- Small Size. Liberal arts colleges and universities are usually smaller than state universities or large private colleges. …
- A Residential College Experience. …
- Access to Professors. …
- Graduate and Professional School Preparation. …
- Career Readiness.
How My Liberal Arts College Experience Impacted My Career
What is a liberal arts college?
A liberal arts college is a school and learning environment that prioritizes the development of undergraduate students who are well-rounded. The majority of the time, they are privately run small schools. Liberal arts programs give students access to courses in the humanities, social sciences, and arts, regardless of their major. Students who graduate from liberal arts colleges are better equipped to take the next steps in their academic or professional careers by developing the creativity, innovation, critical thinking, and communication skills that are necessary.
10 reasons to choose a liberal arts college
These intriguing advantages of a liberal arts college over a public university are listed in order:
1. Well-rounded education
A liberal arts education, by definition, gives students a thorough overview of the humanities. In the beginning of their academic careers, students at liberal arts colleges take courses in the humanities, social sciences, communications, natural sciences, and mathematics. The program is intended to provide students with a balanced and well-rounded learning experience, even though the latter portion of study is more concentrated on a person’s specific degree major.
Public universities, on the other hand, typically provide degree programs that concentrate on delivering a thorough academic review of one field or industry. They might demand that first-year students take particular prerequisite courses as well as fundamental writing and math courses. But unless those courses are required for a degree, there is typically less emphasis on the humanities and social sciences.
2. Tight-knit campus community
Liberal arts colleges tend to be smaller than public universities. They frequently belong to private organizations and have certain affiliations. A close-knit learning community is likely to result from attending a college with a smaller overall population and the possibility of a common shared interest. This sense of connection can result in lifelong friendships and connections, and it might even enhance your undergraduate experience overall.
3. Undergraduate focus
Undergraduate students can choose from a variety of degree programs at liberal arts colleges. Most liberal arts colleges prioritize giving undergraduate students a well-rounded education in the arts and humanities, though some may also offer graduate studies.
Undergraduate students frequently take part in lengthy lectures with professors in larger university programs, and their assignments and papers are likely to be graded by teaching assistants. Graduate and PhD students frequently receive more resources than undergraduate students. Liberal arts colleges are better able to devote resources and time to undergraduate students because of small class sizes, community involvement, and structural design.
4. Better student to teacher ratio
The number of students in relation to the number of teachers in a typical classroom is known as the student teacher ratio. Most liberal arts colleges are private institutions, and compared to public universities, they frequently have smaller class sizes. Class sizes at some liberal arts colleges range from 10 to 30 students. These colleges are unlikely to provide large seminar classes or lecture classes with hundreds of students in attendance, in contrast to public universities.
Because of the smaller class sizes and lack of large lecture halls, students are more likely to develop personal relationships with their professors. Their professors are more likely to recognize them by name and care about their education as a result because of this. Additionally, this increased level of connectivity enables students to seek mentorship from their professors for their academic careers, their personal lives, or both. Additionally, it may assist individuals in obtaining internships or letters of recommendation in the future.
5. Access to professors
Attending a liberal arts college is probably going to give students more access to classes taught by professors because of smaller class sizes and a focus on undergraduate education. This is particularly true for freshmen, who at larger public universities are likely to have some courses taught by teaching assistants.
It’s also probable that students attending liberal arts colleges will find it simple to schedule appointments to see professors during their office hours with a better student-to-teacher ratio. Additionally, the smaller size and close-knit nature of liberal arts colleges’ campuses may even allow students to interact more casually with their professors over meals, in common areas, and during extracurricular activities
6. Leadership opportunity
Liberal arts colleges, like their university counterparts, offer their students a wide range of options for community engagement, including clubs, activities, and athletic teams. A club or team leader is more likely to be chosen when there are fewer students in attendance. Additionally, the close-knit learning environment and the potential for forging strong academic bonds with professors may assist students in locating internships or other leadership positions outside of the classroom.
7. Civic engagement
A person’s participation in initiatives aimed at resolving or improving societal problems is referred to as civic engagement. This can be volunteer work, advocacy or political involvement. Volunteerism and civic engagement are well-known characteristics of liberal arts colleges.
8. Promotes creativity and critical thinking
The ability to use one’s imagination and come up with novel ideas is referred to as creativity, while the capacity for analytical thought and information synthesis is known as creative thinking. Both of these skills are crucial in the job world. Students at liberal arts colleges are encouraged to pursue studies in the humanities and arts, and many of them participate in creative activities and organizations like dance, poetry, theater, and creative writing. Additionally, these smaller schools’ discussions and close professorial relationships encourage analytical and critical thinking.
9. Professional networking
A person’s professional network is a collection of relationships from both their personal and professional lives. People use these relationships to learn about opportunities for professional growth, employment, and other career-related advice. Liberal arts colleges are excellent places to network professionally due to their smaller class sizes, greater access to professors, and close-knit communities. Eight strategies are provided below to help you network professionally and personally while attending a liberal arts college:
10. Degree flexibility
FAQ
Are liberal arts colleges worth it?
Liberal arts graduates possess the skillset that is valued by society, sought after by employers, and essential for long-term success. They are also able to adapt and excel in the dynamic, challenging, constantly changing real world. A liberal arts degree makes you both career-ready and life-ready.
What are the pros and cons of a liberal arts college?
- Personal Enrichment. You can discover who you are while pursuing a liberal arts major and earning a college degree.
- Transferability. Again, liberal arts degrees are highly transferable. …
- Developing Professional Skills. …
- No Professional Focus. …
- No Job Market Preparation.
