Earlier than we straight reply the query, “What’s a liberal arts faculty?”, we start with an analogy…Two cups of espresso sit earlier than you: one bearing the insignia of a preferred, multinational model and the opposite, an unknown native brew. As a participant in a style check, you’re requested to sip each after which state which one is best. After sampling every espresso, there isn’t a doubt that the lesser-known model tastes considerably higher, however when pressed to decide on one, you, towards your higher judgment, end up blurting out the identify model.
Ample analysis within the advertising and marketing discipline has discovered that individuals will usually facet with model over high quality. That is, partially, as a result of recognizable manufacturers have a psychological energy over shoppers, offering a way of safety, social acceptance, and enhanced private picture that an “off-brand” product, even one in all superior high quality, can’t. This phenomenon extends past the realm of espresso and different consumables, additionally impacting a call as necessary (and costly) as the place you have chose to attend faculty.
A lot might be wrapped up within the concept of attending a well known, prestigious college, a name-brand faculty that the precise expertise you’re looking for turns into secondary to a powerful identify on bumper sticker or sweatshirt. Within the collegiate world, big-name universities from the Ivies to the flagship state faculties are akin to our name-brand coffees. But, lesser-known liberal arts faculties, our lesser-known java, supply a number of tutorial and extracurricular benefits that college students at bigger and extra pre-professional faculties can be hard-pressed to seek out. They embody…
1. What’s a Liberal Arts School? — Smaller class measurement
Liberal arts faculties are inclined to have, on common, smaller class sizes. Additionally they typically place a higher emphasis on the undergraduate expertise. At universities, it’s not unusual for freshmen to seek out themselves taking in introductory courses in massive, nameless amphitheater. Whereas this model of studying could also be preferable to some, those that get pleasure from class dialogue and the chance to forge shut relationships along with your fellow classmates and professors could desire the classroom expertise at a liberal arts faculty.
Uber-selective liberal arts establishments corresponding to Vassar, Williams, Pomona, Claremont McKenna, Wesleyan, and Swarthmore all boast pupil to college ratios of seven:1 or 8:1. For these with less-than-perfect credentials, there are different faculties with phenomenal student-to-faculty ratios together with Hollins, Skidmore, and St. John’s (MD),
For comparability, bigger universities usually have considerably greater ratios. West Virginia College, the College of Nebraska, and the College of Florida all have a 17:1 or 18:1 ratio. The College of Central Florida, the College of Texas at Arlington, and San Jose State all have ratios between 24:1 and 30:1. That is thrice bigger than lots of the aforementioned liberal arts faculties.
2. What’s a Liberal Arts School — Distinctive experiences
It’s not simply in regards to the sheer measurement of the scholar physique. College students at liberal arts faculties have entry to sure extracurricular actions that will in any other case be unavailable to them at massive universities, corresponding to becoming a member of a varsity sport or helping their favourite professor in a analysis mission. At a liberal arts faculty, you don’t have to compete with a PhD pupil or NFL prospect to symbolize your faculty and reap the private and social advantages that come from deep involvement in an extracurricular exercise.
Alternatives for undergraduate analysis could also be few and much between at a state college. But at a faculty just like the School of Wooster in Ohio, each single undergraduate receives the prospect to work one-on-one with a college member engaged in some kind of unique analysis. Davidson School affords an distinctive variety of grants for undergraduate analysis each throughout the faculty yr and over the summer time. Grinnell affords credited analysis alternatives and sees an distinctive variety of undergraduates co-author papers with their professors.
3. What’s a Liberal Arts School? — Favorable post-graduation outcomes
As we’ve demonstrated, liberal arts faculties undoubtedly supply a wide range of advantages to college students throughout their undergraduate years. However perhaps you’re not as involved about what liberal arts faculties do for college kids throughout faculty. Your analytical thoughts is desirous about what these establishments do for college kids after they’ve graduated. What about job prospects and prospects for admission into graduate faculty? The next info affirm that liberal arts faculties do certainly put together their college students for all times after faculty:
- Liberal arts faculties represent 9 of the ten postsecondary establishments that graduate the best proportion of eventual PhDs.
- Nearly one-third of Fortune 1000 CEOs maintain liberal arts levels.
- A survey of CEOs discovered that 74% imagine {that a} liberal arts schooling results in a extra dynamic workforce.
- By mid-career, liberal arts majors earn extra, on common, than graduates of pre-professional packages.
- The record of liberal arts faculties that noticed graduates accepted to Harvard Regulation’s most up-to-date cohort of ILs is prolonged. It consists of: Amherst School, Connecticut School, Hamilton School, Hendrix School, St. Olaf School and Vassar.
The above info ought to lead you to the conclusion that your future graduate faculty ventures, job alternatives, and compensation will solely be enhanced by attending a liberal arts faculty.
4. Beneficiant monetary support packages
This degree of educational intimacy could sound nice, however, admittedly, it additionally sounds costly. One gander on the sticker value of many liberal arts faculties will solely affirm this suspicion. Nevertheless, smart faculty shoppers know that the record value isn’t essentially what you’ll pay.
Most of the nation’s prime liberal arts faculties are in a position to supply a world-class schooling and a value properly under the book-price tuition determine. In truth, college students at faculties corresponding to Pomona and Haverford School usually pay between one-third and one-half of the acknowledged price ticket. Because of exceptionally massive endowments, many of those establishments are prepared and in a position to meet college students’ degree of economic want. Additional, the good majority of faculties less-selective than the likes of Pomona and Haverford additionally supply beneficiant advantage support packages. Schools of this ilk use advantage support to lure and reel in potential college students.
The reply to the query: Ought to I’m going to a liberal arts faculty?
It’s all too straightforward to focus solely on “model identify” faculties when embarking upon your faculty search. You’ve seen their soccer and basketball video games on TV. You fell in love with their iconic colours. You fantasize about seeing everybody’s face mild up with impressed recognition as you announce your plans for subsequent yr. Simply as with consuming a cup of joe from a preferred espresso home, the magnetic draw of the acquainted is embedded deep inside our psyche. Nevertheless, if you’re the form of pupil who wishes a close-knit, intimate studying surroundings, and an opportunity to take part in all points of campus life, a much more scrumptious brew awaits on the campus of a liberal arts faculty.
A licensed counselor and revealed researcher, Andrew’s expertise within the discipline of faculty admissions and transition spans a couple of decade. He has beforehand served as a highschool counselor, guide and creator for Kaplan Check Prep, and advisor to U.S. Congress, reporting on points associated to varsity admissions and monetary support.
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