Many people have this idea of what going to a small college must be like. You see all of the same people all the time, there's never anything to do, it's just like high school, on and on and on. Small colleges are definitely not for everybody, but they aren't as bad as students at big universities sometimes make them out to be either. There are many great things about small colleges.
At a small college or university you do see some of the same people pretty frequently. Those people are probably your friends or those you have class with- like every other college. I may attend a small college but I still see new faces every single day. I hear different names and learn about the different places people are from daily. Yes, I occasionally see the same faces while walking to class every day, but you can't tell me that you don't ever recognize passing faces at a bigger school either.
There is one upside to seeing these same people in passing everyday- you start to say hi to each other. I say hello to at least one person that I don't know every single day. That's just how small colleges are. Everybody is friendly and you never feel unsafe walking around campus alone, even if it's at midnight while on your way back to your room from the library.
Another thing about small colleges is small class sizes. Personally, I love that my biggest class has maybe 25 students and there is not a single lecture hall on campus. The professors at small schools truly care about their students, too. When you're sick and have to miss class the odds are very likely that your professor will email you to check in on where you were and to make sure that everything is OK. They make sure you understand what homework assignments you may have and want to make it as easy as possible for you to catch up on the material before the next class time.
"What do you even do? Does anything ever happen on campus?" This is one thing that many small college students get asked a lot. Sure, there is a lot to do on campus! You just have to get out there and do it. I have yet to find a weekend when there isn't something happening on campus, whether it be a game night, sporting events, music concerts, retreats to the nearest city or volunteer opportunities to get involved with.
Sporting events are still exciting at small colleges. Possibly even more so than at big schools, because chances are you personally know multiple people on the team. Sure, we aren't on television and our stands aren't near as big as those at a larger school. There may not be tryouts for the team and it is possible to still be involved even if you aren't a top-notch athlete, but the games are still an exciting atmosphere to be a part of. You have just as much school spirit for your small college or university as somebody at a larger school does.
Small colleges aren't for everybody, but big universities aren't either. Before you stereotype the small schools and vow to never step foot on a small campus, ask those who attend smaller colleges- they really are a great place to be.
