Hello high school seniors who have not yet decided where they want to attend college in the fall! Senior year can be a tough time. Between AP classes and a severe case of senioritis, you all just cannot wait to graduate. Now is also around the time that everyone has started to commit to schools. You will get the kids who want the large state schools, such as, Pitt, Penn State, WVU, etc. etc. Then, there are the kids who decide to go to smaller state schools or liberal arts schools, such as, Slippery Rock and (my school) W&J.
But, where do you want to go? With a large school you get: large lecture halls filled with about 500 students, professors that only think of you as a number, and a lot of hype about their sports teams. And it also takes about 6 years to get from one side of campus to the other. That's why I chose W&J. I was looking to receive a more hands on education. It was honestly the best decision I could have made. Here are five reasons why I think you will love to go to a small college!
1. Everyone knows everyone.
On any given day, I can walk down the street and see about 20 people that I recognize or that I am friends with. My school has roughly 1,300 students, which was exactly the size of my high school (Burgettstown Area Middle/High School). It is so easy to learn the names and faces of a lot of the people that you go to school with, thus making it a lot easier to make friends.
2. The professors actually know your name.
I am not viewed as just another number. My professors actually learned my name. They are there to help me with any of my problems, academically or personal. They are very personable, and want to see their students succeed.
3. If you blink, you will miss the campus.
Campus is so small that it takes 2 minutes to walk from one side to the other. It does not even look like a college campus, but really just another city block. It is wonderful! I can literally wake up 5 minutes before my classes, and still make it on time (I don't recommend that though because, you know, showering and breakfast).
4. Huge focus on academics
I am not saying that sports aren't huge here because all sports are a huge production, but there isn't a huge emphasis on them. Students here are more focused on not having to drop out of the pre-med program, thus hindering their ability to become doctors. Okay that may be an exaggeration, but students here really are more focused on their studies. It might be due to the fact that tuition here (and at most small schools) is $56,000. We literally cannot afford to fail.
5. Easier to feel at home
Coming to college was terrifying. I didn't know what to expect. At the beginning of the first day, I really just wanted to come home. That was until I made my first friends. After I found my survival partners, it made transitioning into college a hell of a lot easier. Then, these friends start to feel like your new family, and everything is okay from there on out.
I know picking a college is a tough decision, but really consider your options before you choose. Visit as many as you possibly can, and do not just pick a school because of its name. Yes, going to a huge school like Pitt will be impressive to your family, but will you really receive that same quality of education? Think about it.
