Prospective college students often have a dream school they want to attend, but experts say it’s important for applicants to keep an open mind about the types of colleges where they could excel. By doing so, experts say students can enhance their chances of finding a good fit.
Nancy Lane, director of guidance at Cathedral High School in Boston, and other experts advise undergraduate applicants to evaluate both National Liberal Arts Colleges and National Universities during their college search, since both types of schools can offer a top-notch education. Many also offer hefty financial aid and scholarship packages.
Experts say a student’s personality can likewise influence which college is best for him or her, and each institution has its own distinctive academic culture.
[Ask these seven questions when starting your college search.]
“Some students can thrive on a big college campus where they are intermingling with graduate and undergraduate students,” says Lane, a 30-year education veteran. “Other students can get lost in a big place.”
In addition to prospective college students thinking through application strategies, Lane says either visiting colleges or speaking with college recruiters can give them insight into which schools would be a good fit.
Strategic Considerations
Given the extremely low acceptance rates at top national universities and liberal arts colleges, experts say college applicants who want to attend elite institutions should be applying to schools in both categories. And students who lack high grades or strong test scores can benefit from applying to both types of institutions, since this can increase their odds of acceptance.
Because admissions officers’ preferences can vary tremendously from school to school, experts say a college essay that makes a good impression at one school may receive a poor reception at another. Experts note that it’s hard for college applicants to predict where their applications are most likely to yield admissions offers or financial aid and scholarship dollars, so they should hedge their bets by applying to a variety of quality undergraduate programs.
[Read top college officials’ notes on great application essays.]
Experts also caution against assuming liberal arts colleges are more expensive than national universities.
“I do think that the liberal arts colleges sometimes are overlooked by students especially for financial reasons, and I think that’s a mistake, because so many really strong small liberal arts colleges can provide great financial packages,” says Teddy Barnes, president of educational advancement at Essay Dog, a New-Jersey based company that helps college and graduate school applicants write admissions and scholarship essays.
Because some liberal arts colleges offer need-blind admissions and claim to meet admitted students’ full financial need, experts advise applicants who require financial aid to keep these colleges in mind.
[See how liberal arts colleges are helping grads translate their skills into careers.]
How to Decide on Fit
“Many students could do well at either a liberal arts school or a national university, but students should make sure that every school they are applying to is a good fit — academically, socially and financially,” Alisha Couch, a college admissions counselor at IvyWise and former director of admission at Ohio Wesleyan University, said in an email.
Matthew Auer, dean of the University of Georgia‘s School of Public and International Affairs, says students who need the support of a close-knit community are generally better off at a small liberal arts college than a large research university, but students who have a very precise, technical academic focus are more likely to find their desired courses at a research university than a small college.
Barnes says one important advantage of attending a national university is that undergraduate students generally have the option of taking graduate-level courses. Couch says another key difference is that some universities require applicants to declare their desired major.
“Often at large, research institutions, students must apply to specific majors or departments,” she said. “At most liberal arts institutions, students just apply to the school, and if admitted, can choose to study any of the majors and minors that are offered.”
Experts say many college applicants who dream of attending top U.S. schools don’t apply to premier liberal arts colleges simply because of a lack of familiarity with those schools.
“I’m often concerned by students applying to universities just because of name recognition and prestige,” Couch said. “Students need to ‘try on’ colleges to see if they have the certain ‘look and feel.’ Just like people, colleges and universities have different personalities! Not all national universities feel the same or will be the best fit for a student, and the same goes for liberal arts schools.”
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Consider Both Liberal Arts Colleges, National Universities originally appeared on usnews.com
