Choosing a college is one of the most important decisions in one's life. I remember feeling so overwhelmed when I first began looking at colleges; it's difficult to narrow your choices down to only a few.

I knew right away that a SUNY school would be right for me, so that made it a little easier, but still, how do you know which college is right for you?

I kind of just took a leap of faith. I had only visited Oneonta once before I committed to it, so when I began my freshman year, it was only my second time at the school. It was kind of a shock to me, and it was really hard at first, but it was the best decision I have ever made.

I love everything about Oneonta, but here are a few things that make Oneonta unique.

1. Its size

Coming from a high school of about 1,000 kids, I wasn't sure if I would be able to handle a huge university. Before I committed to Oneonta, I was stuck between The University at Albany and Oneonta. The main reason I chose what I did is because of Oneonta's size. It is big enough that you're always able to meet new people, but it's also small enough that you are able to see familiar faces walking around campus every day. It was the perfect transition for me — it's not big enough to overwhelm me but it's still big enough to be exciting.

2. The location

I'm not the type of person who could just pick up and move across the country, so I knew when looking at schools that I wanted to stay in New York. I think Oneonta is the perfect distance away from my home in Long Island; it's far enough away to feel like I'm really on my own, but close enough to take a weekend trip back home. Plus, it's beautiful in Oneonta, especially in the fall. There's mountains everywhere you look and it makes life feel so cozy.

3. The meal plan

Like most living organisms, food is very important to me. I have heard several horror stories from students attending other schools concerning their meal plans. Some schools only offer very limited and/or specific meal plans,and some even weigh your food! I'm very grateful that I go to a school that has an unlimited meal plan. I can go to the dining hall and eat however much I want whenever I want seven days a week. On top of that, $315 is set aside for us to use every semester as "declining dollars" at any of the coffee places on campus. Of course, this means I have to be careful, I can't be gaining too much weight if I am expected to make it up those Oneonta hills.

4. Free bus rides

This is something I was pleasantly surprised Oneonta offered when I arrived for my first year. If you have your student ID card, you can use the bus for free. Oneonta has a separate route just for the campus, and a bus comes every 15 or 30 minutes, every day. This is something that a lot of schools don't have, and not only is it convenient, but it also makes college life much safer. On weekends, the buses run until 3 a.m., so you don't have to worry about being stranded in town after a night out.

5. Starbucks

I'm aware that this is a very basic thing for me to say, but having a Starbucks on campus is a gift from the heavens! It did cause me to develop a fairly strong caffeine addiction, but it's all good. I'm always at Starbucks, and it's come to the point where the two women who work there every day know me by name.

6. The town

The town of Oneonta is a really adorable one. The bus can take you right to main street, where there are a bunch of cute little stores and restaurants to check out. My personal favorite is The Green Toad, the cutest little book/knick-knack store. My second favorite, which is attached to the Green Toad, is Latte Lounge, a cute little coffee place where they make the GREATEST coffee. They also make a banging bacon egg and cheese, which is great for nursing a hangover.

7. The campus

Of course, the academics and the campus itself is one of the main, and most important, reasons as to why I chose this school. I think the campus is beautiful, and all the academic buildings are close together, which is really convenient. There's plenty of places to sit and do work, or even just hangout. The buildings are nice, especially the brand new ones. There's always something going on in the Quad, whether it be fundraisers, a barbecue, or even a full out petting zoo. (Literally, once a semester we have farm animals roaming the quad; it's awesome) The campus just gives off a really nice sense of community, which I absolutely love.