Reply to Why is DCUM so obsessed with small liberal arts colleges?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I went to a "you never heard of" small liberal arts school where the classes were very small and my professors got to know me after having transferred from a community college.  We were immigrants and didn't have any money for college. 
 
I would not have had the opportunities I got if I went to a bigger school. I would have blended in the crowd, would have been lost, and would have left it at that.

I instead got the best support, guidance and recommendations to get into a full-pay + stipend graduate program.

That education in the small school secured my future and shaped who I am.

Both my kids are interested only in small schools as well. [/quote]

Your assumptions about larger schools is not accurate.

Elite private National Universities offer many small classes--especially after one's freshman year.

Large public state flagship universities offers honors colleges or honors programs which grant many privileges to these students who typically receive substantial scholarships. Mentoring from professors, small honors only classes including first year introductory courses, special housing with other honors students, and priority class registration among other perks (sometimes includes study abroad during, internships, special on-campus events, etc.).[/quote]

As a professor who works at a large public state flagship who went to a SLAC for undergrad, I think the PP is right that her SLAC experience probably importantly shaped her in ways that don't typically happen at a large school, even in the honors college.  I love the college I teach at, think it's an excellent education, but I do not have the personalized relationships with undergrad students the ways that SLAC profs do.  It's just not possible and it's not the culture.  Maybe 1 or 2 here and there (and, yes, usually through the honors college because they are doing undergrad research project) I will know a bit more but it's not anywhere near the same.  I have stayed in touch with 4 professors from my undergrad and it's been nearly 40 years since I went.  There are upsides and downsides to all kinds of schools, but the biggest upside to a SLAC is many undergrads develop sustained relationships with faculty.[/quote]

Normalizing close relationships with faculty is not necessarily a great thing.  My undergrad advisor came on to me repeatedly and when I declined, he became very punitive.  He was one of 3 professors in my major and made my life hell.  I wouldn't send a daughter to a small LAC for that reason. [/quote]

This comment makes no sense. It’s a completely different issue. Sexual harassment can occur anywhere.[/quote]

Plus I think she is deeply mistaken in her logic. You think a big state university prof who controls the tenure chances of the assistant profs and career paths of the adjuncts can’t make a victimized student’s life hell?

Unfortunately harassment is real, and academia still protects harassers. [/quote]

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