When I was applying to colleges in the beginning of my senior year of high school, I wanted to go to college in a large city like my home — NYC. I wanted to be surrounded by the glitz and glamour of a big city. However, I ended up going to university in a beautiful, small college town. Now, I honestly can't imagine myself going anywhere else. Here are some reasons why:
1. College Town Experience
If you are going to college in a small town, chances are the majority of the population will be the student body. You will familiarize yourself with the town very quickly. Also, most of the stores, restaurants or bars will be nearby; thus you probably won't need to drive or take public transportation.
2. Familiarity with the locals
Since most of the people living in this town are students of your university or college, the very few locals who live in the town will recognize you as a student when you are off campus. Speaking from my experience, if you ever run into a problem off-campus, the locals will be friendly and nice enough to help you in any way they can!
3. Scenery
Small towns are usually surrounded by beautiful nature. This will give you perfect opportunities to go hiking, walking or just sightseeing. In addition, meditating in nature relaxes your body and refreshes your mind.
4. Few Distractions
This may be a plus or a minus, depending on how you see it. Small towns do not provide as much opportunities for partying or recreation like big cities do. This is an advantage when you are attempting to be studious because after a few weeks into the semester, there might not be any more places that you would be tempted to explore; you will probably know about all of the bars and restaurants. In big cities like NYC or Boston, there will always be more to explore, which can be great but is a big distraction when you are trying to work.
So, my advice to those of you applying to colleges this year would be to really look at your options. Don't be too focused on one type of college and consider the different types of college towns or cities.