Colleges Vs. Universities

As students get into the swing of the school year, many will be taking a look not only at their current studies, but their upcoming college plans as well. The thought of going to college and furthering one's education raises many questions, concerns and a lot of confusion. What is best for me? What is the difference between a college and a university?A university versus a college is usually considered to be a matter of size. Universities are large and colleges are small, right? Generally, the answer is yes. Most universities do have larger enrollments than colleges because they are a collection of colleges placed on one campus that include both undergraduate and graduate programs, with a wide array of courses. Seniors in high school look for schools that offer a variety of courses because they are not sure what kind of job they want. They are also looking for a nice campus, good academics and good social aspects. Until recently, universities were institutions that offered extensive m asters and doctoral programs which added to the perception that universities were academically better.The presumption, however, that universities are somehow academically better than colleges is not accurate - especially for undergraduates who may be treated as a low priority by faculty members. The institution's faculty may treat graduate students as a higher priority.Don't assume that all universities are large disciplinary institutions. In all but three states (New York, Massachusetts, and New Jersey), any college can rename itself a university regardless of size or academic offerings.College-bound students should never view a college as inferior to a university. On the contrary, many of the very best undergraduate environments are colleges, for example, Swarthmore, Williams, and Haverford. v