<p>I agree with part of your view but strongly disagree with the basic premise. Yes, small LACs “are rather obscure” to the general population. However, I think the students at small LACs go to them because they are small LACs (small student populations, great ratios such as student/professor, academic freedom to find a niche, etc.). Many of these schools are not at all “obscure” relative to the goals of the students (e.g., graduate school, specific areas of academic interest).</p>
<p>On the other had, it may well be that there are inferiority complexes with the general small LAC universe. I would be curious to here what others thought about this.</p>