Distinctive

By Caroline Matas, Ph.D.

Often, when I start talking with high school students about what kind of college they’d like to go to, they’re not sure where to begin. There are so many different variables to consider: public or private; large, medium, or small; close to home or a plane ride away; in the heart of a big city or in a small college town? One of the few things I hear students declare over and over is what they know they don’t want: “I can’t go to some tiny college in the middle of a cornfield!”

Such is the reputation of the American liberal arts college. And not for no reason! Many of the top liberal arts schools in the United States are located in small towns in the Midwest and New England. By design, these schools have smaller student bodies in order to deliver on their promise of a more personalized academic experience. But does opting to attend one of these schools mean you’ll spend your off hours chewing on a stalk of wheat and twiddling your thumbs? Does a smaller student body mean you’re signing up for high school 2.0?

As both a graduate of and a former admissions counselor at small liberal arts colleges myself (neither was in a cornfield!), I love to dispel common misconceptions about this type of school and help students identify whether a “tiny college” (in a cornfield or otherwise) might be right for them. 

A liberal arts school might be right for you if…

• You are interested in smaller class sizes and discussion-based learning.

While a large lecture hall is many people’s stereotypical vision of college learning, it’s not the only option! In fact, studies have shown that lecture-based undergraduate courses are far less effective at preparing students for final exams than more active teaching styles. The liberal arts model emphasizes smaller, discussion-based classroom experiences that increase student engagement. 

• You want to have more one-on-one time with professors

Sometimes, students will tell me they are interested in attending a large research university in order to get the chance to work with professors whose books they’ve read or whose work they admire. The unfortunate truth is, the bigger the school, the harder it will be to get face time with your professors. Even at many Ivy League schools, students will find that the discussion portions of larger, lecture-based classes are facilitated by graduate students. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing–many graduate instructors are passionate about the course material and available for student questions–but it is different from the vision that many students have about what college classes will look like. At a small liberal arts school, however, students have far more opportunities to get to know their professors. Smaller classes, more personalized research opportunities, and an overall ethos of deeper professor engagement with students means that a liberal arts college might just give students the kind of inspiring, up-close work with professors that they hope for.

• Your idea of college fun is campus-based.

There’s no getting around it: most liberal arts colleges are nestled in small towns, rather than big cities. Students who envision college as a place to experience big city life as much as it is a time to experience campus life simply might not be fulfilled by the small town experience. However, students looking for a walkable, residential college experience where the social life is centered around campus clubs, sports, Greek life, and other campus-based activities might be surprised to find that many small colleges are even better equipped to offer that lifestyle than larger schools. Since most liberal arts schools require students to live on campus, their student activities office plans accordingly to make sure students have plenty of things to do on nights and weekends. Fully residential liberal arts schools are also far less likely to be “suitcase schools,” where students vacate campus every weekend to go home to their families or their off-campus residence. 

• You’re not sure what you want to study or you’re interested in multiple fields.

Nothing strikes fear into the hearts of prospective college students (and their parents) more than the question of what they’ll major in and how they’ll eventually land a job from that major. Many parents, especially, express their interest in getting their child situated in a career-focused college program (e.g. an undergraduate business school) so as not to waste any time getting their kid prepared for the working world. However, according to the National Center for Education Statistics, about one-third of all undergraduate students change their major within the first three years of their college career. Countless more change their vision of what kind of work they want to do with a given major as classes and internships give them more insight into their options. A liberal arts setting embraces the fact that many first and second year students are still exploring their career options by requiring students to take classes across a wide array of topics. Instead of having to essentially start over if they switch from one career-focused program to another, students meet their core education requirements by dipping a toe in many different departments, then focus on their major classes once they find the right fit. 

• You like making unexpected academic and career connections. The other benefit of a liberal arts curriculum’s broad scope is the way it encourages interdisciplinary thinking. Liberal arts schools boast higher rates of students with double majors—including double majors that bridge the divide between STEM fields and the humanities. Students interested in borrowing research methods, theoretical insights, and even funding from across several departments will likely have an easier time forging the path at a liberal arts college that holds this kind of cross-pollination as part of its educational mission. The same goes for pursuing future career connections. Liberal arts schools see graduates off to successful careers in business, medicine, education, technology, and beyond—and sometimes with majors that don’t seem like an obvious match! Check out liberal arts schools’ websites to find stories of students whose philosophy degree led them to medical school and whose sociology degree spurred their new business idea. 

Is a liberal arts school right for you? You never know until you try! As you start to think about options for your college future, don’t forget to visit at least one smaller liberal arts college to see whether it sparks your interest. It just might lead you to your perfect college match!