Liberal arts colleges

Reed College is probably one of the few undergrad institutions that "may be worth it" to come study in the US. They were ranked the best college for undergrad's and the school is very very small with something like just over 1,000 students! I have a friend who will be going this fall and he is very intellectual. I also believe, now correct me if i'm wrong, that Reed's curriculum , though, still a liberal arts based system allows a greater emphasis on whatever your choosen subject (major). As part of the students studies during those four years they are encouraged to eventually write a dissertation in their last year which is based upon their major and of course must be approved by some dept. chair.

Lastly, all I can say is this: had I not had my heart set on studying in England, Reed would have been the only US college to get my app.

Hope that helps... :smile:

Reply 3

What about liberal arts colleges like Williams, Amherst, Bowdoin or colleges that are ranked top 10 in the US News ranking?

Reply 4

shady lane

16

jeffreyweingard

What about liberal arts colleges like Williams, Amherst, Bowdoin or colleges that are ranked top 10 in the US News ranking?

Williams and Amherst are good and have good reputations. The other LAC that produces highly employable graduates is Pomona College in southern California. When I was in final rounds for a few investment banks, everyone was either Stanford or Pomona.

Reply 5

shady lane

Williams and Amherst are good and have good reputations. The other LAC that produces highly employable graduates is Pomona College in southern California. When I was in final rounds for a few investment banks, everyone was either Stanford or Pomona.

What about LACs outside California :p:

? Is the US News Report LAC ranking accurate (Pomona is ranked 6 and tied with Bowdoin in Maine)?

Reply 6

Moloko

As far as I'm aware LACs are not considered inferior to normal universities, though of course it depends on which one you go to. Many are very highly regarded in America (probably abroad), and most ambitious high schoolers apply to many (sometimes solely) LACs. In fact, here in NYC I would say they are pretty much the norm. Most of my friends are going to LACs, I highly doubt going to one would damage any employment prospects, as they are hardly unusual.

Reply 7

Amherst/Bowdain/Williams are all great small liberal arts colleges as well, but its all relative to what you plan to major in. There is also the Princeton Review which is a great source of info. aside from the US News rankings (which can be a little controversal).

Knox College is another good school for undergrads, as well as Brywn Mywer (I think that's how its spelled?) which is an all girls college.

You have to keep in mind that, though, american uni's all offer 'general education' classes as a base to your studies...certain colleges/uni's are better known for specific areas.
USC = great film dept/great music dept/great architecture dept...etc
Knox = great creative writing program at undergrad level
Oberlin = wonderful music academy [as well as Harvard and Cornell, if considering the ivies...]

Reply 8

Moloko

In fact, here in NYC I would say they are pretty much the norm. Most of my friends are going to LACs, I highly doubt going to one would damage any employment prospects, as they are hardly unusual.

May I ask which LACs did your friends apply to?

Reply 9

AstraeaBeauty

Amherst/Bowdain/Williams are all great small liberal arts colleges as well, but its all relative to what you plan to major in. There is also the Princeton Review which is a great source of info. aside from the US News rankings (which can be a little controversal).

Which Princeton Review college guide should I look at with regard to LACs?

Reply 10

just go to this web page www.princetonreview.com

and wonder around...you should find some specific info, I think you have to register though..its free

Reply 11

Moloko

Here is a reliable ranking if you haven't seen it: http://www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/college/rankings/brief/libartco/tier1/t1libartco_brief.php

As for my friends, they applied to (going down the rankings beacuse I can't remember them all off the top of my head):

Amherst
Swarthmore
Haverford
Middlebury
Wesleyan University
Vassar
Smith
Mount Holyoke College
Oberlin
Macalaster
Barnard
Bucknell
University of Richmond
Scripps
Bard
Skidmore
Sarah Lawrence College
Pitzer
Wheaton College
Muhlenberg College
Goucher
Juniata College

Reply 12

Moloko

Here is a reliable ranking if you haven't seen it: http://www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/college/rankings/brief/libartco/tier1/t1libartco_brief.php

yes, I have seen this ranking. But it seems have a bad reputation attached to it. Is it "reliable" and "accurate"?

Reply 13

Moloko

Well, I suppose it's not perfect, but rankings are always somewhat controversial. I would say it's reasonably accurate. Where have you heard that it was unreliable?

Reply 14

forpolarbears

17

US News and Reports is always called into question because they have a habit of making entertainment out of their top school choices--ie, switching from Harvard to Yale, etc. Also, they bank a lot on prestige and not so much on the quality of actual education.

That aside, they are what I mainly go by.

Reply 15

Champagne Breakfast

OP

16

But I mean, what sort of people go to these colleges? Why such a small proportion of the population? Do LACs in general have some kind of reputation I should know about?

Reply 16

Liberal Art Colleges are small for just that reason usually, they are colleges not universities. which in no way deters from their academic standards, its just that in america we differentiate between calling a higher institution a college or a university...

LAC's are almost always private schools versus say UCLA which is considered public. for ex: all the ivies are also private...

some people think that private uni's/colleges have more funding available, while the public schools are in part funded by and restricted by the government.

also remember that LAC's cater to students who want a uni experience where they may perphaps get better/more attention from proffesors or smaller class sizes...it really just comes down to what you are looking for in your eduaction and what lifestyle your looking to have. everything is relative...

Reply 17

I was told that at LACs, you are required take courses in subjects other than your major/minor (e.g. if you major in History, you will also have to take courses in Science, Maths). I am all in favour of this, but I am a bit worried since I haven't done Science (only did Chemistry) and Maths since GCSE. Will I struggle?

Reply 18

jeffreyweingard

I was told that at LACs, you are required take courses in subjects other than your major/minor (e.g. if you major in History, you will also have to take courses in Science, Maths). I am all in favour of this, but I am a bit worried since I haven't done Science (only did Chemistry) and Maths since GCSE. Will I struggle?

its not just at LAC's but at all american uni's/college's....

their called 'General Education Requirement Classes" usually
its basically the basis of having an american degree at undergad level...being well read and versed in a wide array of subjects and fields. so even if your an english major you have to take a certain number of credits/classes in math/hist/science/foreign lang/etc...you get the idea?

wheras in the UK, you usually study one or two subjects exclusivly! which from what i gather some people think is better...as your studies are more indepth

you have to really remember that these (UK and America) are two entirely different education systems.

Reply 19