Usually, when picking a college there are several key factors that come into play. You probably thought about price, major, location, size, and maybe a few other variables. When I was looking at schools I knew I wanted a big school that offered a good journalism school. I decided to go to Arizona State University. Which happens to have one of the largest undergraduate populations in the country.

I had always seen myself at a big school with thousands of other students. Once I selected my major I found out that I would be on the Downtown Phoenix campus. At first, I was a little disappointed. I was excited to live on the main campus and enjoy all that Tempe, Arizona has to offer. By the time school came I decided to go in with an open mind.

Yes, I never wanted to live on a small campus but college is a time for change and being open to new things.

The Arizona State University Downtown Phoenix campus offers everything a college student needs, and more. The smaller campus allows for smaller classes and more one on one time with professors. When I toured everyone kept telling me that it's a community and I thought they were just trying to make me feel better about being off the main campus but they were right. The small campus means that I get to know more people. There might be fewer people on the Downtown campus but you definitely get to meet more people and make better friendships.

After about a month at Arizona State University, I have made friends at both the Downtown and Tempe campus. However, my friendships are different. The friends I've made on the Tempe campus I mostly only get to see on weekends for a few hours at a time. But the friendships that I have made with people Downtown are very different. They are the ones that I get to stay up late and do homework with or the ones who I get to make late night taco runs with.

So when you are looking at a college keep an open mind. Maybe the college you end up going to isn't exactly what you thought it would be but that's not a bad thing. Try and get the most out of your college experience as possible.