Anonymous
04/15/2025 12:23
Subject: Top 30 SLAC vs state honors college
Anonymous wrote:What is your kid's plan for life post-college? If the savings of UConn will allow you to pay for part of graduate school, or to graduate with no debt as a liberal arts major, I would do that. [/b]In terms of name recognition and prestige, you are comparing UConn Honors to Bucknell, Colorado College, Franklin and Marshall, and Holy Cross. I do not think any of those are more prestigious than UConn Honors.[b]
I don’t personally ride for any of these schools but I think this a pretty wild take. Just say that only the WASP LACs matter and keep it moving.
Anonymous
04/15/2025 10:44
Subject: Top 30 SLAC vs state honors college
What is your kid's plan for life post-college? If the savings of UConn will allow you to pay for part of graduate school, or to graduate with no debt as a liberal arts major, I would do that. In terms of name recognition and prestige, you are comparing UConn Honors to Bucknell, Colorado College, Franklin and Marshall, and Holy Cross. I do not think any of those are more prestigious than UConn Honors.
Anonymous
04/15/2025 10:22
Subject: Re:Top 30 SLAC vs state honors college
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Yes, honors college students at state public universities do often develop close relationships with professors.
A top 30, but not top 15 LAC, will not offer anywhere near the options available at a state public flagship honors college.
However, it would help if OP named the LAC.
This is one of the dumbest things I’ve read on this site. There is some magic line between T15 and T30 LACs? Like you know? No difference between any of top 50 LACs. All great. Stupid cut off.
You really do not have a clue.
Anonymous
04/15/2025 10:18
Subject: Top 30 SLAC vs state honors college
Honestly? I love how people say very definitive stuff on here as if it’s the word of god. People
Have no clue. None.
Have no clue. None.
Anonymous
04/15/2025 10:15
Subject: Re:Top 30 SLAC vs state honors college
Anonymous wrote:Yes, honors college students at state public universities do often develop close relationships with professors.
A top 30, but not top 15 LAC, will not offer anywhere near the options available at a state public flagship honors college.
However, it would help if OP named the LAC.
This is one of the dumbest things I’ve read on this site. There is some magic line between T15 and T30 LACs? Like you know? No difference between any of top 50 LACs. All great. Stupid cut off.
Anonymous
04/15/2025 07:21
Subject: Top 30 SLAC vs state honors college
Anonymous wrote:My DC attends a large state university (not UConn) and is not in the honors program. However, that hasn't prevented him from making close connections with the professors within his major. One of them nominated him for a very selective summer program abroad and two wrote astounding LORs for him.
Class sizes are relatively moderate, especially within his major. I think the largest class he ever had was about 50 people - the others are far smaller. It's really a myth that large state schools only have enormous classes.
He is also majoring in a humanities subject - not STEM. I've been amazed at the wealth of opportunities available to students at this school - far more than were ever available to my other DC, who attends a SLAC.
+1. Don’t be fooled by the constant misinformation on this site. But yes, an honors college (or even some honors versions of classes) makes these things even easier.
Anonymous
04/15/2025 07:18
Subject: Re:Top 30 SLAC vs state honors college
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Yes, honors college students at state public universities do often develop close relationships with professors.
A top 30, but not top 15 LAC, will not offer anywhere near the options available at a state public flagship honors college.
However, it would help if OP named the LAC.
+1 top15 is the typical cutoff that makes LAC’s worth it over state honors colleges
Top 5, maybe. Even then you have to be okay with the size, etc.
Anonymous
04/14/2025 22:36
Subject: Re:Top 30 SLAC vs state honors college
Anonymous wrote:Yes, honors college students at state public universities do often develop close relationships with professors.
A top 30, but not top 15 LAC, will not offer anywhere near the options available at a state public flagship honors college.
However, it would help if OP named the LAC.
+1 top15 is the typical cutoff that makes LAC’s worth it over state honors colleges
Anonymous
04/14/2025 18:19
Subject: Top 30 SLAC vs state honors college
My DC attends a large state university (not UConn) and is not in the honors program. However, that hasn't prevented him from making close connections with the professors within his major. One of them nominated him for a very selective summer program abroad and two wrote astounding LORs for him.
Class sizes are relatively moderate, especially within his major. I think the largest class he ever had was about 50 people - the others are far smaller. It's really a myth that large state schools only have enormous classes.
He is also majoring in a humanities subject - not STEM. I've been amazed at the wealth of opportunities available to students at this school - far more than were ever available to my other DC, who attends a SLAC.
Class sizes are relatively moderate, especially within his major. I think the largest class he ever had was about 50 people - the others are far smaller. It's really a myth that large state schools only have enormous classes.
He is also majoring in a humanities subject - not STEM. I've been amazed at the wealth of opportunities available to students at this school - far more than were ever available to my other DC, who attends a SLAC.
Anonymous
04/14/2025 17:51
Subject: Top 30 SLAC vs state honors college
All things being equal, both are excellent options. As someone who is not fabulously rich, I'd be inclined toward UConn for the money savings. I also think it's usually easier to make a big school feel small than to make a small LAC feel big.
Anonymous
04/14/2025 16:54
Subject: Top 30 SLAC vs state honors college
Possibly for the honors college, but I would think a SLAC wins for the educational experience - class sizes, professor interaction, overall engagement. I think it depends on that particular honors program.
Anonymous
04/14/2025 16:49
Subject: Top 30 SLAC vs state honors college
Recently visited the UConn campus for an admitted students day and was really really impressed. Very beautiful campus, real campus culture, major advising system seems really personalized, the students we spoke to seemed to be very happy and involved with campus activities.
Anonymous
04/14/2025 12:30
Subject: Top 30 SLAC vs state honors college
Just a note that liberal arts do include science and math. Maybe you mean humanities? Soci science?
Anonymous
04/14/2025 11:22
Subject: Re:Top 30 SLAC vs state honors college
Yes, honors college students at state public universities do often develop close relationships with professors.
A top 30, but not top 15 LAC, will not offer anywhere near the options available at a state public flagship honors college.
However, it would help if OP named the LAC.
A top 30, but not top 15 LAC, will not offer anywhere near the options available at a state public flagship honors college.
However, it would help if OP named the LAC.
Anonymous
04/14/2025 11:16
Subject: Top 30 SLAC vs state honors college
My DC is struggling between attending a well-regarded (but not elite) SLAC and a flagship state honors college (UConn). Probably prefers the bigger school (which is also about 1/2 the price), but like the small class / intimate learning environment of the SLAC. DC is interested in liberal arts - not STEM. Any thoughts of the tradeoff with academics and class size? Do outgoing undergraduate students build deep, meaningful relationships with professors at big state schools?