top of page

30 Reasons to Consider Small Colleges

vpeterpitts

30 reasons to consider small colleges.

 

1.  ATTENTION/ASSISTANCE  Most of the 743 small colleges in the U.S. (less than 3,500 students) have about 80% or more of their classes with 39 or fewer students. This is great for students who want a lot of attention and who are eager to get their questions answered. Several even offer freshman classes as small as 10-20 students. This is perfect for students who are initially uncomfortable talking in front of other students.

 




2.  WRITING FOCUS  Small colleges focus on fine-tuning a student’s writing skills. Professors who are teaching small classes have the luxury and time to offer essay tests to supplement their true/false, multiple choice, or fill-in-the-blank exams. Even STEM professors often give essay exams. Graduating from college with strong writing skills helps greatly in the job search (cover letters and resume), and when they are in a job after graduation, they have the writing skills to help them with promotions to leadership positions where writing reports is a crucial skill.

 

3.  PARTICIPATION  Many, if not most, professors encourage (and some actually require) classroom participation.  Even the most quiet and shy student coming into a small college will graduate with more confidence when asked to speak. This helps in both the job search process and in the process of rising to positions of authority.

 

4.  FACULTY AVAILABILITY   Especially if the small college is in a smaller town or village, the accessibility of professors outside of class is one of the more powerful reasons for choosing a small college. Most professors at smaller colleges enjoy being available at times that go well beyond their posted office hours. At many small colleges, especially those in small towns, faculty live within a few blocks or miles of campus, and some even invite their classes to their homes for dinner or tea. Some of the most powerful learning occurs away from class, sometimes late at night, in casual conversation with faculty.

 

5.  ACCOUNTABILITY   Learning to be accountable and responsible is a natural process at a small college. You really cannot hide. It is very difficult for a student to cut corners, bluff, or cheat.

 

6.  FLEXIBILITY  With small classes, faculty can be more flexible in terms of where class is held (outdoors, in the lobby of a dorm, in their living room, or other creative locations) and how the classroom is organized (sitting in a circle, sitting in rows, around a large table, etc.)

 

7.  FUN  Do you enjoy people and like having a good time? Of course you do. I worked for small colleges for 42 years and I can tell you these students are very social. Friendship groups are huge! These friendship groups also tend to be diverse. It is virtually impossible to graduate from a small college without having friends from different geographic, racial/ethnic, and religious backgrounds. Many small colleges have strong Greek life as well.  

 

8.  EFFICIENCY AND RIGOR  Professors can move more quickly through material in small classes. This enables some students at the junior and senior level to complete graduate-level work. This makes their transition to graduate school much easier.

 

9.  HELP/ENCOURAGEMENT  Professors can easily identify who needs extra tutoring, who needs to see a counselor for personal problems, and who needs to be academically “pushed” a little bit more. Fewer students “fall through the cracks.” Professors at small colleges really have the luxury of getting to know and influence their students.  They are life-changers!

 

10.  NO TA’S   Even freshman classes are taught by professors, most of whom have PhDs. Most professors at small colleges are hired based on their teaching skills as opposed to their research and publishing credentials. They do conduct research and publish, but their main focus is teaching students.

 

11.  FACULTY WHO ALSO ADVISE  Advising at small colleges is done in a very personal and thorough manner. Students get career, academic, and even personal advice from some of the same professors they have in the classroom. There are a few small colleges that have advisors separate from the teaching faculty, but it is more typical to find teaching faculty who also advise.

 

12. FLEXIBLE CURRICULUM If a student wants to double major or major/double-minor and still graduate in four years, the close advising that occurs at small colleges helps make this a possibility. There are also some small colleges that now offer four-year degrees in only three years (year-round classes).  Some colleges even allow students to create their own majors. One college has only five general education classes, so students can triple major if they wish.

 

13.  UNIQUE CALENDARS  Many small colleges have 4-1-4, 4-4-1, or 1-course-at-a-time calendars that give students unique opportunities both on and off campus.

 

14.  LOW CLASS MINIMUMS   In some departments, professors do not have class minimums (or at least very low minimums), so if only five students want to take a class, they can do so. This is not true for all small colleges, but it is for many. Low class minimums lead to more students being able to graduate in four years without having to go an extra semester or two. Many small colleges even offer guarantees of four-year graduation and waive tuition charges for an extra semester or two if needed. Many colleges also offer an opportunity for independent study for a student who might be the only one signed up for a particular class.

 

15.  RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES  Research opportunities are numerous at small colleges. One small college even offers a three-week research opportunity before the first day of their freshman classes. Much of this research is ORIGINAL research (not just helping professors with their research) that is often eventually published.  I have seen undergraduate students presenting research at a national conference where they were the only undergraduate doing so. Thanks to alumni generosity, the facilities (science would be a good example of this) are sometimes just as good (quality-wise) as facilities available to undergraduates at larger universities. The advantage at a small college is that students have access to sophisticated equipment earlier in their college career. Hands-on work begins from day one at many small colleges.

 

16. INTER-DEPARTMENTAL COMRADIERE AND COMMUNICATION  Communication between departments leads to some really awesome interdisciplinary student work. Professors in English know the professors in Physics, and they all know the professors in Art, and so on. Programs that blend three or more disciplines are common, so faculty in one department can even advise students in a different major. The communication between faculty members is especially helpful to the undecided student or the student who wants to change majors or embark upon interdisciplinary research.

 

17.  EASE OF CHANGING MAJORS  Sometimes changing majors is as easy as bringing a piece of paper from one side of the hall to the other for some signatures.  There is less red tape and bureaucracy. Students get less of a runaround.

 

18.  SUPPORT FOR THE UNDECIDED STUDENTS  The undecided student probably benefits the most from a small college. They get good advice from all sides. They are not out there “all alone” trying to figure things out for themselves. They have their official advisor (sometimes they can even choose who that is), their unofficial advisor (a professor they have become good friends with), the career/placement center (which students are encouraged to use from freshman year on), and a wonderful web of alumni connections and mentors. Faculty love students who have an open mind about their career direction and help them in any way they can.

 

19. STAFF INTERACTION   Student interaction with staff other than faculty is very heartwarming at small colleges. At Monmouth College (where I worked for 27 years), Penny “The Omelet Lady” in the cafeteria was very much a part of the campus culture! Students went to her for virtually anything and everything. She was so helpful! The security team, the maintenance workers, the student affairs staff, the admission counselors, and even the lady or man who makes sure to keep the dorms looking clean and beautiful. All these people know the students by name and the students know them too.   Faculty and staff often keep in touch for many years after graduation. Alumni return to campus often.

 

20.  ABILITY TO BE INVOLVED FROM DAY ONE.  Students have an opportunity to play sports (not just watch sports).  Perform in music or theatre (instead of just watching). Be in several clubs at the same time. Start their own club or organization.  Small colleges are great for students who want to DO things (not just watch others do things).

 

21.  FACULTY AND STAFF SUPPORT   Faculty and staff attend student concerts, plays, athletic events, art shows, and other extracurricular activities to show support. They care deeply about the whole student, not just the academic side. Many of the intramural sports include faculty and staff.

 

22.  PERSONAL INTERACTION WITH ADMINISTRATION Not only do students have interaction with faculty and staff, but at many small colleges students also have interaction with administrators and trustees. Presidents of most small colleges will have groups of students to their house for dinner or coffee, or eat in the cafeteria so they can interact with students on a daily basis.  Students learn how to conduct themselves in the presence of people in positions of authority.

 

23.  HIGH PLACEMENT RATES  Placement rates into graduate school or employment are high. Most placement rates (within six months of graduation) at small colleges are in the 90-99% range. This is slightly higher than overall placement at larger universities. Why is this? Networking---fellow students, advisors, informal advisors, career center advisors, faculty, and alumni all work together in networks that help students find that all-important first job. In fact, I know many students (thanks to internships) who already had a job secured even before graduation day.

 

24.  ROBUST RESUMES   Resumes are robust. Faculty encourage (and sometimes require) internships, study abroad, published research, and presentations at state or national meetings. Students tend to get involved in several extracurricular activities and develop leadership skills from these experiences. It is not unusual for a student to have all of these on their resume. In fact, the hard part for some students is reducing the length of their resume to the recommended two pages.  Sororities and fraternities are prevalent on many small college campuses, which gives students even more leadership opportunities. Study abroad opportunities are accessible, numerous, and affordable, which also helps a resume stand out.

 

25.  DETAILED LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION  Letters of recommendation from faculty tend to be very detailed and personal. They know the students inside and out. Graduate schools and employers can tell the difference between generic, cookie-cutter letters and the very personalized/detailed letters from small college faculty.

 

26.  WELL-WRITTEN COVER LETTERS AND RESUMES  Student cover letters and resumes are well-written. Four years of essay exams and long research papers really pay off when it is time for the job search.

 

27.  INTERVIEW SKILLS ARE SHARP  Interviews with prospective employers and graduate schools tend to go smoothly. Four years of speaking in front of others and interacting with persons in authority positions helps with this. Most offer a strong “mock interview” opportunity for all graduating seniors.

 

28.  SOFT SKILL DEVELOPMENT  Employers recognize the soft skills that these students have developed by living on a small college campus.

 

29.  EASE OF APPLICATION AND FINANCIAL AID PROCESS  87% of the 743 small colleges admit 70% or more of their applicants.  At many of these small colleges, students can apply in August, be admitted in September, apply for aid in October, receive an aid award in December, and make their decision by New Year's.  This surely makes the senior year of high school a lot more fun and less stressful.

 

30. GENEROUS MERIT AND SCHOLARSHIP AID Hundreds of small colleges that do not get as much publicity as they deserve, tend to give very generous financial aid awards.  In fact 243 of the 743 colleges offer (usually by interviews on campus) even offer some full-tuition or full-ride scholarship opportunities.  The average merit amount at the 734 colleges is in the $22K range.

 

In the end, the important thing is for students to find an environment where they feel at home. Some get that feeling at a large university, some get that feeling at a mid-size, and some get that feeling at a small college. The only way for students to know which is best for them is to visit. The college visit is the most crucial piece of the puzzle.

 

I truly hope that students will at least consider and explore the small college option. To do so could be life-changing.

3 views0 comments

Comments


© 2023 by U3K4College LLC

Powered and secured by Wix

bottom of page