Hey guys, I'm finding it difficult to decide between a research university and a liberal arts college. Is there a research university with a liberal arts vibe where I can get the best of both worlds? Any suggestions would be appreciated!
Hello! It's great to hear that you're considering both research universities and liberal arts colleges. Research universities often have more resources and a larger student body, but liberal arts colleges tend to have a more intimate, smaller community feel. I know it can be hard to find the perfect combination, but good news: there are some research universities out there with a liberal arts vibe! A few examples that come to mind are Yale University, Northwestern University, and Brown University.
Yale is well-known for its residential college system, where students live and interact with a small community throughout their four years. Northwestern is often praised for its strong focus on undergraduate teaching and small class sizes. Brown has an open curriculum that encourages students to explore courses across a range of disciplines similar to what you would find at a liberal arts college.
Make sure to research and visit these schools if you can, as this can give you a better understanding of their unique environments.
If you want other recs, try searching research universities on CollegeVine with smaller undergrad enrollments (~5k) and, which should give you more of that tight-knit liberal arts college feel.
Best of luck finding the right fit!
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