Why choose a research university?

jessiehl
Tue, 30 Dec 2008 16:14:02 +0000

2. many disciplines don’t need super modern and powerful equipment for research.



That’s true, but the professors are not so research-focused at LACs either. You’re likely to do more interesting research with a professor whose job is to do research, than one who does it on the side.



1. research unis have lots of grad students that perform the research, not the undergrads.



I’ve heard this one before, but I never really bought it. Sure, the LACs don’t have grad students, but they also have correspondingly smaller research programs. Over 80% of the undergrads at the research university that I attended do research as undergrads, and about 20% are published as undergrads. Granted, that doesn’t happen at every research university, but the point is that it wasn’t like there was any lack of opportunities because of the grads. And the grads and postdocs were helpful mentors in their own right.