When deciding on colleges to apply to, most councilors and teachers will say that size is very important. Some people come from big high schools and are looking for something similar in a university. For some, like me, a small, tight-knit community sounds way more appealing for many reasons.

Walking to class in the morning is actually pleasant.

When your classes are only a 1 to 2 minute walk from your dorm, you don’t have to worry about getting lost or exhausting yourself before you even set foot in your classroom. Additionally, if you go to school in an area that experiences seasonal, inclement weather, you only have to brave those conditions very briefly.

It's much easier to get to know your professors.

Instead of your professor having tens of thousands of students for various level classes, they might have a thousand at the very most. This means good things for your grades and your comprehension of the course material. As a first-year student, it might seem intimidating to ask your professor questions, but don’t let the “Dr.” title scare you. They’re just regular people who are parents, aunts, and uncles and would be more than willing to answer any questions you may have, be it academic or about life in general. Bonus: On a small campus, they’ll be much more likely to know your name and face rather than vaguely associate you with a number in a lecture hall.

Your classmates are more accessible.

At many smaller schools, your largest class might not be more than 20 or 30 people. There also isn’t the “look left, look right, by the end of the semester one of you will be gone” philosophy that larger, more competitive schools are fabled to embrace. Your peers aren’t going to be just faces in a crowd. Eventually, you’ll learn their names, majors, and for some, even more. You have to be willing to branch out and expand your circle beyond your roommate, people you went to high school with, or the person who usually sits next to you in you 9 am Personal Finance class. The more people you connect with, the more opportunities you have to learn something new or see something from a different perspective. Living on a smaller campus makes this aspect so much easier.

The dining center isn't a total feeding frenzy.

Sure, at some points it may be kind of busy, but you’ll never have to stand in a massive line for 15 minutes just for a sandwich.

You'll probably feel much safer, and your parents will be thankful for that.

Smaller campuses are much more easily monitored by the school’s security and, like with staff and students, you will eventually know the names of your public safety officials as well. Going off to college isn’t just a big step for you, but also for your parents/guardian. It makes it much easier for them to drop you off and say their goodbyes if they are confident that you feel safe and comfortable in your new space.