As educators at a leading private university - and as parents - we think it's smart to consider a private college or university for your undergraduate experience. For starters . . .

• Private institutions offer dynamic interdisciplinary collaborations, excellence in teaching, dedicated mentors, and student selectivity. You can also take a fresh approach to your scientific and technical interests through unparalleled research opportunities.
  
• Private colleges and universities focus on undergraduates. We seek special, well-qualified students who can contribute to classroom and lab efforts and who can inspire others to work hard, smart, and creatively. We are committed to creating diversity in our student populations and a degree of competitiveness that will encourage you to reach for - and to reach - your goals.
  
• We combine these commitments in a holistic approach to education that is well-rounded and well-grounded, providing a variety of education experiences, internships, and research opportunities that prepare you for a career of continuing education.

Sound like a lot to offer? It is, so let's explore some of the specific advantages at a private college or university.

You will learn from the best teachers
Research and teaching together. Research and education don't compete with one another at private colleges and universities. In fact, research faculty gravitate to private institutions because they want to teach undergraduate students and do cutting-edge research.

At institutions like Case Western Reserve University, Cornell University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and many other places, faculty bring their excitement for scientific research to their interactions with you, as future scientists, computer scientists, and engineers.

Student-faculty involvement. The top 25 colleges in the country are balanced in terms of being private and public, and all have excellent faculty. But faculty at private institutions are more intensely involved with their students. The ratio of faculty to students is more favorable at private schools, and class sizes are generally smaller.

At many private institutions, you will take introductory courses taught by leading faculty mentors. You will find Nobel Laureates treating students to their foresight, imagination, and knowledge. At private colleges and universities, you will roll up you sleeves and work in labs with deans, department heads, and distinguished professors. These teachers write the textbooks that you use for physics (and then teach that class, too!), show you the power of Java programming, and teach introductory courses in engineering that link complex theories with hands-on projects and experiments.

Explore your interests through research
We don't wait for students to sho...