Transfering from a large university to a liberal arts college?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DC is at a LAC and wishes that was at a larger school. The size is suffocating socially.
But - the academic experience is materially different.
Some mid-sized schools known for good transfer rates are: Emory, Wash U, Vanderbilt, Boston University.

BU? midsized? on what planet?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Has anyone's kid made this transition or are they considering it?
My child is currently at a public university (one in the top4) and doesn't like the large size. Hates never being able to find friends at the dining hall(s) or otherwise on campus, hates having lectures of hundreds of people (spring classes are again going to be really large), and not knowing professors etc.
Never really considered a liberal arts college in high school but now really wants to explore transferring.

I have read all posts in this thread and none address the difference between a large public university and a private university.

Private National Universities tend to have smaller class sizes than do large public universities. For example: At Northwestern University about 80% of the classes had 19 or fewer students. Large lectures of 50 or more students made up approximately 7% of all classes and almost always were intro classes supplemented by small group break-out sessions.

If one wants a small, more intimate environment at a large public university, then consider the Honors College at that public university as well as theme housing with like minded students.

Adjusting to a large university is toughest during one's first year; adjusting to an LAC is quite easy during one's first year due to the smallness. After the first year, LACs can become a bit stifling socially as well as academically due to the lack of variety & size.

OP: If you really want meaningful suggestions, then please share the name of the current public university and your kid's intended major.

Transferring to an LAC after one's freshman year can be tough as cliques will have already been formed. Even tougher if one is a non-athlete at many elite LACs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Curious if those who would prefer small LACs are more shy or perhaps less confident?

Going to a school with equal or less students than their high school, especially in the middle of nowhere like some LACs - is not appealing to my social kid.

OP here. My kid is quite social but is just chronically socially exhausted at the large public. Every meal with a friend needs to be pre-arranged. There is no just running into friends at a dining hall. They can go an entire day without running into their half dozen close friends. They were in lectures of 200-500 kids this fall in most classes. The smallest class was 75 kids, I believe.
It's fun--university sports, activities all the time, school spirit-but also tiring and they feel chronically unmoored. We'll see how spring goes.

DP. It’s funny because this is how my kid at a SLAC feels - they have to be “always on” because they see the same people constantly and can’t just keep to themselves when they feel the need. OTOH, my two other kids at large schools have never had classes that big! Wow, what school is this?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Has anyone's kid made this transition or are they considering it?
My child is currently at a public university (one in the top4) and doesn't like the large size. Hates never being able to find friends at the dining hall(s) or otherwise on campus, hates having lectures of hundreds of people (spring classes are again going to be really large), and not knowing professors etc.
Never really considered a liberal arts college in high school but now really wants to explore transferring.

I have read all posts in this thread and none address the difference between a large public university and a private university.

Private National Universities tend to have smaller class sizes than do large public universities. For example: At Northwestern University about 80% of the classes had 19 or fewer students. Large lectures of 50 or more students made up approximately 7% of all classes and almost always were intro classes supplemented by small group break-out sessions.

If one wants a small, more intimate environment at a large public university, then consider the Honors College at that public university as well as theme housing with like minded students.

Adjusting to a large university is toughest during one's first year; adjusting to an LAC is quite easy during one's first year due to the smallness. After the first year, LACs can become a bit stifling socially as well as academically due to the lack of variety & size.

OP: If you really want meaningful suggestions, then please share the name of the current public university and your kid's intended major.

Transferring to an LAC after one's freshman year can be tough as cliques will have already been formed. Even tougher if one is a non-athlete at many elite LACs.

CORRECTION: Only 5%, not 7%, have 50 or more students at Northwestern University.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Curious if those who would prefer small LACs are more shy or perhaps less confident?

Going to a school with equal or less students than their high school, especially in the middle of nowhere like some LACs - is not appealing to my social kid.

OP here. My kid is quite social but is just chronically socially exhausted at the large public. Every meal with a friend needs to be pre-arranged. There is no just running into friends at a dining hall. They can go an entire day without running into their half dozen close friends. They were in lectures of 200-500 kids this fall in most classes. The smallest class was 75 kids, I believe.
It's fun--university sports, activities all the time, school spirit-but also tiring and they feel chronically unmoored. We'll see how spring goes.

DP. It’s funny because this is how my kid at a SLAC feels - they have to be “always on” because they see the same people constantly and can’t just keep to themselves when they feel the need. OTOH, my two other kids at large schools have never had classes that big! Wow, what school is this?

Odd that OP does not identify the school beyond :a top four public university". Guess that means one of UC-Berkeley, UCLA, U Michigan, or U Virginia. The UCs are known for large lectures (as is McGill in Montreal).

[Anonymous]

OP: With respect to Middlebury College--a great school in a gorgeous location--there may be an issue with housing due to overcrowding. Not sure whether this is still the case or whether it was just a temporary issue for several years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Curious if those who would prefer small LACs are more shy or perhaps less confident?

Going to a school with equal or less students than their high school, especially in the middle of nowhere like some LACs - is not appealing to my social kid.

Another parent of a social butterfly kid here - all of us, including her, were surprised that she chose an LAC, but she’s following in the footsteps of many extroverted leaders from her high school who chose LAC’s over the past two years and are loving their experiences. Hoping it’s not too small, but she pointed out that 2000 kids living on campus all four years might not feel that different from some of the midsize options she considered where most kids move off campus after freshman or sophomore year. We will see.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP: With respect to Middlebury College--a great school in a gorgeous location--there may be an issue with housing due to overcrowding. Not sure whether this is still the case or whether it was just a temporary issue for several years.

Midd parent here and their housing options are great. The overcrowding was only right after Covid when they had more students than usual returning from gap years. There are pretty dorms with good sized rooms, suite options starting sophomore year, and apartment style living for upper classmen. Plus, my dc says they can always find someone they know in the dining hall. It’s a great choice for a smaller community that is not teeny tiny. I also know two people who transferred to Wesleyan their sophomore years and made lifelong friends

[Anonymous]

Lots of lacs are in remote very cold locations. No thanks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Curious if those who would prefer small LACs are more shy or perhaps less confident?

Going to a school with equal or less students than their high school, especially in the middle of nowhere like some LACs - is not appealing to my social kid.

OP here. My kid is quite social but is just chronically socially exhausted at the large public. Every meal with a friend needs to be pre-arranged. There is no just running into friends at a dining hall. They can go an entire day without running into their half dozen close friends. They were in lectures of 200-500 kids this fall in most classes. The smallest class was 75 kids, I believe.
It's fun--university sports, activities all the time, school spirit-but also tiring and they feel chronically unmoored. We'll see how spring goes.

DP. It’s funny because this is how my kid at a SLAC feels - they have to be “always on” because they see the same people constantly and can’t just keep to themselves when they feel the need. OTOH, my two other kids at large schools have never had classes that big! Wow, what school is this?

Odd that OP does not identify the school beyond :a top four public university". Guess that means one of UC-Berkeley, UCLA, U Michigan, or U Virginia. The UCs are known for large lectures (as is McGill in Montreal).

For those that rely on U.S. News, add UNC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP: With respect to Middlebury College--a great school in a gorgeous location--there may be an issue with housing due to overcrowding. Not sure whether this is still the case or whether it was just a temporary issue for several years.

Covid has passed and a new dorm opened. Middlebury is back to normal with respect to housing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I disagree. A midsize wouldn’t be that different and kid would have to start over.

I have a kid at an LAC. There are no lectures, all classes are small and profs really know the students. Kid is now in year 2 and said she can go to her favorite dining hall and always find people she knows. Just walking around with her she bumps into friends.

Don’t know about the transfer experience thought.

What liberal arts college? Even at the tiniest one I know, there are lecture courses in the sciences.

Even introductory science courses may be capped at, say, 30 students, however.

But they aren’t. Once again, bots here lying about how liberal arts colleges work.

My freshman at a highly ranked LAC had no more than 30 kids in any class first semester. STEM major.

Doesn’t mean there’s a cap. Please be a liberal arts education and read

I was a separate poster than the one who claimed the cap. However, I just checked with my daughter, and yes there was a cap. No, they did not over enroll her classes.

Sweetie, I love how you swipe at me about "reading" when you struggle with writing a coherent sentence and fail to use punctuation. Bless your heart.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I disagree. A midsize wouldn’t be that different and kid would have to start over.

I have a kid at an LAC. There are no lectures, all classes are small and profs really know the students. Kid is now in year 2 and said she can go to her favorite dining hall and always find people she knows. Just walking around with her she bumps into friends.

Don’t know about the transfer experience thought.

What liberal arts college? Even at the tiniest one I know, there are lecture courses in the sciences.

Even introductory science courses may be capped at, say, 30 students, however.

But they aren’t. Once again, bots here lying about how liberal arts colleges work.

My freshman at a highly ranked LAC had no more than 30 kids in any class first semester. STEM major.

Doesn’t mean there’s a cap. Please be a liberal arts education and read

I was a separate poster than the one who claimed the cap. However, I just checked with my daughter, and yes there was a cap. No, they did not over enroll her classes.

Sweetie, I love how you swipe at me about "reading" when you struggle with writing a coherent sentence and fail to use punctuation. Bless your heart.

You're write that they used the wrong verb, but the punctuation is fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Curious if those who would prefer small LACs are more shy or perhaps less confident?

Going to a school with equal or less students than their high school, especially in the middle of nowhere like some LACs - is not appealing to my social kid.

OP here. My kid is quite social but is just chronically socially exhausted at the large public. Every meal with a friend needs to be pre-arranged. There is no just running into friends at a dining hall. They can go an entire day without running into their half dozen close friends. They were in lectures of 200-500 kids this fall in most classes. The smallest class was 75 kids, I believe.
It's fun--university sports, activities all the time, school spirit-but also tiring and they feel chronically unmoored. We'll see how spring goes.

OP, I was your kid a billion years ago. I went to Penn which is not crazy huge but with 10k undergrads, no weekend meals, and an interdisciplinary major, I was super lonely and could not get into a small seminar course. After visiting my sibling who was at a much less prestigious LAC where weekend brunches in the sole cafeteria were a full-day party, I was determined to leave. In the end I found an EC that became my home base and I stayed. I made great friends and developed really useful skills. I owe my career to the one very very niche small seminar that I was able to get into. But my kids are at SLACs with unlimited swipes in the cafeteria and a sense of community.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I disagree. A midsize wouldn’t be that different and kid would have to start over.

I have a kid at an LAC. There are no lectures, all classes are small and profs really know the students. Kid is now in year 2 and said she can go to her favorite dining hall and always find people she knows. Just walking around with her she bumps into friends.

Don’t know about the transfer experience thought.

What liberal arts college? Even at the tiniest one I know, there are lecture courses in the sciences.

Even introductory science courses may be capped at, say, 30 students, however.

But they aren’t. Once again, bots here lying about how liberal arts colleges work.

My freshman at a highly ranked LAC had no more than 30 kids in any class first semester. STEM major.

Doesn’t mean there’s a cap. Please be a liberal arts education and read

"Be the ball, Danny."

— Ty Webb, from Caddyshack