Choosing the right college is the first step to a higher education.
The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching provides classification of colleges based on school size. Classification is divided between schools offering two-year and four-year programs. Two-year schools with enrollment under 2,000 students are considered small, while enrollment over 5,000 is large. Schools with four-year programs that enroll under 3,000 students are small institutions and those enrolling 10,000 or more are large. The size of the school is an important decision for parents and students to consider, as it will affect the type of instruction received, social life expectations and extracurricular activities.
Small College Pros
The student-professor relationship at a smaller college tends to more personal due to smaller class sizes. Instructors at these schools are more likely to encourage class participation as part of the curriculum, making it easier for students to interact with each other. Because it is easier for professors and counselors to know students on a personal level, they can provide a more particular course of study based on each pupil's needs. Due to the fact many small colleges are in less populated cities and towns, students are more likely to gain a strong sense of community while attending school. In addition, students will find it easier to stand out in extracurricular activities, such as athletics, at a smaller college.
Small College Cons
The amount of degree programs and courses of study can be limited at a small school. Furthermore, many smaller colleges do not offer the opportunity to move into a graduate program. Academic resources, like libraries and research facilities, are often limited at these institutions. Students interested in participating in extracurricular activities will find small colleges often do not provide a strong emphasis on sports and provide fewer social opportunities, since most are located in smaller cities and towns. Additionally, on-campus housing opportunities can be limited.
Large College Pros
Professors who are considered to be at the top of their particular field often lecture students attending large schools. These institutions provide a wide-range of degree programs and have extensive resources available at their libraries. Research facilities at large colleges often provide students with an opportunity to explore a variety of study areas prior to choosing their exact academic course. Most schools of this size offer an array of on-campus housing choices and students can participate in many social activities, clubs and team sports. A large campus also attracts a diverse group of students, often from many different parts of the world.
Large College Cons
Class sizes at a large school can often top 100 individuals, making it difficult for students to obtain one-on-one attention from instructors. Some students find attending class in an auditorium with a large number of people to be intimidating and impersonal. In addition, professors often provide lectures to students, leaving additional instruction and grading up to a teaching assistant. Lastly, large colleges often have more enrollment rules and regulations for students to maneuver through, making the process difficult.
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