Preferences, comfortability, affordability, and location are all things to consider when deciding where to apply to college. If you're coming fro a big school, a big University doesn't appear intimidating, but perhaps you'll excel in a small liberal arts college. Or the other way around, going from a small school to a large University. Either way, it's tricky to determine your levels of success before you've arrived on campus for your first semester.
My first year of college was spend at a satellite campus, or a branch of West Virginia University. Much like the waterbury UConn campus, but with housing. I actually don't know if the Waterbury UConn campus has housing, but I'm just comparing them in terms of what "satellite campus" means. Anyhow, I've spent one year at Potomac State College, and going on three years at the main campus at WVU. In retrospect, time spent at PSC really prepared me for a bigger role in the world. I was able to confide in professors and was able to build rapport with them as I was 1 in 1,200. At WVU main campus, I am 1 in 30,000. I don't mean to deem myself insignificant, but I am surely more likely to go overlooked as compared to my two semesters at a branch campus. Although I feel like my first year satisfied a homey feeling, as I made two very close friends whom I still speak to 'til this day, there is far more opportunity and room for exploration at the bigger campus. Here are some of the highlights a "big" University has to offer.
1. Clubs on clubs
Intramurals/club sports, your major's club, interest groups (even LGBTQ), adventure clubs, awareness clubs, there's something for everybody (seriously, there's a larping club at WVU), and it's always so easy to make your own club. Sometimes you need as many as 10 people to start a club, or as little as 3. Clubs are such a great way to meet people with the same interests. They also allow leadership opportunities for officer positions. For example, I am the Student-Faculty Liaison for the Sport and Exercise Psychology club. We participate in commuinity service and fundraising initiatives. I've made friends and met faculty through this club, and we always encourage active members to include their membership on their resumés.
2. Options for choosing a major
I came into college as a Sports Management major for the wrong reasons. Mostly, it was what was offered at PSC, and I was too stubborn to just accept "general studies" at the time. So for sports management, you had to take a sport and exercise psychology class; thank goodness, because I found my passion. I found my purpose, I found a language that brought me pure drive and ambition. I knew that's what I wanted to pursue. Lucky for me, at the main campus you were able to major in Sport Exercise Psychology. This is just one instance of what a bigger college can offer someone struggling to decide what to major in, as there are so many schools with areas of emphasis in specialty majors. *Advice: if you really don't know what you want to major in, choose general studies, hear about the other majors and what they offer, then by the time you choose a major you have all your prerequisites (psych 101, bio 101, soca 101, etc.)
3. Non-sporting events
I wanted to include this aspect for my non-sports people. Three times a semster, the Creative Arts Center puts on, you guessed it, three different plays. I took Theater 101 one semster, and it was not a regret. As I learned about theater culture around the world, it was also mandatory I attend the three plays throughout the semester. They were all well done, as I had to critique them, I do remember how difficult it was as I was so impressed by the performances. There are also Jazz Thursdays, and concerts put on by students weekly, alongside dancing and singing performances. Viewing young talent is incredible. There are also workshops and special guest lectures throughout campus almost every day.
4. Sporting events
Yes! The best thing about attending a Division 1 college is the hype on game day! School colors, tradition, win or lose we booze, you know, college things.
5. Student life
There is always a way to get to where you need to go via public transportation, so when you want to go midnight bowling, bar crawling, see a movie, get a coffee, go shopping, etc. there's really nothing stopping you but you. A bigger picture: at the beginning of each fall semester, there is "welcome week" where there are three artists that perform outside of the "Mountainlair" at the base of frat row. While I've attended WVU, the performances have been held by Macklemore, Ciara, Pretty Lights, Schoolboy Q, Kendrick Lamar, The Chain Smokers, Dierks Bentley, and Mac Miller. Then at the end of September, another popular artist comes to play at our Coliseum; ASAP Rocky, Kendrick Lamar and Chance The Rapper were the last few to play there for this event. Throughout the year, there are performances at the MainStage which is a smaller venue; including Hawthorne Heights, Machine Gun Kelly, BORGORE, Huey Mack, and coming this spring, Aaron Carter, for which I am so PUMPED. Brad Paisley also came to town and held a free concert! #StudentDiscountedEverything
6. Parties
House parties, keggers, ragers, frat houses, a close friend group house party, no party, the party options are endless. It just depends on your preferences.
7. Library access
Because there are two campuses within West Virginia University, there's two different libraries as well. One on the downtown campus, and another where we can the "Evansdale campus". If a book is not on reserve at one library, it will be at another. Both libraries are easily accessible by walking or bus. There are multiple floors in both libraries equipped with main floors with computers and many resources, wing rooms that are meant for the most silent students, and individual study rooms with whiteboards and televisions, and cafés serving coffee and food. The best part, they're open all night.
8. Research facilities
Amongst the most exciting and most advertised opportunities on campus are research opportunities; you can get community service hours or even paid for participating. What's even more exciting? Being able to conduct your own research! If there is a professor who will supervise your research, and you can get your topic approved by the IRB, the university won't necessarily fund your research, but it will however allow you to use every resource available. For my major, we can present our research in capstone, then present it at our annual conference. Pretty neat to be able to explore your interests!
9. Always something new to discover
My favorite thing about having to walk everywhere on campus, there's always a building I haven't been into. It's not like doors are locked and you need a secret key to get in each door, so you can just welcome yourself into a college's building to peruse around. It is amazing though, seeing some of the buildings from the early 1900's, then examining some of the newer buildings. It is truly a profound feeling to be surrounded by such history.
10. A sense of community
From a students death on campus to shootings in Orlando, then Peace for Paris, WVU makes a point to bring people together not just daily but in times of special concern. As I had attended the Peace for Paris vigil, it was special to me that any stupid could come forward and express concerns. Muslims students spoke up to remind everyone that Muslims aren't bad people, just like a select few crazy white people go on shooting rampages, some radicalized Muslims have done horrible, horrible things. But that's not to speak for the entire people. These vigils harmonize our school community, as they've provided opportunity for students to reach out and express their sadness. The foreign exchange students from France needed this they said. A Liberian student stood out to remind us how things like this happen everyday where she's from but no one hold vigils for her people. When else could she have brought others together to tell us this? This gave her opportunity and she was able to exercise free speech. That is the epitome of America.
11. College friends
College friends are great because they like you so much! Of course, they didn't know you when you were an asshole in high school, so of course you feel great about seeing them.
12. There is truly a place for everyone at a big university
Shown above: Harry Potter live action role playing (larping) on campus. Believe it or not, this was my deal breaker. As I do not participate in larping, I was utterly enthralled by such ability for others to express themselves. I felt that was the coolest thing. It just makes sense, you know? The more the people, the more opportunity there is to find something you're looking for. Whether it be friends, clubs, your favorite place to eat on campus, interest groups, a place to meditate, the Rec center, just about anything you can imagine. There's a way to feel at home on a big campus, the trick is to accept and take on the adventure.
13. Pride
