When narrowing down your top college choices, there’s a lot to think about. Do you want to go to a big school or small school? Do you want to be far away or close to home? Do you want to be in a small town or big city? These were all questions my parents asked when I was trying to find the perfect school for me. All these decisions can be hard to make if you were like me and didn’t know what you wanted out of life. I decided on a small private school located in the capital of my state. I got extremely lucky in choosing to attend the school I do, and I soon realized it was exactly what I was looking for in a college. So here are some reasons why going to a small school located in a big city makes for the perfect college experience.
1. You don’t have to walk 20 minutes to class (or take a bus).
With the dorms being so close to the academic buildings, you can wake up at 8:40 A.M. for your 9:00 A.M. and have time to stop at Starbucks on the way. For a non-morning person like me, this is ideal.
2. Your professors know you, and you know them.
This a great in so many ways. Meetings can easily be scheduled, and almost all of them are there for you like a second advisor or mentor. This first name basis lifestyle also means you have to show up to your 8 A.M. music class because they’ll notice who’s absent…
3. It’s easy to participate in clubs on campus.
Going to a small school makes it almost impossible to not be active in at least one group or club on campus. Whether you planned on it or not, it’s likely that your roommate or friend dragged you to a call-out meeting at the beginning of the semester and you stuck with it. Participating in clubs at a small school is nice, because your voice matters in the long run. Being in close proximity to a city makes opportunities for volunteering and fundraisers infinite.
4. Everyone is nice (mostly).
Just like a small town, small colleges have a strong sense of community. Whether it just be someone holding the door for you, or everyone standing together when we play our rival in basketball, small schools definitely stay united through it all.
5. My work REALLY gets graded.
At a big school, professors and assistants have countless papers to grade by a deadline. At a small school, you get your paperback and with a solid page written in red ink explaining how you can make it better. You know the professors are 100 percent dedicated to their teaching.
6. Connections connections connections!
Another perk of being near a city and also being close with your professors is gaining connections for the future. Knowing people in the area you want to go into is key when looking for a job after graduation. A small school set up makes for many opportunities for you to meet professionals of your area of study.
7. Friendly faces everywhere
This may be a good or bad thing, depending on who you are. At a small school, you always run into people you know. This means friends, professors, and the Starbucks worker that knows your order by heart. Passing familiar faces definitely make a long day go by faster.
8. Small classes
Obviously at a small school, there are going to be small classes. This makes participation grades in class existent, and discussions help get you more acquainted with the material.
9. There’s always something to do.
Sometimes while on campus, you forget there’s a world outside of the dining hall and class. Living in the heart of a city, you’ll never catch yourself being bored. Whether it’s going downtown to see your favorite band play, or going to the art museum when it’s ‘college students get in free’ day, there’s always something fun to do.
10. Easy access to internships and jobs
Spending four years undergrad will get you acquainted with the city you live in. This means hearing about possible internships and jobs you could line up for post-graduation. With a small school, it makes it easier to get these internships because there is less competition.
Going to a small school gives you the perks of being able to participate in any club you want, and living in a city gives you opportunities for experience in your area of study. You get close with your professors, and in college, any extra support is much needed. Being in a city makes for so many opportunities including things to do for fun as well as job opportunities. It really is the best of both worlds. Making memories is a huge part of college, so really take time visiting different types of campuses. Give them all a chance. Even after hearing all of these pros, you still may think a small school is just not for you, and that’s totally okay. College is all about finding who you are.
And for me, a small schoool in a big city does just that.
