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12 Benefits of Small Class Size in College
Class size is a huge factor that future college students need to consider when deciding where they want to further their education at. Going from a regular high school classroom to a lecture hall with a few hundred students in it can be quite a big change.
Personally, I chose to go to a smaller college because I wanted that smaller classroom environment. I felt like I wouldn’t get the same learning experience if I went to a university with huge classes.
Although, there are some larger schools that offer smaller classes depending on the major and the type of class. These are all things you should do plenty of research on and really think about so you can decide what’s best for you and your style of learning. If you think smaller classes are for you but not completely sure, keep reading to find out the 12 benefits of small class size in college.
Better Engagement
One of my favorite parts of having a small class size environment was how well I could talk to my professors and ask questions about anything. It helped me a lot with not only learning the material for each class, but also improving my communication skills. It even made for great class discussions because once someone asked a question, it was easy for other students to chime in and add their two cents. This would allow the professor to clarify and explain things better, which ultimately created a better learning experience for all the students.
Less Overwhelming
It’s no secret that walking into your very first college class can be a little daunting. Now, imagine walking into your first class a few minutes late and 200 people including the professor are staring at you while you find somewhere to sit. You don’t have to worry about this super awkward situation if you have a class of around a dozen people. For some, this might not be a big deal, but it could definitely impact people who struggle with social anxiety.
Easy to Make Friends
What’s awesome about a small class size is that it’s fairly easy to communicate with everyone, especially when there’s really engaging discussions going on between the professor and all the students. As each class goes by, you’ll naturally start to get to know everyone because you’ll have the opportunity to talk to them during class, plus the professor will be able to ask questions about each student since the class is small, which leads me into my next benefit of small class size.
Professors Get to Know Students Easier
There’s no time for college professors to get to know a few hundred students in a lecture hall. They only have time to teach the course material so you don’t get a chance to get to know them and vice versa. In a small class setting, professors will have the opportunity to get to know their students, figure out each one’s learning style, and how they can tailor the class to their strengths. They can also ask the students for certain feedback and what can be changed to improve their learning experience.
Hands-On Learning
Another really important benefit of small class size is the ability for hands-on learning, which helped me out a ton when I was in college. In a large college class, you’re not going to get any hands-on learning. You’ll just be listening to a mind-numbing lecture for a few hours and be expected to take notes on it. In smaller and more specialized classes, students will be able to learn in more stimulating ways.
Hands-on learning is also SO useful when it comes to preparing students for their future careers. They’ll actually be able to get real world experience and learn what their potential future career will be like. To me, having that real world experience is far more beneficial than listening to lectures and taking exams.
Better Academic Performance
There are statistics that show smaller class sizes tend to increase student’s academic performance. When I was in college, I learned quickly how meaningful and exciting a small class environment can be.
It really motivated me and pushed me to work hard. It made me find passion in what I was learning about, and that’s when I knew I was in the right place. If learning in that type of environment is inspiring you to work harder — and ultimately helping you achieve success in college — then you’re in the right place too.
More Interesting Class Assignments
Along with hands-on learning, a smaller class size will allow professors to have more interesting assignments, like fun projects, group work, creative powerpoint presentations, and educational games.
I remember the final I had to do for my very first college class was a fun project where I had to create a powerpoint on something I was passionate about. It wasn’t some insanely long exam that I had to study weeks for. I’m not saying all your finals and other assignments are going be like that, but a smaller class size usually creates more opportunities for professors to have interesting class assignments.
Community Type Environment
Students being able to communicate and interact with each other allows them to create lasting connections and even develop close friendships. This is how that close community environment is formed. Being around people you’re comfortable with and socializing with them is a great way to relieve the usual college stress and anxiety. A community type environment also means you’ll have your fellow classmates to study with, bounce ideas off of, and ask questions.
Increased Participation
With all the benefits I already discussed, it’s no surprise students participate more in smaller classes. Professors will be able to interact with the whole class, which makes each student participate more and create better engagement. It will also make each student stay more focused. Something I realized as I started to participate and speak up more in class is that I actually enjoyed it and wasn’t nervous to say the wrong answer to a question. As long as I was actively participating in class, I knew I was becoming more knowledgeable because I could always get feedback from the professor.
Personalized Learning
I mentioned earlier that professors can get to know their students better in smaller classes, but they’ll also be able to help out more students individually as well. With a small class, professors will actually have the time to help each individual student if they’re ever struggling with something and give them some encouraging words to motivate them. You’re not going to get this one-on-one attention in a large lecture hall type class.
Students Get More Opportunities
As students start to build relationships with their peers and other professors, they’ll have more opportunities to grow their network, learn about potential internships, meet new people in their field of study, receive recommendation letters, and find people to use as professional references for future jobs. It is a lot easier to start building relationships and grow connections with people in a small class size environment.
12. A More Satisfying Experience
Last but not least, a small class size in college is going to be a lot more satisfying compared to a large lecture. Instead of listening to a 3 hour long lecture while you’re half asleep, you can have an engaging and intellectually stimulating discussion with your professor who actually knows your full name because they had the time to get to know you. Then, the friends you made in class can chime in on the discussion and share ideas.