Things to Keep in Mind

Class size

The size of the college or university affects the size of classes. It is not unusual for freshman students at a big university to take notes along with hundreds of other students in a huge lecture hall. These classes may work if you like being somewhat “under the radar,” prefer a bit of anonymity, and are comfortable learning in a large group. In this case, the student-filled lectures might be just right for you.

At a small school, you will find yourself in a more intimate setting: small classes support student participation. These classes foster greater interactions between classmates and professors, generally more so than the lecture hall scenario. This environment might be what you prefer. Of course, both small and large colleges and universities offer lecture-style and small classroom-style interactions. At larger universities, the classes generally get smaller when your field of study narrows as an upperclassman, like senior capstone courses. Think about these different learning environments and where you feel you would be the most successful.

Faculty

A college’s size impacts professors and student-faculty interactions as well. Large universities often have professors who are at the top of their fields—renowned researchers, writers, and experts. But undergraduates may not have much contact with these professors. Instead, a graduate student “teaching assistant” (TA) may run smaller, more focused seminar classes to review what the professors lectured on during the main class meeting time.

Sometimes this is a good thing, because TAs might have more time to work independently with students and may be highly skilled at communicating the material since they are still students themselves. This practice is something to consider if a campus with distinguished professors is an important factor to you.

At smaller colleges, particularly those without graduate programs, you may not run into as many “big-name” research professors, but you will likely have far more interaction with the faculty. Many small colleges strive to foster mentoring relationships between professors and students.

Courses

Large universities have a wide variety of classes in more disciplines than you can imagine. They may even have a law school or medical school attached to them as well. You will have access to many majors, minors, and concentrations. Big schools may be more likely to offer dual-degree programs, in which you can graduate with both a bachelor’s and master’s degree. This expansive learning environment means you can test a broad range of subjects and find what interests you the most. And you can pursue your academics with excellent professors, massive libraries, and well-equipped labs and facilities.

Small schools may not offer the sheer variety of courses, but there are other advantages to obtaining a top-notch education with individual attention and guidance. At some smaller colleges, you may have the opportunity to work with your academic advisor more closely to level-op a curriculum specifically designed for you. You will be supported and
encouraged by the staff and faculty, some of whom will likely become friends or mentors. Though the library may be smaller, it will become your favorite place to meet friends and study in a cozy corner.