I convinced myself early on in my search that the perfect college would just kind of hit me one day. You know, kind of like when the bride-to-be finds her "magical gown" on Say Yes to the Dress? I mean, what really did I have to factor in while choosing my next step?
And just like that, it hit me. Little did I know that it was not just going on campus tours and finding the campus which had the best Insta-worthy settings. Or, going to the university in which had the nicest dorm rooms. But rather it was cost and scholarships, the programs and their reputation, the professors, and the opportunities, and then finally last came the campus and the dorm rooms. All of these factors that I was not ready to look into. These factors would eventually lead me to sitting on my bedroom floor hours on end, only to stare blankly at the acceptance letters that lay before me, unsure of what my next step would be.
One aspect that was always in the back of my head, probably because my mother had a knack for constantly reminding me of its importance, was how large the campus was. And no, by that I do not mean how short of a walk it would be from my dorm to my classes so I could wake up at the very last minute possible. But rather how big or small the student body was going to be. My mother had always told me that I would thrive in a smaller setting, but I never truly understood her reasoning.
My mother was constantly reminding me that every professor would know my name, everything would be personal. But how would that benefit me? Where was having a professor knowing my name, going to help me in the long run?
And here I am, sitting in my second semester of college, at a university of less than 3,000 students, and I could never be happier.
While most students are rushing to a lecture with over 300 students, I'm sitting in a classroom of 15 people who share my interests and passions.
While most students struggle to find a second with their professor, I get to sit down one on one with my professor on a daily basis.
But most importantly, you find yourself. You find your passions, your friends, and who you want to be. In a sea full of people, it's difficult to find the time to focus on yourself. But, in a close-knit community, you can truly find who you are. At a college of less than 3,000 students, I've grown accustomed to living in a community. Where everyone smiles, is accepting. Where you get to learn everyone's names, and you know their hobbies. And most importantly, everyone wants to watch people succeed.
As much as I never want to listen to my mom, I have to admit that she has some pretty solid advice. Choosing a small university has benefitted me in ways that I never expected and that's something that I was not prepared for. I never expected to meet as many people as I have today. I never expected to be gaining the opportunities and learning what I have today.
