Many people dream of going to big colleges or universities for a variety of reasons: college football, the reputation, just for the name... But what about the smaller schools? I decided to attend one for my four years of undergraduate school, mostly because I knew I couldn't handle the hustle and bustle of an insanely large university. I didn't know how different it would be going to one, but after comparing stories with my friends from back home who did go to larger schools, I'm glad that I did go the smaller school route. In my first year at school, I learned some things about going to a smaller college and here are seven aspects that are really important to me:
1. The professors know who you are and actually care about you being successful in their class.
It was really weird at first to have professors email (and sometimes even text!) me about missing class and making sure I was okay. I had teachers in high school who couldn't even remember my name, and now I have professors who stop to talk to me in the dining hall. Not to mention the few times that I would make low grades on a test, my professors would call me in to talk with me. One even had an hour-long study session with me right before the test! It feels good to know that the professors actually care about me doing well in their classes!
2. Everybody knows everything. And I mean everything.
When they say good new travels fast, they really meant it. At smaller colleges with smaller numbers of students attending, gossip and rumors hit the ground running. It could literally be about what you ate for breakfast, what you wore on finals week, or maybe some other juicy information *cough, cough*. So, be careful what you say and what you do, before the entire school (literally, the entire school) hears about it.
3.It's really hard to not be involved on campus.
For me in high school, it was extremely easy to slip under the radar. The past four years, my mode of operation was simple: show up for classes, then leave. But now? Yeah, that flew out the window. Since coming to a small college, all I want to do is be involved. It's fun to do things with your friends on campus, as well as making new ones through campus involvement. From joining a fraternity or sorority, being a part of a sports team, or a member of the many clubs, it's almost like they find you!
4. You're going to meet a lot of people, and make a lot of friends. Whether you like it or not.
Just as easy as it is to be involved on campus, it's even easier to make new and lifelong friends. I mean, you are living with these people for about nine months as well as seeing them in class, at social events, and in the dining hall, so you can't really avoid it. But I personally feel that since being at a smaller college, I've made a lot of friends, intentionally and unintentionally. It's really hard to go walking down the sidewalk to class without looking up and saying "Hello!" at least five times.
5. It doesn't take too long to get to class.
While I was getting ready to move away to college, I was convinced I needed a bike or a skateboard to help me move to class faster, especially since the freshman girls' dormitory is the farthest building on campus. But I was surprised to see that I had plenty of time to move from class to class with the small, close-knit layout of the school. Even the farthest classes only take about eight minutes to walk to!
6. Don't expect a lot of people in your classes.
In high school, it was common to have too many students and not enough desks. I raced through the hallways everyday to avoid sitting on the floor during an economics lecture. But since coming to a smaller college, that's never been a problem for me. I've been told by upperclassmen that as you get more into classes for your major, the class sizes definitely decrease. But even in the classes that have "a lot" of people, there's still some empty seats left all over the room!
7. You become one big family!
It's the motto for almost every other college and/or university in the country, but as super cheesy as it sounds, the whole big family bit is really true! Since coming to a smaller university, where professors and staff know my name and it's not hard to find friends in the library or in class, I know what it means to be a big family. From supportive professors to caring staff and loving friends, I feel that a smaller college is way better than a bigger university.
