School size has a pretty significant impact on the experiences you have, especially when you transition from one extreme to the other in just a few months. Personally, going from a public high school with almost 5,000 students to a small, private college with around 3,500 undergraduates was quite the culture shock. If the following statements apply to you, you may be a former big-public-schooler studying at a small college.
1. You are baffled by "small towns".
You've seen them on TV, and you've heard people talk about them, but now you truly realize that they aren't just made-up places. It is likely that quite a few of the friends you make in college come from these seemingly mythical far-off lands.
2. The concept of knowing everyone in your graduating class is a foreign concept to you.
At your high school graduation, there were likely many people you didn't even know existed, let alone went to school with you for 4 years. Now, you somehow at least recognize the vast majority of people in your class, especially those with the same major as you.
3. Some college classes are smaller than some of your classes in high school.
Many people complain about the big class sizes in college, but you don't really see what the big deal is with a class of 35 people.
4. Very few (if any) people from your high school go to your college.
Chances are, many people who enjoy going to a large high school for 4 years end up going to a big state school like Indiana University, Purdue, or University of Michigan. If they do choose to go to a smaller school, it is unlikely that it will be the same one as you choose, especially if it's far from home.
5. You find yourself unnecessarily mentioning the size of your high school.
Somehow, it never fails to amuse you when people from small towns get a shocked and mildly horrified expression upon hearing that the size of your graduating class was larger than their entire high school.
6. You are just as shocked when you hear how small some other high schools are.
No matter how many times you hear it, part of you still can't believe that a school could have less than 100 people in each grade.
7. When you tell someone from your state what high school you went to, they may have a visible reaction.
Whether they're asking you about someone they knew who went there, one of your school's sports teams their school has competed against, or mentioning some stereotype or rumor they've heard, this happens more than you might expect.
8. In a way, you get more opportunities in college than in high school.
Many people assume that you have more academic and social opportunities at larger public schools, but that is not necessarily the case. At smaller schools, it is easier to get leadership experience, research positions, etc. because you don't have to compete with as many other students as you did in previous years.
9. It feels weird at first, but you wouldn't trade your school experiences for anything.
Even though it takes some time to get used to, there's something refreshing about going to a smaller college. At the same time, you're glad you went to a large high school. They both taught you different things, provided you with different opportunities, and shaped you into the person you are today.
