Which Type of College Is Right For You?

By Carolyn Z. Lawrence, AdmissionsAdvice.com

Start your college search by exploring a variety of college options!  The beauty of the American system of higher education is that there are so many types of schools to choose from, and most students find that one type or another feels like the most comfortable fit.  Here's a brief look at the types of institutions available:

Community Colleges and "Junior" Colleges are two year colleges where students can begin their educations either in preparation for a career or in anticipation of transferring to a four-year college. These colleges primarily offer Associate degrees, although some also offer four-year degree programs in some majors. Some two-year colleges offer on campus housing, and most have articulation agreements with four-year colleges, simplifying the process of transferring.  Two year colleges can be good options for students who aren't sure they want to commit to a four-year degree program just yet, and for late-bloomers whose grades in high school aren't a reflection of their academic potential. Some examples of two year colleges include: Santa Monica Community College (CA), Dean College (MA), Villa Maria College (NY), and Miami-Dade Community College (FL).

Liberal arts colleges are four-year colleges that focus entirely on undergraduate education (Bachelor's degree).  While faculty members might pursue research in their subject areas, professors teach all courses – there are no teaching assistants. Don’t let the “arts” in liberal arts fool you into thinking liberal arts colleges are only for arts majors, however. Liberal arts colleges offer majors in a variety of subjects, and many are particularly good choices for students who are interested in science. Some liberal arts colleges also offer programs in business and engineering. Liberal arts colleges tend to be small (under 3,000 students) so they offer a very personalized educational experience with a great deal of interaction between students and faculty.  Liberal arts colleges can be excellent undergraduate choices for students who are interested in applying to graduate school, including medical school, law school, and business programs, because graduate programs value liberal arts colleges place on class discussions and writing throughout the curriculum. Additionally, since there are no graduate students to compete with for research opportunities, students at liberal arts colleges often have a great deal of hands on research experience that at other institutions might be reserved for graduate students. Some examples of liberal arts colleges are Occidental College (CA), Hamilton College (NY), Whitman College (WA), the College of Wooster (OH), Southwestern College (TX), Swarthmore College (PA), and Beloit College (WI).

Master’s universities are universities offering degrees through the Master’s level. These schools usually offer some specialized career-focused majors, such as business or engineering, but they do not offer doctoral degrees. Master’s universities can be terrific options for students who want a range of career-oriented majors, but they also can be good choices for students who are interested in the traditional liberal arts subjects, such as English, economics, foreign languages, and sciences. Examples of Master’s universities include The University of San Diego (CA), DePaul University (IL), Lehigh University (PA), Ithaca College (NY), Northeastern University Fordham University (New York), and Oregon State University.

Research universities have a primary focus on research and provide education programs through the doctoral level. They typically offer a large number of majors at the undergraduate level, including some in very specialized academic areas. Faculty members are heavily involved with research in their subject areas. Although class sizes can vary from institution to institution, research universities often rely on Teaching Assistants for some portion of undergraduate education. Teaching Assistants are typically graduate level students who “assist” professors with labs, discussion sessions, grading, and other educational functions. Research universities typically offer state of the art research facilities, although competition for undergraduate research opportunities can be intense at some institutions.  Research universities run the gamet in size, from schools with 60,000 or more students to smaller institutions with 5,000 or so students. Some examples of research universities are the University of California campuses, the University of Arizona, Emory University (GA), the University of Michigan, Harvard, Syracuse University (NY) Rice University (TX), and Cornell University (NY).

Specialized colleges and universities are schools that specialize in a particular subject or field. For example, Harvey Mudd College (CA), MIT, CalTech, and Rensselear Polytechnic Institute (NY) specialize in science and engineering education. Babson College and Bentley College in Massachusetts specialize in business and economics. There are also specialized colleges for students interested in studying art, music, dance, and film. Examples of arts-focused colleges would include the Julliard School in New York (music), and the California Institute of the Arts (art, music, film).

Religiously-affiliated colleges and universities are schools that have a tie to a particular religion. You do not have to be a member of the religion to attend. Some religiously-affiliated schools heavily integrate religious principles and beliefs into the classroom. Others do not, and welcome students of all faiths. Examples of religiously-affiliated colleges include Pepperdine University in California, Calvin College in Michigan, and Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.

Single sex colleges are all-female or all-male colleges. They can offer leadership and academic opportunities that may not be available in a co-ed environment. Although there are close to 100 all female schools, there are currently only two four year all-male colleges. In California, Mills College and Scripps College are all-female. Deep Springs College, a unique two-year college, is an all-male institution in California. Two other all-male colleges are Wabash College in Indiana and Hampden-Sydney in Virginia.

Military Academies include West Point (Army), the U.S. Naval Academy, the Air Force Academy, as well as other military focused colleges. They offer both career training in preparation for a career in the military and excellent education in more traditional academic areas, especially engineering. Some colleges with a military focus do not require you to pursue a military career after graduation. One example is the California

Maritime Academy, a California State University school focused on engineering and science.

Next: How To Build A Realistic College List

Based in San Diego County, California, Carolyn Z. Lawrence is a private college admissions consultant who has helped hundreds of students from across the country and around the world find the right college matches. 

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