A common myth is that liberal arts colleges don't have strong science and math programs. The truth is that liberal arts colleges are often strong in the sciences and math, plus students receive more personalized attention due to the smaller size.

What students may not realize is that "name brand" colleges like Harvard often limit undergrads' interactions with professors. Many world-renowned professors are not teaching freshman biology — many undergrad classes are taught by teaching assistants, typically PhD students. This is often not the case at liberal arts colleges.

You will find that many liberal arts colleges produce the highest percentages of graduates who go on to medical school because of high MCAT scores. Students who want to earn an advanced degree in a science research field also score well on the GRE. The reasons for this include:

  1. Small classes at all levels, from introductory to advanced
  2. Professors who really know the students and advise them accordingly
  3. Strong internship programs
  4. Advisers who stay with the student for three years after freshman year
  5. A strong curriculum in writing and reading
  6. A tradition of preparing students for graduate school

This is not to say that a student cannot or should not attend a large university if they want to major in science — opportunities for undergraduate science research may be there, though competition for those positions can be keen. It all depends on what type of campus and classroom environment you want, along with many other factors that come together in choosing the best-fit school.

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