Large University? Ivy League? No thanks.
The Small College Experience is Rewarding—Especially in Today's Job Market

Sara Courtney Sara Courtney, a full time adult undergraduate student at Caldwell College majoring in English .

Caldwell, NJ – September 26, 2011 – The variety of colleges and universities available to students when they begin their college search can be overwhelming. Whether considering a large university, community college, or aiming for an Ivy League school, making the right choice is important. Although each school offers a unique experience, small colleges present big opportunities for students to succeed.

At a small college, you won't be attending any football games with 50,000 team fans. But you won't be attending any lengthy lectures with 500 students either. Most small colleges offer classrooms sizes that average just 20 students. The upside? Attention. You won't be just another face in the crowd to your busy professor—and the group discussions are more likely to be a lively exchange of ideas. Your contributions will be noticed and can leave a lasting impression on the class.

That was Vanessa Treus' experience. Initially attending a university with 20,000 other students, Vanessa faced financial hardship and had to leave. After securing a full scholarship to Caldwell College, a small college located in northern New Jersey, she never looked back. "At a small college, you're not just a number or a random nameless face. You are an individual. The benefits range from academic to social." After graduating in May and delivering the commencement address, Vanessa recommends the small college experience. "The availability of professors creates a learning environment that extends beyond the class meetings. It is not uncommon to have the same professor more than once and thus a professional student-professor relationship forms where students always have someone to go to for academic advice."

The opportunity to get to know your professors is especially valuable in today's difficult job market, where the unemployment rate for recent college graduates is at its highest in decades. Armed with recommendation letters from professors is an excellent way to stand out during the job search or graduate school selection process. Gaining a mentoring experience from a professor that can provide sound advice and networking opportunities in your field can be critical when competing with other college graduates that are also light on experience. Small colleges foster this mentoring relationship between professor and student better than large schools.

Getting lost in the crowd will not be a problem either, where the smaller selection of clubs, sororities, fraternities, and other student organizations will allow incoming freshmen to make more of an impact. And while large universities can feel more like a city rather than a campus, the sense of community at a small college is strong. "It's more of a 'home' type of community rather than a school community." Vanessa said. "That's not to say that there isn't a strong sense of academia, but you never feel alone."

Students looking to succeed in today’s job market need all the resources they can get. Equipped with a network of professional referrals and a foundation of specialized guidance from professors, small college graduates stand out to employers. These tools can be the difference between landing a job interview or sending in a lackluster resume. Until the unemployment numbers decline, students will have to think outside the box—-or rather, the large university—-when selecting the right school.