Top 5 Reasons to Study at a Liberal Arts College
Published on Aug 2, 2018
Greetings Cogito World Education-ers, and welcome to the Top 5 Reasons to Study at a Liberal Arts College! Finding the best college for you isn’t easy and many students never find their perfect home. This process can take years and requires intense research. Prospective students must be self-aware about their strengths, limitations, and necessary areas for growth. Sounds difficult, right? How do you know which college is THE ONE?
One effective method of limiting your chance of choosing the WRONG college is attending a Liberal Arts college. Liberal Arts colleges are committed to developing core competencies within their students, preparing them to be versatile for the ever-changing job market. By receiving a Liberal Arts education, students are required to take classes in many different areas, develop strong analytical skills across subjects, and think critically in multiple ways. Students still take Majors and Minors, giving them a true focus, but the foundations of their education is diverse. Some notable Top Liberal Arts colleges include: Williams College, Amherst College, Middlebury College, Wesleyan University and Oberlin College.
With this in mind, let’s countdown the Top 5 Reasons to study at a Liberal Arts college.
- Expand your educational foundation. The job market is changing rapidly, with new professionals projected to change occupations anywhere from 10 to 15 times in their lifetime. With such changes immanent, preparing to work and think critically in multiple areas is a real asset.
- Flexibility to change your major or wait to declare your major. Many students believe they know what they want to study in college, but change their mind once they arrive or as adults. Liberal Arts colleges often don’t require students to declare their major until the end of their Sophomore year. This provides plenty of time to take classes, find your passion, and study it intensely for your final two years.
- Get individualized attention in small classes. Most liberal arts schools feature average class sizes below 20 students, giving you an opportunity to make deeper connections with your professors. What students choose to engage with OUTSIDE of the classroom can largely define the efficacy of their education. Professors are the key to finding internships, your first job, and giving necessary advice. Get close to a professor in your field of work.
- Prepare for Graduate School. Undergraduate degrees are an important step, but progressive professionals later obtain a Master’s or Doctorate level degree. Extra schooling is often necessary to continue to get promotions and make more money. Think of your undergraduate college experience as a trial run, testing your interests. Don’t be afraid to have a broader experience, you will receive intense focus at a higher level of education.
- It’s your life, do something you care about. Students often attend college making statements like “I want to be a teacher” or “I want to be an engineer” with little information about what that actually means on a day to day basis. The mind grows dramatically from ages 18-22, and only stops at around age 25. Therefore in many ways it makes sense to keep your options open until your brain stops changing. The flexibility of a Liberal Arts education provides the skills and agency to LOVE the job you’ll spend your life doing.