more intimate atmosphere with classes not necessarily geared toward professional ambitions, but more toward enhancing your reasoning and analytical skills, your writing and your communication skills, then an LAC might be a better choice. However, since schools in both the Ivy and LAC category vary drastically, it’s best to visit some and decide for yourself on a school by school basis.</p>
<p>What advantages/disadvantages does a student at an ivy league have?</p>
<p>Ivy league schools have vast resources, world renowned faculty, and the added bonus of name recognition. This is especially important when applying for jobs or admission to a graduate/professional school. On the flip side, some Ivy league faculty have the reputation of being arrogant and inaccessible, being much more focused on graduate students and important research. Each school has its own pros and cons.</p>
<p>What advantages/disadvantages does a student at a liberal arts college have?</p>
<p>Generally, an LAC student gets a more intimate experience with his/her professors. However, since there are so many different LACs, it’s hard to pin down one rule. LACs do miss out on the Division I sports excitement and the large social scene of a university; there are some incredibly heated DIII rivalries and every college will have its share of parties. Again, it’s about personal preference. Visit schools.</p>
<p>How much do extracurriculars matter for admission into a LAC?</p>
<p>Depending on the case, ECs could have little effect or a very large effect on your application. If you’ve done some spectacular EC work in your high school career, they will matter a lot. If you’ve just done some volunteering and played some sports or something considered “less substantial,” don’t fret; you just have to stand out enough when your entire application is viewed.</p>
<p>What can I get out of an education from an ivy league? LAC?</p>
<p>You will get a world class education at any Ivy League school. You will get a world class education at the “elite” LACs (Williams, Amherst, Pomona, Swarthmore, a few others); you will get outstanding educations at other LACs. There are probably some LACs that aren’t that great. However, at Ivies, you also gain the added “prestige” and name recognition that make people (read: employers) sit up and take notice; many employers and grad schools are well-acquainted with the premier LACs as well.</p>
<p>How much more would a grad from an ivy league earn, on average, from an LAC grad?</p>
<p>This depends completely on which Ivy/which LAC/what field of study/what job. The answer is completely variable.</p>