Going off to college is a huge step in life and with all of the reputable schools there are in this country alone, choosing the right one can be stressful. A lot goes into making the decision but I am confident that I made the right choice with the University of New Haven, so here's why I chose UNH.

1. It's a small school.

The idea of going to a school with thousands upon thousands of other kids was very overwhelming for me. I wanted to go somewhere where I wasn't just a number or another face in a lecture hall of 400 students. I wanted to have the opportunity to get involved on campus and to form relationships with my professors, and I am so glad that I chose this school for that reason. As a first semester freshman, I've already taken advantage of getting involved in clubs, student government, and of course, writing for The Odyssey. I have even assumed leadership roles both within the University and beyond it, as I am the Student Representative of the region for one of my organizations. In addition to getting involved outside of the classroom, I am succeeding in the classroom. My classes are no larger than 100 people and my professors know me by name. I have a feeling that I would not be as well rounded as I am now had I attended a larger university.

2. It has the best program for what I want to do.

With my major being criminal justice, I couldn't have picked a better school than UNH. It has been a leader in this field of study for years and being a student here, I can see why. All of their courses are so specialized. There are so many unique concentrations within criminal justice that you can choose from. You can even earn certificates within various areas of the system. All of the faculty members have experience within the field which really enhances the quality of learning within the classroom. Outside of the classroom, we have a chapter of the American Criminal Justice Association (also known as the CJ Club). This organization allows for us to continue our education outside of the classroom setting by listening to guest speakers, having panels on current issues, and participating in regional and national conferences where we put our knowledge to the test.

3. It's only a car ride away from home.

When I was initially searching for colleges, I wasn't sure how far I wanted to go. I knew that I wanted to live away from home but I didn't know if I could handle being a plane ride away from my friends and family. When I first met with my high school guidance counselor to talk about schools that might be right for me, the University of New Haven was the first one to come up. When I saw that it was in Connecticut, I immediately removed it from my list. Looking back, I'm not exactly sure what I had against Connecticut but I am so glad that that wasn't the last interaction I had with UNH.

I am so glad that I ended up here in Connecticut at the University of New Haven because it truly has become home.