Why choose a research university?

jessiehl
Tue, 30 Dec 2008 09:33:58 +0000

As someone who went to a major research university, and has also attended a smaller school that is on the borderline between LAC and research university, here are advantages that I see to major research universities:


Even though classes tend to be larger, there also tends to be a wider variety of class offerings, and required classes are offered more frequently (an extension of the big department vs. little department issue).
I liked having grad students around. They could be good for mentorship and advice, and their being TAs meant that I got to hear the material in multiple styles and from multiple perspectives (prof and TA), which I thought was helpful.
If you want to go to grad school, professors at research universities are more likely to know professors at other research universities, i.e. the professors at your desired programs are more likely to know your recommenders.
The college academic experience is far more than what you get from lectures…it’s not like high school. The opportunity to be exposed to and participate in cutting-edge research as an undergrad is pretty valuable. People do that at LACs, too, but there’s just more research going on at research universities, and more money to hire undergrad helpers, and the supervising professors/postdocs/grad students are more research-focused.
I liked being surrounded by the atmosphere of exciting things happening. It’s just a very different feel than a place where the focus is on teaching you in classes. This is going to sound odd to some people, but I didn’t really want a place where I was the center of the mission. I wanted to feel part of a place that went beyond that, where I could contribute to and learn from a wider mission. Some people prefer one atmosphere, some, the other.


Different people are going to prefer different choices on this matter. There are merits to both. I was happy with the choice that I made.