Located in the heart of Rhode Island, Newport is known for its impeccable architecture and its reputation for being one of the most beautiful cities in the New England. In the middle of this gorgeous, wealthy little town is the tiny campus that I've come to know and love called Salve Regina University.
When anyone I know asks me, "Why did you choose Salve?" my answer is always the same. The campus, the academics, and the sense of community are the three answers that automatically come out of my mouth. But, after really thinking about why I chose this small, Catholic, liberal arts University in the smallest state in the country, my answer to such a simple question has become so much more than the campus, the academics, or the sense of community. Salve has become my home away from home.
At first glance I would have never given a college like Salve a second look. All that I wanted was to go to a huge Division I school in the heart of a big city like Boston or somewhere down south. I would have never dreamed in my junior year of high school that I would end up on a campus with a population only slightly larger than that of my high school. It wasn't until my mom forced me to sign up for a campus tour on a rainy day in October that I realized how much that I would truly want to attend SRU.
After being at Salve for over a year now I've grown to appreciate so many little luxuries that I didn't realize were so unique to Salve. Who else can say that they have the most iconic piece of their city, like the Cliff Walk, right in their backyard? What other university is surrounded by mansions and ocean-side estates that resemble castles? What students can say that they live in renovated historic mansions that we consider to be "dorm rooms?" The experience of being a student at Salve is so unique because our campus doesn't feel like a campus, it feels like a home.
Along with being one of the most beautiful coastal campuses in the Northeast, Salve's academics are incredible compared to those of surrounding areas. With O'Hare being newly renovated, the opportunity to expand our knowledge is more than you would ever expect from such a small school. The professors here actually care about their students and genuinely want them to succeed. They know you by name and most will remember you throughout your time at Salve. Having a close relationship with faculty and being able to make those connections will not only help with academics, but in the future as well.
One thing that a lot of people can't stand about a small campus is the thought of "seeing the same people over and over again." While that is absolutely true in a lot of cases, Salve is always introducing me to new people on a regular basis. As much as we let the wealth and the reputation of our campus get to us, if you were to stop and talk to a random stranger in Rodgers Rec or Miley Dining Hall there's a 99 percent chance that you just made a new friend. Salve's community is so strong that I have never felt unwelcome in any environment.
Now, this all probably sounds like one big Salve advertisement. But, honestly, becoming a part of Salve's community and actually being shown what it's like to be a student here has been the best experience of my life. I have grown from hating the idea of attending such a small school to falling in love with the campus more and more every day.
Salve Regina University has become like a second home to me, a home that I feel lucky to have.
