Top 30 SLAC vs state honors college
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Anonymous
| My DC is struggling between attending a well-regarded (but not elite) SLAC and a flagship state honors college (UConn). Probably prefers the bigger school (which is also about 1/2 the price), but like the small class / intimate learning environment of the SLAC. DC is interested in liberal arts - not STEM. Any thoughts of the tradeoff with academics and class size? Do outgoing undergraduate students build deep, meaningful relationships with professors at big state schools? |
Anonymous
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Yes, honors college students at state public universities do often develop close relationships with professors.
A top 30, but not top 15 LAC, will not offer anywhere near the options available at a state public flagship honors college. However, it would help if OP named the LAC. |
Anonymous
| Just a note that liberal arts do include science and math. Maybe you mean humanities? Soci science? |
Anonymous
| Recently visited the UConn campus for an admitted students day and was really really impressed. Very beautiful campus, real campus culture, major advising system seems really personalized, the students we spoke to seemed to be very happy and involved with campus activities. |
Anonymous
| Possibly for the honors college, but I would think a SLAC wins for the educational experience - class sizes, professor interaction, overall engagement. I think it depends on that particular honors program. |
Anonymous
| All things being equal, both are excellent options. As someone who is not fabulously rich, I'd be inclined toward UConn for the money savings. I also think it's usually easier to make a big school feel small than to make a small LAC feel big. |
Anonymous
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My DC attends a large state university (not UConn) and is not in the honors program. However, that hasn't prevented him from making close connections with the professors within his major. One of them nominated him for a very selective summer program abroad and two wrote astounding LORs for him.
Class sizes are relatively moderate, especially within his major. I think the largest class he ever had was about 50 people - the others are far smaller. It's really a myth that large state schools only have enormous classes. He is also majoring in a humanities subject - not STEM. I've been amazed at the wealth of opportunities available to students at this school - far more than were ever available to my other DC, who attends a SLAC. |
Anonymous
+1 top15 is the typical cutoff that makes LAC’s worth it over state honors colleges |
Anonymous
Top 5, maybe. Even then you have to be okay with the size, etc. |
Anonymous
+1. Don’t be fooled by the constant misinformation on this site. But yes, an honors college (or even some honors versions of classes) makes these things even easier. |
Anonymous
This is one of the dumbest things I’ve read on this site. There is some magic line between T15 and T30 LACs? Like you know? No difference between any of top 50 LACs. All great. Stupid cut off. |
Anonymous
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Honestly? I love how people say very definitive stuff on here as if it’s the word of god. People
Have no clue. None. |
Anonymous
You really do not have a clue. |
Anonymous
| What is your kid's plan for life post-college? If the savings of UConn will allow you to pay for part of graduate school, or to graduate with no debt as a liberal arts major, I would do that. In terms of name recognition and prestige, you are comparing UConn Honors to Bucknell, Colorado College, Franklin and Marshall, and Holy Cross. I do not think any of those are more prestigious than UConn Honors. |
Anonymous
I don’t personally ride for any of these schools but I think this a pretty wild take. Just say that only the WASP LACs matter and keep it moving. |