Smaller universities offer bigger benefits

By Raymond Tran

Addendum Editor

  As college application season arrives, seniors are beginning to choose which schools they would like to attend next fall. When deciding, it is important to take into account that, although they are not as well known, smaller institutions provide more benefits than their larger counterparts. When it comes to smaller classes, focused courses, and inclusion, smaller universities have the upper hand when compared to bigger universities.

  According to US News, a typical small college has a faculty to student ratio of 10:1 and some even go as low as 5:1. The smaller classroom environment allows students to ask more questions, become more engaged and stayed focused.

  In giant lectures, the number of students makes it hard for everyone in the class to partake in class discussions. With a less compact class size, students are in the optimal position to become part of the discussion.

  This also encourages them to pay more attention because the professor is more attentive to each student, which decreases the chances of tuning out of a lesson or falling asleep.

  Unlike larger schools, most smaller universities are focused in a certain field of study which benefits the overall learning achievements of the students.

  According to the College Board, even though some smaller colleges might not offer as many majors, some might allow students to combine different aspects of different majors to design their own. Although not all schools offer this unique choice, they are more apparent in smaller universities than bigger ones.

  Academics aside, smaller universities also accept more students than larger ones, making them more inclusive. According to College Factual, the Soka University of America has a 38.4% acceptance rate compared to 18% at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).

  Furthermore, there is a misconception that these types of school are more expensive. According to Albion College, smaller universities often work with the students’ families to offer financial aid packages to help with affordability. As stated by US News, at the Soka University of America, 90% of all student body have received need-based or merit-based scholarships, a total of $14.1 million from grants and school scholarships go towards undergrad applicants.

 According to The Odyssey, the atmosphere of small colleges is also more comforting. The Independent also stated that the close-knit student body allows students to avoid feeling “lost in the crowd” like some are at larger universities.

  Students that are interested in bettering their secondary educational experience should consider applying to a smaller institution rather than a larger one.

  Students should overlook size and start looking at the size of the impact it will make on the future. Smaller universities may be tiny in size, but when it comes to class sizes, course specialization, and inclusion, they carry the bigger benefits.