We’ve all seen the quintessential college campus portrayed on television. Whether you’re watching “GREEK” or Van Wilder, it’s hard to miss the rural feel that encompasses the campus. What Hollywood is missing, though is the one-of-a-kind experience that city schools offer.
Pros
Who Needs the Green?
Unlike a rural campus, not every city school has a common green quad for students to hang out and relax on after class. Some collegiettes™, however, enjoy the best of both worlds, with lush campuses resting right in the heart of a vibrant city. In Montreal, McGill’s campus is close enough to the hustle and bustle, but at the same time, it’s tucked away from the overwhelming feel a city can give off.
“In a short walk, you can go from shopping on busy Saint-Catherine Street, to soaking up the sun on a hill on campus,” said Sofia Mazzamauro, a senior at McGill.
Columbia and Barnard offer the same unique experience, mixing the thriving city of New York with some of the limited green space the city has to offer.
“I enjoy a beautiful traditional campus… in the middle of Manhattan,” said Rachel Peck, a senior at Barnard and HC writer. “As much as I love NYC, I also love my campus neighborhood, libraries, Res Halls, bars, Greek houses, and green space. I never felt like I had to completely give up ‘the college experience’ for four years in the most vibrant city in the world,” says Rachel.
In a small town secluded from a city, there’s only so much to do on campus before boredom strikes.
On the other hand, there’s never a dull moment when you’re living in a city and there’s always something to see and do. In New York City, you can explore the Museum of Modern Art or shop on 5th Avenue. Watch the President’s Motorcade drive by on your way to class in D.C. In Philadelphia, travel through history and learn firsthand about American Independence, or catch a Red Sox baseball game in Boston. No matter what city you’re in, the hustle and bustle will keep you busy and entertained, with boutique shops, restaurants to try, and events to witness.
“While I still study in the library, eat in the dining halls, and sleep in the dorms, I spend a ton of time in adorably small independent coffee shops, exploring neighborhoods like the West Village and Chelsea, and going to museums and indie theaters,” said Hannah Orenstein, a freshman at NYU and Her Campus High School editor.
As a junior at George Washington University in D.C., I’ve ice skated on the National Mall, celebrated in front of the White House after Osama Bin Laden was killed, and toured Capitol Hill. Can a rural campus offer the same opportunities? Sometimes it’s better to swap the green feeling for once-in-a-lifetime experiences.
Whip Out Those Business Cards
You’re never alone when you’re in a city. Right outside campus are “real world” people, working and living their lives without the concerns of midterms and final papers. That being said, there are so many opportunities to meet new people, get your name out there, and find jobs and internships. When summer break finally hits, several collegiettes™ find themselves moving to the big cities for internships. But when you’re living in a city during the school year, you’re a step ahead of the game.
“Since I’ve been at GW, I’ve had two internships during the school year – one at ZipCar and another at Capitol File Magazine. I’ve been able to meet so many people and network, which helped me get an internship in New York City last summer,” said Becca Kipnis, a junior at George Washington University.
The transition from rural campus to a city can be difficult, especially when summer rolls around. Collegiettes™ who already live in a city not only can hold an internship year-round, but also are well adjusted with the fast-paced city life.
Even though I’m originally from a suburb right outside New York City, I’ve always found the Big Apple to be a little intimidating. But after spending the past two years living in D.C., I no longer see NYC as a daunting place. Moving from D.C. to NYC this summer for an internship wasn’t as big of a deal as I thought it would be. Going to a city school helped me feel accustomed and in sync with the fast-paced New Yorker lifestyle.
Keep Calm and Party On
When people say, “the city never sleeps,” they aren’t lying. Every night (weekdays included) there’s a party going on. Just want to dance? There are endless raging clubs just waiting for you to let loose. When you’re looking to escape the typical routine, hit up a bar—maybe even one far from campus with a different crowd to explore. And if you’re just looking to have the typical college night, there will always be a house party where you can just chill.
“I love that I don’t have to fall into the routine of going to frats every weekend – instead, I can do something totally different every time I go out,” Hannah said.
A city is just as diverse as the student body is on campus. No two places are alike, with a variety of parties to explore. From theater productions and art festivals to clubs and the average frat party, a city school goes above and beyond when it comes to nightlife, with endless options for your night out.
Bon Voyage!
One of the greatest advantages of a city is how easily accessible it is. No matter what city you’re in, there’s always a train station, airport, or bus stop that will take you from point A to point B with little hassle. Finding a ride home from a rural campus, on the other hand, can be difficult. “If my parents can’t pick me up, I have to take a two hour bus to New York, then a 45-minute train to my town. So my trip is almost three hours long, when I’m only an hour and a half away from home by car,” said Hannah Grover, a junior at Lafayette College in Pennsylvania.
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Cons
It’s Not All Greek to Me
Between mingling with the locals and exploring the city for all it’s worth, Greek Life isn’t always a top priority at city schools.
“The vast majority of Boston University students are not involved in Greek Life,” said BU sophomore and HC writer Kelsey Mulvey. “Although sorority girls and frat bros wear their Greek letters with pride, it’s never overwhelming or intimidating.”
While Greek Life certainly does exist on several city campuses, students tend to be more focused on getting involved in other ways. From community outreach projects, internships, and the numerous other clubs on campus, Greek communities are not always the most prominent group.
On the other hand, campuses in small towns sometimes rely on Greek life as a way of bringing students together. Jessika Davidson, a junior at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas, said Greek life is very important to campus life.
“It’s somewhat like a, ‘If you aren’t Greek, you are irrelevant’ state of mind,” Jessika said. “We have sorority and fraternity houses that are huge, complete with around-the-clock staff members, including maids, drivers and chefs.”
But don’t fret collegiettes™, even a small Greek community at a city school can have close ties that will foster sisterhood well into the future.
“Greek Life at GW isn’t huge, but we still have a presence here on campus. No matter what sorority or fraternity you’re associated with, you still feel like you’re part of something bigger,” said GWU sophomore Rebeca Teplitz.
Can I Get a ‘Rah Rah?’
Space in a city is limited, to say the least. It’s near impossible to find a field for sports teams to compete on, and for that reason, most city schools are lacking when it comes to athletics.
“I play lacrosse at my school, and it’s difficult because our field is about a 15-20 minute walk from our campus,” said Krista Firkins, a senior at Emerson College in Boston. “There’s just no room in the middle of the city for lacrosse, soccer, softball, and baseball fields so we have to make do with the resources we have just outside downtown.”
While there are still sports on campus, they don’t necessarily draw in the same crowd as a rural school with more room to accommodate athletes and fans.
“It’s difficult to get the student body involved in athletics when we don’t have the space or resources that other schools have to host big sporting events,” Krista said. “We don’t have a football team, so there’s no tailgating. Our gym can only fit a limited amount of students, so we can’t turn basketball games into huge events.”
With seemingly endless room, however, rural schools enjoy sporting events of every kind – especially football. Not only do students get to kick back and watch a game, but they also find ways to rally together in support of their teams.
“Our sports games are major and we have events such as a chili cook off and tailgating before the game,” Jessika said. “If we win, a light shines from the tallest building in the city and can be seen for miles.”
Mo’ Money, Mo’ Problems
College is expensive to begin with, but schools in the city are even pricier. Between covers at clubs, cab rides, and ridiculously overpriced meals, it’s easy to see your bank account getting smaller and smaller by the day. During the weekends in D.C., my friends and I blow through money on cabs getting from bar to bar at night, especially when it gets colder outside and we are even more dependent on cab drivers to drive us throughout the city.
Nothing is free, and with more activities off-campus, students typically find themselves more inclined to spend money in a booming city. “My friends and I have an unhealthy obsession with our local Thai and Froyo places, plus I have a shopping problem,” BU sophomore Kelsey Mulvey said, describing her tendency to spend a decent amount of money in Boston at places that a rural school collegiette™ wouldn’t necessarily have the opportunity to do.
But living in a city is like real life, where dining dollars and swiping your card for unlimited food at the campus cafeteria don’t necessarily exist. You have to learn to take control and be responsible with your money. While my parents would definitely beg to differ, I like to think that I have a general understanding of budgeting my money. After spending almost three years in D.C., I know that I’ll be able to spend my money more wisely after graduation than my friends who don’t live in a city (or at least I like to think so).
The City That Never Sleeps… Literally
I live about a block away from the George Washington University Hospital. That being said, I can’t even begin to count the amount of times an ambulance siren has woken me up at 3 a.m. Between car alarms, screaming people, and presidential motorcades, it seems like D.C. never has a quiet moment. From time to time, the hustle and bustle and noise can be overwhelming.
“It’s difficult being downtown because you can pretty much never get time to yourself and there’s always something going on, which can be really overwhelming because it seems like you can never escape your stress,” Krista said about going to school in downtown Boston.
On the other hand, a rural campus offers just that: serenity. There’s a place to hide when you just want to be alone, and there are noiseless nights when you just want a good night’s sleep.
“I couldn’t imagine being in a city,” Hannah from Lafayette said. “One of my favorite things about Lafayette is how peaceful it can be, but at the same time, when you’re looking for fun, it’s there too.”
So collegiettes, what’s the best option for you? Are you a city girl with a desire to explore or are you a campus girl, ready to lay back on the grassy quad and watch a football game?
Sources
Sofia Mazzamauro, McGill University ’12
Rachel Peck, Barnard College ’12
Hannah Orenstein, New York University ’15
Becca Kipnis, George Washington University ’13
Hannah Grover, Lafayette College ’13
Kelsey Mulvey, Boston University ’14
Jessika Davidson, Stephen F. Austin State University ’13
Rebeca Teplitz, George Washington University ’14
Krista Firkins, Emerson College ’12