All of us here at Case Western Reserve University know the perks and the downfalls of attending a small college. Campus is roughly the size of your local shopping mall, classes are smaller than your middle school gym class, and the chance of you meeting a new person after your first semester is lower than your chance of winning the Powerball—better luck next year! Perhaps the knockout punch of attending a small school is having not one, but two older brothers threaten to pop into your daily life—not to mention the parade of cousins that regularly show up on campus. (Alright, maybe that one is just specific to my personal experience.) In essence, all colleges have their own ups and downs, so here’s a list of pros and cons that are especially true for those small universities we love to call home.
This campus is smaller than the number in my bank account.
PRO:
On those crazy (and sometimes forgettable) college nights out, you can count on running into half of your graduating class. You’re never alone in any situation because there’s always going to be some friend of a friend around who’s willing to help you, whether it’s for a class or one of life’s surprise obstacles. Don’t take for granted this feeling of comfort because in the real world, there won’t always be someone there to save you from that drunk fella at the bar with the wandering hands. The perks of a small college is knowing people who will always have your back.
CON:
Remember that awkward, one night stand from Orientation week freshman year? Of course you do! How could you possibly forget him when you’re constantly running into him each time you leave your room? You might not remember his name, which makes those campus encounters all the more unwelcome. You might be praying to run into that special crush from your [insert a Gen Ed] lecture, but let’s face it—you’re so much more likely to cross paths with your Orientation week fling.
That much-coveted, low student:professor ratio.
PRO:
At a small college, you are “more than just a number”, as the student tour guides love to say. The reality is that it is much easier to build a close and meaningful relationship with your professors when there are only twenty students per class. Those tight and long-last bonds are pretty damn important when you start applying for internships and graduate school. Someone has to be writing you those raving letters of recommendation. And remember, kids—it’s never too early to think about your future! At a bigger school with more students per professor, it’s much harder for professors to learn everyone’s name, let alone write a rec letter for every student who asks.
CON:
Trying to get away with cutting class? Good luck. If you and your professor regularly lock eyes when you’re sitting in lecture, she’s also going to notice when your loving and attentive (*cough cough*) gaze is missing. You might be striving to graduate with a B.S., but don’t try pulling any B.S. that will get you a C in participation at the end of the semester.
Everyone knows everyone. Literally.
PRO:
Coming to a big and scary new place, it’s always reassuring to know that there’s always going to be at least one person you already know, whether you’re taking a new class, going to a random party, or picking up a different extracurricular. Think back to that little pocket of small-town America where your world has only two (or one) degrees of separation. There’s a sense of community at small schools that you will never find at a bigger school. Just how you can expect to grow close relationships to your professors and academic advisers, you can be sure that you’ll develop those same connections with the next person you meet. You never know, your ex-best friend’s sorority sister’s freshman year roommate could end up being your [bridesmaid/husband/divorce attorney] one day.
CON:
Clean slate? That phrase isn’t even in your vocabulary when you go to a small school. Everyone knowing everyone also means everyone knows (and remembers) exactly what you did last summer—or at that Halloween party last semester when you thoroughly embarrassed yourself in front of half the student body. And when you do meet someone new, which is as likely as finding something edible or healthy in the campus dining hall, you’ll never be able to introduce yourself without getting the response “Oh you’re that girl” or “You’re the guy my roommate’s lab partner’s best friend told me about”. It’s a lot harder to avoid the gossip when it takes minutes for the entire campus to know your life story.
Did someone say party?
PRO:
Again, you’re bound to know almost everyone everywhere, and that includes those late-night parties. Let’s be real; parties are always more fun when you’re surrounded by ten of your closest friends. But even when the only friend who tagged along that night ditches you to go make out with last week’s cute hook-up, you’ll always find a group of people to help you avoid being the awkward loner in the corner. When half the faces are already familiar, it’s easier to bounce from conversation to conversation and find a friend who will join you on the dance floor.
CON:
If you’re looking for a university with crazy parties every weekend, you might want to try again. At our small colleges, we classify “ragers” as a party where we can maybe get 50 people to show up (if we try our hardest and spend all of last week’s savings on booze). The closest you’ll ever get to a “wild party” is crashing a party at that bigger college next door. And don’t expect to get a dozen new numbers in your phone each weekend. Chances are you already have everyone’s digits.
While coming to a small college definitely has its negative aspects, there are some joys that a bigger school just can’t offer you. The academic and personal connections you make will last with you years after you leave campus. In the end, you know you will always chose your teeny tiny university over a big school any day.
