Small Colleges: You’ll Like the Big Benefits

Large universities have a lot to offer. Numerous degree programs, plenty of social opportunities, big-time athletic events, and also people. Lots and LOTS of people. If that’s the type of environment you’re considering, you should know that being lost among a throng of 25,000 other students may not be as desirable as you think. Small colleges offer an educational experience that can be equally fulfilling.

Translation? When it comes to education, bigger is not always better.

Bigger Means What?

At large schools, you may be housed in a dorm with 600 other people; large auditorium classes are the norm; campus parking will likely be a struggle.

Some state institutions are situated on campuses that are hundreds of acres with dozens of buildings. Your schedule may have you at opposite ends of the campus from one class to the next, which means you’ll have to make a mad dash to get there on time.

When you arrive at your class, you find a lecture hall with seating for 300 students, but your professor might not be present. Sometimes, lecture duties are left to a teaching assistant, who may or may not be able to successfully deliver the material in a way that you can understand. While the large-school scenario above is not representative of all big campuses, it’s quite common.

Another Option

Some people thrive in those huge educational environments, but if you find that kind of existence overwhelming and unpleasant, you’re not alone. A better option for you may be the slightly less hectic world of a small college.

Research has shown that from an early age, people perform better in small classes. This impacts their performance in many other aspects of life, both during and after college. What we know is that small class size matters, and nobody does that better than small colleges.

Making the Case

Let’s say you are considering a bachelor’s in human biology to help launch your career in research, the sciences, or healthcare. It’s a degree that requires exposure to classroom lecture, but also a fair amount of lab work. You will need to study and do research, but also be competent in your laboratory work for courses like chemistry, anatomy, and physics.

Serving fewer people means that a smaller institution can be more accommodating to those seeking greater control over their academic success. You can then become a name and not simply a number on a class roster.

Here are a few other benefits of attending a small college:

• A low teacher-to-student ratio provides a more intimate classroom experience. You will be able to have more frequent, and more valuable contact with your instructors. Again, class size matters, and at a small college you can expect fewer people, which means fewer distractions.
• In classes with less than 30 people, a professor may become familiar with your work and recognize when you begin to struggle with the subject matter. The interaction between instructor and student enhances the learning process and is more common in class sizes that are more manageable.
• Lab work can be much more productive with fewer people. Questions flow more easily to help you better understand experiments, and what you’re viewing through the microscope. You can take a more proactive, hands-on approach in lab situations when you don’t have to battle others for time and space.
• If you have an interest in research, those opportunities will be more readily available to you with less competition. Instructors can be instrumental in that process, and if they’ve had positive interactions with you, they are more likely to assist you in your research goals.
• If you are seeking Federal Work-study employment, your chances to secure that kind of financial help is greater at a smaller institution, because fewer people are seeking the positions that are available.
• The social side of your college experience can also be easier at a small institution. Many friendships begin with classroom interaction, study groups, and lab partners. Those relationships are more difficult to initiate with classmates in huge lecture halls because your interaction is limited. Class size matters because the small-class dynamic is more conducive to building friendships with your peers.

The Small College Advantage

Your educational team is more clearly defined at a smaller institution. Classmates, professors, and department heads are more likely to become familiar faces at a small institution. Class sizes that are limited can be a key factor in your academic success. In addition, if you graduated from a small high school, the transition to a small college will typically be much easier.

A positive experience at a small college could be the first step that will pave the way for a phenomenal career. So, when it comes to pursuing a college education, dream big; but think small. You won’t regret it.

Earn a Bachelor’s Degree in Just 3 years at CUKC

Cleveland University-Kansas City (CUKC) can offer you the chance to earn a bachelor’s degree in human biology in only three years. It’s a degree that may be ideal if you are seeking a career in research, the sciences, or health care as a medical doctor, doctor of chiropractic, or dentist. Additionally, the CUKC bachelor’s degree is a great first step for those who already know they will need an advanced degree to reach their career of choice.

CUKC is a nonprofit, private, healthcare-focused university in Overland Park, Kansas, a suburb of more than 190,000 within the Kansas City metro area. To learn more about the College of Health Sciences at CUKC and how you can earn a four-year degree in just three years, request more information today!