Pros and Cons of Top 10 SLAC vs State Flagship Honors Program

[Anonymous]

OP here.

I really wasn’t thinking STEM when I posted given SLACs with few exceptions are not known for STEM (Harvey Miss, Lafayette, Union are the notable exceptions.

Also please let’s not turn this into a pissing contest about the merits of one school vs another.

I do agree that for the individual student both of these may not be the preferred setting - some will be attracted to the smaller school environment and some the larger.

But framed as a parent trying to provide my child with the best advice, how do you normalize the pros and cons of both.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it entirely depends not the LAC. And not all LACs are SLACS. There are really only a handful that are really nationally known and highly regarded. There are quite a few private schools that are not SLACS that are Universities instead (Duke, Lehigh come to mind) and you don't seem to include that as an option. And there are lots of wanna-be SLACs that are really just LACs. So once you really identify if you are talking the very few true SLACs (Amherst, Williams, Vassar) versus Universities (NYU, Lehigh) versus LACs (e.g. Denison or Union), then you can make a solid decision about the value of one versus the other. So in a head to head, Amherst v Maryland Honors --probably Amherst for liberal arts but probably Maryland for Engineering. Lehigh versus Maryland for any subject is Lehigh. Maryland versus Denison for every subject is Maryland.

You had me until this sentence. ^^^

Lehigh can’t compete with MD in STEM.

I don't think you really know what Lehigh is. For Engineering, I don't agree that it cannot compete. And it has been an engineering powerhouse for decades and decades and has a strong alumni network. If you look up the schools that tend to have the wealthiest grads, Lehigh is there. And I didn't say stem. I said Engineering.

You said "any subject".

UMD Engineering #25 (USNWR)
Lehigh Engineering #47 (USNWR)

But, whatever.

It's not a pissing contest. But when you are comparing SLACs to Honors Programs, there are clear advantages to being at a large research university when it comes to science and engineering fields.

[Anonymous]

"I really wasn’t thinking STEM when I posted given SLACs with few exceptions are not known for STEM (Harvey Miss, Lafayette, Union are the notable exceptions."

If you focus on the S and M, there are many more more and even stronger exceptions including Carelton, Reed, Swathmore, Haverford....

[Anonymous]

You have to know what you are looking for in college. And then the college choice might become more clear, especially in the context of how much the tuition is going to cost you. Also, what does the student want to study? Does he or she want business or engineering? Then state schools as very few top slacs offer these. Or liberal arts education for the sake of knowledge or broad education? Then slac.

[Anonymous]

You might want to ask whether DC prefers an everybody knows everybody type environment vs a situation where you can be alone in a crowd (or, if DC’s interests are non-mainstream, where the undergrad population is so large and diverse that you can find pretty much anything you’re looking for.)

[Anonymous]

OP - We looked at the same topic during the college search and under the umbrella of "keep your options open" ended up with mid-size universities on the list along with a SLAC and one large public university. Been really happy with the diverse course offerings at a 5000 size college with a "house" concept that provides the social closeness of a LAC and honors group.

[Anonymous]

I vehemently disagree that knowledge for knowledge’s sake means you should go to a SLAC. Major research universities can be amazing places for intellectual kids.

This is really more a decision about learning style/motivators, field, and social preferences.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I vehemently disagree that knowledge for knowledge’s sake means you should go to a SLAC. Major research universities can be amazing places for intellectual kids.

This is really more a decision about learning style/motivators, field, and social preferences.

True. State U can provide education. But SLACs might do better. But also u have know students personality. If he or she is an outgoing participant, slac. If a spectator that likes to sit in the back of a large lecture hall soaking in knowledge, state u. So u really have to know the student and what he or she wants. Outside that context, state u v. Slac debate is meaningless.

[Anonymous]

"But also u have know students personality. If he or she is an outgoing participant, slac. If a spectator that likes to sit in the back of a large lecture hall soaking in knowledge, state u."

The first part is true. The second part is likely true if you are thinking about engineering or computer science or biology but chem or physics or math can be remarkably tight knit

departments on even medium large campuses once you get past the subjects all the engineers have to take.

[Anonymous]

The active (=SLACJ vs. passive learning (=flagship) dichotomy isn’t accurate. You can be a very active/independent learner and love a major research university precisely for that reason. So many choices/opportunities.

[Anonymous]

I think people on this thread who are dismissing slacs never really went to a slac or has a kid in a slac. You have to really know how slacs differ in order to compare. Otherwise, whatever traits slacs might have, the state supporter will always find some element in a state school that could potentially satisfied that element to some degree. Top slacs cost approximately $75,000 per year. There are reasons for their existence.

[Anonymous]

Rich people with kids who can afford to study anything in college regardless of ROI (daddy's company has an opening for junior VP) = SLAC

Everyone else that is worried about getting a job and making a living-wage = STATE COLLEGE

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: I think people on this thread who are dismissing slacs never really went to a slac or has a kid in a slac. You have to really know how slacs differ in order to compare. Otherwise, whatever traits slacs might have, the state supporter will always find some element in a state school that could potentially satisfied that element to some degree. Top slacs cost approximately $75,000 per year. There are reasons for their existence.

I'm the OP and it would be helpful if you could elaborate.

Thanks

[Anonymous]

For the record, the honors college education is NOT passive. Typically honors classes have 15-20 students and are set up like an SLAC seminar within the larger University (Which is the whole point).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it entirely depends not the LAC. And not all LACs are SLACS. There are really only a handful that are really nationally known and highly regarded. There are quite a few private schools that are not SLACS that are Universities instead (Duke, Lehigh come to mind) and you don't seem to include that as an option. And there are lots of wanna-be SLACs that are really just LACs. So once you really identify if you are talking the very few true SLACs (Amherst, Williams, Vassar) versus Universities (NYU, Lehigh) versus LACs (e.g. Denison or Union), then you can make a solid decision about the value of one versus the other. So in a head to head, Amherst v Maryland Honors --probably Amherst for liberal arts but probably Maryland for Engineering. Lehigh versus Maryland for any subject is Lehigh. Maryland versus Denison for every subject is Maryland.[b]

How is Denison, a liberal arts college with a student population of fewer than 2400, not a SLAC?

Your last statement is a matter of your opinion, not a matter of fact.

Some people think the "S" in "SLAC" refers to "Selective" rather than "Small". You obviously would categorize schools differently depending which way you are using the term.