In the college admissions process, people sometimes mistakenly equate a higher acceptance rate with lower rigor and fewer opportunities.
The truth is that many less selective colleges offer many of the same opportunities and experiences that highly selective colleges do. They simply make these opportunities accessible to students from more varied academic and extracurricular backgrounds.
Here are several reasons to love less selective colleges and universities:
Strong Academics
Many less selective schools are well-resourced, have a engaging professors, and offer strong educational opportunities for all students. In addition to in-class or in-lab learning, students often have experiential learning opportunities to ensure career or graduate education readiness.
Honors & Scholars Programs
Academically ambitious students attending less selective schools often have access to honors and scholars programs that allow them to purse higher rigor and specialized educational opportunities. These experiences add substance to resumes. Many honors and scholars programs also provide additional perks such as honors housing, priority registration, and special study abroad opportunities.
Research Opportunities
At some selective schools, research opportunities are competitive and/or difficult for underclassmen to acquire. At many less selective schools, students can often begin research their first semester. The list of R1 Research Institutions (those with the highest level of research activity) includes many less selective universities.
Work/Play Balance
Some (though not all) highly selective schools can be academically intense, with a "work hard/play a little" vibe. At less selective schools, students often have more flexibility to pursue higher rigor in areas of their choosing and create the work/play balance that works best for them.
Opportunities to Feel Successful
At less selective schools, talented, ambitious, hard-working, or motivated students are more likely to be noticed for their efforts and considered for special opportunities that help build their resumes.
Alumni Network
Many less selective colleges have strong alumni networks, and larger schools can have quite extensive networks.
Scholarships
Students with statistics/background at the top of the applicant pool are more likely to receive generous institutional merit aid, departmental scholarships, and/or alumni scholarships. Less selective schools are often more generous with aid for students with average statistics as well. Keep in mind that many highly selective schools do not offer any merit aid.
Internship & Career Services
The quality of a school's internship and career services has very little to do with the selectivity of the school. Less selective schools can have excellent internship and career services and have strong connections with hiring companies.
Amazing schools exist at all levels of selectivity. Every student's college list should have a balanced mix of Reach, Target, and Likely schools, all of which the student would be happy to attend.
At Growing2College, we assist students with college search and selection, as well as the college application process. Request a free 20-min consultation to learn more about how we can be helpful.
Kate Pedigo, M.Ed. NCC is an Independent Educational Consultant and founder of Growing2College. Join us on social media for college planning updates, tips, and resources: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn
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