School selection can be a daunting task for high school students heading to college. There are literally thousands of colleges and universities to choose from in the United States.
Although each educational institution is unique, it is possible to place most colleges and universities into one of several broad categories. A helpful first option in school selection is understanding what these types of institutions are and how well they fit your personal preferences and learning style.
liberal arts colleges – Liberal arts colleges are 4-year institutions committed to providing a broad undergraduate education. Students are required to take a variety of courses in the arts, humanities, and sciences outside of their major. Liberal arts colleges tend to be small, with a total enrollment of 1,500 to 8,000. A close-knit community is a key element of their educational model and they will reduce enrollment if they feel the campus population is getting too large. Also, many liberal arts colleges are located in rural areas, small towns, or suburbs. Carleton, Hamilton, Bryn Mawr, Wellesley, Amherst, Haverford, Mount Holyoke, Claremont McKenna, Swarthmore, Williams, Smith, Bowdoin, Bates, Reed, Colby, and Middlebury are just a few of the excellent liberal arts colleges in the US.
Plus: Excellent teaching standards. Close contact with professors who can serve as mentors and/or recommenders for postgraduate studies. Small and tight communities.
Cons: The location may be remote. Limited range of classes and/or specializations. Libraries and other resources may be limited. Limited residential and dining options. It can be expensive.
the ivy league – Believe it or not, it is said that this term was originally coined to designate a college sports league. Since then, of course, it has come into popular use as an abbreviation for a group of some of the oldest and most prestigious educational institutions in the US. The 8 member schools of the Ivy League are Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Brown , the University of Pennsylvania, Dartmouth, Columbia University and Cornell. Each of the Ivy League schools is a unique institution with its own institutional culture and distinctive educational experience. Prospective applicants should be careful to research each school separately.
Plus: Excellent education. Prestige. Excellent facilities and educational support.
Cons: Highly competitive admissions. Expensive.
residential colleges – A residential college is much more than a university with on-campus accommodation. It is a university where the day-to-day life of students is part of their educational experience. The universities where the students reside organize conferences and other learning experiences as well as social events. This lifestyle is intended to give students a strong sense of community, the opportunity to interact with a wide range of other students, and the opportunity to develop close relationships with faculty. Only a small number of American universities offer a true residential option. They include Harvard, Yale, Princeton, the University of Pennsylvania, Middlebury, the University of Virginia, Rice University, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and Northwestern University.
Plus: A close community that leads to lifelong friendships. A stimulating and integrated learning and living environment.
Cons: Communities can be too tight-knit for some tastes. Limited living, dining and entertainment options. It can be expensive.
Honors Programs – Many large colleges and universities give high-achieving students the option of enrolling in an honors program. Honors students take small, seminar-style classes that are more challenging than regular classes on the same topics and that give them close contact with faculty. They may be required to complete a senior thesis or project. In some schools, outstanding students live in designated housing and have access to scholarships and special internships.
Plus: Excellent academics. Close contact with professors who can serve as mentors and/or recommenders for postgraduate studies. An opportunity to produce a thesis or other capstone project. Honors programs at public universities often represent excellent value for in-state residents.
Cons: It’s not really a substitute for a liberal arts college experience, if that’s what’s on your heart.
research universities – These are comprehensive universities where faculty and graduate students focus on original research. America’s top research universities attract talent from across the country and around the world. A partial list of top US research universities includes Stanford, Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Columbia, University of Chicago, University of Pennsylvania, Duke, MIT, Johns Hopkins, University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill, the University of Illinois – Urbana-Champaign, Pennsylvania State University, UCLA, UC – Berkeley, the California Institute of Technology, the University of Wisconsin – Madison, and the University of Michigan.
Plus: Excellent academics. Entrance to the best postgraduate programs. Exposure to cutting-edge research. Excellent libraries, laboratories and other facilities.
Cons: Highly competitive admissions. College students may have more contact with teaching assistants than with professors.
Flagship Universities – A flagship university is the main campus of a state university system. Ensigns are comprehensive universities and generally include graduate or professional schools in addition to undergraduate universities. Flagship colleges have competitive admissions and are often listed among the top colleges in the country. They include ‘public Ivies’ such as the University of California at Berkeley, the University of Virginia, the University of Illinois – Urbana-Champaign, the University of Wisconsin – Madison, and Pennsylvania State University.
Plus: Excellent academics. Entrance to the best postgraduate programs. Lively social and sports scenes. A wide range of class options. Relatively low tuition for in-state residents.
Cons: It’s easy to get lost in the huge campuses and large student population. Main campuses may be located in isolated rural areas. College students are likely to have more contact with teaching assistants than faculty. Classes may involve several hundred students and provide little opportunity for discussion or feedback.
Land-Grant Universities – These are large public universities that were originally built on federal land in exchange for a commitment to educate the public. The primary mission of these universities remains public education. Undergraduate programs are often balanced with active graduate, continuing education, extension, and professional programs.
Plus: Less competitive admissions and relatively low tuition for in-state residents.
Cons: Large campuses and classes. The quality of programs and departments varies.
Music Conservatories and Art Schools – They are specialized academies that train students in the visual and performing arts. Some schools (especially those affiliated with a university or consortium of colleges) offer the option of a broader liberal arts education in addition to art training. Others focus exclusively on developing the artistic talent of their students. Most of these schools require an audition or portfolio as part of the admissions process. Top schools include the Julliard School, the Eastman School of Music, the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, the Rhode Island School of Design, the Pratt Institute, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and the Yale Art School.
Plus: Outstanding training. Prestige. Specialized professional placement and networking opportunities.
Cons: Highly competitive admissions. Training and/or academic credit may be difficult to transfer to other schools or fields.
Community colleges and junior colleges – These are two-year institutions that offer Associate of Arts (AA) degrees. Most are non-residential ‘traveler’ schools. Community colleges generally practice open admissions, meaning anyone who meets their minimum standards is guaranteed enrollment. Many offer smaller class sizes and a more supportive learning environment than larger 4-year institutions. A growing number of college-bound high school graduates are choosing to save money by completing 2 years of undergraduate study at a community college and then transferring to a 4-year institution for their junior and senior years.
Plus: Low stress admissions. Cheap. Teaching and academic support can be very good.
Cons: Class options and library and lab resources may be limited. Transfers to 4-year institutions may become more difficult as more people choose this option. You may not be able to transfer all of your degree credits to a 4-year institution. Social life and extracurricular activities may be limited.
