Pro: One big fam.
There's a real sense of community at a small university. Faculty, professors, and tutors all genuinely want you to succeed and will put in that extra effort to make sure you do. You know almost everyone's faces, if not their actual names and the campus is just more close-knit and friendly than you'll find at any large state school.
Con: Social Life
Smaller schools are usually not known to be big party schools. You'll probably see the same exact friends out every weekend and have limited options for parties.
Pro: Your professors know you.
Your actual professors are the ones teaching you and not TAs. If you’ve participated even just the slightest bit in class your professors probably know your name and it’s way easier to get help in their office hours when there aren't 70 other students there waiting. Professors are also way more likely to be understanding of personal happenings and be a little more lax when they know for a fact that you’re sincere and a hard worker.
Con: Your professors KNOW you.
When class sizes are usually less than 35 people, your prof is going to notice if there’s an empty space in your seat come class time because you drank one too many last night. Even if you do decide to man up and struggle through class, they’re probably going to notice those pretty hangover bags under your eyes.
Pro: Finding something to do.
If you’re bored and there’s no friends around, you can take a walk around campus and you’re guaranteed to find at least one friend to hang out with.
Con: Not you again.
You’re going to see every one that you don’t want to see at least five times a day. There they are in the dining hall.. and there they are again in the library…. They must be following you.
Pro: Small Campus.
Since there's such a small number of students, there usually isn't a zillion academic buildings spewed all over campus. If you have class back-to-back, you're next class is probably a short walk, if not in the very same building.
Con: Everyone knows everyone.
Flunked out of that class that should be insanely easy? Threw up all over yourself at the party last weekend? Hooked up with someone you probably shouldn't have? The entire campus will probably know at some point.
