Choosing where to go to college is a huge decision that millions of students make each year. Some students choose to go to large universities where they are nothing more than a number to their professors. However, others choose small schools where they can have one-on-one relationships with each of their professors. Choosing which school is the right fit can be the most important decision that students have to make.
I went to a public high school with over 2,500 students. I knew nothing different growing up and I assumed that most students attended high schools that were close to the same size as mine. Most of my classes had an average of 30 students, most of my teachers knew me by name, and I even had some teachers for more than one class. However, I knew that if I attended a large university, this would not be the case. I would sit in large lecture halls along with thousands of other students and be taught more by a teacher's assistant than my actual professor.
As someone who grew up going to public schools my entire life, I knew that a large university where my professors did not even know my name is not what I wanted. Personal relationships are important for me, and I wanted a school where professors could notice if I was struggling and provide me with help if I needed it. Some students enjoy just being a number and going to universities where professors do not even notice whether or not they were in class that day, but that wasn't for me.
I chose to attend a small, private school where I knew that personal relationships could be formed. I wanted to get to know my professors and other students, and I found a school that offered me just that. I got to know most of the student population including both my fellow freshmen and upperclassmen. Once I got to know some of the other students at my school, I learned that not all high schools were the same size as mine. I learned that quite a few of the students attending my college went to high schools where their graduating class was made up of 50 students or less. Coming from a high school where my graduating class was made up of over 700 hundred students, I was shocked to learn that high schools could be so small. It did not take long for me to learn that I chose the perfect school for me. I was able to get everything I wanted and more out of my college experience. I have been involved in so many organizations and activities and attended many events that I know I would not have attended if I went to a large university. I have formed relationships that I know I would not have made at a large university, and I am grateful every day for the experiences my small school has provided me with.
