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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Not that this will convince the crazed LAC-haters, but here's an interesting perspective from last Sunday's NYT interview with Andi Owen, the CEO of Herman Miller, who majored in art history at William & Mary:

[b]Did getting a liberal arts degree have an impact on your career?[/b]

It's helped me in a lot of ways.  I learned a lot about people.  I learned a lot about history.  I learned a lot about observation.  I've always approached any job I've ever had as a generalist and an observer of human nature.

Some people would say I'm not good at any one thing.  I'm sort of OK at a lot of things.  And that's OK.  I've surrounded myself with people that are a lot smarter than me.  But I have a little bit of a broader point of view, and an experience that doesn't necessarily pigeonhole me into thinking one thing or another.   [/quote]

[b]William and Mary is not an LAC.[/quote][/b]

Of course it is.[/quote]

Where is the dividing line?  Size?  Curriculum?  Graduate schools?   If you attended UVA's College of Arts & Sciences, did you attend the Liberal Arts college within the university?  If not that, what is UVA's College of Arts and Sciences?  What is the difference vs. Amherst other than size?  (I recognize someone will say cost, but put that aside for now.)[/quote]

Size is a huge difference. Other than a couple of freshman year survey courses, I don't think DC at Amherst had a class with more than 20 students, and some only had around 10 students. Classwork and papers were meticulously graded, edited and rewritten. DC was a science/math major who became a really good writer (Amherst has an open curriculum and DC chose to take history and lit classes that interested her - other STEM students might not make the same choice). DC also formed close relationships with some profs - working on research with them, having meals with them, etc.

Students also are more closely involved in what happens academically at the school. DC helped interview potential new professors, worked with a professor to create a new class, and TA'd in classes (for pay) from sophomore year on.

As PP said on another thread, the school treated the students like they were lucky to have them there.[/quote]

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