Sitting in a lecture hall with 300 other students may help you learn what you need to pass an exam. However, when you have the opportunity to attend a college with small class sizes, what you get out of the class will go far beyond merely meeting minimum academic requirements.

Here are the top five benefits of choosing a college that offers smaller class sizes:

1. INDIVIDUALIZED ATTENTION FROM INSTRUCTORS

The fewer students in your college classes, the better chance you’ll have of building a student/teacher relationship with your professors. Your instructors will get to know you as an individual, rather than as a faceless name in the grade book. Not only can this give you a better opportunity to learn while you’re in the classroom; you’ll also likely find it easier to obtain your professors’ recommendations for future internships or job applications.

2. CLOSER CONNECTIONS WITH CLASSMATES

Having smaller numbers of students in your classes also means you’ll probably get to know and interact with more of them. This interaction among students can help you make connections with people from different walks of life, deepening what you get out of your courses as you collaborate and help one another learn and understand course material.

3. CLASSES ARE MORE CONDUCIVE TO DISCUSSION AND HANDS-ON LEARNING

If there are dozens of students or more in a classroom, it can be difficult for instructors to effectively demonstrate skills or better ensure students are understanding what was taught. Unfortunately, this means instructors sometimes fall back on lectures. When instructors have smaller classes to teach, they can provide more hands-on learning opportunities. There is also a greater opportunity for classroom discussions when classes are limited in size. All of this adds up to a richer learning environment for students.

4. MORE TIMELY AND USEFUL FEEDBACK

If you work hard studying for a test or writing a paper, it can be frustrating to wait weeks or even longer to find out your grade. What’s more, you may find out you didn’t understand the material as well as you thought you did, but by then the professor has moved to the next item on the syllabus. When your classes are smaller, you’re more likely to get feedback on your submitted work or exams in a timely manner. Plus, because your instructor knows you, the quality of that feedback may be more useful.

5. ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE BENEFITS

The grades you earn in your college classes matter. Better grades can help give you an advantage over your competition when it comes to getting jobs or getting into another college, if you choose to continue your education by pursuing an advanced degree. Colleges with small class sizes may offer an advantage to students in the form of their course grades. A Cornell University study found a negative relationship between larger class sizes and grades. That is to say, students’ academic performance was better when there were fewer students in their classes.

ADDITIONAL BENEFITS

Other benefits of smaller class sizes in college may include coursework that is specifically adapted to fit the needs of the class. Large class sizes do not typically allow this kind of freedom due to size constraints. Also, there is often more room for improvement in terms of public speaking and presentation skills when the crowd is smaller, more relaxed and less intimidating. Lastly, interaction levels between students and instructors are heightened in more intimate settings. Such increased communication provides further opportunities for ideas and opinions to be voiced, thus generating more thought-provoking conversations and open-mindedness.

When you choose a college with smaller class sizes, you are making a smart choice for your education — and future. At Generations College in Chicago, classes average just seven to 15 students. This gives students learning opportunities they just couldn’t get in packed lecture halls. To learn more about the many advantages of small class sizes in college and pursuing your degree through Generations College, contact us online or call (312) 922-1884 today.

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ASKING QUESTIONS AND RECEIVING ANSWERS

Some schools have large classes — with anywhere from 100 to 300 students in attendance. In this vast space, it is nearly impossible for a student to be able to ask a simple question. If every student did, class time would run out long before the topic was covered. Still, being able to ask a question is an essential part of the learning process, as it shows the student is engaging with the material. When such a large group is present, many students might shy away from raising their hand — it can be intimidating to ask a question in a large group.

IMPROVE CLASSROOM DISCUSSIONS

In smaller classes, there is also the ability to have classroom discussions. Discussions are what help foster the growth and learning process in the brain. It allows for the student to not just ask questions but to converse about the topic to fully grasp all sides. There may be some questioning about the topic or recent news brought up about it. These types of both formal and informal classroom discussions enable students to gather the information they desire.

DIRECT INTERACTION WITH PEERS

College class size also plays a role in the way students interact with one another. For example, in 2-year colleges with smaller class sizes, there is more peer-to-peer interaction both within the classroom and outside of it. Students get to know their peers, which can help with creating better bonds with their education. The benefits here even extend further. When students are supported by peers and have these types of interactions, they are empowered to be confident outside the classroom, as well. Such peer-to-peer interactions can help students be comfortable enough to ask questions or share their opinion. Likewise, they benefit from hearing their peers’ ideas.

MORE DIVERSITY IN ASSIGNMENTS

When a teacher has 300 students in one classroom, he or she must give assignments that will benefit most of those individuals. In a small classroom, the teacher can modify assignments to meet individual needs more effectively. For example, during class, students may discuss a specific concept not originally on the lesson plan. The professor has the ability to modify classroom work and supplementary assignments to reflect the needs of those students in the classroom that day. This can help ensure every student gets the type of support and reinforcement he or she needs — not what most need.

MORE POSITIVE INTERACTIONS

Student and professor one-on-one time grows when the college class size is smaller. This is one of the key small class size benefits — there’s more time for the professor to interact with the student. This increases the amount of opportunities for positive interactions. Students need positive attention in their classroom to encourage them and keep them interested. For some students, no interaction with a teacher or limited one-on-one contact can hinder their interest in that subject. However, when there is more recognition and personal support, the student can feel valued and engaged with the classroom. This ultimately creates a positive experience, even when the coursework is challenging.

BETTER TEACHING METHODS

In a large college class size, the educator uses the most effective model of teaching for a large group. Again, professors focus on the big picture here — doing what is best for most people. Though when class size is reduced, the professor is more empowered. There is time and ability to modify the educational methods used to address more of the individual learning styles of the students in the class. When a professor has the ability to provide the right type of learning method to each student, that student benefits with better understanding. Further, the instructor can employ more creative teaching measures.

As you consider where to attend school, take a closer look at 2-year colleges with smaller class sizes. When you do, you will quickly recognize the benefits. In this environment, there is more time and greater access to resources to help you flourish. Many times, this is the type of environment students need to succeed — especially when creating a long-term career path for themselves. These smaller classes offer the ability to embrace the material more fully to help the student get the best education possible.

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