Picking the right college is a huge decision. It's where you are going to spend the next four years of your life at. It's where you'll meet lifelong friends, and it's where you'll start networking for your future career. Picking the right college can affect the rest of your life, literally. The decision can be daunting, especially if you live in the South, where it seems around every corner there's another SEC school. The college I attend is a public institution that's a bit on the smaller side, compared to these SEC schools. I absolutely love it, and I don't think I would be happier anywhere else. So here's part one of why I think smaller schools are better than bigger ones.
1. You have a better sense of community.
The majority of bigger schools still operate with dorm-style campuses. This means tiny, shared bedrooms and, worst of all, community bathrooms. (This in itself got a huge X from me while I was scouting out colleges.) These living conditions are almost forced, like your RA's and Housing Department want you to love each other so much that you don't mind showering right next to the girl who made out with your ex-boyfriend at that party last week (#awkward). In my opinion, any kind of forced communication or human interaction is not going to go well. While these bleak living areas can definitely happen anywhere, they seem to not be as big of a problem at small schools. Smaller schools tend to be able to house their students in "resident halls" (which are extremely different from dorms). These resident halls may come with a washer/dryer, a kitchen, your own private bathroom, or your own private bedroom. Because of this lack of forced communication/human interaction, you can actually become friends with your roommates and hall mates, and you can easily avoid anyone you want by locking yourself in your private bedroom.
2. You have a better student/teacher relationship.
Smaller schools mean smaller classes. This is helpful in a variety of ways. When the class size is small, you're able to actually get to know your classmates. This is helpful for those days that you just really aren't feeling it and "Grey's Anatomy" sounds like a much better option than Conservation of Biodiversity at nine in the morning. You can call the girl you made friends with the first week of school and ask her very nicely if she would please let you see her notes after class (and if you're feeling really desperate, you can throw in a free Starbucks drink. Also, a small class size means you can have a better relationship with your professor. More than likely, they'll know you by name. This helps when you bomb a test the Monday after Homecoming, but you "just really really need an A in this class". If you participate in class, most of the time the professor will be willing to help you out with your grade. And once you get into your higher level classes, your professors can help you network for your future career.
Stay tuned for Part 2 next week!
