Research...at an LAC?

[Anonymous]

Recently DC and I toured a top Liberal arts college and the tour guide talked a ton about research-they've been in 3 different labs in college and have published 5 different papers, 1 first author, as a rising senior! I was simply shocked by this, because typically liberal arts colleges are known for poor research and emphasis on teaching, but he explained that most students at the LAC do research at some point and they have many options. Is this normal and how does LAC research differ from real research?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Recently DC and I toured a top Liberal arts college and the tour guide talked a ton about research-they've been in 3 different labs in college and have published 5 different papers, 1 first author, as a rising senior! I was simply shocked by this, because typically liberal arts colleges are known for poor research and emphasis on teaching, but he explained that most students at the LAC do research at some point and they have many options. Is this normal and how does LAC research differ from real research?

I hope no one responds to the latest troll.

[Anonymous]

I mean if you really want to be this catty.....ok?

Every school my child and I toured this past year talked about Research. Small, Big, Medium, Private and Public - you name it:

- You don't have to wait to do research until you are a Senior!
- I did research in a field I didn't even know existed and it is now my major!
- A professor said they needed help and I ended up listed on a paper as a Freshman!
- My roommate and I both did research together! We're best friends forever!
- We love research here! You can even come up with your own research and will likely get published!

It was - kind of over the top. And it felt very forced, but again, every school we went to. Research, research, research. Maybe it's just the new thing at every school, LAC or not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I mean if you really want to be this catty.....ok?

Every school my child and I toured this past year talked about Research. Small, Big, Medium, Private and Public - you name it:

- You don't have to wait to do research until you are a Senior!
- I did research in a field I didn't even know existed and it is now my major!
- A professor said they needed help and I ended up listed on a paper as a Freshman!
- My roommate and I both did research together! We're best friends forever!
- We love research here! You can even come up with your own research and will likely get published!

It was - kind of over the top. And it felt very forced, but again, every school we went to. Research, research, research. Maybe it's just the new thing at every school, LAC or not.

It's really helpful for recommendation letters and developing actual, technical chops. I'd recommend research for any student who has the ability to do so, and LACs can be a great place for that, if you're interested.

[Anonymous]

Meh. In DD's LAC lab, every student has to publish at least once a year. Prof publishes 7-8 times each year, and student alum are now at Stanford, MIT, Princeton, etc. Top LACs require serious research experience and plans out of their faculty.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I mean if you really want to be this catty.....ok?

Every school my child and I toured this past year talked about Research. Small, Big, Medium, Private and Public - you name it:

- You don't have to wait to do research until you are a Senior!
- I did research in a field I didn't even know existed and it is now my major!
- A professor said they needed help and I ended up listed on a paper as a Freshman!
- My roommate and I both did research together! We're best friends forever!
- We love research here! You can even come up with your own research and will likely get published!

It was - kind of over the top. And it felt very forced, but again, every school we went to. Research, research, research. Maybe it's just the new thing at every school, LAC or not.

+1, so sick of hearing about research. Talk about the actual education!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Recently DC and I toured a top Liberal arts college and the tour guide talked a ton about research-they've been in 3 different labs in college and have published 5 different papers, 1 first author, as a rising senior! I was simply shocked by this, because typically liberal arts colleges are known for poor research and emphasis on teaching, but he explained that most students at the LAC do research at some point and they have many options. Is this normal and how does LAC research differ from real research?

Well no, they aren't known for poor research. They are known for emphasizing other things in addition to research.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Recently DC and I toured a top Liberal arts college and the tour guide talked a ton about research-they've been in 3 different labs in college and have published 5 different papers, 1 first author, as a rising senior! I was simply shocked by this, because typically liberal arts colleges are known for poor research and emphasis on teaching, but he explained that most students at the LAC do research at some point and they have many options. Is this normal and how does LAC research differ from real research?

Well no, they aren't known for poor research. They are known for emphasizing other things in addition to research.

Definitely worse research than an R1