Benefits of Selective Liberal Arts Schools

It happens every year. When I’m talking to applicants about their college lists, they will invariably have the same schools on there, despite each student having different academic interests. Why do certain schools have a chokehold on us? Generally, I think it’s because they are big research universities that are what we think of when we think of “college.”

Often forgotten, though, is the selective liberal arts college. Though it offers the same thing—a college education—it does so in a way that encourages strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills. It does not always prepare applicants for a professional career the way many research universities do, but it prepares you for the possibility of a career we haven’t even thought of yet. (Just imagine my parents’ surprise if I told them I wanted to work in digital marketing or artificial intelligence or cloud computing in 1999.)

I almost always find that students have not thought critically about their college lists, and, therefore, are not familiar with the ways that they can benefit from a liberal arts college. Here are the top three reasons that come to mind:

1. Smaller class sizes and an undergraduate campus community.

Liberal arts colleges have a fraction of the students that research universities have. In some cases, some have as few as 900 students (Harvey Mudd College) and others as “many” as 2000 (Bowdoin College). Those numbers might seem big, but there are universities that have as many of 32,000 undergraduates! ( 👀 Looking at you, UCLA.) The smaller campus community means that there is often a greater sense of camaraderie among the students. Everyone knows everyone, yes, but that’s not a bad thing. You will come to know your classmates, the other residents in your dormitories, and even the staff in the dining halls.

An added bonus is that class sizes are smaller, meaning that you will likely have an opportunity to go further with your learning. Discussion groups will be more intimate and effective at connecting you to your peers, providing chances for collaboration and innovation. You might find yourself more challenged because there isn’t room to hide.

2. More interaction with professors.

Liberal arts colleges tend to employ professors who are doing research, as opposed to graduate students, teaching assistants, or instructors. This often means that, as a student, you are learning from someone who is not only an academic expert, but who is also active in their fields. There is ample opportunity to collaborate with professors, do research, and maybe lead your own project by the time you graduate. When it comes to post-college plans, those same professors are excellent sources of wisdom and networking. Many will also be able to write you a stellar letter of recommendation, depending on your work with them. Those letters of are key to applying to graduate schools.

3. Greater access to resources.

You can probably imagine that by having access to professors and research opportunities in smaller, more intimate environments means that you can really delve into your interests at a liberal arts college. But that’s not the only way you can take advantage of the resources that exist on campus. For example, you might have more opportunity to get involved with the student affairs on your campus, whether that’s through a club or a sport. Perhaps you are able to benefit from the Career Services office and other pre-professional advising. Or maybe, with the mentoring of college administrators and your professors, you develop leadership skills that can help you transition to the next level. The personal level of support exists throughout the college, and because a liberal arts college is designed for undergraduates, it’s all there for you, specifically, to make use of.

The goal of a college education is to develop the whole student. It’s why residential colleges exist in the first place: to teach students who (and how!) to be through academic, social, and community-minded lenses. Don’t get me wrong: you will still learn all these things at a research university. You might just have to work harder for the same opportunities because, unlike a liberal arts college, a research university does not just cater to the undergraduate experience.

So, if you’re just starting off your college search process, before you add all of U.S. News and World Report’s best 50 colleges to your list, take a step back and think about what you’d like out of your college experience. It might be that a selective liberal arts college is the right place for you.   

Our colleagues at Williams College & Pomona College joined us for a conversation where we explored the opportunities veterans have at a liberal arts institution and the many ways a liberal arts education creates pathways to professional or graduate programs. Listen & enjoy the conversation!

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