The Polar Opposite Conundrum: LAC vs Berkeley

Student615
Sat, 05 Apr 2008 10:55:24 +0000

Are there any programs for parents that you are aware of?



I’m not sure whether there are sessions specifically geared toward parents, but SADIOS is advertised as “a program for admitted students and their families,” so I’m very sure that you’d be welcome. I seem to remember having a few solo parents in my SADIOS tours whose kids were off at other “break-out” sessions, but my memory really is foggy! If you’re debating whether or not to attend, you might try posting on the Scripps board (I know there are a few other parent posters whose daughters were accepted) and/or contacting admissions.



LACs hire professors based on teaching ability (they don’t have research).



Some LAC’s do require their professors to research/publish (I don’t know whether or not such a requirement is typical). You’re correct that teaching is still, overall, the focus (which is perhaps why some of them choose to come to LAC’s after teaching at major universities), but there’s still a good deal of research, scholarship, and publication going on at plenty of LAC’s. Obviously, there are significant differences, and I wouldn’t attempt to claim otherwise…just wanted to stick up for the research and publication efforts of my own LAC profs ;)