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<p>Hmm, Pomona, Harvey Mudd, Claremont McKenna, Scripps, Occidental, Pitzer… seems like plenty to me, including some of the best in the country :D</p>
<p>It took my daughter around 15 minutes to decide that she never, ever, ever wants to go to a LAC. This was prompted by a visit to Pomona and the conclusion that her high school has more students. She also resented the fishbowl atmosphere (aka “personal attention”), which many consider to be a LAC’s strength.</p>
<p>Sooo… some advantages of a larger school over a LAC:</p>
<p>1) Can become invisible when/if you want to. Help is there if you want to seek it out, not force-fed at every turn. One Pomona professor was quoted as not accepting homework on the first week of every month unless you go to office hours and discuss something/anything with him. Bleh…</p>
<p>2) Broader course offerings, I have heard people complain about having to sign up for courses in a Community College because the GE class in their LAC filled up. Without proper guidance, this can sometimes lead to analysis paralysis in kids.</p>
<p>3) Pre-professional training if you want it. Good luck getting that at a LAC, though bio should not be much of an issue. Incidentally, the tour guide at Pomona was a bio major who was graduating in a month without a job, and not knowing what she is doing. When asked why she majored in bio, she replied “because I kind of fell into it, I did not like it but I did not hate it either”. So much for the vaunted personal attention and guidance.</p>
<p>4) Larger choice of a social circle, more flexibility to be something you were not in HS if you are so inclined.</p>
<p>5) More resources and opportunities in some fields, particularly in the sciences/engineering. If you want to search out research opportunities, chances are you will have more to choose from in a decent-sized university. Sure, there are more students, but in my experience few undergrads take the time to do research, which leaves the choices wide open for those that do.</p>
<p>Sorry if this is coming across as I am bashing Pomona. I am sure that it is a great school for those that fit in, but just like my D I had an almost visceral rejection of the whole experience when we visited.</p>