Lafayette College's ideal size and strong neuroscience program continually attract the best minds, like sophomore Jackie Kikuchi of Los Angeles, pictured with biology and neuroscience professor Elaine Reynolds, a 2007 graduate of Canyon High School in Canyon Country.

"Lafayette has a very established neuroscience department. It is also a very small school, and I definitely feel like I am an important part of the campus, rather than just another student among thousands," Kikuchi said.

Kikuchi looks forward to capitalizing on Lafayette's ideal size by participating in undergraduate research.

"I know a lot of students who go to large schools with thousands of students where it's unheard of that undergraduates do research. It's all reserved for the graduate students. Here you are able to get that viable experience that's normally not available to them at other schools," she said.