This past weekend, a friend and I rented a car and drove three hours to visit another college. We didn't really know anyone there, nor did we have much of a plan, but we decided to wing it. Well, that was probably a mistake, considering we ended up sitting in the student center at 11:00 at night with nothing to do and no place to stay. Campus safety helped us find a cheap motel to stay in and we ended up returning to our school safely the next day, but it was definitely an adventure. Anyway, I noticed something while visiting: There is a very specific culture to small liberal arts schools. In fact, some of the things we think are normal are actually kind of unique. Here are a few examples:
1. You never walk anywhere without seeing someone you know.
It was so bizarre walking around another campus and not having a single person to say hi to. I think it's something a lot of people take for granted. It does get annoying when there's that one person who you're really trying to avoid but you see them everywhere. But it is nice to see friendly faces wherever you go.
2. You can tell when someone doesn't go there.
Since you see most of the students around campus pretty frequently, it's not hard to spot an unfamiliar face. It's not necessarily that they stand out, you just get the feeling that they don't quite belong.
3. The student body has a general style.
Obviously everyone has their own unique way of dressing, but if you had to categorize the majority style you could. The student body is so small, it's not unusual that there are a lot of people who dress similarly. Which, to be honest, can be annoying, but it makes it easier to stand out if that's your goal.
4. There are unofficial dining hall rules.
Where you sit, the nuances to getting food, the protocol on reusing cups and plates, and where you put your dishes when you finish eating are all things you probably don't have to think about much. But for someone visiting the school for the first time, they're totally unfamiliar. When you think about it, it seems strange that there are such distinct social cues for something as simple as eating.
5. You're on a first-name basis with your professors.
When my friend and I were meeting with a professor, several students walked by our table and greeted him with a friendly "Hey, Bob." It was so casual that it took me a bit by surprise, but then I realized that I do the same thing with my professors. Perks of having a 10:1 student to faculty ratio, I guess.
6. The staff knows you.
If you know campus safety officers, dining service workers, and even janitors by their first names, you probably go to a small liberal arts college.
7. You're well acquainted with the town.
No one hesitated when we asked where the best place to eat breakfast was, and most of them were able to give us directions. When your school is in the middle of nowhere, you get to know the surrounding area pretty well.
8. You have a weekend routine.
You don't do the same thing every weekend, but you probably could describe your "typical Friday night" to someone if they asked. If you have a regular place that you go, you probably see the same people there most of the time, and when you decide to switch things up and have a movie night instead of going out, you probably do it with the same group that you usually go out with. Maybe we need to branch out a little more...
9. You think that a class of 30 people is big.
And when you talk to your friends who go to big universities and they tell you that their classes don't have attendance policies (because the professor can't take attendance in a giant lecture hall like that), you get a little pang of jealousy. But hey, at least your professors know your name!
10. You never get lost on campus.
Maybe you did the first day of first semester, but after that it wasn't all that hard to navigate. You can practically stand on one edge of campus and see all the way to the other side.
If you relate to most or all of these weird little commonalities, you probably go to a liberal arts college. And that means you're probably getting a great education, so keep working hard!
