When I was younger, I always imagined myself attending a big, populated university. Off on my own, living on a big campus, and all that. However, I never saw myself sitting on my bed in my college dorm in Midtown Manhattan attending a college with about 1,500 enrolled students. The large scale college experience is something everyone considers at least once in their life. For the longest time, I planned on attending Indiana University in Bloomington; a large university that was located about 12 hours from my small town in New Jersey. I wanted a fresh start, I wanted a place with a great journalism program. It was the only school I had applied to for a number of months. All ready to accept my seat in the class of 2020 at IUB, my mom begged me to apply to a few other colleges, just to see if I could have options. It was then that I stumbled across Marymount Manhattan College, and I fell in love. With an 11-to-1 student to faculty ratio, I knew I would get the small classes and teaching I needed to be a successful journalist.

Small colleges are a fantastic place to learn and improve your skills. When you attend a large university with tens of thousands of students enrolled, you bound to get a lecture hall or two, along with a teacher who will probably never remember your name or your face. That's no way to go through your college years. It's ultimately supposed to be a time for learning and growing, and to do that, a teacher's help and guidance is often a great asset to your success.

Marymount Manhattan College was a great choice from the second I walked through their doors. Located on the Upper East Side in Midtown, the campus only consists of 2 large buildings. Sure, you may think that there's no way you could possibly get a traditional college experience in an environment like that. While you may be right, the experience I'm getting is beyond anything I would ever expect from a traditional university. My campus is the city of Manhattan and all it has to offer. From Central Park to the MoMA. The possibilities here are endless.

The only thing better than going to school in NYC is living in NYC. I live on the 23rd floor of a New York high-rise that overlooks midtown. The view makes all it worthwhile. Any large university wouldn't have a view like this. (I would also have to share a bathroom with like 20 other people. Why would anyone want to do that???) Having my own private apartment with one roommate and 2 suite-mates is one of the best experiences I've ever had. I love having to walk 16 blocks to school, I love having to take the subway to get across town or the bus on a rainy day, and I love all the experiences that Manhattan has to offer. This is truly my entrance to adulthood, and to be honest, I'm loving every second of my new life in the Big Apple!