Difficulty of Liberal Arts Colleges - Opinions?

Hey everyone, I'm looking at liberal arts colleges because I value the broad educational approach. However, I've been told that some of these colleges are extremely competitive. Can someone provide any information on this? What makes them so challenging?

Hello there! Wonderful question. Liberal arts colleges can indeed be quite challenging, which stems primarily from the comprehensive nature of their curricula.

One element that can make these colleges challenging is the breadth of subjects you study. The goal of a liberal arts education is to provide a well-rounded foundation, so you'll likely take classes across many fields, not just your major. This could mean a physics major might find themselves in a literature class, or a history major could take courses in biology. The diverse knowledge you're expected to acquire can make academic life challenging but rewarding.

Another aspect is the small class sizes typically found at liberal arts colleges. While this allows more one-on-one interaction with professors, it also means that you'll need to be prepared and engaged in every class. There's no fading into the background in a large lecture hall. This increases the level of academic rigor, as higher levels of participation and critical engagement are expected.

In addition, many of these colleges put heavy emphasis on writing, no matter what your major. Writing-intensive courses require more time and effort because they require you to structure your thoughts coherently and convincingly in written form, which can be a challenging skill to master.

Lastly, the prominent discussion- and project-based learning that's characteristic of many liberal arts colleges can be intensive. Group projects, presentations, and collaborative research are commonplace, so solid communication and teamwork skills are often needed.

In all, these factors contribute to the perceived difficulty of liberal arts colleges. However, many students find this style of learning engaging, enriching, and well worth the challenge! It's all about finding the right fit for you.