Many college students who come from urban areas find it difficult to settle down in suburban areas due to a drastic change in the environment. While heavy crowds and commercial standards are upheld by metropolitan areas, the suburbs are less dense in population and go without the splendor of urban life. From a loud environment to a quiet environment, there are sudden changes that students must adjust to.

Transportation and Resources

In many urban areas such as Boston, New York City, Seattle, and Los Angeles there are several options for public transportation. For Boston, there is the red line, orange line, green line, and yellow line for train transportation and bus stops for every block. Some city colleges have major train stations and bus stops right outside of the institution. There is easy access to resources such as shops and recreational areas. In suburban colleges such as UMASS Amherst and Brandeis University, it is harder to get around. Students on vacation find it difficult to get home due to the overcrowding of school buses and campus-wide shuttles. Thus, they walk the distance to state-wide transportation (for the MBTA) or take an Uber or taxi. Although these long walks increase your fitness, this can be a downer.

"The Uber vs. Taxi Trouble"

However there's a brighter side to this mayhem.

If your college/university is not located near a large commercial district, chances are your school has perks of its own. There may be more cafes and dining halls open at your school, along with a wide array of clubs to choose from--so you do not miss out on much. For Brandeis University, there is Einstein's Bagel Shop, Chums, Sherman and Usdan Dining Halls, Starbucks Coffee, and Dunkin' Donuts. There are also hundreds of clubs to choose from that may even allow you to travel within your city--such as the Waltham Community Service Club for Brandeis.

Dining

Clubs and activities

Another perk is that you don't have to worry about getting too distracted. In a quiet landscape it is much easier to pay attention to your academics. You do not have to worry about hearing honking cars or construction (for the most part) outside of your dormitory, and there is more room for independence. Rather than being in the midst of chaos in city life, there is the peace and serenity of being in your own college community in which people are there for common goals: academic success and personal growth.

So whenever you are homesick, oh city-dweller, think of the blessings you have received from this trade-off.