It's hard to believe, but there are actually more perks of going to school on the Hudson River than just the beautiful sunsets. If you're like me and you love the city but don't want to part with the small-town, homey feel of the suburbs, then going to college in the Hudson River Valley is definitely for you.

1. The views.

There's honestly no better place to go for a run, take a lazy Sunday walk, or watch the sun go down than by the Hudson River.

2. Students have somewhere to escape to, not from.

Students around here will get even more excited about a weekend trip to the city than a visit home. Skiing, Broadway shows, and city shopping trips are just $25 and a bus ride away.

3. The wildlife.

Unlike the city where the only animals are pigeons and rats, here in the Hudson Valley, we get to see a nice range of geese, stray cats, and groundhogs (plus some red foxes, of course!).

4. Marist College.

Although it can sometimes feel as if you're stuck inside the safe bubble of Marist, it also makes a trip out even more exciting. If I'm ever feeling overwhelmed with the stress of school, just walking into downtown Poughkeepsie for coffee feels like an escape from it all.

5. The jobs and internships.

Being in the middle of so many diverse cities and towns and within a two hour train ride of New York City, the opportunities are pretty much endless. From the F.D.R. Museum, to the public and private elementary schools, to New York for Fashion Week, there are possibilities no matter what your major is.

6. The atmosphere.

While Poughkeepsie is far from sleepy, it's a far cry from being "the city that never sleeps." Fun is never far away, but it's also a very laid back campus, which makes studying, napping, or just chilling with friends possible anytime and anywhere.

7. The places to eat.

It may not have all of the famous restaurants of NYC (you haven't lived until you've had a Black Tap milkshake), but it does have the Culinary Institute of America and some pretty amazing cafes and restaurants within just a few miles of the river.

8. The Walkway Over the Hudson.

Here you can see all of Poughkeepsie, walk off brunch, follow it to countless running and hiking trails, and see it lit up in hundreds of lights every night.

9. Getting to experience all four seasons.

In the city you really only get summer and winter, while here on the Hudson we get to see the fall leaves changing color across the river. Winter does involve a lot of snow, but who doesn't love having snow days and getting to sled down the hill in front of the library?

10. Going to college here will prepare you for wherever you go next.

You can explore the city and community while having a campus on the river to depend on and come back to. I'm beyond thankful that I chose to come to Marist College and make the Hudson Valley my home for the next four years.