The unicorn size college is defined as 5000 to 10000. Small enough to have small class sizes and contact with professors, big enough so it doesn’t feel like high school and school can support a wide range of clubs, competive sports teams, etc . . . The entire T10 qualifies as unicorn size other than CalTech.

I would have in a heartbeat. No doubt that our DD who went to a SLAC had a much better undergrad experience and education than I did at my large highly rated school.

This is very individual though. DH started at a SLAC and transferred to a large T10 and it was the right decision for him.

Nope never had an interest in slacs and liked my T. If anything might have gone slightly bigger.

Depends what she most wants out of college. If she wants to pursue a PhD, I’d pick the small school. If she’s most excited by speakers, events, pomp, variety, then the big one.

Don't totally regret picking a top 10 university over Amherst years ago, but I sure would have gotten a better undergraduate education

nope! I went to Michigan, and I really loved everything about a big school. When I toured small schools with my kids they felt like posh high schools to me.

Yes. Finalists were Princeton, Amherst, Duke. Wish I'd chosen Amherst. Kid is going to a NESCAC and I'm living vicariously.

I went to a small school and regret it. It was good for the first two years and then felt very confining.

There are a wide variety of atmospheres at T10 schools. Hopkins is very different from Brown. Yale has a residential college system which can feel smaller. Many T10 schools aren't that big #wise. Kid should try to talk to several students, especially in preferred fields/interests, at each school. See where they feel most connected.

Small school here. Would absolutely do it again. Heartbeat.

Anonymous wrote:The power to reinvent yourself - is a big school advantage. The power to distance yourself from those who are a bad influence. Greater control of your academic outcome because of more choices, more paths to achieve your goals (more choice of professors, class sections and offerings)

Are you saying reinventing yourself (again) within the 4 years of college? It's a rare kid who has to do this (thankfully) and I wouldn't choose a college based on being able to escape/avoid your freshman year self and friend group.

I went to a small liberal arts college and definitely reinvented myself during the jump from high school to college. You don't need a large school to achieve this.

The power to reinvent yourself - is a big school advantage. The power to distance yourself from those who are a bad influence. Greater control of your academic outcome because of more choices, more paths to achieve your goals (more choice of professors, class sections and offerings)

My DD at T10 and quite happy. Specifically, she really likes the range of activities, classes, and social opportunities that comes with a school of some size. She said she likes that when she walks across campus, she’ll always be likely to see someone when she recognized, but she’s always meeting new people as well. What I hear over and over from parents of kids making these kinds of choices is that the transition to the small LAC can be easier than the larger school, the small nurturing environment can be comforting for an 18-year-old away from home, but by the time they hit junior year or so it can be sort of, claustrophobic. (Probably why so many kids go abroad for some or all of junior year) so it’s a situation where your kid has to know themselves.

Yes. Would have done better in a small school. During high school I was not connecting with the typical student and that carrried over to college.

However, I liked my big Ivy much more after moving into coop housing.

DC having a hard time selecting between 2 schools. T10 and small school.